Valkyries overcame adversities in perfect 2023 campaign

QB Alex Eyolfson (#15) calls a play in the Valkyries’ huddle.

In no particular order, leadership, depth and coaching saw the Saskatoon Valkyries through to a perfect season in 2023.

Saskatoon’s powerhouse women’s football team never seemed to lose a step navigating towards an 8-0 overall record. The Valkyries concluded the campaign on Saturday blanking the Calgary Rage 40-0 in the WWCFL Championship Game at Griffiths Stadium.

The win marked the third consecutive time the Valkyries claimed the WWCFL title and the eighth time overall since the league’s inception in 2011.

The Valkyries were challenged along the way in 2023. On May 14, they traveled to Winnipeg and grinded out a 26-14 victory over an inspired Manitoba Fearless side. On June 18 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Valkyries had to hold off their provincial rivals the Regina Riot 19-9 in the Prairie Conference final.

Michelle Duchene, left, has put in countless hours building female football. 

As the Valkyries were going about their business in a convincing win over the Rage, another realization hit looking at the Saskatoon sidelines at Griffiths Stadium on Saturday. There were some important star players helping out on the Valkyries bench area wearing their game uniforms over their street clothes.

That was a sign that those players were kept out of game action due to various injuries. Some of those players who were out missed a sizable part of the campaign due to their injuries.

HC Pat Barry and his staff have kept the Valkyries rolling.

Arguably, the biggest missing player was star fourth year receiver Haley Girolami, who might be the best pass catcher in the women’s game in Canada. In the Valkyries regular season opening 34-7 win over the Riot on May 7 at SMF Field, Girolami hauled in nine passes for 111 yards and one touchdown.

She was so impressive in that game one wondered just how good of a season she was going to have in 2023. Just seven days later in the Valkyries road win over the Fearless, Girolami was lost for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.

The Valkyries were also without star receiver Rachelle Smith for the entire regular season and post-season. The WWCFL veteran is a big time playmaker who was on all three of the Riot’s WWCFL title winning teams before joining the Valkyries for their WWCFL Championship season in 2019 and has remained with the Saskatoon side since.

The loss of Haley Girolami to injury was a big blow to the Valkyries.

On defence, star linebacker Jamie Wingate missed the entire regular season and post-season due to injury. Her absence left a sizable hole on the defence.

Rookie defensive back Kaylin O’Neill went down with a leg injury in the Valkyries regular season win over the Fearless. Savanna Spendiff was excelling in her first year playing on the Valkyries offensive line, but she went down with a knee injury in the Prairie Conference final win over the Riot.

Those types of injuries would have put any other team’s championship aspirations on ice. The Valkyries were able to march on due to their depth.

QB Alex Eyolfson gave positive leadership to the Valkyries offence.

That depth partially came from the work of the only general manager the Valkyries have ever known in Michelle Duchene and the countless hours she has spent building women’s football in Saskatoon. The female flag football system operated through Saskatoon Minor Football has helped funnel players to the Valkyries. Duchene’s leadership helped make that possible.

The Valkyries coaching staff under the direction of head coach Pat Barry has brought newcomers up to speed quickly when it comes to learning the game. That has helped build the Valkyries depth.

Emmarae Dale, left, gave upbeat leadership to the Valkyries defence.

Barry is aided by an astute staff that includes defensive coordinator Wyatt Carleton and Marci Halseth and Jack Sloboda, who shared in the offensive coordinator duties. The coaching staff has ensured new players are ready to step in and make an impact when injuries happen.

On the field, the Valkyries have been able to rely on the leadership of a couple of players who joined the club as youngsters in the team’s 2016 WWCFL title winning campaign in quarterback Alex Eyolfson and middle linebacker Emmarae Dale.

Sarah Wright continued to pile up big yards for the Valkyries.

Right from when she joined the Valkyries, Eyolfson has and continues to radiate a vibe that makes you feel like everything is going to be alright even if things go wrong. She quickly mastered guiding an offence, and she might be the best quarterback in the women’s game in Canada.

