Covering sports in 2023 was a grind but still fun

Connor Bedard jets past a checker from the Blades in April.

Boxing Day proved to be a perfect day to repair drawers on a dresser that sat broken since the first week of October.

Often, these types of projects break into a four hour or even a total day ordeal. The repair in this instance went easy and only took an hour.

Next brings the question of why it took so long to get to that repair?

Welcome to life when you are involved in the sports world in Canada.

The schedule was so busy on that front the repairs to the dresser kept always being dropped on the priority list. I finally got to the repair on Boxing Day.

This isn’t a new phenomenon in the sports world. I’ve got friends involved in that world who have had like a load of lumber and sheets of drywall sitting in their basements for three years waiting to be used for renovations that never seem to get done.

You start to wonder if there were any regrets about buying the building materials in the first place.

When you are involved in sports in Canada, it becomes a life consuming thing. Schedules are never normal with that world either outside of the fact there are set phases to the seasons in sports.

When pressures build to focus more on aspects outside of life in the sports world when you are involved in the sports world, it can make being in the sports world a grind.

For me, 2023 was a grind being in the sports world. I still enjoyed it, but it was a grind.

Things were going smoothly for the first two and a half months of 2023. About eight days into March, I ended up getting COVID-19, and it spread to the whole household. I missed covering the last two weeks of the 2022-23 WHL regular season.

The Blades enjoy a Game 7 series winner from Spencer Shugrue (#26).

The best part for my household and myself was the fact the COVID-19 battle was like dealing with a bad flu with extreme fatigue at the start. For the first five days after getting COVID-19, I slept 19 hours each day, and I had never felt that exhausted in my life.

Unfortunately, that seemed to set an ominous tone that prevailed for the rest of the year.

After the battle with COVID-19 wrapped up, I was ready to cover the WHL Playoffs, and I was ready to go when the post-season arrived. When I am covering WHL games, I am in my happy place.

The 2023 playoffs were memorable. I worked the exciting seven game series between the Saskatoon Blades and at the time 17-year-old phenom centre Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats.

The Blades claimed the series deciding Game 7 at home 4-1 before a sellout crowd of 14,768 spectators at the SaskTel Centre. Bedard was outstanding in the series recording 10 goals, 10 assists and a plus-eight rating.

In the second round of the post-season, the Blades dropped the first three games of their series with the Red Deer Rebels and proceeded to rally back to take the set 4-3. They took Game 7 of the series at home by a 5-2 score before 9,489 spectators at the SaskTel Centre.

In the process, the Blades became the third team in the history of the WHL to fall behind 3-0 in a best-of-seven series only to rally back and take it 4-3. The Spokane Chiefs, who were guided by Mike Babcock as head coach, trailed the Portland Winterhawks 3-0 before rallying to take a first round series 4-3 in 1996. The Kelowna Rockets fell behind the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-0 in 2013 before rallying back to claim that series 4-3.

Utility player Spencer Shugrue became “Mr. Game 7” for the Blades collecting three goals and an assist in Saskatoon’s two series deciding Game 7 wins.

The Blades would be swept by Winnipeg Ice 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Championship Series. In the WHL Championship Series, the Ice fell 4-1 to the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Spencer Shugrue (#26) became “Mr. Game 7” for the Blades.

The Thunderbirds made it to the title game of the Memorial Cup tournament that determines a CHL champion, which was held in Kamloops, B.C. Seattle was blanked 5-0 in the championship game by the QMJHL champion Quebec Remparts, who were guided head coach, general manager and hockey legend Patrick Roy.

I piled up the road kilometres working games in Regina, Red Deer and Winnipeg. In working the first two games of the WHL final in person in Winnipeg, I saw the Ice win their final game as the Winnipeg Ice. They beat the Thunderbirds 3-2 in the opening game of the WHL Championship Series held before 5,531 spectators at the Canada Life Centre, and the Ice weren’t able to get another win for the rest of that set.

That was the first time I was in the building to work games in the WHL Championship Series since 2019. It was also the first time I’ve been in the building to work games in the WHL Championship Series since the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the sports schedules in 2020 and the first half of 2021 and hung ominously over the sports world for the second half of 2021 and the first half of 2022.

When I was in Regina, Red Deer and Winnipeg in the 2023 WHL Playoffs, it felt great, because the focus was on hockey. I also got good extended family time in during my stay in Winnipeg.

When I got off the road, it seemed there would be a mini-crisis in my life away from the sports world. There were times I was asking myself if I should have even left Saskatoon for the road. Looking back, the road was a reprieve.

After returning home from Regina covering Games 3 and 4 of the series between the Pats and Blades, I was immediately jumped with something after getting off the road in my life away from the sports world.

My reaction was, “I was only gone two days! How can life be so terrible?”

The Blades attracted massive home crowds during 2023 WHL Playoffs. 

The best part was all these mini-crisis would pass after two days and seem like nothing two weeks later, but going through those day after day with those around you freaking out was draining.

The football front was fun as the Saskatoon Valkyries won their eighth WWCFL title in June and the Saskatoon Hilltops claimed their 23^rd CJFL championship in November.

The Valkyries blanked the Calgary Rage 40-0 in the WWCFL title game played at Griffiths Stadium to conclude the campaign with a perfect 8-0 record. The pressures of life outside the sports world seemed to subside during the Valkyries season. The Valkyries have a great bunch, and I enjoyed being around that bunch.

Shortly after Hilltops season got going in August, it seemed the uncontrollable pressures from outside the sports world cranked up again. The Hilltops as always were outstanding to deal with. I’ve covered them and the Valkyries regularly since moving to Saskatoon in the summer of 2014.

The Hilltops posted a perfect 12-0 campaign and won the Canadian Bowl contest that determines a CJFL champion 17-10 over the host Westshore Rebels at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria. The contest was played in rains that fell in Biblical proportions.

The Hilltops had a historic campaign. In 12 games, they gave up just 76 points, which was their lowest total overall for a season dating back to 1949.

