The sweetest of title sweeps

Huskies capture 17^th Canada West crown with emotional win

Marty Smuk, Matthew Spafford, Stephanie Vause and Darla Smuk all rock.

    To say the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team was playing with heart may be the biggest understatement ever.

    On Saturday night at the ancient Rutherford Rink, the Dogs weren’t going to be denied a Canada West title. Trailing their “Forever Rivals” the University of Alberta Golden Bears 1-0 entering the third period, the Huskies stormed out and scored three straight goals before a raucous sold out crowd of 1,066 spectators. U of A managed to pot one reply with seven seconds to play, but all that did was make the final on the scoreboard 3-2 in favour of the host Huskies.

    In the record books, the Huskies go down as sweeping the Golden Bears 2-0 in the best-of-three Canada West men’s hockey championship series. With their 17^th conference title win in team history, the Dogs will travel to Halifax for the University Cup, which is the Canadian Interuniversity Sport final eight championship tournament, along with the Golden Bears. That tourney runs from March 17 to 20.

    What the statistical sheet won’t show was that the Huskies were playing for something more. Besides playing for the logo on the front of the jersey and for the pride of the school and Saskatoon as a city, these Huskies were playing to honour the memory of a former teammate and alumnus.

Logan McVeigh, left, got the Ruthy jumping with a third period goal.

    After a battle with cancer that lasted over a year, Cody Smuk passed away in late June of 2015. The gritty forward, who played for the Huskies from 2010 to 2014, was known for his hard work and being the ultimate glue guy in the dressing room. Words can’t do justice to the impact he had on the Huskies athletic program and the community of Saskatoon.

    The Huskies men’s team retired Smuk’s #24 on Oct. 24, 2015. All season, they have warmed up with all players wearing his #24 jersey. Smuk’s father, Marty, mother, Darla, and fiancée, Stephanie Vause, have been to every home game.

    When it came time for the team picture with the Dr. W.G. Hardy Trophy and the championship banner, Huskies captain Kendall McFaull and third-year forward Josh Roach helped bring Marty, Darla and Vause on to the ice to be part the photograph. As the group approached the team, they received an ovation from the players, coaches and staff.

    Fifth-year forward Matthew Spafford teared up talking about his good friend and former teammate after the contest. His thoughts drifted to the 2014 University Cup championship tournament in Saskatoon, where Smuk played his final games with the Huskies. The Huskies made it to the championship game falling 3-1 to the Golden Bears at what is now known as the SaskTel Centre.

    “He (Smuk) is the driving force,” said Spafford. “I screwed up and didn’t get him one in my third year.

    “I know he is looking down on us right now, and he is helping us win, so it means everything.”

Levi Cable slips home the Huskies third goal of the night.

    Fifth-year defenceman Zak Stebner also couldn’t help but think his side might have had an extra boost. For Stebner, Smuk, who was nicknamed “Marty,” was a big part of the Huskies success in the 2015-16 campaign.

    “We are always playing for Marty,” said Stebner, “It is a big part of why we work so hard.

    “We try to work as Marty did, and he was a hard working dude. We figured if we could match just a fraction of how hard he works we will be successful, and I think that we exemplified that tonight.”

    At first, it looked like the Golden Bears were going to play spoilers. James Dobrowolski scored at the 3:31 of the first period to put U of A up 1-0. The goal only silenced the crowd for a short time, and it didn’t stall the Huskies.

    The Dogs responded with a big push back. Their efforts to net the equalizer also helped accidently create a pair of second period breakaways for Golden Bears forwards Brett Ferguson and Jordan Hickmott.

Zak Stebner hoists the Dr. W.G. Hardy Trophy.

    Huskie goaltender Jordon Cooke, who was named Canada West’s most outstanding player and goaltender of the year, stoned both chances. Cooke’s stop on Hickmott came late in the second and seemed to help add to the belief that the Huskies would rally.

