Nyhus is “the face” of Huskie Athletics at U of S

Fifth-year QB candidate for Hec Crighton Trophy

Mason Nyhus warms up for the 2021 Canada West final.

Mason Nyhus is achieving a rarity for a Canadian university sports athlete these days – he is becoming well known.

Nyhus is the fifth-year star quarterback for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team, and since seemingly Week 2 of the U Sports regular season, the 24-year-old’s name has been mentioned as a candidate for the Hec Crighton Trophy, which is given to the U Sports football player of the year.

In the Huskies 5-0 start, Nyhus, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 215 pounds, has been impressive playing out his final season of U Sports eligibility. He has completed 126-of-186 passes for 1,729 yards and 11 touchdowns, while throwing just one interception.

Nyhus is “the face” of Huskie Athletics, and in today’s media cut era in Canada that is a major accomplishment.

There was time it used to be common knowledge to know who the starting quarterback of the Huskies was in the city of Saskatoon, and often the Huskies starting quarterback was decently known on the national stage. That was true of the Huskies three Vanier Cup quarterbacks in David Earl in 1990, Brent Schneider in 1996 and Ryan Reid in 1998.

When Earl, Schneider and Reid played, the number of people working in the sports media industry in Canada was about five to seven times larger than it is today.

In the last 12 years, it can be argued that Nyhus is the first athlete the Huskies have had over that time frame that can be viewed as the face of the overall athletics program. The Huskies have actually had tonnes of great athletes over that period of time, but they never seemed to gain a huge face of notoriety.

Mason Nyhus rolls out of the pocket for the Huskies.

Some of those athletes include Derek Hulak from the Huskies Men’s Hockey Team, Dalyce Emmerson of the Huskies Women’s Basketball Team, Kaitlin Willoughby from the Huskies Women’s Hockey Team, Libby Epoch of the Huskies Women’s Basketball Team, Tyler Chow from the Huskies Football Team and Michelle Harrison of the Huskies Women’s Track and Field Team.

It should be noted that Willoughby was a celebrity in her hometown of Prince Albert as her supporters from that centre often inflated page views for any stories that were done about her.

Arguably, the most famous Huskies athlete since 2010 might have been Huskies Men’s Hockey Team heart and soul gritty forward Cody Smuk, who everyone was pulling for as he battled cancer before passing away in June of 2015.

From the start of this season, Nyhus has been the name you associate with the Huskies, but even that hasn’t always been that way.

In 2016, Nyhus arrived on campus from the Riffel High School Royals football team as the gem of the final recruiting class brought in by now retired Huskies head coach and Canadian Football Hall of Fame member Brian Towriss. He was hyped as the signal caller that could potential take the Huskies, who haven’t won the Vanier Cup as U Sports champions since 1998, all the way one day.

Playing behind veterans Kyle Siemens and Drew Burko, Nyhus was a red-shirt in his first campaign. He was the team’s backup quarterback in 2017 and 2018, when the Huskies won their first Hardy Cup as Canada West Conference Champions since 2006.

Mason Nyhus (#8) stays composed under pressure.

Due to his athletic ability, Nyhus attended the CFL training camp of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2018 and the Calgary Stampeders in 2019 under the Canadian quarterback internship program. He had two CFL training camps under his belt before getting his first start with the Huskies.

In his third year of eligibility in 2019, Nyhus had a strong season in his first campaign as a starter quarterbacking the Huskies to a second place finish in Canada West with a 5-3 mark. The Huskies fell in the Canada West final to the eventual Vanier Cup champion University of Calgary Dinos 29-4 in Calgary.

During that season, Nyhus was often the Huskies version of legendary NFL gunslinger Brett Favre. Nyhus was arguable the Huskies most exciting player that could deliver win, but he would also try to force some plays that weren’t there.

Nyhus and the Huskies weren’t able to hit the field in 2020 as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic took hold in the world causing the Canada West season and all U Sports nationals to be canceled for the 2020-21 campaign.

That led to a 2021 season where Nyhus and the Huskies football team etched a place on the national scene. In an abbreviated six game regular season, Nyhus quarterbacked the Huskies to a first place finish in the Canada West Conference with a 5-1 record.

He was named the all-star quarterback in Canada West completing 109-of-187 passes for 1,653 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions.

Mason Nyhus sets to make a throw from the pocket.

During that season, Nyhus was often the Huskies version of “the goat” Tom Brady. Nyhus was poised and efficient, and he possessed a swagger where you felt the Huskies were going to win game in and game out no matter what happened on the field.

The tutelage of current Huskies head coach Scott Flory showed through on the field.

In the Hardy Cup hosted at Griffiths Stadium, Nyhus and the Huskies bombed the University of Manitoba Bisons 45-17.

The Huskies followed that win up taking a 14-10 thrilling finish in the Uteck Bowl over the Universite de Montreal Carabins at The CEPSUM in Montreal, Quebec. In that contest, star running back Adam Machart made an electrifying 13-yard touchdown run to with the game with five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. That play became an all-time storied moment in the history of the Huskies program.

The Huskies advanced to the Vanier Cup for the first time since 2006 to take on the University of Western Ontario Mustangs at Stade Telus – Universite Laval in Quebec City, Quebec. The London, Ont., based Mustangs took that contest 27-21.

Nyhus completed 28-of-40 passes in that contest for 303 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

By the end of that 2021 playoff run, Machart and then fifth-year utility player Colton Klassen had become household names for the Huskies too. Both became known players on the national stage along with Nyhus.

Mason Nyhus has the Huskies out to a 5-0 start this season.

The profile of those players was helped due to the U Sports semifinal bowl games being streamed on CBC’s online platforms and the Vanier Cup being showed on CBC’s main television station nationally.

