 |
| The Broncos celebrate winning the WHL title in May. |
If I ever needed a reminder how special the sports scene in
Saskatchewan can be, 2018 provided that reminder in spades.
It was such a sweet year in 2018 on the sports front in
Saskatchewan I almost knocked the annual CFL Labour Day Classic game in Regina
out of my list of top 10 memories.
I wanted to fit the run of the University of Saskatchewan
Huskies football team on to this list. They won the Hardy Cup as Canada West
champions for the first time since 2006 and played in a U Sports semifinal bowl
game ultimately falling to the University of Western Ontario Mustangs in
London, Ont.
Before that post-season run, the Huskies had lost eight
straight playoff games. I have a number of friends on the Huskies coaching
staff, so that was sweet to see. They gain honourable mention status.
 |
| Kyle Siemens fires a pass downfield for the Huskies. |
Also not making the cut was venturing to Regina for the U
Sports women’s national basketball championship tournament for the title game.
I had a great time hanging out with old friends and alums from the University
of Regina Cougars women’s basketball team.
It was a thrill to cover the 4 Nations Cup women’s hockey
tournament in Saskatoon in November, but I wasn’t able to fit that experience
on the list. Seeing the senior national women’s hockey teams from Canada and
the United States go against each other twice in person was amazing.
Those
squads have one of the greatest rivalries in sports, and seeing it live in
person made you appreciate those clashes that much more.
Of course, the U.S. skated to a 5-2 victory over Canada in
the title game.
It was emotional for me to see Kaitlin Willoughby’s playing
career come to an end with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s
hockey team. All players graduate or depart from their
university teams, but reader response to anything I wrote about the Huskies
star captain was always great in numbers.
 |
| Kaitlin Willoughby celebrates scoring a goal for the Huskies. |
I enjoyed writing about her exploits with that team, and it
felt empty for me there would be no more stories to tell on that front. I
wasn’t able to get that on the list.
My top 10 memories list does have three entries involving
teams named the Broncos. For the WHL’s Broncos in Swift Current, there was
triumph, and unfortunately for the SJHL’s Broncos in Humboldt there was
unfathomable tragedy.
The love that followed from the Humboldt Broncos tragedy in
support for the team was heartwarming in an upbeat way that can’t be put into
words.
During my travels, this blog has surpassed over 471,000
all-time page views. I thank you all for stopping in. Your support helps drive
me to keep going.
I always keep an open mind as to what will appear in this
blog in the future and how it will look.
Personal life might take me away from it in the upcoming
year. I sense support from my immediate family has waned a bit in recent
months.
 |
| U.S. F Dani Cameranesi is stopped by Canada G Shannon Szabados. |
Support is still there from my well-known young cousins
Nelson and Danielle Nogier.
With that said, I seem to encounter groans from immediate
family, when I decide to head out to cover a sports event as opposed to doing
something else. The time commitment in going to events has been large.
In the new year, I do want to follow through covering the
seasons of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades and Prince Albert Raiders to the end.
They both seem to be in the mists of special campaigns in 2018-19, and I would
like to see and enjoy every part of those runs to their conclusions.
Now without further ado, here are the memories.
10. Labour Day Classic was a blast again
 |
| Kyran Moore returns a punt for a touchdown for the Roughriders. |
I made it to my 18
th Labour Day Classic, and once
again that weekend and game was a blast.
As ultra-talented receiver Duron Carter was no longer a
member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, I didn’t have any photos or Twitter
posts go viral at this year’s game.
I guess I wouldn’t have minded the
attention if one did.
Every time I head to the Labour Day Classic in Regina for
the annual clash between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Roughriders, I am
always filled with anticipation.
I always look forward to hanging out with the
crew of Bombers fans who regularly head to Regina to watch this contest.
One of the regular highlights is hanging out with the
Bombers fans at “Wayne’s World” as part of the pre-game festivities.
While I
cheer for the Roughriders, I never pass up a chance to see Bombers fans on this
weekend and do a toast to the late iconic Bombers head coach and general
manager Cal Murphy.
 |
| Roughriders and Bombers fans enjoy the pre-game on Labour Day. |
The game was a fun one for Roughriders fans as the host side
pulled out a 31-23 victory on September 2, 2018 before a sellout crowd of 33,350 Mosaic Stadium.
The Bombers held a 20-17 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Roughriders quarterback Zach Collaros hit running back Marcus Thigpen with a 25-yard touchdown pass to put the host side up 24-20.
The Roughriders surged to victory from there.
Running back Andrew Harris ran the ball 15 times for 158 yards in a stellar effort for the Bombers.
Saskatchewan is 16-2 in the
Labour Day Classic games I have attended in person.
