Plaza of Honour induction cements Hughes as ’Riders great

Neal Hughes is pictured with a couple of young fans in 2011.

    Neal Hughes received a big stamp of approval as one of the Saskatchewan Roughriders all-time greats for representing the team with class on and off the field for 11 seasons.

    On Thursday, Hughes was inducted into the Saskatchewan Roughriders Plaza of Honour along with former teammate Kerry Joseph at a dinner and reception on Thursday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

    Hughes was a fullback and ace special teams player for the Roughriders playing in 140 regular season games from 2004 to 2014. He played in the Roughriders Grey Cup victories in 2007 and 2013 and Grey Cup setbacks in 2009 and 2010.

    Back when the now 39-year-old suited up with the Roughriders, he was the perfect person you wanted representing the team in community.

    Growing up in Regina, Hughes dreamed of playing for the Roughriders.

    His favourite players were Tim McCray, Tom Burgess, Willis Jacox, Orville Lee, Jeff Fairholm, Don Narcisse, Eddie Lowe and Bobby Jurasin. Hughes often wore Jurasin’s trademark bandana.

    At age seven, Hughes joined a minor football team in Regina called the Razorbacks. From that start, his amateur career as a star running back took off.

    Hughes moved on to play in the Regina high school with the Thom Collegiate Trojans. He joined the Regina Rams in 1998 and helped them close out their history in the Canadian Junior Football League by winning a 15^th and final CJFL title.
    Hughes moved with the Rams to the U Sports ranks as the University of Regina Rams playing five seasons from 1999 to 2003. He helped the Rams advance to the 2000 Vanier Cup falling 42-39 in that season’s U Sports title game to the University of Ottawa Gee Gees.

A Roughriders’ promo picture of Neal Hughes.

    While he accomplished a lot with the Rams, there were no guarantees that Hughes would have a career at the CFL. When Hughes finished his time with the Rams, it wasn’t a common practise for CFL teams to take a chance on Canadian born running backs. A lot of times, those running backs were converted to be fullbacks, but it was custom for those careers to run three or four years.

    Hughes was invited to Roughriders training in 1999 under junior territorial rules due to the fact the Rams hadn’t played their first university level game. Even that invite didn’t guarantee a possible future playing in the CFL.

    After no one selected him in the 2004 CFL Draft, Hughes signed as a free agent with the Roughriders. He ended up playing in 14 regular season games and both of the Roughriders playoff contests in that rookie campaign.

    During training camp, Hughes proved he was versatile showing that he could run the ball, be a receiver, return kicks and cover well on special teams. In Week 10 of the 2004 campaign, Hughes replaced an injured Paul McCallum as the team’s punter and averaged 35.0 yards on two kicks.

    Through his CFL career, Hughes mainly focused on blocking duties as a fullback or from a tight end position and covered kicks on special teams.

    The home-grown product did get a handful of chances to produce yards as a rusher or receiver. Hughes, who stood 5-foot-10 and weighed 210 pounds, ran the ball 70 times for 277 yards and scored eight touchdowns in regular season play.

    He hauled in 46 passes for 505 yards and scored six majors, while returning 18 kickoffs for 246 yards and one punt for 21 yards in regular season action.

    It seems fitting Hughes entered the Plaza of Honour along with Joseph, who was the Roughriders star quarterback that won CFL Most Outstanding Player honours during the team’s 2007 Grey Cup winning campaign.

    The two combined for a big moment in the 2007 West Final against the British Columbia Lions in Vancouver, B.C. Near the midway point of the third quarter, Hughes hauled in a two-yard scoring reception on a play action pass play from Joseph to put the Roughriders up 20-10.

    That would be the only major score Hughes would account for in post-season play, but it proved to be the winning points in a 26-17 victory to send the Roughriders to the Grey Cup.

Neal Hughes (#32) signs a young fan’s jersey in 2010.