If it hadn’t been for graduation, Klassen could have been a household name known nationally for the Huskies in 2022.

Machart was eligible to return for one more U Sports season. He announced his retirement from the game this past April 28 and opted out of the CFL Draft held in early May.

Machart moved to Kelowna, B.C., after the Huskies season ended in December of 2021 and became heavily involved with a family-run supplement store in that centre. As a result of that development and still being healthy with no major injuries, Machart elected to focus on that part of his life.

That left Nyhus as the big returning name for the Huskies in 2022. So far during the U Sports season, it has been common to hear some CFL fans state they would like to see Nyhus, who is also a four time U Sports academic all-Canadian, throwing passes professionally in Canada.

With their 2021 playoff run, the Huskies were able to capture the attention of people that wouldn’t normally follow U Sports football or U Sports in general. When someone mention’s University of Saskatchewan Huskies, Mason Nyhus’s name is the first that comes to mind.

Mason Nyhus has passed for 1,729 yards in five games in 2022.

While one can lament it took until Nyhus’s final U Sports season for him to become “the face” of Huskie Athletics, this might be the time to take the glass half full approach.

The Huskies have a star and marketable athlete in Nyhus, who still has three more regular season games to play including two at home. 

The next game will be a rivalry tilt against the 4-1 University of Regina Rams to be held Saturday, October 15 at 1 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium to determine top spot in the Canada West Conference.

Following the regular season, Nyhus could potentially play in four post-season contests including two games at home. On top of that, he is a great role model for younger players.

Nyhus is the type of player that the office staff with Huskie Athletics could conduct a Hec Crighton Trophy type hype campaign similar to campaigns seen in the top level of NCAA football for the Heisman Trophy, which is award to the most valuable player in U.S. college football.

There is still time to enjoy seeing Nyhus throwing passes for the Huskies, so it would be advisable for any type of sports followers to go out and see him play while they still can. 

Mason Nyhus and the Huskies celebrate a Hardy Cup win in 2021.

Unfortunately for players like Nyhus, it seems like their time with teams like the Huskies flies by way too fast.

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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“The Golden Boy” of the Huskies

Nyhus’s highly anticipated time as starting QB arrives

Mason Nyhus takes over as the Huskies starting quarterback.

    Mason Nyhus was ready for the joking jabs to be fired his way from his teammates.

    The 21-year-old was answering a question about not only taking over as starting quarterback of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team, but also being hyped as the signal caller that could potentially take the team all the way when he first stepped foot on campus in 2016.

    A quartet of Nyhus’s teammates walked past, and they sent off good-natured shots about him being the superstar and bowing towards him.

    Nyhus chuckled at the scene.

    “I’ve got great teammates obviously that are going to help me out,” said Nyhus. “We have a great defence, so I basically get to go out there and make the right throws and get the ball to my playmakers and let them do the work for sure.”

    Back in 2016, Nyhus, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 195 pounds, came to the Huskies as highly-touted prospect from the Riffel High School Royals football team in Regina. He was the gem in the final recruiting class brought in by now retired Huskies head coach and Canadian Football Hall of Fame member Brian Towriss.

    Nyhus quarterbacked Saskatchewan’s provincial team to a bronze medal win at the 2015 Football Canada Cup in Saint Jean, Que. At the International Bowl series that ran Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, 2016 in Arlington, Texas, Nyhus was calling signals for Canada’s under-18 team.

Mason Nyhus (#8) throws a pass in a controlled scrimmage in 2016.

    In July of 2016, Nyhus was a member of Canada’s Junior National Team that won the International Federation of American Football under-19 World Championship in Harbin, China.

    Since Nyhus stepped foot on the U of S campus, there has been anticipation among football followers in Saskatchewan to see what he could do as the starting quarterback of the Huskies.

    There were visions of Nyhus taking the Huskies on a long playoff run and potentially winning the Vanier Cup as U Sports champions for the first time since 1998.

    While Nyhus does have confidence, he has humbleness too and is quick to downplay the noise. Going through his first Huskies training camp in 2016, he was playing behind veterans Kyle Siemens and Drew Burko and ultimately red shirted that campaign.

    Nyhus said that was where he should be in the pecking order at that time.

    “I just remember they had really big arms,” said Nyhus, who is in his third year of U Sports eligibility. “Kyle was a two-year junior guy, and then he had two years with the Huskies.

    “He was the same age as my older brother, so I always thought that was bizarre. Burko was a year older than him. They were just big, strong guys, you know what I mean.

Mason Nyhus at Roughriders training camp in 2018.

    “They’ve been out of high school for a long time. I just remember them throwing 60-yard bombs. Now here I am trying to do that now.”

    Siemens beat out Burko for the starting spot in 2016, and Burko exhausted his U Sports eligibility following that campaign.

    Nyhus was the backup behind Siemens the past two seasons. Nyhus saw Siemens set the Huskies records for most pass completions (201) and passing yards (2,570) in one regular season in the 2017 campaign.

    During his five seasons with the Huskies from 2014 to 2018, Siemens completed 604-of-998 passes for 7,932 yards, 55 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. His 604 completions are a career regular season record for the Huskies, and his 7,932 yards is second on the Huskies career regular season yardage list.

    Siemens capped his career guiding the Huskies to their first Canada West Conference title by winning the Hardy Cup and berth to a U Sports semifinal bowl game since 2006. The Huskies fell 47-24 in the Mitchell Bowl to the University of Western Ontario Mustangs in London, Ont.

    Siemens prepared for his years with the Huskies toiling on the Canadian Junior Football League roster of the Regina Thunder in 2012 and a CJFL championship campaign in 2013.

    “I couldn’t ask for a better guy to play with,” said Nyhus. “He (Siemens) is one of my best friends here in Saskatoon.