Hilltops defensive end Riece Kack had a memorable performance in the CJFL semifinal win over the OFC champion St. Clair Saints, who are from Windsor, Ont., in October at SMF Field. Kack pile up six sacks to set a new record for a CJFL playoff game. He actually became the first player to register six sacks in any CJFL contest be it regular season, playoffs or CJFL championship game.

Emmarae Dale (#45) makes a big hit on defence for the Valkyries

Still in the department of being honest, the pressures from life outside the sports world affected the fun I had covering the Hilltops during their season. If felt like a greater grind than covering the WHL Playoffs. The factors that were there had nothing to do with the team and were out of my control.

I know there were at least three times for me covering games I actually drifted to looking forward to the season being over. That had never happened to me in any time in my life when I was dealing with football. It did happen in the first full WHL season in 2021-22 with regular play after navigating the wrenches of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that came from mental fatigue from the pandemic.

Anyways, I just gutted and grinded all that out.

When the Hilltops played the Rebels for the 2023 CJFL title, I covered that contest remotely watching it online at the home office. I knew the Hilltops were going to come back that night, and I was hoping to go to the social function to celebrate that night when they got home.

The best I felt for that season was the 30 minutes after the Hilltops won the CJFL title. The pumped up elation of a championship win was there.

Unfortunately, technical problems with the computer, social media and the Internet threw a bucket of water on my joy. All of that was out of my control, and I was ready to punch a few computer screens.

I got a short write thru up before midnight that the Hilltops had won. By the time I posted the finished version of my column on the Hilltops winning their 23^rd CJFL title, it was 8 a.m. the next morning. I gutted and grinded through getting that done, but enjoying the Hilltops accomplishment lasted for 30 minutes after the CJFL title game wrapped up.

The Valkyries raise the WWCFL championship trophy.

Life away from the sport world saw the stress become much lower starting a week after the Hilltops season ended and has continued as I write this piece.

Trigger warning: politics

The next part of this column I have to throw up the trigger warning as I will be talking about politics.

Living in Canada these days, talking politics can get you fired from jobs and has gotten people fired from jobs.

Be it world, national, provincial or civic politics, I have never talked more about politics in my life away from the sports world as I have in this past year. To be honest, I don’t like the political world, and I don’t like the extremes on both the right and the left that seem to dominate that world. I see myself as the “common sense” Canadian that appears to no longer have a place and is no longer wanted in that world.

The Government of Canada has gotten their hands into tinkering with the sports and media worlds that have both been my life since 1996. That actually hasn’t bothered me that much in the grand scheme of things, and I find you just adjust to things as they come up like with the various government policies that came up in the COVID-19 pandemic.

I believe the next election federally and elections on the provincial and civic levels will be one issue referendums. 

To me, that referendum will be do you believe issues with the environment are bad enough that elected governments must be given basically a blank cheque to run up deficits as big as they want to handle this issue.

Homes and gasoline vehicles in Canada are way more efficient than they were in the 1970s and 1980s. I know for those on the extreme left that will never be enough, and they would like to see the elimination of gasoline vehicles of all sorts and gas in general in Canada.

The Government of Canada under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his minister of environment and climate change in Steven Guilbeault are in my judgment “all in” on tackling the environment issue to the point they should be allowed to do everything and anything on that front.

Riece Kack (#47) makes a record sack for the Hilltops.

According to Statista, Canada had the 10^th highest carbon tax rate in the world as of March 31, 2023 among the 25 countries at that time that were listed with carbon taxes with Iceland having two rates. The United States, India, Russia and China were not listed as having any carbon taxes at that time. China runs a Chinese national carbon trading scheme.

Guilbeault has been a climate activist since age five and was a member of Greenpeace Canada from 1997 to 2007. In 2001, Guilbeault and British activist Chris Holden scaled Toronto’s CN Tower.

After getting to a height of 340 metres, the pair unfurled a banner that read, “Canada and Bush Climate Killers.”

Guilbeault and Holden were arrested and charged with mischief. The stunt cost the CN Tower Corporation an estimated $50,000, and Guilbeault was sentenced to one year’s probation and the court ordered him to pay a portion of the costs.

To me, Guilbeault is an activist with an agenda, and I doubt very much he would or will consider anyone with a viewpoint that is opposite his. Anyone with an opposing view would be dismissed as being wrong.

In my view, the city government in Saskatoon views the environment issue as being the big issue.

In the end, I believe all this will add up to continuing inflation and putting lots of financial pressures on everyone in Canada in 2024. I don’t see the political world getting better in 2024, and if you don’t believe me, just search any political issue on Platform-X formerly known as Twitter to see the nasty keyboard fights.

Even if you don’t have an interest in the political world, the decisions made in that world will influence and change the worlds you interact in.

Getting pictured with the Canadian Bowl was a highlight in 2023.

For myself as I have done since March of 2020, the goal will be to try and adjust the best I can and stay as healthy physically and mentally as I can. There is only so much I can control, and everything else is going to play out as it is going to be.

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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CJFL title capped rebound season for Hilltops in 2023

The Hilltops celebrate a TD from Drake Douglas, right.

Do you remember the Saskatoon Hilltops going 6-4 in 2022?

That season feels long forgotten after the Hilltops posted a perfect 12-0 record in 2023 culminating in the team’s 23^rd CJFL championship and sixth perfect season. The Hilltops closed out the 2023 campaign last Saturday downing the host Westshore Rebels 17-10 in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The Saskatoon side persevered through Biblical type rains to capture their first CJFL title since 2019 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria. It was a familiar sight seeing the Hilltops raise the Canadian Bowl as CJFL champions.

A year ago at this time disappointment was the prevailing feeling around the Hilltops. Their 2022 campaign came to an end on October 30 of that year with a 39-21 loss to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder in the PFC final at Mosaic Stadium in the Saskatchewan capital city.

Boston Davidsen ran for 1,184 yards in the regular season.

