Shooting from the hip on Bell Let’s Talk day

A display featuring a Bell Let’s Talk toque.

Forget getting out of the starting block, I wasn’t even in the starting block waking up this morning when it came to writing my annual column for Bell Let’s Talk day.

Usually, I have column done ready to go live with pictures when Bell Let’s Talk day begins. After checking messages and taking care of some other work related tasks, I am getting down to work on a piece in earnest at 3 p.m. All of sudden, I am having trouble with my printer/scanner system, and I spend three hours dealing with that to delay things further.

As they say, better late than never.

As a result of those things, this is will be more kind of a “shoot from the hip” type piece.

On my own front, I have known I have battled with issues dealing with anxiety since 2012. I write about my experiences on the mental health front in hopes it will help others.

Since 2016, I’ve kept up with a tradition where I write a post regarding mental health on Bell Let’s Talk day.

There is still a stigma around mental health issues, and they are unfortunately still treated as the elephant in the room in too many circles.

On my own front, I am in a way better place than I was 10 years ago. I am in a way better spot than I was six years ago.

Abby Soyko heads down ice on a rush for the Pandas.

Actually in the current day, my day to day dealings on the mental health front are likely not that sexy or exciting. I am kind of in the place where I deal with the issues of the day as they come up.

Basically, it often comes from prioritizing what I believe needs to be done and just handling things one day at a time. If something expected comes up that is out of your control that you need to adjust to, you make adjustments.

My world since Thursday has been consumed with putting together hockey stories and columns that had deadlines that needed to be met. All of that work was fun, but I had to push back typing this column out.

I got to see a long time friend in Prince Albert product and University of Alberta Pandas Women’s Hockey Team right-winger in Abby Soyko on Saturday. Due to how the world has played dealing with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world in earnest in March of 2020, I hadn’t seen her since crossing paths at a Raiders WHL hockey game in Prince Albert in late December 2019.

We had a great visit after the Pandas downed the host University of Saskatchewan Huskies 3-1 in a U Sports regular season contest at Merlis Belsher Place, and I put together a catch up feature story on her. That piece has been the most viewed post I’ve created on this blog for the last two years.

I also got to chat with Raiders all-time great Dan Hodgson for a story for the Prince Albert Daily Herald about him getting a licensed NHL hockey card. The chat with Hodgson was great, and it is always a highlight any time I can talk to members of the Raiders 1984-85 WHL and Memorial Cup championship team.

As I type this, I wonder what will await me when I tackle messages related to work on the non-hockey front I’ve checked minimally the last few days. I am hoping to get the remainder of the photos I took at the Pandas/Huskies hockey game edited and a small grouping of photos edited for another work-related project done.

I’ve been busy the last few days writing hockey stories and columns.

Those types of things provide what I would grade as standard anxiety for me, but I am confident I will get to them in due time.

One of the things I’m still bad with in day-to-day happenings is shutting out outside noise. If I have phones and social media lines turned off, it usually means I am focusing on work I feel I really need to get done but haven’t due to interruptions. Outside of that, I am likely working out.

As far as shooting from the hip goes, I didn’t really know what I was going to say for this column. A lot of years I have a focused theme as opposed to just going in random directions as I type.

I like today a lot, because I see it gives people freedom to come forward to share their own stories of challenges on the mental health front. I find that part to be extremely helpful and educational for me.

Having worked in the mainstream media, I know this isn’t a great day for a lot of people. In recent years, Bell Canada, which is the telecommunications company that run Bell Let’s Talk day, has had a habit of releasing employees in the months after the company’s mental health awareness and fundraising day.

Any time Bell Canada cuts jobs, the term “Bell Let’s Cut” is inevitably brought up.

I’ve had friends who have been axed by Bell Canada as part of the cuts that have come shortly after Bell Let’s Talk Day in recent years. I saw a post on Twitter from former TSN broadcaster Dan O’Toole asking people to not include him in anything regarding Bell Let’s Talk day due to that day being hard. Bell Canada runs TSN, and O’Toole was released following Bell Let’s Talk day in January of 2021.