    Looking back, that score proved to be a major get over the hump moment as the Roughriders had fallen in the West Final in 2003, 2004 and 2006.
    In the 2007 Grey Cup in Toronto, Ont., the Roughriders downed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19.

    Hughes was a part of the fairy tale night for Rider Nation in the 101^st Grey Cup on November 24, 2013. Playing in front of a sellout crowd of 44,710 spectators at Taylor Field, the Roughrider blasted the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 45-23.

    Hughes carried the ball three times for 32 yards in front of his hometown crowd.

    Away from the field, Hughes did pretty much every community appearance the Roughriders requested of him on behalf of the team.

    Now, his names will be listed for all-time along with most of his childhood heroes on the Plaza of Honour. It will forever be the type of thanks that goes beyond what could be dreamed of.

Confirmed – “Sarge” on the verge of 200 wins with Hilltops

Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant is closing in on 200 career wins.

    If anyone needed any further confirmation, Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant is indeed on the verge of recording his 200^th career win.

    On Wednesday, veteran Saskatoon StarPhoenix sports staffer Kevin Mitchell typed a story that said Sargeant has 199 career wins including play in the regular season and post-season in the Canadian Junior Football League.

    I actually went through and double checked the numbers on Thursday, and Mitchell does have everything bang on. He listed the year-by-year regular season and post-season records the Hilltops had with Sargeant as head coach, and all of those were bang on.

    That included catching facts that the Hilltops had a bye in the Prairie Football Conference final after a first place regular season finish in 1999 due to the fact there were four teams in the PFC that season.

    Including action in the regular season and playoffs, Sargeant indeed has a 199-30-2 record as the Hilltops head coach. The 54-year-old’s record in the regular season is 148-21-2 and is 51-9 in the post-season.

    The Hilltops have won 12 CJFL titles with Sargeant guiding the team as head coach. Saskatoon has won the last five straight CJFL titles and has an active league record 16-game winning streak going in the post-season.

Brian Towriss tops the U Sports list of head coaching wins at 196.

    The Hilltops will try to help Sargeant collect his 200^th win on Sunday, when they travel to Regina to take on the Thunder at 3 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium in a battle of 1-0 teams.

    Saskatoon has won its last 20 straight overall games in a row and last 24 straight in a row on the road include three victories in the CJFL title game - The Canadian Bowl.

    While the Hilltops have turned over a number of players in their starting lineup, you can bet their players will be motivated to get that milestone win for their head coach.

    Sargeant is by far the all-time leader in CJFL victories be it regular season, post-season or both.

    His win total has surpassed the total put up legendary former University of Saskatchewan Huskies head coach in Canadian Football Hall of Fame member Brian Towriss at the U Sports level.

    Towriss in the all-time leader in U Sports coaching victories posting 196 wins between the regular season and post-season. Coaching the Huskies from 1984 to 2016, Towriss posted a 167-96-1 regular season record and a 29-22 post-season record for a 196-118-1 combined slate.

    Under his guidance, the Huskies won the Vanier Cup as U Sports national champions on three occasions in 1990, 1996 and 1998.

Rams’ McCrystal the wins king at 208

Frank McCrystal, seen here in 2000, has 208 wins as Rams head coach.

    When it comes to Canadian amateur football in the post-secondary ranks, the 199 career wins in both the regular season and playoffs by Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant are surpassed by only one man.

    Frank McCrystal piled up 208 career wins as head coach of the Regina Rams in the regular season and playoffs from 1984 to 2014. McCrystal piled up his win total during the Rams final 15 seasons in the Canadian Junior Football League from 1984 to 1998 and the Rams first 16 seasons in the U Sports ranks as the University of Regina Rams from 1999 to 2014.

    In the CJFL, McCrystal posted a 104-17-1 record in the regular season and a 37-8 record in the post-season as the Rams head coach. The Rams won seven CJFL titles under McCrystal’s guidance in 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1998.