Kyle Siemens (#19) was a big influence in helping Mason Nyhus.

    “I still hang out with him a lot. I learned a lot from him, so I will definitely cherish the memories playing on this team with Kyle (Siemens) for sure. I pride myself on being kind of a calm, cool, collected guy.

    “I try to stay calm out there, and I definitely learned a lot from Kyle (Siemens) in that matter. He is a very poised quarterback. I definitely took that with me a lot.”

    The Huskies return a number of veterans on offence along the offensive line and at receiver.

    The running game will be paced by running backs Adam Machart, who is in his second year with the team and third in U Sports eligibility, and Josh Ewanchyna, who comes over from starring with the CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops and is in his second year of U Sports eligibility.

    Nyhus said he has inherited a pretty good situation.

    “Our O-line, across the board we’re big, strong and fast,” said Nyhus. “We’re going to have time to throw the football, which is very exciting.

    “We’re going to be able to run the ball with those guys, especially with Adam (Machart) and Josh (Ewanchyna). They are two powerful guys in their 20s. They can run hard, (and) they are fast.

    “Even at the receiver position, we can execute out there for sure. They are running crisp routes and catching the football. It is definitely helpful out there to have those guys.”

    Huskies head coach Scott Flory said Nyhus is ready to be the leader of the team.

    “I’m just so excited for his opportunity to show what he can do,” said Flory. “I get front row seats.

Mason Nyhus has prepared to be in the spotlight with the Huskies.

    “That is just what it is about. That kid, he is phenomenal. I can’t say enough good things about him.

    “He is the face of our team, and he should be. He is going to have a tonne of success.”

    Flory said Nyhus benefitted from attending two straight CFL training camps under the Canadian quarterback internship program. Nyhus was in Saskatchewan Roughriders camp last year and in Calgary Stampeders camp in late May and early June of this year.

    “If anything, you are just soaking in just being around it, just being around that high level of athleticism and guys are really preparing in what they do,” said Flory. “Just being there helps.”

    In 2017, Nyhus came off the bench completing 15 of 22 passes for 243 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the Huskies. Last season, he completed 28-of-47 passes for 448 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.

    Nyhus said he benefitted from the two CFL training camps he attended. He is looking forward to the season with focus on the present and not looking too far into the future.

    With that said, Nyhus has high expectations of what his team can do game in and game out.

    “Definitely confidence, but we respect every opponent no doubt about it,” said Nyhus. “We expect to win every game we play in, but we have to go out there and execute.

    “I think we have a very good team. As long as we execute what coach Flory puts out for us, I think we will be alright. We just have to play hard and let the score take care of itself.”

QB Mason Nyhus is confident the Huskies will do great this season.

    The Huskies opened training camp on Aug. 12 and conclude camp activities with the green and white intrasquad game on Friday at 3 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium.

    U of S opens the regular season on Aug. 30 traveling to Winnipeg to face the University of Manitoba Bisons. The Huskies host their home opener on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at Griffiths Stadium.

    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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The time for Nyhus to shine with Huskies has arrived

The Huskies will be Mason Nyhus’s team to lead.

    The University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team graduated a star quarterback, but they have a signal caller in waiting that might become a bigger star.

    Veteran Kyle Siemens went out on a high quarterbacking the Huskies in his fifth and final year of eligibility. He guided them to their first playoff victory since 2009, first Canada West Conference championship since 2006 and first appearance in a U Sports national semifinal bowl since 2006.

    Siemens 604 total career pass completions in the regular season rank first on the Huskies all-time list and his 7,932 career yards passing in the regular season rates second overall in team history. He completed 604-of-998 passes for 7,932 yards, 55 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

    For any successor, those are huge shoes to fill.

    The Huskies have a player that might end up being more than capable of filling those shoes.

    Back in 2016, Mason Nyhus came to the Huskies as highly-touted prospect from the Riffel High School Royals football team in Regina. To put it bluntly, Nyhus was a blue chipper.

    Nyhus, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 190 pounds, quarterbacked Saskatchewan’s provincial team to a bronze medal win at the 2015 Football Canada Cup in Saint Jean, Que. At the International Bowl series that ran Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, 2016 in Arlington, Texas, Nyhus was calling signals for Canada’s under-18 team.

Mason Nyhus throws a pass in a controlled scrimmage in 2016.

    In July of 2016, Nyhus was a member of Canada’s Junior National Team that won the International Federation of American Football under-19 World Championship in Harbin, China.

    Since Nyhus stepped foot on the U of S campus, there has been anticipation among football followers in Saskatchewan to see what he could do as the starting quarterback of the Huskies. Nyhus put on a display in the Huskies controlled scrimmage against the University of Alberta Golden Bears in 2016 firing lasers all over the field, which further added anticipation to him becoming a starter one day.

    Nyhus has enough talent that Huskies coaches could have chosen to start him as a rookie in 2016, but most quarterbacks that start in U Sports right out of high school endure their share of rough waters and bumps.

    The Huskies coaching staff wisely elected give Nyhus the chance to get acclimatized to the U Sports game. He was redshirted his rookie year in 2016, which was the last campaign the Huskies were guided by legendary head coach Brian Towriss.

    For the past two seasons under the team’s new head coach in Scott Flory, Nyhus backed up Siemens.
    In 2017, Nyhus came off the bench completing 15 of 22 passes for 243 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. 

Mason Nyhus took part in Roughriders training camp.

    Last May and June, the 20-year-old attended Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp as part of the CFL’s Canadian quarterback internship program.

    This past season for the Huskies, Nyhus completed 28-of-47 passes for 448 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.

    He will be going into his third season of U Sports eligibility as a 21-year-old next season, and it will be his time to shine.

    During his spot duty with the Huskies, Nyhus has shown great poise and good command of the Huskies offence. He throws the ball downfield with a purpose, and he knows where he wants to attack a defence.