The most memorable play was an electrifying 65-yard punt
return touchdown by Roughriders receiver Kyran Moore in the second quarter.
 |
| The Reaves family and friends pose for a picture. |
Following the game, I had sweet visit with retired Bombers
all-time great running back Willard Reaves, whose son Jordan is a special teams
ace and defensive lineman with the Roughriders.
I showed Willard the piece I wrote about him for my blog
from an interview I did with him.
Willard loved it and genuinely seemed to
appreciate the fact I remembered how great his run in the CFL was.
I had a great visit with old University of Regina Rams bud
Brendon LaBatte, who is a star offensive lineman with the Roughriders.
We
shared old memories and talked about all sorts of facets of life.
Of course, I enjoyed getting out to Gabbo’s Nightclub on
both the Saturday night before the game and Sunday night after the game.
As life moves on, it is great to see the enjoyment of being
at the Labour Day Classic remains the same.
9. Parker equals Clark’s Stars record for
points in a season
 |
| Mackenna Parker, left, celebrates a milestone with Jordyn Holmes. |
When I think of Mackenna Parker, this one regular season
game inevitably comes to mind.
On February 18, 2018, Parker equaled the Stars record for
most points scored in one regular season at 60 in a 4-1 victory over the Swift
Current Diamond Energy Wildcats. The record was set by Emily Clark, who is
currently a member of Canada’s Senior National Women’s Hockey team, in the
2011-12 Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League campaign, and she recorded
her 60 points in 26 games on 26 goals and 34 assists.
Parker idolizes Clark, so she really wanted to get this
record. Parker, who was the Stars captain that season, is always a team first
player, but it was cool to see how much this record meant to her.
When the Stars and Wildcats met at the Agriplace Arena to
close the 2017-18 SFMAAAHL regular season on Feb. 18, Parker needed one point
to equal Clark’s record.
One night earlier, Parker had two goals in a 5-2 victory
over the Wildcats at the Agriplace Arena, and both her tallies came in the
opening 40 minutes.
She had a number of chances to equal Clark’s record that
night in the third period, but came up empty.
 |
| Mackenna Parker tied the Stars record for points in one regular season. |
In the Feb. 18 clash, the Wildcats went ahead 1-0 in the
first period on a goal from superstar winger Taylor Lind.
The Stars took control of the game building a 3-1 lead with
6:46 remaining in the third period. Parker didn’t have any points on those
three Stars goals.
Over the course of that game, Parker had numerous chances to
score a goal or set up a goal to equal Clark’s record, but all those chances
went for naught. It appeared Parker would be snakebitten in her attempt to
equal the record.
Late in the second period, she had times where she didn’t
act like herself and drifted away from the play. You could tell she was getting
discouraged.
For most of the last three minutes of the third, the Stars
coaching staff left Parker on the ice in search of that elusive 60th
point. The Wildcats pulled their goalie inside of the final two minutes for an
extra attacker looking to tie the game and force overtime.
At that point, Stars defender Ashley Messier and veteran
forward Kianna Dietz sprung Parker on a break down the right wing. The skilled
centre fired a goal into an empty net with 60 seconds to play to equal Clark’s
record.
 |
| Mackenna Parker celebrates equaling a Stars record with her teammates. |
Parker was mobbed by her teammates in a unique joyous
celebration.
Parker piled up 33 goals and 27 assists for her 60 points in
23 regular season games. In the process, she claimed the SFMAAAHL scoring
title.
Following the game, Parker was a ball of happy emotional mush.
She equaled a record held by her hero, who was representing Canada at the
Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, at that moment.
“I’ve looked up to her (Clark) for a long time,” said
Parker, who was shedding tears of joy. “Someday, I want to be in the Olympics
like her, but I just have to keep working I guess.”
Parker’s pure joyful emotion in her record tying moment was priceless.
8. Huskies final playoff day at Rutherford
 |
| Chloe Smith, centre, celebrates her playoff series winning goal. |
It was a Saturday that will forever be remembered for the
University of Saskatchewan Huskies hockey teams.
On February 24, the Huskies women’s and men’s hockey team
played their respective final meaningful playoff games at the ancient
Rutherford Rink earning playoff wins and berths in their respective national
championship tournaments.
The Huskies women’s team was the first to hit the ice at the
Ruthy for an afternoon game that day against their heated rivals the University
of British Columbia Thunderbirds. U of S was looking to sweep the best-of-three
Canada West semifinal series.
In an intense rivalry clash, the Thunderbirds took a 1-0
lead in the first period.
The Huskies fought back in the second period. At the 11:20
mark of the frame, star captain Kaitlin Willoughby one-timed home a power-play
goal for the Huskies to force a 1-1 tie.
 |
| Kaitlin Willoughby had the equalizer for the Huskies. |
Just over three minutes later, rookie centre Chloe Smith
drove into the offensive zone and blew home the game and series winning goal to
give the Huskies a 2-1 victory in the game and a 2-0 sweep in the series.