Dale immediately displayed an uplifting vibe and a positive demeanor. She still displays an explosive athletic ability that turns heads and saw her join the CJFL’s storied and historic Saskatoon Hilltops for the 2021 campaign. Dale might be the best in the women’s game in Canada today.

The presence of Eyolfson and Dale everything on the field stays sorted out and in order. They were aided by a good core group that has been together since 2019.

Makayla Sader has become part of the Valkyries core group.

On offence, the Valkyries were still able to turn to star running back Sarah Wright and veteran star pass catchers Ricki Obed and Reed Thorstad to make plays. The offensive line is anchored by four star veterans in right tackle Betsy Mawdsley, centre Alex Wojcichowsky, left guard Lauren Ferguson and left tackle Alyssa Funk.

On defence, Danaye Holynski continues to create havoc for the opposition at defensive end. The defence has been bolstered with a couple of veteran receivers switching over to defensive back in Kelsey Murphy and Danielle Girolami.

The Valkyries are progressing to the point where a large group of players in their second and third years with the team can now be considered as steady veterans who are part of the core group. That group includes receiver/kicker Grace McCorriston, running back/kicker Drew Lundquist and utility player Arden Kliewer.

Grace McCorriston (#82) has become a solid receiver and kicker.

Defensive back Makayla Sader, linebackers Jackie Semple-Dyck, Kennedy Mann and Sydney Schenn are now part of that core group too along with Emry Halbgewachs and Grace Farthing on the defensive line. 

Returnee defensive tackle Carla Stevenson has become part of that core group too. She helped the Valkyries win a WWCFL title in their second year of existence in 2012, took a leave of absence from the team before rejoining the club in 2021.

Rookies came through for the Valkyries too in 2023. Brianna Hammett on the offensive line, Michaella Applin on the defensive line, Mykayla Laroque at cornerback and Jaimyn Mantyka at safety all stepped in to give the Valkyries big performances.

Thanks to leadership, depth and coaching, the Valkyries were able to overcome some fairly key injuries and preserver in a couple of tough games that could have sent the season in another direction. The undefeated Valkyries ended becoming better in their journey of overcoming the adversity they faced.

The Valkyries celebrate a third straight WWCFL title on Saturday.

It is expected they will return a strong core of players in 2024. That should give them a good start in their quest for a four-peat, which the team accomplished in the WWCFL’s first four years of existence from 2011 to 2014.

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Wingate rises up to be key playmaker on Valkyries defence

Saskatoon to host Storm in WWCFL semifinal

Jamie Wingate (#47) is a playmaker on defence for the Valkyries.

Jamie Wingate is filling a need for the Saskatoon Valkyries that wasn’t seen at the start of the season.

When the 2022 WWCFL campaign began, the 25-year-old alumna of Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School was penciled in as a starter at linebacker for the Valkyries. Wingate was entering her third season with the team and second season as a starter.

She didn’t expect to be veteran presence in the Valkyries linebacker corps. That was the role Wingate found herself in as the injury bug started taking chunks out of the Valkyries defensive unit.

Star outside linebacker Beth Lalonde, who has played for the Valkyries since their inaugural season in 2011, was injured before the 2022 campaign began and has yet to dress for a game. Star middle linebacker Emmarae Dale was injured during the Valkyries second game of the season and has been kept off the field until returning to practice this week.

Star defensive back Shay De Jong is still out with a leg injury and various other players have been in and out the Valkyries defence with various dings.

Wingate along with defensive tackle Jaime Lammerding, who has been with the Valkyries since their inaugural season in 2022, have often been the two to offer the veteran presence on a defence that has usually consisted of first or second year players or veterans that have converted over from offence.

“That was kind of a shock for me,” said Wingate, who has mainly played middle linebacker as the injuries piled up. “I’m still learning every practice and every game too.