    There is a very good chance the Huskies won’t miss a beat on offence when Nyhus takes over as the starting quarterback. He has been groomed for this moment.

    Of course, there is always a chance someone else could rise up to become the Huskies new starting quarterback, but in all reality, that is Nyhus’s job to lose.

    Nyhus will have a whole host of receivers to get the ball out to who will be that much more seasoned and experienced in Jesse Kuntz, Carter Dahl and Joseph Trumpy. The Huskies expect to get star pass catcher Sam Baker back from injury and running back Colton Klassen became a star receiver cementing himself as the Huskies most dynamic offensive weapon.

    The Huskies will return powerhouse running back Adam Machart and will have a strong offensive line anchored by Mattland Riley, Nicholas Summach, Connor Berglof and Tanner Secord.

Mason Nyhus calls a play from his wristband.

    The Huskies next challenge will be to try and make long playoff runs like the one they were just on a habit. Having Nyhus under centre makes that challenge something that can be met.

    With that said, Flory has hit the recruiting trail hard since the Huskies fell in the Mitchell Bowl in London, Ont., 47-24 to the University of Western Ontario Mustangs on Nov. 17.

    Since returning to Saskatoon, Flory has received commitments from defensive lineman Nicholas Dheilly from Regina. Dheilly played for the University of Regina Rams in 2016 and 2017.

    He was the Canada West rookie of the year in 2016 and a Canada West all-star in 2017. He played in the Canadian Junior Football League this past season with the Okanagan Sun in Kelowna, B.C.

Dheilly originally committed to the Huskies in 2016, but ended up with the Rams as the Huskies were going through changes on their coaching staff.

    The Huskies signed receiver D’Sean Mimbs from Winston Knoll Collegiate in Regina, linebacker Ramsey Derbas and running back Tanner Szakacs from Holy Cross High School in Saskatoon.

    Also committing to the Huskies is quarterback Keegan Kaytor from Regina’s Sheldon-Williams Collegiate and defensive back Aiden Sommacal from Saskatoon’s St. Joseph High School.

    Last Saturday, the Huskies football team gave a final celebration to the 2018 campaign with their team awards banquet at the Cathedral of the Holy Family. Siemens was named the most valuable player on offence, fourth-year defensive lineman Evan Machibroda was named the most valuable player on defence and fifth-year running back Tyler Chow took overall most valuable player honours.

Mason Nyhus follows through on a pass.

    Fifth-year defensive end Tristian Koronkiewicz was named the lineman of the year, fifth-year kicker Sean Stenger was the special teams player of the year, second-year linebacker Thomas Whiting was named the most improved player, Klassen claimed the coaches award and defensive back Charlie Ringland was the freshman of the year.

    The graduating veterans like Siemens, Chow, Koronkiewicz and Stenger showed the Huskies can win conference titles and compete on the national stage again.

    Now players like Nyhus, the rest of the returnees and new recruits are passed the torch to take the Huskies into the future. The belief is there that future will be a bright one.

    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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Huskies fifth years go down fighting in final bow

U of S playoff run ends in Mitchell Bowl loss

QB Kyle Siemens and the football Huskies had a remarkable playoff run.

    It was Vanier Cup or bust for the fifth-year players on the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team.

    Going into the Mitchell Bowl semifinal game of the U Sports playoffs, the Huskies faced their biggest challenge in their run of post-season upsets taking on the defending Vanier Cup champion University of Western Ontario Mustangs in London, Ont., last Saturday.

    U of S was trying to break up what had been a projected Vanier Cup rematch at the start of the season between the Mustangs and the powerhouse Universite Rouge et Or.

    Earlier in the day on Saturday, the Rouge et Or made short work of the St. Francis Xavier X-Men in the other U Sports semifinal game – the Uteck Bowl – in Quebec City, Que., romping to a 63-0 victory. The X-Men finished the campaign at 8-3.

Tyler Chow had a huge touchdown run for the Huskies last Saturday.

    The Huskies ensured there was intrigue in their encounter with the Mustangs posting leads of 7-0 and 17-14 in the game’s first half. The two sides entered halftime locked in a 17-17 tie. Western pulled away in the second half earning a 47-24 victory on the strength of scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter before 3,536 spectators at TD Stadium.

    In the process, the Mustangs ran their overall winning streak to 23 games. They will travel to Quebec City, Que., this coming Saturday to face the Rouge et Or in a battle of 11-0 teams.

    Western and Laval were rated first and second respectively in the final U Sports Top 10 football rankings. Last year, the Mustangs dumped the Rouge et Or 39-17 in the Vanier Cup.

    The Huskies, who finished the campaign at 7-4, did everything in their power to try and appear in the Vanier Cup for the first time since 2006 and the fifth years led the charge. Like Rocky in his first encounter with Apollo Creed, U of S’s graduating players came out swinging.

Tristian Koronkiewicz had two sacks for the Huskies last Saturday.

    Fifth-year star quarterback Kyle Siemens completed 26-of-35 passes for 256 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Fifth-year star running back Tyler Chow carried the ball 21 times for 143 yards and scored one touchdown. Fifth-year defensive lineman Tristian Koronkiewicz had a pair of sacks.

    Early in the first quarter, the Huskies manufactured and eight-play touchdown drive that covered 76 yards. The march was capped, when Siemens hit Colton Klassen with a 22-yard touchdown pass to put the visitors up 7-0.

    Western tied things up at 7-7 before the first quarter ended, when receiver Harry McMaster hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Merchant. Merchant hit McMaster with a 31-yard touchdown pass just 72 seconds into the second quarter to give the Mustangs a 14-7 advantage.