In an extremely physical game that included a number of
hits, the game ended with a huge scrum in front of the Huskies net, where
Willoughby was exchanging words with Thunderbirds centre Mathea Fischer.
The win allowed the Huskies to earn a berth in the Canada
West final and the U Sports women’s hockey championship tournament hosted by
the University of Western Ontario Mustangs in London, Ont., in March.
The Huskies were ultimately swept in the best-of-three
Canada West final 2-0 by the University of Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg, Man.,
and placed fourth at nationals.
 |
| Carson Stadnyk celebrates his series winning goal for the Huskies. |
In the men’s game that followed, the Huskies playing a
series deciding Game 3 in their best-of-three Canada West semifinal series
against the University of Calgary Dinos.
Alex Forsberg scored early in the first period to give the
Huskies a 1-0 lead. The hosts weren’t able to expand on their edge.
Dinos centre Logan Fisher potted the equalizer for force a
1-1 tie at the 6:38 mark of the third period. That set the stage for dramatics
in the final minute.
Inside of the final 30 seconds of the third, Huskies
offensive defenceman Jesse Forsberg flipped a smart pass into the offensive
zone to spring sophomore left-winger Carson Stadnyk on a breakaway.
Stadnyk broke towards the U of C goal and flipped a shot
past Dinos rookie goalie Jordan Papirny with exactly 24 seconds remaining in
the frame to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead. Third-year right-winger Levi Cable added
an empty-net goal with three seconds to play to round out a 3-1 victory for the
Huskies.
The win allowed the Huskies to take the best-of-three series
2-1.
 |
| The Huskies celebrate their final playoff series win at the Rutherford Rink. |
When Stadnyk scored, the time remaining in the third period
matched the #24 worn by the late Cody Smuk, who was the Huskies hard-working,
glue guy and heart and soul forward who passed away from cancer in June of
2015.
Smuk would have definitely smiled seeing the Huskies
enjoying a final great playoff memory at Rutherford.
The win allowed the Huskies to earn a berth in the Canada
West final and the U Sports men’s hockey championship tournament hosted by the
University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds in Fredericton, N.B., in March.
The Huskies were ultimately swept by the University of
Alberta Golden Bears in the Canada West final and finished fourth at nationals.
While the Huskies hockey teams didn’t win any banners
through the rest of the 2018 post-season, they ensured they left their former
long time home rink on a high note before moving to the brand new Merlis
Belsher Place in October.
7. Renewing friendships at Memorial Cup in
Regina
 |
| The Acadie-Bathurst Titan celebrate winning the Memorial Cup. |
The 2018 Memorial Cup tournament in Regina was off the chart
for great hockey and excitement on the ice, but the highlight for me came off
the ice.
My biggest highlight occurred before action hit the ice on
the fourth day of play at the event, which fell on a Monday. In an open area at
ice level on the west side of the building leading to the media area, I had a
long visit with veteran junior hockey broadcaster Peter Loubardias, Swift
Current Broncos athletic trainer Jamie LeBlanc, Regina Pats athletic therapist
Greg Mayer and Prince Albert Raiders trainer Duane Bartley.
At that point in time, I was nearing the end of my 19th
season covering the major junior ranks. All four of those men were some of the
coolest persons I have met on the circuit. They were always super classy,
really great people and have great senses of humour too.
It has been special to befriend them over the years.
We talked about all sorts of subjects and share a few
humourous stories during an extended visit.
The greatest part of covering the Memorial Cup wasn’t the
action that happened during the games, at least for me.
 |
| Pats captain Sam Steel accepts honours as the Memorial Cup tourney MVP. |
My biggest thrill was
renewing old friendships I had made over the years covering the sports.
I saw all sorts of old friends from the game either in the
form of former players, current coaches, current team management, current and
former team staffers, fans and media colleagues. I got to see a few friends
from other sports as well.
On the media side, it was great to see a large number of
people still attended and covered the event considering all the media cuts that
occurred in Canada. For many people, you could see they were in Regina to cover
the Memorial Cup as part of a working vacation.
They were working vacation days to cover major junior
hockey’s championship tournament, because they still placed value on being at
this event.
Between being a media member and ticket buyer, I was at my
fourth Memorial Cup. A few people I hadn’t seen since I covered the 2007
Memorial Cup in Vancouver as the beat writer that followed the Medicine Hat Tigers
for the Medicine Hat News.
 |
| The crowd at the Brandt Centre salutes Sam Steel. |
Many media members remember me from the 10 seasons I spent
in Medicine Hat and often asked how legendary Tigers play-by-play voice Bob
Ridley was doing. That was pretty cool.
Looking back at my blog posts, I thought I did some good
work too. I was bouncing back and forth from covering the Memorial Cup in
Regina to covering the training camp of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders and
Game 1 of the National Lacrosse League championship series involving the Saskatchewan
Rush.