“We’ve had so many injuries just hit every position. Everyone just has to work together, and we just try to make it as best as we can with who we have on the field. Obviously, we can tell we are missing them (the injured defensive players).

Jamie Wingate has taken her game to a higher level.

“That is one thing I feel like this year we did great at is just like overcoming those things and being able to still come together as a team and still pull off a ‘W’ and everything.”

Even with the constant changes on defence, the Valkyries finished the WWCFL regular season with a 4-0 record. 

After the Winnipeg Wolfpack forfeited their WWCFL quarter-final to the Saskatoon side, the Valkyries (5-0 overall) are set to host a WWCFL semifinal against the Edmonton Storm (3-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The other WWCFL semifinal takes plays on Saturday in Calgary as the host Rage (3-1) take on the Winnipeg based Manitoba Fearless (4-1 overall). The Fearless downed the Regina Riot 20-13 in a WWCFL quarter-final contest held this past Sunday in Winnipeg.

The semifinal winners advance to the WWCFL champion game slated for Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. at SMF Field.

Wingate played a big role helping the Valkyries close their regular season schedule winning both games of a home-and-home series against the Riot. On May 28 at SMF Field, Wingate made an interception and had two total tackles helping the Valkyries post a 46-7 victory.

On June 4 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Wingate piled up 8.5 total tackles helping the Valkyries post a 33-14 victory over the Riot.

Valkyries head coach Pat Barry said Wingate has helped the Valkyries defence stay steady through adversity.

Jamie Wingate has taken on a leadership role on defence.

“When you think what our linebacking corps was going to look like at the beginning of the year, it is amazing with what Jamie (Wingate) has done for us,” said Barry. “She has stepped up.

“She has been a leader. She has so much fun out here. She is really starting to get it, and she is playing so well.

“It is something that is super exciting to how she has been for our linebacking corps.”

During her final two years of high school at Holy Cross, Wingate played in the Rush high school female flag league. Valkyries quarterback Alex Eyolfson was her teammate on those flag teams at Holy Cross.

Wingate played hockey, basketball and volleyball growing up, and basketball became her main sport at Holy Cross. Eyolfson and Wingate were teammates on the Holy Cross Crusaders senior girls’ basketball team and won a 5A Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association title in 2015.

Following her graduation from Holy Cross in 2015, Wingate played for the Medicine Hat College Rattlers Women’s Basketball team in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association ranks for a season and a half before deciding to end her competitive playing career.

She continues to coach basketball both at Holy Cross and in Saskatchewan’s provincial team system.

While she was coaching, Wingate wanted to get back into playing a sport competitively, but she didn’t want play through a sport that had a lengthy season. 

With the Valkyries playing all their games usually inside a three-month time period, Wingate decided to give tackle football a try. She had always wanted to play with the Valkyries since her high school days.

Jamie Wingate, right, loves the physical aspect of football.

Wingate joined the Valkyries after they had already played their first game in the 2019 season. She saw action in two regular season games and all of the team’s playoff contests helping them win the WWCFL title.

Wingate took to the sport immediately and enjoyed the fact everyone on the Valkyries were best friends. She found the contact side of the game fun too.

“Hitting people is very nice,” said Wingate. “You can ask anyone who played basketball against me or with me they know I’m a very aggressive person.

“I feel like it was just very suiting for my temperament. That is the one thing I like too is basically I don’t get in trouble for any of the stuff that I used to do in other sports that I would get in trouble for. It is also different than any other sport that I’ve played as well.”

During the second half of that 2019 season, Wingate remembers she tried to be there to help her teammates emotionally after defensive position coach Justin Filteau died in a plane crash on June 1 of that year. 

She was proud her team was able to win the WWCFL title that season after dedicating that campaign to Filteau’s memory.

Beating the host Riot 25-3 in the title game at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on June 29, 2019 will always be a highlight for Wingate.

“Being there with everyone was like super awesome,” said Wingate. “It was like great just like being on the Mosaic Field.