    In U Sports, McCrystal posted a 60-67-1 record in the regular season and a 7-12 record in the post-season as the Rams head coach. The Rams made the U Sports title game – the Vanier Cup – once under McCrystal’s watch falling 42-39 in the 2000 Vanier Cup to the U of Ottawa Gee Gees.

    Combining his records from the CJFL and U Sports, McCrystal posted a 208-104-2 mark as the Rams head coach. That record does not include the Rams 22-17 victory over the U of Alberta Golden Bears at Taylor Field on Sept. 7, 1985 in an exhibition tilt, when the Regina side was still in the CJFL.

    Sargeant is the all-time wins leader in the history of the CJFL posting a 199-30-2 mark in both the regular season and playoffs.

    Former U of Saskatchewan Huskies football team head coach Brian Towriss in the all-time leader in U Sports head coaching victories posting a 196-118-1 record combined in the regular season and post-season.

A picture of Gord Currie from his celebration of life.

    Legendary Regina Rams head coach in the late Gord Currie would be the fourth member on the Mount Rushmore of amateur football coaches in Saskatchewan along with McCrystal, Sargeant and Towriss.

    Currie, who is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, guided the Rams as head coach from 1965 to 1976 in the CJFL posting a 76-20-1 record in the regular season and a 35-9 record in the post-season for a combined slate of 111-29-1.

    Under his guidance, the Rams won six CJFL titles coming in 1966, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1976.

    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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Durant doesn’t rule out returning to CFL

Darian Durant speaks at the In the End Zone Dinner.

    It was the question everyone wanted Darian Durant to answer.

    How much fun was it to DJ at Gabbo’s Nightclub after winning the 2011 Labour Day Classic?

    Speaking to a packed banquet room in the clubhouse building at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the legendary former Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback grinned and answered the query at the Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner on Saturday night.

    “It was nice,” said Durant. “It took it way back with that one.

    “You know 2011 was a rough year, and after getting that win in the Labour Day Classic, I think that was when (head) coach (Ken) Miller came back for his first game after his retirement. I was just happy to get a win.

    “It was just a regular party, and Gabbo’s was the place to be.”

    Durant was the guest speaker at Saturday’s dinner, where the net proceeds go towards scholarships and bursaries for Hilltops players. A question and answer session was part of the program.

    Of course, the 36-year-old from Florence, South Carolina, was asked if he would return to play in the CFL during the Q and A session. Durant announced his retirement on May 11.

    “You just never know,” said Durant. “I remember we were talking at the table when Kerry Joseph came back in 2014, (and) he came back right before the playoffs.”

Darian Durant, left, shares a laugh with Dave Thomas.

    The signal caller, who played 12 seasons in the CFL, said he retired because his wife gave birth to the couple’s first child in daughter, Amayah Taylor. Amayah Taylor was named after the Roughriders former storied home park, Taylor Field.

    “I wanted to be there every step of the way,” said Durant, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 214 pounds. “Now that she is a little bit older, I am kind of itching a little bit.

    “The feeling is coming back, so we’ll what it holds here in a couple of weeks and who may need a quarterback for a playoff run.”

    He was also asked if he thought about coaching.

    “I thought about being the offensive coordinator of the ‘Riders right now,” said Durant, who played for the Roughriders from 2006 to 2016. “Of course, I have my differences with Chris Jones, but I want to see the organization win no question about it.

    “It seems that they need some offensive help (with) the way the defence is playing and special teams is scoring touchdowns. If we can score some offensive touchdowns, we have a Grey Cup team.”

Darian Durant celebrates scoring a touchdown in 2016.

    If Durant was to return to the CFL, that move has to run through the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who still have the signal caller under contract. After playing the 2017 CFL season with the Montreal Alouettes, Durant was released by that club and signed a one-year deal with the Bombers.

    His separation from the Winnipeg side was a messy one as those associated with the Bombers howled at the fact Durant kept a $70,000 signing bonus. The contract with the Bombers expires in February of 2019.