    The Huskies answered back. Fifth-year star kicker Sean Stenger booted a 41-yard field goal to cut the Mustangs lead to 14-10. With seven minutes to play in the second quarter, Siemens hit Klassen with an eight-yard touchdown pass to put the Huskies up 17-14.

Sean Stenger booted on last field goal for the Huskies on Saturday.

    Klassen caught nine passes for 107 yards to go along with his two receiving majors.

    On the final play of the first half, the Mustangs tied things up at 17-17 with a 37 yard field goal from kicker Marc Liegghio.

    At that point, Western started to take control. Merchant ran in a touchdown from four yards out and the Huskies had to concede a safety due to bad field position giving the Mustangs a 26-17 lead at the end of the third quarter.

    Running back Alex Taylor ran in a major from 48 yards out to give the Mustangs a 33-17 advantage early in the fourth quarter.

    Chow stuck back for the Huskies rattling off an electrifying 71-yard touchdown run to cut Western’s lead to 33-24 with 9:56 to play in the fourth quarter. It appeared there was a chance the comeback would be on.

    The Mustangs then sealed victory on a 16-yard touchdown run by Taylor and a four-yard touchdown run by Cedric Joseph. Western piled up an unreal 319 yards rushing as a team against the Huskies.

QB Kyle Siemens is the Huskies all-time leader in completions.

    Merchant completed 17-of-28 passes for 251 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He ran the ball 10 times for 82 yards including his rushing major.

   The setback brought an end to the playing careers of Siemens, Chow, Koronkiewicz, Stenger, defensive back Lance Bashutsky, offensive lineman Ryan Breadner and linebackers Brendan Ernst and Brad Kotania. All eight played five seasons for the Huskies.

    Siemens 604 total career pass completions in the regular season rank first on the Huskies all-time list and his 7,932 career yards passing in the regular season rates second overall in team history. He completed 604-of-998 passes for 7,932 yards, 55 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

    Chow sits third all-time on the Huskies career regular season rushing yards list having carried the ball 385 times for 2,372 yards and 13 touchdowns.

    Those regular season accomplishments look greater now that they are backed by a long playoff run.

    U of S also loses defensive back Arnold Osam to graduation. He came to the Huskies after spending four seasons with the powerhouse Saskatoon Hilltops of the Canadian Junior Football League.

HC Scott Flory and his staff did a stellar job guiding the Huskies.

    The graduating players helped the Huskies take huge strides in a playoff run that included a 31-28 overtime victory over the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in a Canada West semifinal match on Nov. 3 in Vancouver, B.C., and a 43-18 victory over the University of Calgary Dinos in the Canada West final on Nov. 10 in Calgary, Alta.

    The Huskies were rated sixth in the final U Sports Top 10 football rankings.

    Since the Huskies hadn’t ventured this far in the post-season since falling in the Vanier Cup 13-8 at Griffiths Stadium to Laval in 2006, the excitement for U of S’s playoff run this year felt new again.

    The drought of not winning a playoff game since 2009 and the team’s eight-game post-season losing streak heading into this season’s playoffs are now a distance memory.

Guard Mattland Riley and the Huskies O-line was strong in 2018.

    The playoff run gives extra reinforcement to the organizers of team fundraisers that their efforts are worth it. The fundraisers include the annual Dogs’ Breakfast and the various coaches’ kickoff luncheons that are held during the season. Members of the Huskies Football Foundation will likely have an extra jump in their steps this off-season.

    Head coach Scott Flory and his staff did an amazing job. In his second season guiding the Huskies, Flory is showing he has a style that is a mix of star head coaches he had in his playing career including Huskies legend Brian Towriss, “The Don” in late-great Don Matthews and Marc Trestman.   
    The latter two men coached Flory in his CFL days with the Montreal Alouettes.

    From the outset, Flory created a feeling of belief inside the team that the Huskies could win and have success now. That feeling was shared inside the team, even when those on the outside didn’t think success would be possible for the Huskies.

Colton Klassen scored two touchdowns for the Huskies on Saturday.

    In Flory’s first season as head coach in 2017, the Huskies were rated fifth in the Canada West pre-season coaches’ poll and missed the playoff with a 2-6 record. Entering the 2018 campaign, the Huskies were ranked last in the Canada West pre-season coaches’ poll.

    For those that didn’t believe, the Huskies proved they are back in a big way. They can again compete with and beat the big teams in U Sports.

    The dream is alive again like in 1990, 1996 and 1998, when the Huskies won their Vanier Cup titles.
    Their best years lie ahead in the future and the graduating fifth-years left a new high bar to shoot for and exceed.

    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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Huskies playoff upset of T-Birds a monumental one

Sean Stenger (#23) hit the OT playoff winning field goal.

    Sean Stenger made the kick that was heard around the U Sports football world.

    On Saturday at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver B.C., the fifth-year kicker and all-time leading scorer for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team booted a 38-yard field goal in overtime to give his squad a 31-28 victory over the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in a Canada West Conference semifinal playoff match.

    Stenger’s kick before 738 spectators gave the Huskies their first post-season victory since November 7, 2009, when they downed the University of Regina Rams 53-23 at Griffiths Stadium in a Canada West semifinal match. In the process, the Huskies ended a playoff losing streak that had spanned eight games.

    Before Saturday’s game, the Huskies were 1-11 in their previous 12 post-season contests.

    Both the Huskies and the Thunderbirds posted 5-3 regular season records heading into their playoff clash. UBC earned second place in the conference and home field advantage for the post-season encounter due to beating the Huskies 20-10 in the lone regular season encounter between the two sides on October 12 in Vancouver.

    While the two sides had identical records, this was a game the Huskies, who failed to make the post-season last year, weren’t supposed to win.

Jesse Kuntz caught the TD pass that forced overtime.