Jamie Wingate is good reading opposing offences.

“Just to have that experience was crazy to me. With Alex Eyolfson on the team, me and her we’ve won provincials and stuff in basketball. To be in a big CFL stadium like that was crazy, and the competition was really good too.

“It was just like a totally different game honestly than any other games that we played.”

Following the 2019 campaign, the 2020 and the 2021 WWCFL seasons were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world. The Valkyries managed to get on the field in 2021 playing a three-game exhibition series against the Riot winning every one of those contests.

In the second game of that series, Wingate returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown in a 42-7 victory at SMF Field on July 16, 2021.

Barry said Wingate has improved a lot since she first joined the Valkyries. When she first game to the team, Barry said the coaches through she would be a great fit at linebacker.

“She is a big fearless and physical athlete,” said Barry. “That is sort of the definition of linebacker.

“That is why she excels in that position.”

Wingate is looking forward to play the Storm on Sunday. When the regular season came to a close, Wingate said you could feel the level of play in practice has gone up a notch now that the playoff are here.

Jamie Wingate (#47) and the Valkyries aim for playoff success.

“It just seems like our intensity is up, and we’re really trying to focus and get everything down and make sure that we’re prepared for this game,” said Wingate. “Another big thing is like we’re not thinking about what is after this.

“We’re really focusing down on the team ahead of us and making sure we have them under control. Once we have that handled, then we can move on to the next team. It will be good.

“With the playoffs, obviously, we are a little nervous, but hopefully, we will be able to shake it off and take it to them.”

Former Valkyries star Chan makes homecoming with Storm

Ehjae Chan (#24) celebrates an interception in 2019.

Sunday’s WWCFL semifinal game at Saskatoon Minor Football Field will be a homecoming for Ehjae Chan.

Chan will be playing for the visiting Edmonton Storm when they take on the host Saskatoon Valkyries at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Before joining the Storm, Chan starred at linebacker and defensive back for the Valkyries for six seasons from 2014 to 2019 helping them win three WWCFL titles in 2014, 2016 and 2019.

Chan had an interception in the 2016 WWCFL Championship game when the Valkyries hammered the Storm 81-6 at the University of Lethbridge Community Stadium in Lethbridge, Alta.

In the 2019 WWCFL Championship game, Chan recorded two interceptions and three tackles helping the Valkyries down the host Regina Riot 25-3 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. The Valkyries dedicated that 2019 campaign to the memory of defensive position coach Justin Filteau, who passed away in a plane crash before Saskatoon’s final regular season game.

Filteau was on Chan’s mind, when she took part in a large post-game media scrum.

“This feels unreal, especially with everything that has happened this year, the adversity our team has experienced and overcome on this field,” said Chan. “It means so much like more than words can even express.

“For us to be here to have played in this game and pulled through, we really felt coach Filteau here today. This game was 100 per cent for him. I think for us it just felt fitting.”

Chan moved to Edmonton after the 2019 campaign came to a close. She is helping coach minor football in the Alberta capital along with returning to action and playing for the Storm this season.

Ehjae Chan (#24) celebrates the Valkyries 2019 WWCFL title win.

No matter where life takes her, she will always be part of the Valkyries family.

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Valkyries lock down first in WWCFL’s Prairie Conference

Saskatoon has monster day in the air in win over Regina

Sarah Wright (#88) is all smiles after making a second TD catch.

In football, sometimes the wide open play feels like it can be the hardest play to make.

On Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Saskatoon Valkyries were leading the visiting Regina Riot 15-0 midway through the second quarter, when an opportunity to make a big play came calling on offence. The Valkyries called a pass play that saw star running back Sarah Wright slip out of the backfield and jet down the right sideline on a deep route.

Valkyries star quarterback Alex Eyolfson launched a long distance throw hitting Wright, who didn’t have a defender anywhere in the vicinity around her. Wright took the reception to the house for 61-yard touchdown reception to put the Valkyries up 22-0.