    Besides the serious queries, Durant was asked questions that were more on the humourous side including his thoughts on end zone dances, giving advice on who to start on a fantasy football team and which Roughriders mom made the best cookies.

    Durant said Karen Newman, who is the mother of Durant’s former teammate and Hilltops alum Graig Newman, made the best cookies.

    “I’ll always remember those cookies,” said Durant, who looked towards Karen Newman in giving his response. “Thank you so much.”

    The man who quarterback the Roughriders to a 45-23 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2013 Grey Cup at Taylor Field was asked what he thought about social media.

    “Some guys are just outspoken,” said Durant, who was a reserve quarterback on the Roughriders 2007 Grey Cup championship team. “Some guys don’t know how to express themselves.

Darian Durant (#4) fires a pass down the seam in 2016.

    “I think social media gives you a platform to interact with your fans and interact with people who may never be able to speak to you. It can also be a downfall, because when things aren’t going your way, sometimes you get out of character and say things you don’t mean.

    “I’ve been guilty of that. I’ve been fined numerous times by the league for social media rants. It can be good and bad.”

    When he was asked to do an impersonation of current Roughriders head coach and general manager Chris Jones, Durant played that offer down.

    “I think someone is trying to get me in trouble here,” said Durant with a chuckle. “They probably have their phone recording what I am saying right now.”

    Jones held his current role during Durant’s final season with the Roughriders in 2016. Durant offered up his thoughts on Jones, who has the Roughriders sitting second in the West Division at 8-5.

    “I think he is an excellent coach,” said Durant. “The business side of things we just didn’t see eye-to-eye.

    “You just have to respect that. He is in a position of power, and you have to respect your boss and that is just how that went.”

Darian Durant (#4) throws a pass into the flat in 2016.

    With the Roughriders, Durant sits second in team history for career pass attempts (3,584), completions (2,226), yards (28,507) and touchdown passes (152).

    During his 12 seasons in the CFL, he completed 2,500 out of 4001 passes for 31,740 yards, 167 touchdown passes and 115 interceptions.

    Durant closed the question and answer session saying he was pumped to have had the opportunity to be the guest speaker that night for the dinner to help Saskatoon’s storied Canadian Junior Football League club.

    “I always enjoy coming to Saskatoon,” said Durant. “The tradition here is just amazing.

    “I’ve just been hearing about the success that this Hilltops squad has been having over the years. The commitment to excellence starts here. You guys pave the way for these kids.

    “You guys make it possible. I just want to thank you guys for having me. Keep pushing these kids to not only be the best on the field, but off the field as well.”

    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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Durant trade ends era for Roughriders

The Roughriders traded Darian Durant to Montreal.

    Darian Durant couldn’t play for the Saskatchewan Roughriders forever, but his departure is something most fans in Rider Nation are still digesting.

    Early Friday morning, news spread quickly that the Roughriders traded Durant’s CFL rights to the Montreal Alouettes in exchange for a fourth round selection (32^nd overall) in this year’s CFL Draft and a conditional selection in next year’s draft. Montreal has until Feb. 14 to sign Durant, or the veteran franchise quarterback can become a free agent.

    Durant, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 214 pounds, had been with the Roughriders for 11 seasons and became the club’s unquestioned starter in 2009. He was part of the Roughriders 2007 Grey Cup championship team as a backup to Kerry Joseph and powered the Roughriders to a Grey Cup championship at home as a starter in 2013. The Florence, South Carolina, product also started for the Roughriders in heartbreaking Grey Cup losses in 2009 and 2010.

    Injuries also kept Durant off the field for significant time in 2014 and 2015.

    Way back on July 12, 2008, Durant made his first start with the Roughriders and threw them to a thrilling 33-28 road victory over the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton. From 2009 to 2014, he was part of a core group of players that powered the “green and white” to success year after year including Weston Dressler, John Chick, Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg, Mike McCullough and Neal Hughes.