    Early in the third, the Huskies push back resulted in the host side scoring two goals just 15 seconds apart from each other. Jesse Ross got the first tally, Logan McVeigh potted the second tally, and the Ruthy was rocking louder than it had at any point in the season.

    At the 11:57 mark, Levi Cable slipped home a low shot from a bad angle past Golden Bears goaltender Luke Siemens to increase the Huskies edge to 3-1.

    U of A rearguard Jordan Rowley, who was named Canada West’s top defenceman, netted the contest’s final goal with seven seconds to play.

    Cooke made 26 saves to earn the win in goal for the Huskies, who are rated third in the CIS top ten rankings. Siemens stopped 28 shots in net for the Golden Bears, who are rated fourth in the CIS top ten.

    While the Golden Bears played tough in both games of the series, the Huskies weren’t going to be denied in penning another cool chapter of a special season.

The Huskies are the 2016 Canada West champions.

    Even the rookies on the Huskies can feel something great has been happening. McVeigh, who is playing his first year with the Huskies after finishing his Western Hockey League career with the Kamloops Blazers, can feel the positive impact Smuk has had after his death.

    “It feels good just to get a win for him and his family,” said McVeigh. “It feels great to get them involved with our picture and come on the ice. It was great.”

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

Ervine is so fine for Huskies

Marley Ervine, right, celebrates scoring a goal for the Huskies.

    It seemed like everything Marley Ervine touched turned to gold for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team.

    The feisty fifth-year forward had a goal and three assists to power the Huskies to a 5-3 victory over the University of Regina Cougars on Friday night at the Rutherford Rink. The Kindersley product is well known for getting in the dirty areas and mixing things up physically against opponents, who are usually bigger than she is. Those battles have also included a little bit of trash talking.

    With the Huskies missing Kaitlin Willoughby, their leading scorer from last season, with an undisclosed injury, Ervine ended up being in the right place at the right time in what was a 1980s offensive style of game.

    In the opening 20 minutes, the Huskie jumped out to a 1-0 lead, when right-winger Hailey Tyndall fired home a shot that went between the legs of Cougars defender Jolene Kirkpatrick to bulge the twine. With the Huskies working on the power play later on in the frame, Ervine picked up her first helper, when rookie defender Leah Bohlken fired home a shot through a screen to net her first career Canadian Interuniversity Sport regular season goal.

    The hosts expanded their edge to 3-0 at the 6:12 mark of the second, when Ervine and rookie centre Elizabeth Salyn combined to set up Rachel Johnson for her third goal of the season.

    Just when it looked the Huskies were going to run away with things, the Cougars came to life scoring two goals 39 second apart just past the midway point of the second to cut the Huskies lead to 3-2. First, fourth-year veteran Meghan Sherven batted home a close in rebound chance on the power play and Bailey Braden quickly followed up with an even strength marker.

Marley Ervine speeds down the left wing for the Huskies.

    Working again on the power play, the Huskies jumped back ahead 4-2, when Ervine got the puck to the point to offensive defender Julia Flinton who slipped home a seeing-eye shot for her first goal of the season.

    A short time after that tally, the Cougars pulled staring rookie goalie Jane Kish, who turned away 16-of-20 shots fired her way. Toni Ross went in with 5:39 to play in the second, and she turned away 10-11 shots in relief.

    Just under a minute after entering the contest, Ross was beaten on a good individual effort by Ervine to give the Huskies a 5-2 edge.

    Before the second ended, the Cougars cut the gap to 5-3, when sophomore forward Caitlin Dempsey tucked a shot over the shoulder of Huskies goaltender Cassidy Hendricks on a penalty shot. Hendricks was solid overall on Friday making 33 saves to improve her Huskies career regular season wins record to 37.

    With the victory, the Huskies improved to 5-1-1, while the Cougars fell to 4-3.

    The two teams meet again on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Co-operators Centre in Regina.