Alex Eyolfson threw for 434 yards and four TDs for the Valkyries.

Saskatoon rolled from there for a 46-7 victory to improve to 3-0 and lock up first place in the WWCFL’s Prairie Conference with one regular season game remaining on their schedule. The Riot fell to 1-2 with the loss.

Eyolfson said she felt like that deep sideline touchdown toss to Wright was one of those plays that felt like everyone on offence was in the zone, but the signal caller admitted the potential is there to over think that situation.

“Sometimes those are hardest throws, when they are so open,” said Eyolfson. “I just saw it, and she was gone.

“It just felt right coming out of my hand, and I had lots of time. That was a fun one. I knew when she (Wright) got it she was gone.”

Sarah Wright caught seven passes for 195 yards and two TDs.

On that long touchdown toss, Wright said it can seem like the ball is in the air forever, when she was as wide open as she was. She only one thought when the ball came into her hands.

“I was just trying to make sure I didn’t drop it,” said Wright. “It was a great play.

“It was a lot of fun. It couldn’t have worked out better.”

Ultimately, the Valkyries made many big plays in the passing game in Saturday’s win over the Riot. Eyolfson completed 23-of-29 passes for 434 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.

Wright hauled in seven passes for 195 yards that included two major scores. She made an impact on the ground too carrying the ball 10 times for 84 yards and two touchdowns.

Makayla Sader (#8) made 7.5 total tackles for the Valkyries.

Third-year receiver Haley Girolami kept the first down sticks moving for the Valkyries too hauling in eight receptions for 134 yards and one touchdown.

Defensively, the Valkyries limited the Riot’s offence to 290 total yards. Regina piled up most of that total on the ground on big games from running backs Kasey McCombs and Rebekah Hove.

McCombs ran the ball 16 times for 110 yards and one touchdown, while Hove carried the rock 11 times for 119 yards.

Riot quarterback Shanelle Rioux completed 13-of-26 passes for 66 yards, while throwing two interceptions.

Defensively, defensive back Jackie Semple and middle linebacker Jamie Wingate had interceptions for the Valkyries, while third-year defensive tackle Carla Stevenson had a fumble recovery. 

Haley Girolami caught eight passes for 134 yards and one TD.

Second-year defensive halfback Makayla Sader led the Valkyries with 7.5 total tackles.

Veteran linebacker Ray-Lynn Schaffer topped the Riot with six total tackles. Defensive back Shantel Englot and Jaia Guy on the defensive line had fumble recoveries.

“I just love the tenacity and the resiliency of our team,” said Valkyries head coach Pat Barry. “They really do a good job of playing in the moment, worrying about the next play and trying to forget about the last play.

“We did make some mistakes today. I’m the special teams coordinator, and we’ve got some work to do. We have some things that we have to fix up.

“Regina has some talented players, so we have to be ready for that.”

Sarah Wright ran the ball 10 times for 84 yards and two TDs.

The Valkyries took an 8-0 lead in the first quarter off a 28-yard missed field goal single from kicker Drew Lundquist and two-yard touchdown run by Wright.

At the 5:42 mark of the second quarter, Eyolfson hit Girolami with a six-yard touchdown pass to increase the Valkyries advantage to 15-0. 

That set the stage for Eyolfson to hit Wright on the deep sideline route to push the Valkyries lead out to 22-0.

The Riot were able to get the Valkyries into some bad field position. After a bad Saskatoon punt, the Riot put together a short 29-yard touchdown drive to cut the Valkyries lead to 22-7.

McCombs capped the Riot scoring march with a 19-yard touchdown run with 1:21 remaining in the second quarter.

Kasey McCombs ran in the Riot’s lone TD.

Saskatoon responded with a well-executed two-minute drill drive capped by Wright scoring a two-yard rushing touchdown as the second quarter clock expired to give the Valkyries a 29-7 lead at halftime.