Saskatoon was 5-3 in the regular season and 6-4 overall. Before 2022, the last time Hilltops experienced those records was 1993. Between 1993 and 2022, the Hilltops had never lost more than two games in the regular season and won the CJFL title 14 times.

The Hilltops graduated 20 players from their roster following their loss to the Thunder in the 2022 PFC final. With the PFC going through a massive reset with all of its six teams experiencing sizable graduations, there was no certainty about where the Hilltops would stand going into the 2023 campaign.

The biggest thing for the venerable CJFL squad was the team’s legendary head coach in Tom Sargeant was back along with his long time defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jeff Yausie. Actually, all the members of the Hilltops coaching staff had been working with the team for a number of years.

The coaches were determined to get the Hilltops back playing up to their lofty standards of their CJFL championship seasons. Being good but not good enough like in 2022 wasn’t going to cut it.

MLB Matt Wist was a second team CJFL all-Canadian all-star.

The Hilltops had one of their more youthful rosters in 2023. Out of the eight players suiting up in their final seasons of CJFL eligibility, six of those players were holdovers from the team’s previous CJFL title winning season back in 2019, when the Hilltops posted a perfect 12-0 record at that time.

The six holdovers included middle linebacker Matt Wist, outside linebacker Wade Keating, defensive back Carter Wingert, defensive lineman Craig Torgerson, power running back Boston Davidsen and receiver Evan Ward. Linebacker Jordan Levesque and offensive lineman Justice Walker were the other two graduating players who joined the Hilltops following the 2019 campaign.

Due to the fact only six players had CJFL championship rings, the journey through the 2023 season for the Hilltops had a newness feeling to it. The coaches had experience guiding more youthful rosters in the past, and they were able to draw on that experience and apply it this past season.

Trey Reider was named the PFC’s Most Outstanding Quarterback.

One of the biggest differences between 2022 and 2023 was the Hilltops defence rose to a higher level to achieve some historical accomplishments. The Hilltops allowed just 51 points through their eight regular season games posting the team’s lowest point against total in regular season play dating back to 1949.

The ’Toppers gave up just 25 points in four playoff games for a total of 76 points over 12 contests, which was the lowest points against total for the team including play in the regular season and post-season since 1949. In 1949, the Hilltops gave up 70 points in 10 overall games that season falling in the Western Canada Championship game 16-12 to the Vancouver Blue Bombers.

When you break things down to average points allowed per game, the 2023 Hilltops in overall play gave up an average of 6.3 points a game, which is the lowest total in team history.

Wade Keating returns an interception for a TD for the Hilltops.

The defence was anchored by first team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars in defensive end Riece Kack and defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens. Wist and hard hitting and ball hawking safety Dalton Urban were named second team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars.

The second biggest thing that happened in 2023 was the Hilltops got their most consistent play at the quarterback position since winning the CJFL title in 2019. After the 2020 CJFL campaign was lost due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world, the Hilltops had campaigns in 2021 and 2022 that saw them change the starting quarterback near the midpoint of the regular season.

In the sixth game of the regular season in 2022, the Hilltops inserted Trey Reider into the starting spot at quarterback. He started the Hilltops final three regular season games and both their post-season games.

Noah Flaman jets downfield on a long TD reception.

Playing his 21-year-old season in 2023, Reider went the distance as the Hilltops starting signal caller. During the Hilltops eight regular season games, Reider has completed 108-of-167 passes for 1,571 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing five interceptions during the regular season.

He topped the PFC with a 114.6 quarterback efficiency rating, was named a PFC all-star and took honours as the PFC’s Most Outstanding Quarterback. With the 2023 season in the books, Reider is currently 16-1 overall as the Hilltops starting quarterback.

Reider’s favourite targets in 2023 included receiver Drake Douglas, who took first team CJFL all-Canadian honours after catching 42 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns in regular season play, and pass catcher Noah Flaman, who caught 21 passes for 422 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season earning the nickname “TD Noah” in the process.

Davidsen was a first team CJFL all-Canadian having had a monster campaign leading the PFC in carries (170), rushing yards (1,184) and rushing touchdowns (nine) during the regular season. Hilltops right tackle Cody Shumanski captured a first team CJFL all-Canadian spot on the offensive line.

Erik Barsness (#60) and Davin Johnson (#71) set the edge on a run play.

Saskatoon’s group of starters on the offensive line were all standouts with Davin Johnson at left tackle, Erik Barness at left guard, Matt Noble at centre and Victoire Bikulo at right guard. 

When Bikulo was lost for the season in the Hilltops seventh regular season game due to a leg injury, Quinton Pike filled in the rest of the way admirably at the starting right guard spot to ensure the Hilltops offensive line did not lose a step.

The Hilltops had to slug it out and persevere in some tough games. In the contest where Bikulo went down on September 30 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops had to grind out a 19-10 victory over the Thunder in the pouring rain that came down for the entire contest. 

When those same two squads met in the PFC final on October 22 at SMF Field, the Hilltops entered the fourth quarter trailing 13-9 before rallying back for a 21-13 victory.

Riece Kack makes a sack for the Hilltops.

In the CJFL championship game, they had battle it out against the Rebels in a game where the rain came down intensely. The Rebels also had the CJFL marquee player in quarterback Te Jessie, who was named a first team all-Canadian and claimed the CJFL’s Peter Dalla Riva Outstanding Offensive Player award.

While the contest was tied 7-7 early in the third quarter, the Hilltops scored the next 10 points to go up 17-7 and would close out a 17-10 victory. Wist and Davidsen both had big games.

Wist was named the defensive player of the game recording three interceptions, nine solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists and one pass knockdown. With those defensive statistics, Wist accumulated 36 defensive points, which is a new record for a CJFL championship game. His three picks equaled the record for most interceptions in a CJFL championship game.

Davidsen claimed honours as the offensive player of the game. He carried the ball 25 times for 157 yards and one touchdown. His major score ultimately held up as the winning score of the contest.