    Out of that group, only Bagg remains. Last season, Durant and Bagg were the two lengthy veteran mainstays.

Darian Durant runs in a winning overtime TD for the Roughriders.

    Other key figures that passed through the Roughriders during Durant’s era included Gene Makowsky, Ben Heenan, Ty Brackenridge, Andy Fantuz, Tristan Jackson, Eddie Davis, Lance Frazier and Ricky Foley. At the moment, the Roughriders don’t have a face for the franchise. Arguably, veteran offensive linemen Brendon LaBatte and Chris Best are the team’s two most recognizable players.

    Outside of the past two seasons, most of Durant’s time with the Roughriders is linked with winning. It seems like only yesterday that Durant hooked up with Getzlaf on a long touchdown toss with less than two minutes to play to beat the Stampeders in Calgary 24-23, but that game was actually played on Aug. 1, 2009.

    Later that season, Durant watched from the sidelines when the Roughriders fell 28-27 to the Alouettes due to the infamous too many men call at the end of the game. That penalty gave a second chance for the Als to kick a winning field goal after the first attempt was missed. Had the miss stood, the Roughriders would have won that contest.

    The 34-year-old leaves the Roughriders sitting second in team history for career pass attempts (3,584), completions (2,226), yards (28,507) and touchdown passes (152).

    Durant’s legacy is more than just numbers. Being the starting quarterback of the Roughriders might be the hardest job in the CFL due to intense fan scrutiny, and Durant exceled at it. He became a fan favourite despite still having a few vocal detractors.

    In social settings, he always put his teammates in front of himself ensuring they were having a good time. During Durant’s years with the team, I had a few buds that played with the Roughriders over the years, and I got to see that part up close. That is a big sign of a good leader.

Darian Durant fires a pass downfield for the Roughriders.

    At the moment, the Roughriders don’t seem to have a successor in place for Durant. Saskatchewan head coach and general manager Chris Jones needs to find the team’s next franchise quarterback.

    Set to begin play at new Mosaic Stadium, the Roughriders need to surpass their 5-13 record from 2016, or the heat Jones feels now will really get out of control. If you are going to make a move to unload a player of Durant’s status and quality, you better have a guy waiting in the wings to do the job.

    When the NFL’s Green Bay Packers parted way with Brett Favre in 2008, Aaron Rodgers was ready to become the Packers starting quarterback. The Roughriders are not in that type of situation.

    With the way Jones has handed roster moves during his first season with the team, he doesn’t inspire confidence like a Wally Buono, John Hufnagel or the late Cal Murphy.

    It appears more rough times still await the Roughriders.

Wickenheiser calls it a career

A story on Hayley Wickenheiser from the 2013 Medicine Hat News.

    It was a low-key retirement announcement that was classic Hayley Wickenheiser.

    On Friday, the Canadian hockey icon announced over Twitter she was leaving the game. The Tweet included a photo of her relaxing on a bench by an outdoor rink.

    The 38-year-old wrote, “Dear Canada. It has been the great honour of my life to play for you. Time to hang em up!! Thank you! #grateful #graduationday #canada.”

    You would expect someone of Wickenheiser’s stature to announce her retirement at a huge news conference at the headquarters of Hockey Canada in Calgary. With that said, that isn’t her style. When news of Durant’s trade broke, you almost think Wickenheiser went into action to make her retirement announcement now in order to try and avoid being the centre of attention.

    The Shaunavon, Sask., product first made Canada’s senior national women’s hockey team at age 15 in 1994, and was part four Olympic gold medal winning squads and one Olympic silver medal winning team.

    I remember catching up with her for a story in the Medicine Hat News in October of 2013, when Canada’s women’s team was preparing for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. It was conceivable that Wickenheiser might play in the 2018 Winter Olympics, but it was highly realistic 2014 could be her last run. Canada’s national team system was being filled with numerous talented young players.

    At that time, Wickenheiser said she hadn’t made any decisions on her future but admitted to having little nostalgic moments.