The Valkyries offensive surge continued with a 17-point outburst in the third quarter that rounded out the scoring in the contest. 

Just 1:40 into the third quarter, Eyolfson hit Wright with a short-range pass, and Wright took that reception 61 yards for Saskatoon’s third major score through the air in the contest to increase the host’s lead to 36-7.

“She (Wright) is so agile,” said Eyolfson. “She can run, catch and do everything.

The Valkyries defence limited the Riot to 290 total yards.

“It is fun to throw to her, and she can just run. She is a great player.”

Just over two minutes later, Eyolfson hit veteran receiver Ricki Obed with a 28-yard touchdown pass upping the Valkyries lead to 43-7. 

Before the third quarter expired, Lundquist hit a 25-yard field goal to round out the 46-7 final score in Saskatoon’s favour.

Due to the fact Saskatoon will host the WWCFL championship game on Saturday, June 25 at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Valkyries will have home-field advantage throughout the WWCFL playoffs thanks to their first place finish in the Prairie Conference.

Ricki Obed (#28) makes a catch on her way to a TD score.

“That is huge,” said Wright. “Having the crowd with us and cheering for us, it makes the environment and the game go by a lot quicker and a lot better.

“It just brings momentum too. It is really nice to know that we’ve clinched that spot.”

The Valkyries and Riot close out their respective regular season schedules with one more head-to-head encounter. The two sides go at it again this coming Saturday at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.

Barry said the Valkyries will look to reset this coming week to exit the regular season with a good outing.

“We’re going to be focusing on small goals,” said Barry. “We want to make sure that people who haven’t played a lot we have to make sure they play a lot.

The Valkyries celebrate their win over the Riot on Saturday.

“Having said that, we don’t have a big roster this year. A lot of people are playing a lot, and they are getting meaningful reps in games. We want to make sure that continues.”

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Veteran Kolosky achieves first as inspired Valkyries romp to win

Denise Kolosky returns an interception for a touchdown.

    Denise Kolosky achieved a feat at defensive end she was never able to capture as a linebacker.

    On Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the eight-year veteran with the Saskatoon Valkyries hit the highlight reel with a defensive score.

    Lining up at defensive end late in the second quarter of a Western Women’s Canadian Football League quarter-final game against the Winnipeg Wolfpack, Kolosky dropped into a passing lane and picked off quarterback Rebecka Clark.

    Kolosky dashed 36 yards up the right sideline for a touchdown. It marked the first time she returned an interception for a major score in her football career.

    The score put the Valkyries up 57-0 as they cruised to a 66-0 victory.

    Saskatoon came out with an inspired effort playing for late defensive position coach Justin Filteau, who passed away tragically in a plane crash on June 1. Filteau coached the defensive line this season having previously coached the linebackers since he joined the club’s coaching staff in 2017.

The Valkyries celebrate a touchdown from Denise Kolosky (#44).

    “We all wanted to play for (Justin) Filteau today,” said Kolosky. “That little interception was for him just to show the D-line is athletic too and we can get it done.”

    Kolosky couldn’t believe how fast her pick six developed.

    “It just happened,” said Kolosky. “I caught it, and I was ‘go!’ That was it.

    “I was just thinking don’t look back. That is a huge milestone for me, a huge one. I love it.”

    During a contest where numerous members of the Valkyries had big games, head coach Pat Barry pleased that Kolosky was able to have a big moment with a defensive score.

    “I’m so happy for Denise,” said Barry. “She is one of my favourite people that I know not just in football.

Emmarae Dale (#45) nails a Wolfpack ball carrier.

    “She is such a high quality person. I really admire her. She is tough, and she is physical.

    “She is great mom to her family. Her kids are always running around here with (her husband) Colin (Kolosky). She is a great lady. I’m very proud of her.”

    The Valkyries shot out of the gate quickly in Sunday’s post-season clash. Just 64 seconds into the opening quarter, star running back Sam Matheson ripped off a 40-yard touchdown run down the right sideline to give the Valkyries a 6-0 lead.