    NOTES ­– Huskies third year veteran forward Kori Herner left Friday’s game in the second period with an injury. The injury bug has taken a big bite out of the Cougars in the early part of the season. They played with only 15 skaters on Friday, and among their missing was their leading scorer from a season ago in Kylie Gavelin and fourth year veteran defender Krista Metz.

    Huskies defender Alyssa Dobler played in her 105th consecutive career game for the Huskies including regular season, playoffs and the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship tournament. The fourth-year veteran has never missed a game in her career. Dobler had received a major penalty and a game misconduct for a checking from behind infraction in Huskies 3-1 road victory over the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns last Saturday, but no suspension resulted from that play.

    The Huskies are rated 10^th in the CIS’s top ten rankings.

Smuk game up for Huskies men’s team

The Huskies men's hockey team take warm-ups wearing Cody Smuk jerseys.

    The late Cody Smuk exemplified the phrase, “No one outworks the Dogs,” and it is only fitting his memory will be front and centre for a pre-game tribute.

    On Saturday, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team will retire Smuk’s #24 jersey before their 7 p.m. clash with the University of Regina Cougars at the Rutherford Rink. This will mark the first time the Huskies have retired a number.

    Smuk played four seasons for the Huskies from 2010 to 2014 collecting six goals and 14 assists in 89 regular season games. He was best known for his gritty and hard-working style of play, as well as being the perfect glue guy teammate in the dressing room. The hard-hitting forward, who played in the WHL with the Chilliwack Bruins, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Moose Jaw Warriors, passed away after a battle with cancer that lasted over a year in June at the age of 26.

    One of the walls at the Rutherford Rink contains a big banner with Smuk’s picture that reads, “We all play the Cody Smuk way.”

    Before taking the ice for games, all the members of the Huskies men’s team have been wearing #24 Smuk jerseys during warm-ups in tribute of Smuk. That practice is expected to last for the whole season, and it will be repeated before Saturday’s game.
    Smuk's parents, father Marty and mother Darla, and his financee, Stephanie Vause, will take part in the pre-game ceremony.

The Cody Smuk banner that hangs at the Rutherford Rink.

    On the ice on Friday, the Huskies, who are rated fourth in the CIS’s top ten rankings, improved to 5-0 downing the Cougars in Regina 3-1.

    Sean Aschim, Zak Stebner and Logan McVeigh all netted singles for the Huskies. Trent Lofthouse replied for the Cougars, who fell to 1-4.

    Blake Voth made 36 saves to earn the win in goal in his first start of the season for the Huskies. Dawson MacAuley turned away 27 shots taking the loss in the Cougars net.

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

Smuk’s cancer battle brought out the best in Saskatoon

Cody Smuk 1989-2015

Cody Smuk at the Rutherford Rink on Jan. 30, 2015.

    If life success is determined by how many friends you have, Cody Smuk died a very rich young man.

    The hard-working, team-first former forward with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team succumbed to a battle with cancer that lasted over a year early Thursday morning. He just turned 26 back on May 11.

    Smuk was living proof about how much the glue guy matters.

    As news spread about his passing, those that knew him quickly flocked to social media to post tributes. Even those in Saskatoon that didn’t know Smuk personally or didn’t follow the Huskies knew Smuk’s story and were sad to hear about his death.

    He grew up playing minor hockey in Saskatoon and moved on to spend four seasons in the WHL with the Chilliwack Bruins, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Moose Jaw Warriors. No matter where the stop was, Smuk was always one of the most popular players on the team he suited up for.

    That didn’t change when he returned to Saskatoon to play four seasons with the Huskies. Smuk was never the offensive star. He netted six goals and 14 assists in 89 career regular season games with the Huskies.

    Due to the fact he was good natured, easy going and genuine, he easily became one of the most popular players on his own team and amongst all teams that are part of the Huskies program.

    The man who always had a smile on his face ended up dating Stephanie Vause from the Huskies track team and the two were engaged to be married at the time of Smuk’s death.

    Because of his strong qualities of character, Saskatoon as a city and the hockey community at large repeatedly rallied for Smuk, when his diagnosis of testicular and lung cancer came out about two months after he helped the Huskies win a silver medal at the University Cup national championship tournament in March of 2014.