    I asked her what it was like to be idolized by girls across Canada, and I received a unique response. Wickenheiser said she was glad female athletes in Canada have a lot of role models to look up to in sport.

    “When I grew up, I didn’t have female role models really in sport,” said Wickenheiser at the time. “Now there is myself and all the girls that I play with and players like Christine Sinclair in soccer.

    “You’ve got a lot of different female athletes that are high profile now in Canada, and that is really good for young girls that are coming up in sports.”

    Words aren’t enough to describe the impact Wickenheiser has had on the sporting scene in Canada. Here is hoping the next step of her life is as successful and rewarding as her playing days, and she gets into the Hockey Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

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

Roughriders "Reign of Error" look needs to go

The circle "S" logo on retro uniforms brings bad luck.

    On August 31, 2014, the Saskatchewan Roughriders made an error that brought back the ghosts of the “Reign of Error.”

    The Roughriders took the field for the Labour Day Classic that day sporting their classic green uniforms with the two white arm stripes on each shoulder and green helmets showing off their traditional circle logo with the “S.” Unfortunately, there was one noticeable difference a superstitious fan would notice about the retro look in this game that was unsettling.

    When the Roughriders first brought back these classic retro uniforms in the 2007, they were looking to mirror a look the team had from the late 1960s through the 1970s during the glory days of when Ron Lancaster quarterbacked the club and George Reed powered the team on the ground at fullback. 

    In a match that was a tribute of that era, the Roughriders wore those throwbacks in the 2007 Labour Day Classic, where quarterback Kerry Joseph ran in the game-winning touchdown from 27 yards out in the final seconds to give the Green and White a thrilling 31-26 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

    The retro uniforms the Roughriders wore in 2007 did not contain a team logo and sported each players’ number on the sleeve of the upper arm. This look was widely recognized as the club’s 1970s look, and the Roughriders often wore these throwbacks for special occasions in the regular season and key games in the post-season. That included crushing the Blue Bombers in the 2012 Labour Day Classic 52-0.

    When those uniforms were brought back as alternates 2007, the Roughriders went on to make four Grey Cup appearances, which included wins in 2007 and at home in 2013.

    Unfortunately, there was a change in the look of these retro uniforms in the 2014 Labour Day Classic. The numbers on the sleeve on the upper arm were replaced with the classic circle logo with the “S.” The numbers were moved to the shoulder area.

The retro uniforms with no logo and numbers on sleeve bring good luck.

    With those subtle moves, the retro uniforms went from bringing back memories of the glory era of Lancaster and Reed to bringing back memories of the “Reign of Error,” when the Roughriders missed the playoffs for 11 straight years from 1977 to 1987. The Roughriders wore their classic green uniforms complete with the circle “S” logo on the sleeve on the upper arm through most of that unsuccessful span.

    That look is viewed as the look of the unsuccessful era of the early to mid-1980s. While wearing that look, the Roughriders once got bombed 56-0 by the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg on July 5, 1986. For all intents and purposes, that look is a cursed look.

    The cursed look didn’t bite the Roughriders right away, when they wore the retros with the circle “S” logo for the 2014 Labour Day Classic. In a thriller, Roughriders running back Anthony Allen delivered the hosts to a 35-30 victory over the Blue Bombers with a major in the last seconds. Saskatchewan improved to 7-2 with that victory.

    While the Roughriders don’t wear those uniforms all the time, the superstitious fan saw the door open to allow a string of bad things to fall the Roughriders way.

The Roughriders retro jerseys with circle "S" logo on sleeve are cursed.

    The curse struck in the team’s very next game on September 7, 2014. The Roughriders downed the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg that day 30-24 to improve to 8-2, but Saskatchewan lost franchise quarterback and Grey Cup hero Darian Durant to injury. He tore a tendon in his right elbow.

    That injury occurred when the officials didn’t blow a play dead with certainty in a loud Investors Group Field, which saw half of the players stop and half continue on the play. Bombers defensive end Bryant Turner continued with the play and nailed Durant to cause the injury.