    Their playoff struggles since last making the Vanier Cup and falling to the Universite Laval Rouge et Or 13-8 at Griffiths Stadium on November 25, 2006 have been well publicized.
    The playoff stumbles weren’t the only thing standing in the Huskies way.

    They were heading on the road to play a Thunderbirds team that has Blake Nill as head coach. Nill’s teams had made the Canada West title game – the Hardy Cup – for the last 10 straight years and claimed victory on seven of those occasions.

    That run included seven straight appearances with the University of Calgary Dinos from 2008 to 2014 and three straight appearances the past three years with the Thunderbirds.

    Going into the playoffs this season, the Thunderbirds had won their last three straight games. Despite their early struggles, it appeared UBC had righted the ship.

    Teams coached by Nill just don’t lose at this point in the U Sports playoffs. Playing at home and riding a hot streak, it was supposed to be impossible to see an opponent come out with a victory.

    The Huskies were expected to put in a good effort and proceed to bow out into the off-season with the fifth-year grads crying tears of sadness.
    The Dogs defied all odds and came away winning a post-season classic that the Huskies players will remember for the rest of their lives.
    After falling behind 10-0, the Huskies stormed back to take a 20-10 lead in the third quarter. UBC forced a 20-20 tie early in the fourth quarter, but the Huskies went in front by a single point 21-20 on a 46-yard punt single by Stenger.

Kyle Siemens delivered a TD toss that forced overtime.

    It appeared that would be the last U of S lead on the day.

    The Thunderbirds mounted an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with star fourth-year quarterback Michael O’Connor hitting standout receiver Trivel Pinto with a four-yard touchdown pass with 1:46 remaining in the fourth quarter. The two connected on a pass for a two-point convert to give the Thunderbirds a 28-21 advantage.

    On the ensuing Huskies possession, Thunderbirds defensive back Stavros Katsantonis intercepted fifth-year Huskies star quarterback Kyle Siemens at the UBC 33 yard line with 75 seconds remaining in the frame.

    Thanks to having a couple of timeouts to use, the Huskies forced the Thunderbirds to punt after two running plays. On the punt, a no yards penalty and an unnecessary roughness facemask penalty on the Thunderbirds allowed the Huskies to start a march at the UBC 47 yard-line with 51 seconds remaining on the clock.

    Siemens drove the Huskies offence that distance in four plays and connected with receiver Jesse Kuntz on a 14-yard touchdown reception with 21 seconds to play in the stanza to tie things up at 28-28 and force overtime.
    In the shootout style overtime format, the Thunderbirds had the first possession. UBC kicker Greg Hutchins missed a 33-yard field goal and Huskies running back/receiver Colton Klassen ran the ball out of the end zone to ensure the score remained tied at 28-28.

Tyler Chow ran in two major scores for the Huskies.

    Stenger hit his winning field goal on the Huskies ensuing possession.

    This was a win where the Huskies found a way to get it done.

    O’Connor completed 28-of-41 passes for 435 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Besides throwing a touchdown toss to Pinto, O’Connor threw major scores to Ben Cummings from 25 yards out and Blake Whiteley from 24 yards out.

    Siemens, who has thrown the second most passing yards in the history of the Huskies program, had a more pedestrian day hitting on 19-of-31 passes for 222 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

    Fifth-year running back Tyler Chow grinded out 89 yards rushing on 21 carries and ran home touchdowns from one and 16 yards out. He hauled in six passes for 54 yards to go along with his efforts on the ground.

    Hutchins hit field goals from 12 and 21 yards out to round out UBC’s scoring.

    Stenger hit field goals from 33 and 37 yards out in regulation for the Huskies.

    Defensively, Bowan Lewis had 10.5 total tackles for the Huskies, while linebackers and brothers Thomas and Ben Whiting had nine and seven total tackles respectively.

Thomas Whiting had nine tackles for the Huskies.

    Under second-year head coach Scott Flory, this playoff victory by the Huskies was monumental and a big step forward for the football program.
    The Huskies showed they can finally win again in the U Sports football post-season, and they knocked off a team guided by a head coach in Nill, who continually guides teams on long playoff runs.

    Now, the Huskies get to travel to Calgary, Alta., to face the Dinos, who are a combined 9-0 in the regular season and post-season, in the Hardy Cup final to determine the Canada West champion this coming Saturday at McMahon Stadium at 1 p.m. Calgary time.

    The Dinos took the other Canada West semifinal 37-13 last Saturday in Calgary against the University of Manitoba Bisons. U of C will be appearing in the Hardy Cup final for the 11^th straight year.

    U of S is once against faced with the task of manufacturing another monumental upset.

    Still, it appears you can’t count these football Huskies out. The belief is there that anything is possible.

Here's your game-winning kick from Sean Stenger 🔥#HuskiePride #WinTheWest pic.twitter.com/B6a7NntrSb

— Huskie Football (@skhuskies) November 4, 2018

Hilltops to face Rams in Canadian Bowl

Congratulations to the @LangleyRams on advancing to the 2018 Canadian Bowl with a 39-14 victory over the @CanesFootball63 in the #CJFL National Semi-Final pic.twitter.com/3GxYgY4Kw6

— CJFL News (@CJFLnews) November 4, 2018

    The Jevon Cottoy show powered the Langley Rams into the Canadian Bowl.

    On Saturday in Langley, B.C., the 22-year-old receiver hauled in nine passes for 190 yards and scored three touchdowns, ran in a major from a yard out and kicked a 54-yard punt single to power the Rams to a 39-14 romp over the Hamilton Hurricanes in a Canadian Junior Football League national semifinal contest. Quarterback Duncan Little hit Cottoy with the three touchdown tosses in the semifinal game at McLeod Stadium in Langley, B.C.