    Just over four minutes later, quarterback Alex Eyolfson hit rookie receiver Haley Girolami on a 43-yard bomb pass to extend the Valkyries edge to 13-0.

    With 2:36 remaining in the opening quarter, running back Sarah Wright ran home a touchdown from seven yards out to put the Valkyries up 20-0. Matheson added a single from a missed field goal from 27 yards out as time expired in the first quarter to give the hosts a 21-0 lead.

Sarah Wright (#88) dashes home on a 42-yard touchdown run.

    Saskatoon proceeded to score 43 points in the second quarter to go up 64-0.

    Sophomore receiver Danielle Girolami hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarter Reed Thorstad. Matheson added her second major on a 12-yard run.

    Wright ripped of a 42-yard touchdown run. The Wolfpack conceded a safety.

    Rookie running back Natasha Englot ran in a pair of touchdowns from one and 10 yards out. Kolosky had her interception return for a major score between Englot’s two touchdowns.

    The Valkyries rounded the game’s scoring in the second half with a 31-yard punt single from Rienna Rueve in the third quarter and a 27-yard punt single from Matheson in the fourth quarter.

Rienna Rueve (#7) returns an interception for the Valkyries.

    Rueve hit seven out of nine conversion attempts.

    Wright had the biggest game of the day offensively for the Valkyries carrying the ball nine times for 120 yards to go with her two scores.

    “We were doing fairly well blocking,” said Wright. “Once we kind of got in a groove, everything was starting to fall into place.”

    Wright said it has been fun to run behind a veteran offensive line including right tackle Betsy Mawdsley, right guard Lauren Ferguson, centre Eden Rakochy, left guard Ashley Viklund and left tackle Alyssa Funk.

    “They are just trying to improve all the time,” said Wright. “It is awesome that they are doing everything they can to get us as many yards as they can.”

Members of the Saskatoon Hilltops are out supporting the Valkyries.

    Matheson had a great day as well finishing with 86 yards rushing on only five carried to go with her two scores.

    Defensively, middle linebacker Emmarae Dale topped the Valkyries with 9.5 total tackles. Linebacker Jamie Wingate had a sack, while Dayna Bear and Danaye Holynski split a sack on the defensive line.

    Rueve had an interception from her safety position.

    Defensive back Mobina Mosallat topped the Wolfpack with 8.5 total tackles.

    Barry thought his team’s performance on Sunday was a fitting way to honour Filteau’s memory. 

Sam Matheson (#22) ran in two rushing touchdowns for the Valkyries.

    The Valkyries have dedicated their season to Filteau, who was a standout at linebacker for both the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops and U Sports’ University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

    “Justin (Filteau) did a lot for us,” said Barry. “To not have him there was very difficult this week.

    “I was very happy with the players today. He would have enjoyed it. Even a lot of the music we have going on right now, Justin (Filteau) loved these songs.

    “It is not an accident that they have it playing. It is pretty exciting.”

    With the win, the Valkyries, who were 4-0 in the regular season, improve their overall record to 6-0. The Wolfpack, who were 0-4 in the regular season, finish at 0-5 overall.

    The Valkyries advance to host a WWCFL semifinal game against the Lethbridge Steel (3-2 overall) on June 23 at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.

    The other semifinal features the defending WWCFL champion Regina Riot (2-3 overall) taking on the Edmonton Storm (4-1 overall) in the Alberta capital. That contest will be played either on June 22 or 23.

The Valkyries celebrate their win over the Wolfpack.

    The WWCFL championship game is slated for June 29 in Regina.

    Kolosky is looking forward to the fact the Valkyries will continue their playoff run and said it never gets old being a member of Saskatoon’s WWCFL team.

    “It is amazing the love you feel from each and every player,” said Kolosky. “All the hugs I got after my interception touchdown, it was awesome. I can’t explain it.”

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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