Cody Smuk drops the puck for a ceremonial faceoff on Jan. 30, 2015.

    Over the past 12 months, just over $116,000 was raised to support Smuk on a GoFundMe.com website page. Whenever Smuk encountered a serious challenge, the community responded with a surge of donations, which started with a $20,000 gusher over three days after the page was established in June of 2014.

    All sorts of people started sporting “Get Smuk’d Cancer” bracelets in another show of support.

    On Jan. 30, Smuk received a standing ovation at a packed Rutherford Rink, when he dropped the puck for a ceremonial faceoff before a men’s hockey match between the Huskies and the rival U of Alberta Golden Bears. It was one of the most heartwarming moments to ever take place inside the 85-year-old rink. Just under $3,500 was raised for the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Cancer Society through a Marty’s Men fundraiser put on by the Huskies.

    When Smuk departed for Germany with Vause, his father Marty and mother Darla, to seek alternative treatment on April 26, about 100 people turned out on an early snowing Sunday morning to give the group a big send off at the John G. Diefenbaker International Airport. If you were there, you definitely could feel a great community vibe.

    That vibe returned at a steak night fundraiser that was held for Smuk at the Kinsmen/Henk Ruys Soccer Centre on June 4. This gathering included a number of current NHL players from the area in Luke and Brayden Schenn, Darcy Kuemper and Linden Vey. There were also a tonne of great characters that have character on hand who became friends with Smuk during his time in the WHL and the Huskies.

Cody Smuk and Stephanie Vause, centre, watch the Huskies in Nov. 2014.

    There was a huge and a very cool collection of silent auction items up for grabs including signed jerseys by Jonathan Toews, Tyler Ennis and George Reed. Washington Capitals goaltender and Saskatoon Blades graduate Braden Holtby contributed five big items including two signed game jerseys.

    Vause and Marty Smuk were in attendance and were visibly uplifted that night. Cody Smuk himself still hadn’t returned from Germany.

    Who knew this would be the last public gathering held to support Smuk, while he was still alive.

    After always approaching his cancer battle with an incredible upbeat attitude, Smuk’s condition deteriorated quickly this week leading up this his passing away on Thursday. On Friday, a tribute sign went up for Smuk in front of the Rutherford Rink reading “Rest easy Cody.” A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 30 at 2 p.m. at Elim Church.

    For one that always played with a huge heart on the ice, Smuk helped show how big of a community heart Saskatoon can have off the ice.

Valkyries and Riot near biggest clash ever

Marci Kiselyk zips downfield for the Valkyries.

    Believe it or not, the Saskatchewan Roughriders regular season opener at Mosaic Stadium isn’t the biggest football related thing on everyone’s mind in the wheat province.

    On Sunday at 2 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium, the Saskatoon Valkyries battle the host Regina Riot in what is to date the biggest clash between the Western Women’s Canadian Football League powerhouse clubs. For the fifth straight year, the two clubs are facing off in the Prairie Conference Final. While the Valkyries took the previous four meetings on their way to winning four straight league titles, this meeting might be the most up in the air head-to-head match between these two clubs.

    “We love to play Regina, and we love to play in good football games,” said veteran Valkyries receiver Marci Kiselyk. “We love playoff games. We’re really excited to get out there on Sunday and see what we can do.”

    The Valkyries and Riot each posted 3-1 regular season records and split their two head-to-head games. The Riot held the standings tiebreaker outscoring the Valkyries 68-37 in the two games.

    In the last meeting between these teams, the Riot bombed the Valkyries 49-9 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    “We really want to redeem ourselves,” said Kiselyk. “We really want to play the way that we know that we can.

    “It stung for a while, and you have to move past it. Football is a game of ups and downs. If a play doesn’t go your way, you have to rebound and be ready go on the next one.”