    With the win, the Rams, who improved to 10-3 overall, advance to the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – to face the four time defending champion Saskatoon Hilltops on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Hilltops are 10-0 overall on the campaign and trying to complete their fourth perfect season in team history and first since 2003.

    The Hurricanes finished the 2018 campaign with a 10-1 overall record.

    The Hilltops and Rams are familiar foes in the Canadian Bowl as they will meet in the CJFL title game for the third time in seven years.

    The previous two encounters were both held in McLeod Stadium.

    In 2012, the Hilltops claimed one of the all-time classic CJFL title encounters downing the Rams 23-21. In 2014, the Hilltops ran away with a 39-14 victory, which started their current run of winning four straight CJFL championships.

    The Hilltops will be trying to win their 21^st CJFL title in their upcoming Canadian Bowl clash with the Rams.

    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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Hilltops’ O-line gets love with PFC all-star awards

RT Kirk Simonsen, right, was named a PFC all-star.

    Saskatoon Hilltops offensive line received their due for a dominate 8-0 regular season.

    On Friday, three of the Hilltops five starting offensive linemen were named to the Prairie Football Conference all-star team. Right tackle Kirk Simonsen was voted unanimously as a PFC all-star. Also receiving all-star nods were right guard Taylon Elderkin and left tackle Mason Ochs. The trio were named PFC offensive all-stars for a second straight year.

    “It is pretty good,” said Simonsen, who is in his fifth and final season with the Hilltops. “They couldn’t name five of us, but I think all five are pretty deserving of the award.

    “It is good to get the recognition out there for the three of us, but it is a five man award pretty much to me.”

    Saskatoon’s starting offensive line is rounded out by centre Patrick Arno and left guard Ryder Klisowsky. As a five-man unit, the Hilltops offensive line did earn a PFC offensive player of the week award after Saskatoon crushed the Colts in Calgary 79-7 on Sept. 15.

    The offensive linemen were joined as PFC all-star selections by the Hilltops version of “The Triplets” in quarterback Jordan Walls, running back Josh Ewanchyna and receiver Jason Price. The PFC offensive all-stars were released a day after the defensive all-stars.

    The Hilltops, who are 9-0 overall, host the PFC final against the Edmonton Huskies, who are 7-2 overall, at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    Walls, Ewanchyna and Price were all able to enjoy special seasons because of the work of the club’s O-line.

    Walls had an outstanding campaign completing 122-of-197 passes for 2,010 yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions in the regular season. He topped the PFC in passing yardage.

    Ewanchyna appeared in seven regular season games carrying the ball 134 times for 1,007 yards and 14 touchdowns. He led the PFC in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns and was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week on four occasions.

    The graduate of Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School Crusaders football team became the first Hilltops player to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a season since Wayndel Lewis turned that trick back in 2014.

RG Taylon Elderkin, right, was named a PFC all-star.

    Price was by far the PFC’s most productive pass catcher. During the regular season, he hauled in 31 passes for 709 yards and scored four touchdowns. The fifth-year veteran collected the most receiving yards in the PFC.

    Walls said his team’s offensive line is the reason his club’s offensive unit can put up the points and yardage that it does.

    “They don’t get the recognition that they deserve, so when they get awards like that, it is awesome,” said Walls. “They work so hard in practice and so hard in the off-season to get themselves in playing shape, and they do their job when they get on the field.

    “I like those guys. I hang around with them lots. They are good people.

    “They are always coming to work and ready to work hard. I am super happy to have those guys there to back me and just perform like they have been performing.”

    Simonsen said continuity has been the biggest thing that has helped Saskatoon’s offensive line succeed. Klisowsky was the only new starter among the Hilltops “hogs” this season.

    “I think just knowing each other,” said Simonsen. “We’ve all played together.

    “I’ve played with Taylon (Elderkin) now for three years. You just know where he is going to be. You don’t even have to communicate.

    “He is just there, and you know how to work with each other. It helps a lot.”

    The Hilltops offensive line also takes a lot of pride in helping the club’s quarterbacks, running back and receivers have good years.

    “It is good for them,” said Simonsen. “We want to make sure that they have good years and make sure they get their awards and their goals they set for themselves at the start of the year.”

    Walls took his own all-star selection in stride.

    “It is nice,” said Walls. “I think my goal at the start of the year was just to execute and give this team a chance to win.

Mason Ochs, left, was named a PFC all-star.

    “Whether that was throwing the ball 30 times or handing the ball off 30 times, it didn’t matter to me. To get recognized is nice, but my goal is the Canadian championship. Hopefully, we can get a win this week to get there.”

    While the PFC all-star selections are great, the Hilltops have their sights set on winning an unprecedented fifth straight CJFL title. The winner of the PFC final advances to host the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – on November 17.

    Walls said his team is focused on the challenge they face in the Huskies.

    “I’m very excited to get to the PFC final,” said Walls. “It is a big game.

    “It is a big stage. We like being there. I am excited.

    “I’ve got a lot of family coming down for it, so it is going to be a fun day.”

Thunderbirds get second in Canada West on crazy comeback

Michael O’Connor guided UBC to a big comeback win.

    It seems like the football Gods love the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.

    Back on Sept. 28, the Thunderbirds dropped a 26-21 decision to the University of Alberta Golden Bears in a U Sports regular season game in Edmonton, Alta. At the time, the loss dropped the Thunderbirds record to 1-4 heading into the bye week for the Canada West Conference.

    Before the Canada West teams returned to action, the University of Regina Rams self-declared they had been playing with an ineligible player. That led to the Rams forfeiting three wins including a 19-17 victory over the Thunderbirds on Sept. 14 in Regina.

    The Thunderbirds received new life improving to 2-3 with that development. UBC proceeded to down the University of Saskatchewan Huskies 20-10 on Oct. 12 and the Golden Bears 30-11 on Oct. 20 to improve to 4-3. Both those wins came in Vancouver, B.C.