The Hilltops celebrate with the Canadian Bowl. (CJFL photo)

From an uncertain beginning, the Hilltops wrote another brilliant chapter to the storied legacy of the team. They ultimately finished off in a familiar spot standing tall on the CJFL mountain top.

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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Was Hilltops defence in 2023 the best in team history?

Saskatoon gave up club record low 6.3 points per game

The Hilltops knock down a last play pass on October 8.

One play in “garbage time” typified the tenacity and compete level of the Saskatoon Hilltops defence in 2023.

To put it bluntly, there was no such thing as “garbage time.”

Back on October 8, the Hilltops were leading the visiting Winnipeg Rifles 39-1 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in the final CJFL regular season game for both sides. On the last play of the contest, the Rifles were in range to throw one pass into the Hilltops end zone to try and get a major score.

The Hilltops had been playing with their reserves on defence for a solid stretch as the outcome of the contest wasn’t in doubt. Saskatoon was going to finish out the regular season with a perfect 8-0 record, and the Rifles would miss the CJFL playoffs with a 2-6 mark.

All there was to play for was competitive pride on one play.

Rifles quarterback Myles Desmarais heaved a “Hail Mary” pass into the end zone looking for a major. Hilltops safety Jackson Dean and defensive backs Carter O’Reilly and Carter Borsa all leaped up to knock the ball to the ground to ensure the final outcome finished 39-1.

DC Jeff Yausie calls played for the Hilltops defence.

That knockdown resulted in the Hilltops allowing just 51 points against over their eight regular season games. It was the lowest points allowed total for the team in regular season play dating back to 1949.

At the time that knockdown was made, no one knew the historical significance of what had been accomplished with respect to the storied history of the team. The current modern day version of the Hilltops began play in 1947.

Had the Rifles gotten a last play touchdown, that historical accomplishment of giving up the fewest point in regular season play since 1949 would have been gone just like that.

Word spread amongst the team at practice the following week as the Hilltops prepared to host a PFC semifinal against the high-powered Calgary Colts. After the players on the Hilltops defence heard what they had accomplished, they took things took things to another level and things on that side of the ball took on a life of their own.

The Hilltops defensive players didn’t want to allow opposing teams to get anything in the post-season. The players on the Hilltops defence wanted to live up to what had been accomplished in the regular season.

The Hilltops proceeded to crush the Colts 53-2 in the PFC semifinal. Saskatoon slugged past their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder 21-13 in the PFC final.

Linebacker Matt Wist controlled the middle of the Hilltops defence.

The ’Toppers then blanked the OFC champion St. Clair Saints from Windsor, Ont., 43-0 in a CJFL semifinal. In the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl – held this past Saturday, the Hilltops downed the host and BCFC champion Westshore Rebels 17-10 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

Saskatoon gave up just 25 points in four post-season games. On the campaign itself, the Hilltops posted a 12-0 overall record giving up a total of 76 points against, which is the team’s lowest total in that department since 1949.

In 1949, Canadian Football Hall of Fame member Ron Atchison was playing his final campaign for the Hilltops on the offensive and defensive lines. The Hilltops gave up 70 points in 10 overall games that season falling in the Western Canada Championship game 16-12 to the Vancouver Blue Bombers.

For historical references, touchdowns in 1949 were worth five points instead of six points before a team tried to tack on a one or two-point conversion.

When the 2023 Hilltops beat the Rebels last Saturday, the venerable Saskatoon club captured a 23^rd CJFL title and the sixth perfect season in team history. The 2023 Hilltops gave up fewer points than any of the team’s previous 22 CJFL championship winners.

Riece Kack (#47) had six sacks in the CJFL semifinal.

Actually when it comes to combined action in both the regular season and post-season, the 1949 Hilltops are the only squad in the history of the team to give up fewer points against than the CJFL championship winning 2023 Hilltops did.

When you break things down to average points allowed per game, the 2023 Hilltops in overall play gave up an average of 6.3 points a game, which is the lowest total in team history.

Looking at all those statistical facts, it can be strongly argued that the defensive unit of the 2023 Hilltops was the greatest defensive unit of all-time in the team’s history.

Of course, the Hilltops teams from 1947 onwards played with various different rules as the years and decades went on. With that noted, the rules in today’s version of football are geared to allow the offences to ride high.

In theory, today’s football rules should have prevented the Hilltops from giving up their second lowest points allowed total of all-time in team history.

The crazy part of the Hilltops defence in 2023 was it wasn’t just a finesse unit. The players on the Hilltops defence in 2023 could hit hard.

Wade Keating, right, makes a sack for the Hilltops.

The defence of the 2023 Hilltops was aided by a veteran presence. Out of the eight players the Hilltops had on their roster who were playing in their final campaigns of CJFL eligibility, five of those players were on defence.

Middle linebacker Matt Wist, outside linebacker Wade Keating, defensive back Carter Wingert and defensive tackle Craig Torgerson were all holdovers for the Hilltops 12-0 CJFL championship winning team in 2019, which marked the last time the Hilltops captured the Canadian Bowl until 2023. Linebacker Jordan Levesque joined the Hilltops following the 2019 campaign, but he missed a sizable portion of the 2023 season due to a leg injury.

Wist, Keating and Wingert all started, while Torgerson was part of a regular rotation on the defensive line, which saw him take some repetitions at defensive end.

The defence was anchored by first team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars in defensive end Riece Kack and defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens. Wist and hard hitting and ball hawking safety Dalton Urban were named second team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars.

During the post-season, Kack had a memorable performance in the CJFL semifinal win over the Saints on October 29 at SMF Field. Kack pile up six sacks to set a new record for a CJFL playoff game. He actually became the first player to register six sacks in any CJFL contest be it regular season, playoffs or CJFL championship game.

Carter Wingert (#21) made big plays in the Hilltops secondary.