While I piled up the kilometres, my posts on the Memorial
Cup always brought me back to what was going on at that point in time of the
tournament.
The host Pats made it to the final and ultimately fell 3-0
to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion Acadie-Bathurst Titan. That
marked the second time I was on the ice doing interviews after the Memorial Cup
tournament’s championship game.
 |
| The Acadie-Bathurst Titan pose for a team picture with the Memorial Cup. |
One of the more heart-wrenching moments came when Pats
captain Sam Steel was named the winner of the Stafford Smythe Trophy as the MVP
of the Memorial Cup tournament. Steel, who just played his last major junior
game, was fighting back tears accepting the trophy after his team’s loss.
I almost teared up at that point in time too. Steel was one
of my favourite players to deal with who came up through the WHL ranks, and it
was tough to see him in that spot.
At one point in time, covering the Memorial Cup tournament
was the be all and end all of my life. Personally, I no longer elevate covering
the Memorial Cup to a lofty spot in my life, but covering the Memorial Cup in
Regina is still a life highlight.
This time around it was the interactions with old friends and
new ones I just met that made the Memorial Cup in Regina memorable and special
to me.
6. Rush return to top of NLL
 |
| Rush captain Chris Corbeil raises the NLL Cup. |
The Saskatchewan Rush turned out to be an unexpected upbeat
memory for me.
Since the Rush moved to Saskatoon from Edmonton before the
start of the 2016 season, I have spent small amounts of time around their
games. Anytime I go to their games, it is a fun time.
In 2018, the Saskatoon Express and The Canadian Press both
were looking for stories on the Rush, so I included them more prominently on
Stanks’ Sermon as well. I pretty much dropped in on them mid-season, and it
felt like I arrived on that scene via a trade.
I proceeded to spend sizable amounts of time around that
team, and I found I really enjoyed it. I did a feature on Rush head coach and
general manager Derek Keenan, and I was really impressed with him.
You could quickly tell he was a player’s coach, and he
shared many philosophies many of the elite coaches I have dealt with in my
sports reporting career carry.
The Rush players are down to earth people. I enjoyed dealing
with captain Chris Corbeil, Jeremy Thompson, Mark Matthews, Evan Kirk, Robert
Church, Jeff Cornwall and Jeff Shattler.
 |
| Rush forward Matthew Dinsdale is set to score on a circus shot. |
The Original 16 Crush Dance Team, mascot Bruiser the Bulldog
and Rush Hulk were a pleasure to deal with too.
I began to look forward to Rush game day.
Of course, the highlight was seeing the Rush win their
fourth NLL title in the last three years. They were looking to recapture the
league title after being swept in the best-of-three NLL championship series in
2017 by the Georgia Swarm 2-0.
The Rush faced the Rochester Knighthawks in the 2018
best-of-three NLL title series, and the Knighthawks, who are one the circuit’s
storied franchises, entered the series on an upswing. After starting 2-6, the
Knighthawks finished the regular season with a 10-8 record, while the Rush
topped the NLL standings at 14-4.
 |
| Grandma Rush enjoys the Rush’s title win. |
Saskatchewan captured Game 1 of the series 16-9, while
Rochester claimed a 13-8 victory in Game 2.
On June 9 before 13,645 spectators at the SaskTel Centre,
the Rush and Knighthawks engaged in a compelling series deciding Game 3.
Rochester went ahead 8-7 at the 9:42 mark of the third
quarter. Saskatchewan pushed back to go ahead 11-8.
The Knighthawks cut the lead to 11-10 with 12 minutes
remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Rush scored the final four goals to post a
15-10 victory and claim the brand new National Lacrosse League Cup, which
replaced the Champion’s Cup as the NLL’s title trophy.
 |
| The Rush pose for a team picture with the NLL Cup. |
It was so fun to see the joy in the eyes of the Rush players
and everyone involved with the team after that victory.
After finishing my game
story for The Canadian Press, I departed with a large contingent to the victory
party after the game.
Everyone at the victory party made the victory rally at the
Delta Bessborough at 11 a.m. the next morning likely on an estimated average of
three hours of sleep for each person.
It is always fun when good things happen to good people, and
I got a lot of joy covering and seeing the Rush reclaim the league title.
I was
happy to be able to jump on board for the ride.
5. Miracle at the i-Plex
 |
| Tyler Steenbergen, left, celebrates scoring the equalizer for the Broncos. |
It was one of those rare nights you realized you just
covered what was one of the WHL’s all-time classic playoff encounters.
On Saturday, May 5, 2018, the host Swift Current Broncos
entered Game 2 of the WHL championship series on home ice at the Innovation
Credit Union i-Plex needing a win to even the best-of-seven series against the
Everett Silvertips. One night earlier, the Silvertips claimed a 2-1 victory in
the series opener in Swift Current, and they were looking to take a 2-0 lead in
the series as it shifted for Games 3, 4 and 5 in Everett, Wash.