    Since that game, the Roughriders have posted an unspectacular 5-25 record including regular season and playoffs. Durant returned for the regular season opener in 2015, but he was lost before halftime after rupturing his left Achilles tendon shortly before halftime on a non-contact play. He missed the rest of the 2015 campaign, which saw the Roughriders sit in the basement of the CFL with an awful 3-15 mark.

    In the Roughriders 0-3 start in 2016, Durant played the full first two games before leaving Saturday’s 40-27 loss to the B.C. Lions at Mosaic Stadium in the second quarter due to a severe left ankle sprain on a low hit. The Roughriders were ahead 10-7 when Durant left and were even up 23-10 at halftime before the wheels fell off.

These Roughriders classic retros with no logo should always be worn.

    During most of the 25 losses the Roughriders have suffered in their last 30 games, they have usually fallen in some sort of heartbreaking fashion. It seems the team can’t get a break.

    When they decide to wear throwbacks, they usually turn to their classic green uniforms with the circle “S” logo. The purpose of having the team logo on a uniform helps cement brand recognition. Unfortunately in the case of the Roughriders retro uniforms, it brings back the stench of a bad era, when the team almost folded.

    To make things clear, the Roughriders classic retro throwbacks with the circle “S” logo on the upper sleeve of the jersey are cursed, and they cause the team to be cursed when in use.

    The Roughriders classic retro throwbacks with no logo and the players’ numbers on the sleeve of the upper arm are good and lucky. Saskatchewan needs wear this retro look from here on out to no longer be cursed.

    That is my thought process, and I am sticking to it.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this kind of irrational fan-type post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

Huskies finally light lamp

Kandace Cook takes a draw for the Huskies.

            The University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Hockey team was definitely fond of red for one night.

            The Huskies players might never have felt so relieved than to see the red lap behind the opposition net light up three times like it did Saturday night.

            During the early portion of the regular season, the defending Canada West champs struggled to put the puck in the net. Those struggles continued during their home opener on Friday night, when they raised their conference championship banner at the Rutherford Rink. The Dogs fired 31 shots on goal and came away falling 4-0 to the University of Alberta Pandas.

            After that loss to the Pandas, the Huskies had scored six goals in five games.

            On Saturday night, the Pandas took a 1-0 lead on a goal from Ashley Morin early in the first period. The Huskies then broke their jinx around the opposing goal scoring twice to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.

            Rookie Chelsea Wilson popped home the first goal, while Kandace Cook slid home the second tally on a nice individual rush. Those goals really seemed to give a lift to the Huskies side.

            Jessica Kampjes scored for the Pandas at the 8:09 mark of the second to force a 2-2 tie. Cook put the Huskies ahead for good scoring on the power play before the second ended putting her side up 3-2, which stood as the final outcome.

            Lindsey Post stopped 32 shots suffering the loss in goal for the Pandas (4-2), while Cassidy Hendricks made 36 stops earning the win in goal for the Huskies (3-3).

            While three goals isn’t a huge number to post on the scoreboard, it is a big number to put up on the Pandas, who are a traditional CIS powerhouse in women’s hockey. The surge marked the most goals the Huskies put in the back of the net since downing the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 5-4 in a shootout in the season opener for both teams on Oct. 3 in Vancouver.

            The surge against the Pandas doesn’t totally eliminate the Huskies scoring woes. Only six different players have found the back of the net so far this season, so there is still a whole host of other players in search of their first tally of the season. As a collective, the team has to feel a gorilla was slammed to the ground.

            Now the task is to duplicate and improve on Saturday’s effort this coming weekend against another tough opponent.

            The Huskies host the 4-0-2 University of Calgary Dinos at 7 p.m. on both this coming Friday and Saturday nights. The Dinos roster contains Hayley Wickenheiser, who is an icon on Canada’s national women’s team.