In the Canadian Bowl win over the Rebels, Wist accumulated 36 defensive points, which is a new record for a CJFL championship game. He also equaled the record for most interceptions in a CJFL championship game at three, which had been achieved on five previous occasions.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant and his long time defensive coordinator in Jeff Yausie saw the Hilltops defence play at a level that that has rarely been seen in the CJFL. The Hilltops have traditionally played in the CJFL’s toughest conferences for most of their history be it the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Junior Football League or the Alberta Junior Football League that became the PFC.

It can even be argued that the 2023 Hilltops had one of the greatest defences in the history of the CJFL. 

Of course, there will be arguments from the 1947 Vancouver Blue Bombers, various Winnipeg Rods teams from the 1950s, the Edmonton Huskies of the early 1960s, the Gord Currie coached Regina Rams of the 1960s and 1970s, the Frank McCrystal coached Regina Rams of the 1980s and 1990s and the 2021 Langley Rams.

With that said, the Hilltops are an uncommon football team that strives to hit new heights of competitive greatness.

The Hilltops defence celebrated many big plays in 2023.

What the 2023 Hilltops did on the defensive side of the ball raised a bar that might not be reached for a very, very long time.

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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If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.

Hilltops defence faces greatest challenge in Canadian Bowl

Rebels high-powered offence led by CJFL’s marquee player

The Hilltops defence had made life miserable for opponents.

The stingy Saskatoon Hilltops defence will finish the 2023 campaign facing its toughest test to date.

In 2023, Saskatoon’s defence is having a season for the ages. The Hilltops gave up just 51 points in eight regular season games, which was their lowest points allowed total dating back to 1949 and lower than any of the regular season points against totals given up by the storied squad’s 22 CJFL championship winning clubs.

In the post-season, the Hilltops have given up just 15 points in three games. While building an 11-0 overall record, the Hilltops are giving up an average of just six points a game.

On Saturday, the PFC champion Hilltops close the 2023 campaign taking on the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The two sides will go at it at Starlight Stadium at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

The Rebels went 12-0 overall thanks to the work of their high powered offence, which is led by the CJFL’s marquee player in quarterback Te Jessie. In the Rebels 10 regular season games, Jessie was outstanding completing 150-of-212 passes for 2,453 yards and 41 touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions.

He had a quarterback rating of 135.1, and his 41 touchdown passes set a new record for CJFL regular season play. A graduate of the St. Paul’s High School Crusaders Football Team in Winnipeg, Man., Jessie topped the CJFL’s annual Top 50 players to watch list heading into the 2023 campaign. He was named a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star on Thursday.

“You see why both teams are in the Canadian final,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “They have an offence that is certainly worthy of big play potential and putting all those points on the board.

“Our defence has been as stingy as any defence in Canada. You are getting two marquee units going at it, so it comes down to our offence versus their defence and our special teams, which is a third of the game. There are a lot of things in play here.

Dalton Urban returns an interception for the Hilltops.

“Hey, that is why you play the games. It is lot of fun to coach and prepare. As I said, we’re one of two teams left in the CJFL playing. That means a lot to us.”

Hilltops defensive tackle Craig Torgerson, who will exhaust his CJFL eligibility once the Canadian Bowl ends, said it was a source of pride for the players on the club’s defence to have allowed the fewest points against since 1949.

“It is actually very special,” said Torgerson. “It is probably one of the better defences I’ve ever played on in my life.

“I definitely won’t take it for granted. The defence has put in a lot of hard work as well as the offence. I just like to see it paying off.”

A lot of players on the Hilltops defence had big seasons. Defensive end Riece Kack topped the PFC in sacks in each of the past two seasons recording 7.5 sacks in each of those campaigns respectively. Safety Dalton Urban finished second in the PFC in interceptions with five.

Defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens collected 20 solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists, three quarterback sacks, one pass knockdown, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Defensive back Carter Wingert had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries playing out his final CJFL campaign for the Hilltops. Matt Wist, who is the Hilltops star 22-year-old middle linebacker, recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, 17 defensive tackle assists, two pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and three interceptions this season.

Wade Keating, who is an outside linebacker, recorded 17 solo defensive tackles, 10 defensive tackle assists, two special teams solo tackles, one special teams tackle assist, one pass knockdown, one fumble recovery and one interception.

Outside linebacker Noah Gedir had a breakout season for Saskatoon with 17 solo defensive tackles, 14 defensive tackle assists, nine special teams solo tackles, one quarterback sack, two pass knockdowns, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Wade Keating has been a consistent outside linebacker.

Rebels’ running back Gerren Hardisty powered the Rebels rushing attack running the ball 108 times for 1,084 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season. Receiver Cairo Berry had 41 catches for 526 yards and 18 touchdowns. Pass catcher Kieran Poissant had a big campaign for the Rebels hauling in 54 passes for 849 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Wist said the players on the Hilltops defence are eager to see how they match up against the Rebels offence.

“It is definitely going to be a challenge for us, and we’re looking forward to it,” said Wist, who will be playing his last career CJFL game in the Canadian Bowl. “We’re always looking to build to be a better team, and they are going to give us a good challenge.

“I’m just looking forward. It is going to be a good game. I think we’re going to show up and do what we can.”

Matching up against a quarterback that has piled up the accomplishments an accolades Jessie has also has gotten the players on the Hilltops defence excited.

“It is kind of at the back of your mind a little bit,” said Kack. “He (Jessie) is certainly a spectacular player.

“We’re definitely looking to get after him and give him a bit of our treatment.”

One of the tradition strengths of the Hilltops defence under defensive coordinator Jeff Yausie has been the unit’s ability to create turnovers. Wist said his club’s defence will try to repeat that traditional trend.

“Those turnovers would definitely help our offence in just field position wise,” said Wist. “I think, if we are doing our jobs and executing our assignments, I think we will be in the right spots to make those turnovers.”

The Hilltops defence hopes to celebrate big plays in the CJFL final.

Going into Saturday’s game, Wist said the Hilltops confidence is in the right place.