The Broncos advanced to this point in the playoffs winning
their first two playoff series in the maximum seven games and eliminating the
Lethbridge Hurricanes in six games in the WHL Eastern Conference Championship
series.
 |
| Colby Sissons scored for the Broncos in their miracle comeback. |
One had to start to wonder if the Broncos were running out
of steam. They would show in Game 2 of the WHL title series that good emotion
can speed a hockey club up.
The Silvertips built a commanding 3-0 lead in the first
period of Game 2 with goals coming off the sticks of Matt Fonteyne, Martin
Fasko-Rudas and Riley Sutter. Everett had a 17-10 edge in shots on goal.
With the Silvertips being one of the WHL’s most sound
defensive teams and having all-world netminder Carter Hart, who backstopped
Canada to gold at that season’s world junior tournament, playing goal, things
looked very bleak for the Broncos.
Matteo Gennaro put the Broncos on the board at the 8:17 mark
of the second period, but the Silvertips were still carrying momentum. They
peppered Broncos star netminder Stuart Skinner with shot after shot looking for
the final knockout blow.
 |
| The Credit Union i-Plex crowd cheers on the Broncos. |
Before the Broncos took the ice for the third period, the
sellout crowd of 2,890 spectators gave the host side a rousing and warm
standing ovation. It seemed to come out of nowhere, and it gave you chills.
The Broncos seemed to come more and more to life.
Early in the third, Skinner made a heroic sprawling paddle
stop on Silvertips left-winger Connor Dewar. At the 6:22 mark of the frame,
Broncos offensive defenceman Colby Sissons fired home a shot from the point to
cut Everett’s lead to 3-2.
 |
| The Broncos celebrate Giorgio Estephan’s overtime winner. |
With 1:37 to play in the third and Skinner pulled for an
extra attacker, star right-winger Tyler Steenbergen netted the equalizer, and
the roof almost came off the i-Plex with the noise in the building.
At the 9:27 mark of overtime, the Broncos completed the comeback.
During a frantic spat of action in the Everett end, Hart tried to clear the
puck, and he put it on the stick of Broncos forward Giorgio Estephan. Before
Hart could react to what he did, Estephan fired home the winning goal to
deliver the Broncos to a 4-3 victory.
The scene at the i-Plex was that of a joyous and raucous
madhouse.
Using the momentum of that win, the Broncos took Games 3 and
4 and ultimately the series in six games.
When you left the i-Plex after Game 2 of that championship
set, you knew you saw something special in that Broncos comeback victory.
4. The Saskatoon Stars run to the national
final
 |
| Stars captain Mackenna Parker raises the Fedoruk Cup. |
The Saskatoon Stars have always been an enjoyable group to
deal with, and it felt like their dream would be realized that they would win
the Esso Cup as Canada’s national female midget AAA hockey champions.
The 2017-18 campaign marked the fourth season that I covered
the Stars. They had a great bunch of veteran players who I basically watched
grow up and a strong crop of youngsters.
Captain Mackenna Parker tore up the Saskatchewan Female
Midget AAA Hockey League leading the circuit in scoring with a 33 goals and 27
assists for 60 points in 23 regular season games. Parker’s point total for the regular
season equaled the team record set by Emily Clark in the 2011-12 campaign, when
she netted 26 goals and 34 assists in 26 contests. Clark is now a member of
Canada’s senior national women’s team.
Forwards Anna Leschyshyn, Grace Shirley and Joelle Fiala all
had impressive regular seasons. Leschyshyn had 24 goals and 29 assist for 53
points, Shirley recorded 30 goals and 18 assists for 48 points, and Fiala
netted 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points.
 |
| Mackenna Parker was a superstar for the Stars. |
Parker and Shirley played for Canada at that season’s under-18
women’s world hockey championship tournament in Dmitrov, Russia, in January.
Offensive defender Ashley Messier had a breakout campaign as
a 15-year-old sophomore with three goals and 23 assists for 26 points.
The Stars roster had six veterans in their 17-year-old and
final seasons who contained a tonne of heart in Parker, Kianna Dietz, Jordyn
Holmes, Jordyn Gerlitz, defender Dana Wood and netminder Jordan Ivanco.
Saskatoon finished first in the SFMAAAHL with a 24-3-1
record. They swept the Regina Rebels 3-0 in a best-of-three SFMAAAHL semifinal
series.
In the best-of-five league championship series against their
biggest rivals the Prince Albert Northern Bears, the Stars swept the series
3-0. The Stars captured the Fedoruk Cup taking Game 3 of the series 2-1 at the
Agriplace Arena, which would be their final home game at that rink before
moving to the brand new Merlis Belsher Place on the University of Saskatchewan
campus.