    The WWCFL’s Western Conference Final will see the Calgary Rage travel to Edmonton to take on the Storm at Jasper Place. Both teams were 2-2 in the regular season.

    The league title game between the two conference winners is set for July 4 at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg.

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

Super send-off for Smuk

A Dodge Ram takes Cody Smuk and family to the airport in Saskatoon.

    It seemed like Cody Smuk's smile could be seen for miles, when he approached the Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport early Sunday morning.
    The former forward with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, his fiancée Stephanie Vause, his mother Darla and father Marty were on their way to begin their air journey to Germany. He is heading overseas to seek alternative treatment for cancer in his chest, which revolves around a tumour. Smuk has been battling cancer since May of last year.
    As the black Dodge Ram truck driven by Smuk's father Marty approached the airport, they encountered a large gathering of well wishers. A huge group of family and friends lined the snowy road leading to the entrance to the airport and cheered as the black Dodge drove past. Vause and Darla gave waves through the windows.
    The gathering included members of various Huskies teams including a large contingent of past and present players from the men's hockey team, who were Cody Smuk's former teammates.
    A number of people arrived at about 8:30 a.m., which was about 45 minutes before the 25-year-old arrived at the airport. The send-off occurred in spite of the fact the weather hadn't been the greatest.

Some of Cody Smuk's supporters came out with signs of support on Sunday.

    About 20 centimetres of snow fell on Saskatoon on Saturday, and a number of power outages in the city early Sunday morning likely made a few people late for the festivities, as alarm clocks lost power. The streets were mired in slush and huge puddles.
    Still, the obstacles didn't deter anyone. During his four seasons with the Huskies, Smuk built a reputation as a hard-working and team-first player. He was very good-natured, easy going and quickly became popular with large masses of the student body.

    Those in the community of Saskatoon had taken the local product into their hearts. During his hockey career, Smuk played four WHL seasons split between the Chilliwack Bruins, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Moose Jaw Warriors, and he developed lots of support in those centres.
    It didn't surprise anyone that a big group of people came out to wish him well.
    The gathering felt warm and full of hope. Just to be part of the group was uplifting in itself.
    A couple of crews came out from local television stations. Recent women's basketball grad Kabree Howard and men's hockey forward Matthew Spafford handled most of the interviews and said a lot of upbeat things.

Part of the gathering that came out to pass on good wishes to Cody Smuk.

    In Germany, Smuk will undergo a vaccine treatment. Doctors there plan to boost Smuk's immune system by taking a sample of the tumour in his chest and create a vaccine for it. Other treatments will be decided upon once Smuk arrives.
    When he returns, a steak night fundraiser is being planned for Thursday, June 4, at the Kinsmen/Henk Ruys Soccer Centre. The warm feeling that was present on Sunday morning will likely return for the June 4 fundraiser.
    All those that support Smuk hope that fate would allow that night to turn into a victory party.

    If you have any comments about this blog, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com. Smuk's family is still raising funds to pay for the trip to Germany. Those looking to help Smuk with his cancer battle can do so by clicking here.

Get Smuk’d Cancer

Former University of Saskatchewan Huskies forward Cody Smuk, who is battling cancer, hangs out at the Rutherford Rink.

Huskies men's hockey team raising money for the "Marty's Men" Relay for Life team for former teammate Cody Smuk