“It is definitely high, but we are definitely humble,” said Wist. “They are a good team.

“We know that. They went undefeated as well. They have set records this year, so it is going to be a good matchup.

“We’re definitely coming in there confident, because we know what we’ve done this season and have accomplished.”

Davidsen, Kack lead Hilltops all-Canadian parade

Boston Davidsen ran for 1,184 yards in the regular season.

The Saskatoon Hilltops saw a number of their best players earn CJFL all-Canadian all-star honours with the team posting an 11-0 record and earning a berth in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The PFC champion Hilltops (11-0) will take on the host and BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time at Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria.

On Thursday, the first team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars on offence were announced. Hilltops power running back Boston Davidsen was named a first team all-Canadian after carrying the ball 170 times for 1,184 yards and nine touchdowns in eight regular season games.

Receiver Drake Douglas also took first team all-Canadian honours after catching 42 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns in regular season play. Hilltops right tackle Cody Shumanski captured a first team all-Canadian spot on the offensive line.

Teijon Abel-Douglas claimed honours as first team all-Canadian at kicker. He was good on 23-of-27 field goal attempts for an 85.2 per cent success rate. Abel-Douglas led the PFC in scoring with 104 points coming off 23 field goals, 31 converts and four singles.

Quarterback Te Jessie and receiver Kieran Poissant were the members of the Rebels offence who were named first team all-Canadians.

Riece Kack (#47) led the PFC with 7.5 sacks in the regular season.

On Wednesday, the first team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars on defence were announced. Hilltops defensive end Riece Kack and defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens claimed first team all-Canadian honours.

Kack led the PFC with 7.5 quarterback sacks. He recorded 11 solo defensive tackles, seven defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, two special teams tackle assists, one pass knockdown and two fumble recoveries.

Stevens collected 20 solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists, three quarterback sacks, one pass knockdown, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Hilltops middle linebacker Matt Wist took honours as a first team all-Canadian at punter. He punted the ball 47 times for a gross average of 37.7 yards per kick, a net average of 32.2 yards per kick and three singles.

Linebacker Demar Hohnstein and defensive back Gio Linuzzi were the Rebels first team all-Canadians on defence.

On Tuesday, the Rebels had four plays named second team all-Canadian all-stars on offence. Running back Gerren Hardisty, receiver Cairo Berry and offensive linemen Xavier Venkataya and Camauri Barney were second team all-Canadians.

The second team all-Canadian all-stars on defence were announced on Monday. Wist and safety Dalton Urban claimed second team all-Canadian honours from the Hilltops, while defensive lineman Cody McMahon of the Rebels was dubbed a second team all-Canadian.

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Big sack game still surreal for Hilltops’ Kack

Riece Kack gets a CJFL record sixth sack in one game last Sunday.

Riece Kack is still coming to the realization his big sack game actually did happen, and it wasn’t a dream.

Last Sunday, the Hilltops veteran defensive end piled up six sacks as his squad blanked the visiting St. Clair Saints 43-0 in a CJFL semifinal at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The win allowed the PFC champion Hilltops (11-0) to advance to the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The Hilltops will hit the road to face the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) for the CJFL title on Saturday, November 11 at 3 p.m. local time or 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time at Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria. The OFC champion Saints, who are based in Windsor, finished out at 10-1 overall.

With his six sacks against the Saints, Kack set a new record for most sacks in a CJFL playoff game. The old record of five sacks was set by Roger Rourke of the Richmond Raiders on October 12, 1985.

On top of setting a new record for CJFL playoff contest, Kack, who was named the defensive player of the game in the win over the Saints, actually recorded the most sacks in any CJFL contest be it the regular season, playoffs or the CJFL championship game. The CJFL record for most sacks in a regular season game is five, which had been achieved on six occasions.

Ron Zammit of the Hamilton Hurricanes was the first to record five sacks in a CJFL regular season game on October 2, 1982 and Evan Foster of the Langley Rams was the last to pull of that feat on September 9, 2012.

Riece Kack’s sacks allowed the Hilltops to get a shutout win.

Tyler Eckert of the Langley Rams recorded the most sacks in a CJFL championship at 3.5 coming in his squad’s 37-0 victory over the Beefeaters in London, Ont., in the Canadian Bowl played on December 4, 2021.

“That is pretty crazy,” said Kack. “I mean ’85 or whatever it has kind of been untouched.

“It is insane for sure. It is just off the charts. I definitely don’t like to call it a fluke, but that just doesn’t happen every day.”

The Hilltops had nine total sacks as a team which was a new club record for a CJFL playoff game. Saskatoon previously recorded a team record seven sacks in CJFL playoff games on November 2, 2002 and October 29, 2017.

The ’Toppers nine sacks for a playoff game equals the most sacks recorded in a playoff game by a team from the PFC. The Regina Rams recorded nine sacks in a CJFL playoff game on October 24, 1981 on their way to winning a CJFL title.

“It has been all year we’ve had the jump on lots of teams in the sack category,” said Kack, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 230 pounds. “It is just pressure from every which way, inside and outside and linebackers and DBs covering.

“It has just been a phenomenal defence we have so far here.”

Riece Kack gets his first sack in last Sunday’s CJFL semifinal.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant knew Kack set a new record for most sacks in a CJFL playoff game in the CJFL semifinal win over the Saints. Sargeant didn’t realize no one had six sacks in a CJFL game be it in the regular season, playoffs or CJFL championship game until Kack collected six sacks last Sunday.

The sideline boss, who was named the PFC’s coach of the year for 2023, didn’t know his Hilltops equaled the record for most sacks in a CJFL playoff game by a team from the PFC. Sargeant said Kack and the Hilltops defence were rewarded for the hard work the put in over the 2023 campaign.

“It was a great performance by Riece (Kack),” said Sargeant. “He was on point.

“Obviously, our coverage game was awesome, because some of those sacks were coverage sacks. It is just part and parcel of the way that 12 person defence has been playing all year. They know each other so well.