The Bears eliminated the Stars in the SFMAAAHL championship
series in 2017, so the Stars wanted to reclaim the Fedoruk Cup from their
rivals. The Stars SFMAAAHL title win in 2018 marked the third time in four
years they won the league crown.
 |
| Ashley Messier grew into one top defenders in Canada. |
The Stars proceeded to sweep the Eastman Selects 2-0 in a
best-of-three Western regional playdown series in Steinback, Man., to advance
to the Esso Cup national female midget AAA championship tournament.
At the Esso Cup in late April in Bridgewater, N.S., the
Stars won all their preliminary round games and a semifinal contest to advance
to the championship final for the first time in team history.
The Stars entered the Esso Cup final against the defending
champion in the Alberta based St. Albert Slash riding a 24 game winning streak
and posting a 14-0 record in the post season.
The Slash proceeded to block a tonne of shots and claim a
2-1 victory in the Esso Cup final winning the national title for a second
straight year.
Dietz scored the Stars lone goal 47 seconds into the third
period to cut a 2-0 St. Albert lead to what would be a final 2-1 result.
 |
| The Stars pose for a team picture with the Fedoruk Cup. |
Parker was the leading scorer of the Esso Cup and was named
the tournament’s MVP. Messier was named the top defender of the Esso Cup.
The Stars completed the 2017-18 season with a spectacular
44-7-1 overall record.
While they ultimately didn’t capture the national title, the
memories and experiences that came from the accomplishments made along the way
can never be taken away.
It is fun to see a remarkable group of girls grow up to be a
remarkable group of young women right before your eyes too. The Stars players
can always be proud of who they are.
3. The night the Broncos won the WHL title
 |
| The Broncos celebrate winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup. |
I wasn’t even the beat writer that covered the Swift Current
Broncos, and even now I still get chills thinking about the night they won the
2018 WHL title.
I am now in my 20th season covering the WHL, and
the Broncos winning the league title in 2018 will go down as one of the most
memorable moments I saw on that circuit. Swift Current is a remarkable,
charming and quaint small Saskatchewan city that exemplifies the motto, “where
life makes sense.”
The Broncos won the WHL title and the Memorial Cup as CHL
champions in 1989 and the WHL title again in 1993.
Unfortunately for Swift Current, it went through too many
trials where life didn’t make sense causing the small Saskatchewan centre to
overcome things it shouldn’t have to overcome.
There was a bus crash on December 30, 1986 that killed four
players in Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka and Brent Ruff. The city
and team had to heal and overcome the stigma and shame brought on by a
disgraced and infamous coach from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Most recently, Swift Current dealt with the tag of being an
outpost stop on the WHL circuit for large chunks of the last 15 years.
 |
| Netminder Stuart Skinner makes a save for the Broncos. |
For myself, it has been inspiring over the 20 seasons I have
covered the league making various stops in and out of Swift Current seeing that
centre heal and persevere. Swift Current really reclaimed the feeling that
centre is the place “where life makes sense.”
I think people in Swift Current came to accept the notion
the Broncos may never win a WHL title again, but they would support the team as
long as the players worked hard.
All of a sudden, Swift Current got a special Broncos season
it rightfully deserved.
From 2016 to 2018, the Broncos were led by classy head coach
and director of player personnel Manny Viveiros, who is now an assistant coach
with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers.
In 2016-17, the Broncos posted a 39-23-4-6 record and fell
in the second round of the playoffs in a tough seven game series to the
eventual WHL Eastern Conference champion Regina Pats. At that point, the
Broncos showed they could be something special.
They had a great core group of players people in Swift
Current loved in captain Glenn Gawdin, right-winger Tyler Steenbergen,
left-winger Aleksi Heponiemi, offensive defenceman Colby Sissons and import
defenceman Artyom Minulin.
 |
| The Credit Union i-Plex faithful cheer a Broncos goal. |
They made a number of trades to go all in for the 2017-18
season, and that was something no one in Swift Current ever thought they would
see.
On May 13, 2018, the Broncos hosted Game 6 of the WHL
Championship series against the Everett Silvertips holding a 3-2 lead in the
best-of-seven series. Going into the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex that night,
anticipation was high it would be a special and memorable night as the Broncos
could capture the WHL title with a win.
The sellout crowd of 2,890 was as loud as it had ever been.
The Broncos built a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Giorgio Estephan
and Sahvan Khaira.
It really felt like those tallies would be enough for the
Broncos to win the day.
With the Broncos still up 2-0 going into the final three
minutes of the third, the crowd at the i-Plex rose to their feet and cheered
and saluted their Broncos. When Beck Malenstyn scored an empty-net goal with
6.4 seconds remaining in the third to cement a 3-0 Broncos victory, the
spectators in attendance exploded into euphoria.