            Wickenheiser, who is in her fourth year of eligibility, completed her kinesiology degree last year and is enrolled in graduate studies. She had been attempting to get into medical school. 

Victory costly for Hilltops

Wayndel Lewis (#22) on the run for the Hilltops.

            Let the Wayndel Lewis watch begin.

            The Saskatoon Hilltops blasted the Winnipeg Rifles 43-13 on Sunday in what was a costly playoff victory at the Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Toppers advanced to host the Prairie Football Conference final against the Calgary Colts this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at SMF.

            In the win over the Rifles, the Hilltops lost Lewis, who is their star tailback, on their first offensive series of the second half. Lewis rushed for 90 yards on 14 carries before leaving with an injured left ankle.

            He had an outstanding regular season leading the PFC with 1,063 yards rushing on 130 carries, while scoring nine touchdowns.

            If Lewis in unable to go against the Colts, Logan Fischer will likely carry the bulk of the load at tailback against the Colts. 

Home sweet home for Huskies soccer

Jenelle Zapski of the Huskies.

            It will be playoff Sunday on the soccer pitch at PotashCorp Park.

            Both U of S Huskies soccer teams will host Canada West single-elimination quarter-final matches. The men’s team entered the final weekend of regular season play already guaranteed first place in the Prairies Division.

They closed the regular campaign on a stumble falling 2-1 and drawing 2-2 against the Mount Royal University Cougars last Saturday and Sunday respectively. The Huskies posted their best regular season finish ever at 9-1-2, while the Cougars were tied with Thompson Rivers for last overall in Canada West at 2-8-2.

The women’s team finished up posting 3-0 and 3-1 victories over the U of Regina Cougars on Saturday and Sunday respectively at PotashCorp Park. The wins vaulted the Huskies to second in the Prairies Division with a 7-2-3 mark.

In the two wins, third year Huskies striker Jenelle Zapski scored four goals to finish the regular season with a team record 14 tallies. The previous regular season record for goals was 11 scored by Elizabeth Hudon in the 2010 campaign.

This coming Sunday, the Huskies women’s team hosts the MacEwan Griffiths (7-3-2) at 12 p.m., and the Huskies men’s team takes on the University of Winnipeg Wesmen (4-7-1) at 2:15 p.m.

Riders looked better with Joseph

Kerry Joseph (#5) calls signals for the Roughriders.

            Oh, the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

            The CFL team everyone in Saskatchewan loves, and a team that appears to also have a million general managers, when you read various social media feeds or listen to call-in shows.

            There was definite dejection by the green and white faithful, when the Riders dropped their fourth in a row, with the latest setback being a 24-19 decision to the Edmonton Eskimos on Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.

            The Roughriders dropped to 9-7, but the offence looked better with 41-year-old veteran quarterback Kerry Joseph at the controls. Joseph’s statistics weren’t going to blow you away. He was 17-for-36 passing for 213 yards, two touchdown throws and two interceptions.

            The starting signal caller for the team’s 2007 Grey Cup championship season looked a lot more in control and poised compared to Tino Sunseri and Seth Doege.

            The Roughriders lost starting quarterback Darian Durant due to an arm injury in a 30-24 road victory over the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg on Sept. 7. Saskatchewan was 8-2 after that victory.

            Since Durant went down, the quarterback position was influx, which lead to Joseph’s signing. The loss to the Eskimos was Joseph’s first start this season, and his stats would have been a lot better outside of a number of drops by the receivers. The drop problem also occurred this season with Durant throwing pinpoint passes as well.

            Joseph, who had originally retired in the off-season having last suited up for the Eskimos, gives the Roughriders their best chance to win now. If Durant can’t return this season, the Roughriders would be best advised to go with Joseph, who was the CFL’s most outstanding player in 2007, the rest of the way. With Joseph, the Roughriders have a more realistic shot of making a championship run this season as an underdog as opposed to Sunseri and Doege, who have been inconsistent.

           

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