“They stay together, play hard together. As I said, Riece (Kack) is one piece of the cog that excelled, and it was fun to watch. You know what, it helped to lead us to live another two weeks, and that is all we care about.”

Now, Kack and the Hilltops have their attention turned towards preparing for the Rebels. Anticipating the Hilltops could face the Rebels, Kack said he had been watching some of the Rebels games online as the season went along. 

The Hilltops celebrate a sack from Riece Kack (#47) last Sunday.

The 21-year-old expects the Hilltops defence will be in for a bigger test in the Canadian Bowl.

“I have to get back into the game film,” said Kack. “I know this O-line is going to be a bit more of a test for us for sure.”

In the games he watched online, Kack said the Rebels have a number of playmakers on their team.

“They look like they have some big guys out there, some crazy athletes,” said Kack. “I think we just have to go, and we have to play our brand of football.

“We can’t cater to them. We have to just go in there and play our style of ball. I think we still have another gear to find here.

“If we find that gear, I think it will be a good game for us.”

Stevens equals forced fumble CJFL record, other notes

Johnathon Stevens (#47) forces a fumble last Sunday.

Saskatoon Hilltops defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens was able to find his way into the CJFL record book this past Sunday.

When the PFC champion Hilltops blanked the OFC champion St. Clair Saints 43-0 in a CJFL semifinal last Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Stevens equaled the CJFL playoff record for most forced fumbles in one playoff game at two. The 19-year-old from Eatonia, Sask., became the first player from a PFC team to record two forced fumbles in a CJFL playoff game.

A total of three players were able to record two forced fumbles in a CJFL playoff game before Stevens. Aram Eisho had two forced fumbles for the Hamilton Hurricanes on October 17, 2009.

Arie Nakagawa recorded two forced fumbles for the Langley Rams on October 27, 2012. Ben Osmow forced two fumbles for the Hurricanes on October 19, 2013.

• The Hilltops have won 22 CJFL titles in team history. The first game in 1953 and the last in 2019.
• The Westshore Rebels are still in search of their first CJFL title. The Rebels were last in the CJFL championship game in 2016 falling to the Hilltops 37-25.
• Rob Vanstone, who is the senior journalist and team historian of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, put together a great story on Hilltops defensive end Riece Kack getting six sacks in his team’s CJFL semifinal win. That piece can be found by clicking right here.
• Vanstone checked in with another great piece on University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team defensive back Ethan Laing. That story can be found by clicking right here.
• Vanstone had a third great story from Saskatoon’s football scene this past week. He put together a feature on quarterback Carter Casey of the St. Joseph High School Guardians Football Team. The piece on Casey 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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Hilltops smash Saints 43-0, advance to CJFL title game

Kack sets sack record in CJFL semifinal victory

The Hilltops celebrate their CJFL semifinal win.

Riece Kack was thinking about paying off some debts to his teammates on a CJFL record breaking day.

On Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Kack’s PFC champion Saskatoon Hilltops led the visiting OFC champion St. Clair Saints 21-0 just 33 seconds into the second quarter thanks to three touchdown passes by star quarterback Trey Reider. 

At that point, Kack would go on to steal the show piling up six quarterback sacks from his defensive end position as the Hilltops rolled to a 43-0 victory in the CJFL semifinal clash between the two sides.

Riece Kack makes his CJFL record sixth sack of Sunday’s game.

With the win played before 1,007 spectators, the Hilltops, who improved to 11-0 overall, advance to the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl. That contest will be played on Saturday, November 11 at 3 p.m. local time or 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time against the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) at Starlight Stadium, in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria.

The Saints, who are based in Windsor, finished out at 10-1 overall.

While the celebration was on for the Hilltops who will get to play in the CJFL title game since last winning it in 2019, Kack made history as his six sacks were a new record for a CJFL playoff game. The old record of five sacks was set by Roger Rourke of the Richmond Raiders on October 12, 1985.

Riece Kack reacts to making his CJFL record sixth sack in one game.

Kack said the majority of his sacks were coverage sacks. The Saints rotated quarterbacks Maurice Sodja and Matthew Guenette throughout Sunday’s game and both often held on to the ball as they didn’t see what they liked downfield.

That allowed Kack to pile up his sacks, and he admitted he owed the Hilltops defensive backs a bit of a debt.

“Their quarterbacks weren’t liking it a lot of times,” said Kack, who also had six total tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to go with his sacks. “They were holding on to it real long.

“It lot of the sacks weren’t two second pressures. They were like seven or eight seconds, so it was just spectacular. I definitely owe those guys (the Hilltops defensive backs) a case of beer.

Riece Kack (#47) closes in on a sack for a safety.

“I’m just thrilled.”

Kack, who was named the defensive player of the game on Sunday, actually recorded the most sacks in any CJFL contest be it the regular season, playoffs or the CJFL championship game. The CJFL record for most sacks in a regular season game is five, which had been achieved on six occasions.

Ron Zammit of the Hamilton Hurricanes was the first to record five sacks in a CJFL regular season game on October 2, 1982 and Evan Foster of the Langley Rams was the last to pull of that feat on September 9, 2012.

Tyler Eckert of the Langley Rams recorded the most sacks in a CJFL championship at 3.5 coming in his squad’s 37-0 victory over the Beefeaters in London, Ont., in the Canadian Bowl played on December 4, 2021.

Riece Kack gets a sack on the last play before halftime.

While Kack’s record will stand for the most sacks by an individual in a CJFL playoff game, legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was pumped his 21-year-old veteran had a record day in an important post-season outing.

“It is unbelievable,” said Sargeant. “He is one of our lifelines out here.

“He is the energy guy. He is a motivator. He loves the game, and we feed off him.

“For him to have that type of play today in the biggest game of our season so far, that just speaks volumes of who he is and what he means to us.”

After the Hilltops went ahead 21-0 just 33 seconds into the second quarter, Kack went to work and proceeded to record four of his sacks in that frame. Kack’s second sack caused a turnover on downs, his third sack resulted in a safety and his fourth sack came on the final play before halftime.