   Don't you just wish you could punch or kick cancer right in the groin?
   Wouldn't be nice to start off a hockey game with it beating it down in a five-on-five line brawl. I would like to put on the ice all in their primes Dave "The Cement Head" Semenko, Derek "The Boogeyman" Boogaard, Dave "The Hammer" Schultz, Dave Manson and Marty McSorley to lay the beat down.
   Heck, throw Ron Hextall in goal too, because we all know cancer doesn't like to fight fair. Hextall would give cancer the blindside it deserves, if he could.
   Still, the worse part about cancer is it doesn't fight fair. It seems everyone knows someone they think it isn't fair that he or she has to battle cancer.
   The University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's hockey team encountered that.
   Back on March 23, 2014, they were just focused on hockey. They took the ice for the title game of the University Cup championship tournament against their long-time rivals the University of Alberta Golden Bears at the rink that was then known as the Credit Union Centre. The Golden Bears skated away with a 3-1 victory to claim a national title.
   About two months later, the Huskies encountered news that was tougher to swallow than that championship loss. Hard working and ultimate team guy forward Cody Smuk was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and he had a tumour in his right lung that was causing concern. News spread quickly throughout not just the Huskies men's hockey team but the rest of the Huskies athletic program, to the Saskatoon community at large and what seemed to any geographical corner that had a person who knew Smuk.
   Cancer has never discriminated by age, but it still didn't seem real Smuk had cancer. He is only 25. That diagnosis started a roller-coaster journey that is still ongoing in the present day.
   At 7 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday night, the Huskies men's hockey team host the Golden Bears at the Rutherford Rink. Friday's game also happens to be the "Vintage Night," where the 85^th birthday of the facility will be celebrated. On both nights, a fundraiser will be held for "Marty's Men," which is the Relay for Life team for Smuk. His nickname is "Marty."

Cody Smuk and Stephanie Vause, centre, watch the Huskies.

   Last Friday, the Huskies women's hockey team held their seventh annual Play For The Cure game and the proceeds went to Choc 'la Cure in honour of Smuk. Choc 'la Cure raises funds for equipment for the Saskatoon Cancer Centre. Over $2,500 was collected from the silent auction from the Play For The Cure game.
   One should expect funds to pour in for the "Marty's Men" Relay for Life team at the men's games. Smuk is the type of person that draws people to rally around him, because he has always been very likeable.

   In June, girlfriend Stephanie Vause and her sister, Leah (Vause) Lewis, set up a profile for Smuk on the GoFundMe.com website to raise funds to help with expenses during his cancer treatments. Over $20,000 was raised in a three day period. By early November, that total grew to $33,000.
   Around the same time the GoFundMe.com profile was established, members of the Huskies men's hockey team started selling and distributing bracelets with "Get Smuk'd Cancer" inscribed on them. Almost immediately every member of the men's team was sporting those bracelets.
   In July, Smuk made a trip to Moose Jaw, where he played part of his WHL career with the Warriors. He attended a charity steak night in his honour, which was put together by his Warriors billet mom, Liza Thornberg.
   Smuk's story then took an upward swing. He originally completed chemotherapy treatments on Aug. 11. During subsequent visits to the doctor, news kept coming back that everything looked clear for the man who also played for the Chilliwack Bruins and Lethbridge Hurricanes.
   On Nov. 3, he had surgery to remove the tumour in his right lung. Smuk's outlook was looking so good the now Huskies alumnus donated $10,000 of his GoFundMe.com money to Choc 'la Cure. He was originally at the Choc 'la Cure Gala on Nov. 7, but had to spend the time resting up from his surgery.
   Before he went in for surgery, I interviewed Smuk for a story for the Saskatoon Express, and he was really optimistic. In December, he completed the final classes he needed to take for a degree in business management.
   Unfortunately, Smuk found out the fight against cancer wasn't won. Shortly before Christmas, he was informed the tumour that was removed had evidence of uniqueness to it.

The "Get Smuk'd Cancer" bracelet.

   He discovered he was dealing with another type of cancer that is usually found in children. There were also signs where the old tumour used to be that it was growing back.
   On the plus side, the cancer was only in his lung. Still, he would have to undergo a chemotherapy treatment plan that was 43 weeks in length.
   From the low of that news came another high. Over the holidays, Smuk proposed to Vause, and she said "Yes." They are one of the cutest couples you could ever see.
   As the calendar turned to the new year, Smuk began his treatments. His parents, Marty and Darla, and Vause attended the Play For The Cure game.
   Now the goal is to pull for Smuk to get through this round to go to another high. A wedding day awaits in the future.

   If you have any feedback about this blog, feel free to email comments to stankssports@gmail.com.