    Entering play Saturday, the Thunderbirds needed to beat the University of Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg, Man., to lock up second place in Canada West and earn the right to host a Canada West semifinal playoff game. If the Thunderbirds lost, the Huskies, who posted a 5-3 regular season record, would take second place.

    The Bisons jumped out to a 31-10 lead and held a 31-13 advantage at halftime at Investors Group Field.

    The Thunderbirds rallied to claim a 38-34 victory in overtime to improve to 5-3 and take second place. The Bisons fell to 3-5 to finish fourth in Canada West and hold the conference’s last playoff berth.

    UBC claims the standings tiebreaker with U of S due to winning that Oct. 12 encounter, which was the only regular season meeting between the two sides.

    Thunderbirds star quarterback Michael O’Connor hit receiver Trivel Pinto with a 46-yard touchdown pass and running back Ben Cummings ran in a two-point convert to force a 31-31 tie with 7:30 remaining in the fourth quarter. The 46-yard reception marked Pinto’s second touchdown catch of the game.

    In overtime, Bisons kicker Brad Mikoluff hit a 50-yard field goal to put the host side up 34-31. Mikoluff had two field goals in the contest.

    On the ensuing overtime shootout possession, O’Connor hit Cummings with a two-yard touchdown pass to give the Thunderbirds their third straight victory, with every one of those wins coming after the Rams forfeited all their wins.

    O’Connor completed 36-of-49 passes for 467 yards, four touchdowns and one interception for the Thunderbirds. Bisons quarterback Jamie Ybarra, who started in place of the injured Des Catellier, completed 20-of-26 passes for 396 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

    Trey Kellogg had a touchdown catch for the Thunderbirds, while Greg Hutchins made all three of his field goal attempts. Dylan Schrot and Shai Ross had touchdown receptions for the Bisons, while Jesse Walker and Victor St. Pierre-Laviolette ran in major scores.

    The Bisons travel to Calgary, Alta., to face the University of Calgary Dinos (8-0) in one Canada West semifinal contest this coming Saturday, while the Huskies face the Thunderbirds in the other Canada West semifinal to be held in Vancouver on the same day.

Siemens leaves mark on Huskies career passing records

QB Kyle Siemens vaulted up the U of S Huskies’ all-time passing lists.

    With one great final regular season game, Kyle Siemens ensured he will go down as one of the top quarterbacks to ever play for the U of Saskatchewan Huskies.

    On Friday facing the U of Regina Rams at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Siemens completed 21-of-31 passes for 321 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. In helping the Huskies post a 5-3 record, Siemens completed 155-of-249 passes for 2,118 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.

    A graduate of Saskatoon’s Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears high school football team, Siemens finished the regular season portion of his five-year Huskies career completing 604-of-998 passes for 7,932 yards, 55 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

    Siemens 604 career completions rank first on the Huskies all-time list surpassing the 586 completions of Drew Burko. Burko played from 2012 to 2016 and was a former teammate of Siemens.

    The 7,932 yards passing Siemens piled up ranks second on the Huskies all-time list surpassing 7,675 yards put up by Burko. Siemens 55 career touchdown passes equals Steve Bilan for second on the Huskies all-time list. Bilan played for the Huskies from 2001 to 2005.

    While Siemens will still get to guide the Huskies through one more venture into the U Sports playoffs, he has to be given big props for posting some lofty accomplishments.

Chow passes Siwak for third in Huskies career rushing

Tyler Chow is the Huskies third all-time career leading rusher.

    Running back Tyler Chow vaulted to a spot that will be tough for future ball carriers to hit as the sport of football continues to evolve into more of a pass heavy game.

    Chow, who is a fifth-year veteran for the U of Saskatchewan Huskies football team, finished the regular season with a strong outing carrying the ball 14 times for 99 yards and scoring one touchdown and hauling a pass for 11 yards as the Huskies thumped the U of Regina Rams 57-14 on Friday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

    On the season, Chow carried the ball 100 times for 640 yards and scored two touchdowns to help the Huskies post a 5-3 regular season record. During his regular season career with the Huskies, Chow carried the ball 385 times for 2,372 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.

    The Calgary, Alta., product just edged Tyler Siwak for third on the Huskies career rushing yards list.

    Siwak was a red shirt during the Huskies last Vanier Cup winning season in 1998 and he carried the ball 361 times for 2,365 yards and scored 11 touchdowns during a five year career as an active player from 1999 to 2003. During his time with the Huskies, Siwak was a fan favourite due to being a power tailback that could crush up to six would be tacklers on any running attempt.

    The Prince Albert, Sask., product was a physical runner who favoured initiating contact and powering through defenders as opposed to running around them. Fans at Griffiths Stadium used to rise to their feet and cheer, when Siwak gave one of his textbook punishing runs.

    Away from the field, Siwak was a very personable, jovial and upbeat when he interacted with everyone on campus and in the city.

    Siwak had been the Huskies third all-time leading rusher since he graduated from the program. With that in mind, the fact that Chow cracked into the top three of the Huskies career rushing list is impressive.

Back in the Express assisting on female hockey story

Emily Clark, left, and Grace Shirley are hockey greats from Saskatoon.

    I was back in the pages of the Saskatoon Express this week helping out with a story on the growth of female hockey in Saskatoon.

    I gathered pictures and quotes from head coach Greg Slobodzian and captain Grace Shirley from the defending Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League champion Saskatoon Stars for this piece. I helped add some details for the facts that were used as well.

    Theresa Kirkpatrick, who is a veteran sportswriter, did a masterful job of crafting the piece. I was happy with how the article turned out and contributions I was able to make to it.

    The Express article can be found by clicking right here.

    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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