Riece Kack got to break out a number of sack celebrations.

In third quarter, Kack recorded his fifth sack to tie the CJFL record. His record equaling accomplishment at the time was announced over the public address system at SMF Field.

“I heard it, and then I was just kind of like you know I am just going to keep doing my thing,” said Kack, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 230 pounds. “I’m not going to over do it, and it should come.

“There was a lot of time left in still the third quarter, so I figured that it was quite possible.”

After the Hilltops went ahead 35-0 in the fourth quarter, Kack took down Sodja for the record breaking sixth sack.

“Crazy. I can’t describe it,” said Kack about the record. “It is just awesome coaching, awesome team.

Noah Flaman jets home on a 51-yard touchdown reception.

“It is just spectacular. I’m glad that we could come out and put up the performance that we did.”

The Hilltops opened the game’s scoring in the first quarter when Reider hit “TD Noah” in receiver Noah Flaman for touchdown passes from 10 and 51 yards out to give the host side a 14-0 lead.

On the second score in the 51-yard toss, Reider did a play action fake to star power running back Boston Davidsen before connecting with a wide open Flaman on an intermediate route. Flaman weaved the rest of the way taking the ball to the end zone for the major score.

The Hilltops had good success on play action pass plays as the Saints defensive players seemed to be too locked in on Davidsen. Flaman said the Hilltops plan was to use the play action pass to get some chunk plays in the passing game.

Drake Douglas hauls in a 27 yard touchdown catch.

“We have a great running game, a great running back and a great O-line,” said Flaman. “It is just part of everyone doing their own job.

“When your chance comes, you make the play. The receivers did that today.”

 Just 33 seconds into the second quarter, Reider connected with sure handed pass catcher Drake Douglas on a 27-yard touchdown strike to push the Hilltops advantage out to 21-0. The Hilltops proceeded to get a 38-yard punt single from middle linebacker/punter Matt Wist and Kack followed up with his safety to send the Hilltops into the halftime break with a 24-0 edge.

In the third quarter, the Hilltops assumed a 28-0 advantage thanks to a single from a 22 yard missed field goal and a 20 yard field goal from kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas.

Wade Keating (#20) closes in on a sack for the Hilltops.

At the 3:13 mark of the fourth quarter, star running back Charles Sawi ran home a major from 18 yards out to put the Hilltops up 35-0. Saskatoon began to substitute in various backups after that score including quarterback Brexton Elias, who relieved Reider for the rest of the contest.

The Hilltops then rounded out the scoring with a single from missed field goal by Abel-Douglas and major score from a quarterback sneak by Elias.

Sargeant was pleased with the chunk plays the Hilltops were able to make on offence.

“You know what, we’ve been tough on this offence a little bit,” said Sargeant. “Our defence has sort of been the team in front of us.

Trey Reider (#3) threw three TD passes for the Hilltops on Sunday.

“Offensively, we sometimes get in our own way. Trey (Reider) was making the reads early and was on point, and our receivers were on point. Hey, it is nice to see a game where we put up 43 where Boston (Davidsen) is not dragging his butt, because we gave him the ball 25 times.

“We were actually pretty strategic and smart today and used him as a bit of a decoy. Guys were open and Trey (Reider) made the plays.”

Reider completed 7-of-17 passes for 200 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions before giving way to Elias. Flaman had three catches for 86 yards to go with his two touchdowns in being named the offensive player of the game. Douglas had two catches for 72 yards to go with his major score.

The faithful at SMF Field cheer on the Hilltops on Sunday.

Davidsen led the Hilltops in rushing with 62 yards on 13 carries.

Sodja completed 9-of-17 passes for 123 yards, while throwing one interception for the Saints. Guenette completed 16-of-25 passes for 173 yards during his shifts on the field for the St. Clair side.

Receiver Darius France had a big game for the Saints making seven catches for 110 yards.

The Hilltops had nine total sacks as a team which was a new club record for a CJFL playoff game. Saskatoon previously recorded a team record seven sacks in CJFL playoff games on November 2, 2002 and October 29, 2017.

The ’Toppers nine sacks for a playoff game equals the most sacks recorded in a playoff game by a team from the PFC. The Regina Rams recorded nine sacks in a CJFL playoff game on October 24, 1981 on their way to winning a CJFL title.

Charles Sawi runs in a touchdown from 18 yards out.

Outside linebacker Wade Keating had seven total tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for the Hilltops. Defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens had two total tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery for the Saskatoon. Defensive end Kai Kukurudza had a sack for the ’Toppers.

Defensive end Ben Marce had three total tackles, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries for the host side. Hilltops safety Dalton Urban had the game’s lone interception.

Defensive back Billy Patterson Jr. led the Saints with five total tackles, while defensive end Carl Fabre had a sack for the visitors.

Running back Boriz Wright of the Saints was named the special teams player of the game returning five kickoffs for 72 yards and one punt for one yard.

The Hilltop Cheer Team celebrates the Hilltops victory on Sunday.

The Hilltops didn’t have a single turnover in Sunday’s game, while the Saints turned the ball over 11 times including five times on fumbles, five times on downs and on one interception.

Now, the Hilltops will turn their attention to the Rebels in two weeks time. The two sides met in the 2016 CJFL title game at Starlight Stadium, which was then known as Westhills Stadium. Saskatoon pulled out a 37-25 victory in that encounter to capture the Canadian Bowl as CJFL champions.

The Hilltops have won 22 CJFL titles in their history. Kack is looking forward to the opportunity to try and help the storied squad capture a 23^rd CJFL crown against the Rebels.

The Hilltops raise the trophy given to the CJFL semifinal winner.

“It is going to be great,” said Kack. “I’m excited to go out there.

“I’ve been watching a bit of their games. It looks like they have a pretty good team, so it is definitely a tough test. We just have to get into film and on to the next game.”

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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