Star netminder Stuart Skinner would make 31 saves to earn
the shutout win.
 |
| The Broncos pour off their bench after winning the WHL championship. |
As the clock hit zero, the euphoric and joyous celebration
that took place in the i-Plex with the Broncos players and staff and their fans
was likely better than anyone in the building would have ever dreamed. The Broncos and their families all seemed to enjoy moments being pictures with the Ed Chynoweth Cup.
Anyone that was present in that moment likely wishes they
could carry that feeling of pure joy through the rest of their lives.
With all the trails Swift Current and the Broncos faced, the
city and the hockey team achieved an ultimate victory in that moment that
seemed very much impossible to achieve. The community could embrace that moment
together in their own rink.
At that moment, Swift Current and the Broncos proved the
impossible could be made possible and good people can ultimately prevail no
matter the hardships life throws their way.
2. Hilltops win fifth straight CJFL title
with 11-0 season
 |
| QB Jordan Walls had a sensational season for the Hilltops. |
At the start of the 2018 Canadian Junior Football League
campaign, there was a feeling the Saskatoon Hilltops could add to their
historic legacy, but no one could anticipate how extremely successful their
season could be.
After becoming the first team to win four straight CJFL
titles in 2017, the Hilltops were looking to win a fifth straight CJFL crown
and their eighth title in the last nine years. They had a solid cast of
returning veterans led by fifth-year star quarterback Jordan Walls and
fifth-year star linebacker Cody Peters.
Peters, who attended the training camp of the CFL’s
Saskatchewan Roughriders along with Hilltops defensive back Colton Holmes,
would be named the winner of the CJFL’s Larry Wruck Defensive Player of the
Year award in 2018.
 |
| LB Cody Peters (#44) was the CJFL’s top defensive player. |
The Hilltops had a team that was ready to make a
championship run.
No one could have anticipated the bumps in the road in 2018
would be few and far between.
The Hilltops put together a dominant 11-0 campaign to cap
off their drive for five. They trailed on the scoreboard for just 81 seconds
all season.
On Sept. 22, 2018, the Regina Thunder held a 17-16 edge over
their archrivals late in the first half in a clash at Saskatoon Minor Football
Field.
The Thunder’s lead lasted for a stretch of 81 seconds. They
were forced to relinquish the lead, when they had to give up a safety due to
bad field position to fall behind 18-17.
Saskatoon hit high gear from that point surging to a 48-24
victory.
In an 8-0 regular season, the Hilltops outscored their
opponents 402-70.
The Hilltops closest margin of victory came in the PFC
final, when they downed the Edmonton Huskies 28-9.
 |
| DE Tristan Hering makes a big early Canadian Bowl sack for the Hilltops. |
On offence, the Hilltops version of “The Triplets” in Walls,
running back Josh Ewanchyna and receiver Jason Price all had outstanding
campaigns.
Walls completed
122-of-197 passes for 2,010 yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions in the
regular season. He was named the most outstanding offensive player and the most
valuable player of the Prairie Football Conference.
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 third-year
runner became to first Hilltops player to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a
regular season since Wayndel Lewis in 2014.
 |
| Josh Ewanchyna, left, jets to a touchdown in the Canadian Bowl. |
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.
While all the statistical accomplishments were amazing, the
biggest thing that helped the Hilltops win a fifth straight title was the fact
they never got ahead of themselves. The focus was always on what was happening
in the present.
The team’s family feeling was present at all times as well.
Going to practice and the team’s brand new clubhouse
facility was always a joy. It never felt like the regular season was something
the team needed to just get through, because those outside the club would judge
success by what happened in the playoffs.
 |
| The Hilltops players get their fingers up for five straight CJFL title victories. |
On November 15, 2018, the Hilltops hosted the Langley Rams
in the Canadian Bowl at SMF Field. Playing before 1,465 spectators, Hilltops
defensive end Tristan Hering sacked Rams quarterback Duncan Little on the
second play of the day. It seemed to be an omen of things to come.
Still, the Rams put up a fight. They had a goal-line stand
and defensive back Nathan Murray intercepted Walls to stall a couple of Hilltops
offensive series.
Saskatoon held a 2-0 lead thanks to the Rams conceding a
safety to that point in time.
Then, the floodgates opened. Ewanchyna ran in a major score
from a yard out late in the first quarter to give the Hilltops a 9-0 lead. They
would romp to a 58-21 victory to capture the Canadian Bowl and their 21st
CJFL championship.
 |
| Me, left, enjoying the Canadian Bowl with Jordan Walls. |
To finish the contest, legendary Hilltops head coach Tom
Sargeant had all eight of the team’s fifth-year players take the field for the
final knee down plays.
The players were part of all five straight CJFL
championship wins included Walls, Price, Peters, right tackle Kirk Simonsen,
receiver Adam Ewanchyna, defensive end Connor Guillet, and linebackers Bobby
Ehman and Adam Benkic.
Josh Ewanchyna was named the top offensive player in the
contest, and Hilltops defensive back Logan Bitz took honours as the top
defensive player.
The Hilltops proceeded to hold their first national
championship victory celebration in their new clubhouse.
The players, coaches,
staff, parents and supporters enjoyed reflecting on how special 2018 was.
Overall, the family feeling inside the Hilltops organization
helps keep driving that club forward, and team keeps hitting new levels of
competitive greatness.
1. The rally around the Humboldt Broncos
 |
| The Humboldt Broncos logo set for a vigil held on April 8. |
Unfortunately, it became one of those where were you when
moments you wish never happened.
In this case, it was where were you when you heard about the
bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos junior A hockey team.
On April 6, 2018, I was at the Huskie Salute, which is the
ceremony where the University of Saskatchewan Huskies athletics program hands
out its seven major awards. It was held at TCU Place, and I arrived at that
function with a fairly loose schedule.
The Huskie Salute is the time all the University of
Saskatchewan Huskies athletic teams celebrate their past seasons together. I
was looking to socialize and put together a quick story from that event.
 |
| A display supporting the Humboldt Broncos in a Saskatchewan farm yard. |
It may sound strange, but I am not one of those persons who
is addicted to constantly looking at their smart phones. A number of members
from the Huskies men’s and women’s hockey teams were tracking their phones, and
their moods became somber once they figured out the news about the Broncos.
I didn’t realize what had happened until I was informed of
the news by Steve Kook, who is the head coach of the Huskies women’s hockey
team.
After leaving TCU Place, I went to the Starbucks in downtown
Saskatoon and checked my Internet browser on my smartphone for news. It was my
way to confirm the Broncos bus crash was indeed real. Unrealistically, I was
hoping the story was a hoax.
 |
| A fan in Swift Current puts up a sign to support the Humboldt Broncos. |
In the days, weeks and months that followed, the details of
the crash became well known.
The bus carrying the Broncos to play a Saskatchewan Junior
Hockey League playoff game in Nipawin against the host Hawks was involved in a
collision with a semi-truck just north of Tisdale resulting in 16 deaths and 13
injuries on the bus.
The players that passed away included captain Logan Schatz,
Adam Herold, Conner Lukan, Evan Thomas, Jacob Leicht, Jaxon Joseph, Logan Boulet,
Logan Hunter, Stephen Wack and Parker Tobin. The coaches and staffers who
passed away included head coach and general manager Darcy Haugen, assistant
coach Mark Cross, play-by-play voice Tyler Bieber, stats expert Brody Hinz,
athletic therapist Dayna Brons and bus driver Glen Doerksen.
 |
| Broncos forward Kaleb Dahlgren on the big screen at Mosaic Stadium. |
The crash survivors included Brayden Camrud, Derek Patter,
Graysen Cameron, Kaleb Dahlgren, Bryce Fiske, Xavier LaBelle, Matthieu
Gomercic, Nick Shumlanski, Tyler Smith, Ryan Straschnitzki, Jacob Wassermann,
Layne Matechuk and Morgan Gobeil.
The one-degree of separation connections to those on the
Broncos bus were many. It was a grave tragedy that words can’t begin to
describe.
From this great tragedy, we got to see humanity at its best
as the world rallied to support the Humboldt players and staffers.
The support included a GoFundMe campaign that raised over
$15.1-million with donations coming from over 141,900 individuals and entities
in just under two weeks.
 |
| Humboldt Broncos members get a sidelines view at a Roughriders game. |
It is crazy to think Humboldt residents Sylvie Kellington
and Caitlin Hergott originally had the small goal of raising funds to cover
parking costs for the families visiting hospitals with the GoFundMe campaign.
Their efforts became the largest GoFundMe campaign ever in Canada and the
fourth largest ever in the world.
There were rallies in numerous communities. People made numerous physical signs to show
support at their homes or at hockey games including leaving hockey sticks out
on the porch for the players who passed away to use.
Gregg Drinnan wrote a beautiful and uplifting piece of the
Broncos who passed away playing a game in the afterlife.
 |
| A couple of items that were sold to support the Humboldt Broncos. |
The Saskatchewan Roughriders honoured the Broncos and
Humboldt at a CFL regular season game, and the Saskatchewan Rush held tributes
for the junior A hockey team. The phrase #HumboldtStrong became cemented in our
vocabulary.
On September 12, 2018, the Broncos returned to the ice
falling 2-1 to the Nipawin Hawks at the Elgar Petersen Arena to open the SJHL
regular season in a contest shown live on TSN.
The rally to support the Humboldt Broncos brought out the
best in humanity. In the most tragic of circumstances, people as a whole showed
how good they can 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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