Me stationed up in my work perch at the SaskTel Centre.

I met O’Toole along with Jay Onrait at a Saskatchewan Rush NLL home game in April of 2017. 

I had a long visit with them, and you wouldn’t have known we just met. They were outstanding with everyone they met that night.

I decided to keep writing posts on this day, because of the awareness it brings to mental health issues. I know this can be a painful time for friends that used to work for Bell Canada. 

Those cuts have caused people that used to support Bell Let’s Talk day to find other avenues to support charities that assist with mental health causes.

For me, it is fine if you choose to participate in some way on Bell Let’s Talk day, and if you chose not to participate, that is fine too. I am not going to judge anyone.

Since the earnest onset of the COVID-19 pandemic March of 2020, I found the overall toxicity and just plain meanness in the world to have been increased to the highest levels I’ve ever seen in my life. The Twitter social media platform is by far the worst when it comes to encountering people who are toxic.

I try to avoid that type of noise as much as possible, but it is only human to be dragged into it from time to time.

I just hope you are all trying your best to find your way. I am always open for talks about mental health, and I am willing to listen. I know that is not for everyone too.

A picture of myself after finishing a workout.

For myself, I just try to get a little better each day. I hope everyone out in the world can find positive ways to navigate their respective mental health journeys.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com. My Bell Let’s Talk post from last year called “Riding hamster wheel is not always good for mental health – Excusing yourself even for a short time is good for soul” can be found by clicking right here. A piece from 2021 called “COVID-19 pandemic forces world to face mental health” can be found by clicking right here. A piece from 2020 called “A big mental health challenge is learning to take a break” can be found right here. A piece from 2019 called “Those facing mental health challenges can still be great in all parts of life” can be found right here. A piece from 2018 called “Being content can become a mental health challenge” can be round right here. A piece from 2017 called “Recognizing and respecting triggers is key for mental health” can be found right here. A piece from 2016 called “Feeling connected calms the mental health seas” can be found right here. A piece called “My Mental Health Story” can be found right here. Another post I like that I wrote in February of 2015 about my mental health journey call “Huskies hockey was good for me” can be found right here.

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Hilltops embrace opportunity to beat adversity

Saskatoon lineup expected to be juggled to break skid

The Hilltops are looking to halt a three-game skid.

Riding a three-game losing streak, head coach Tom Sargeant said his Saskatoon Hilltops don’t dwell on the negative of what could happen if the setbacks continue.

With Sargeant guiding the Hilltops as head coach since the start of the 1998 season, the storied CJFL club hadn’t lost three games in a regular season or three in a row until the current campaign. Sargeant’s run as the Hilltops sideline boss is best known for the 13 CJFL championships the squad has collected under his watch over the years.

So far in the 2022 campaign, the Hilltops came out of the gates winning their first two contests before dropping their last three straight games to sit at 2-3. The three losses in regular season play and three setbacks in a row mark the first time those things have occurred in Sargeant’s career as Hilltops head coach.

The legendary sideline boss is taking an upbeat approach to his team’s predicament heading into their next regular season game this Sunday against the Colts in Calgary (1 p.m. local time, Shouldice Park).

“I’m doing great,” said Sargeant. “At the end of the day, I get the opportunity to coach young men and get an opportunity to get them ready for Calgary.

“At the end of the day, we just have a lot of work to do to get better. That is OK. It is healthy.

“It is real. The players are embracing the situations they are in as well. At the end of the day, it is not how you start the race it is how you finish it.”

The Hilltops face stakes the club doesn’t normally see heading into the clash with the Colts. Both teams sport 2-3 records to sit in a tie for fourth and fifth place in the PFC standings. The team that loses will be sitting in fifth place and one win behind fourth place and the final playoff berth in the conference.

Both sides have two games remaining after their head-to-head contest on Sunday including another head-to-head encounter on Sunday, October 16 at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. That October 16 game closes the respective regular season schedules for both clubs.

Boston Davidsen (#24) sits second in the PFC in rushing.

Sargeant said his team isn’t contemplating where they would stand if they drop their game this Sunday against the Colts in Calgary.

“We don’t think that way,” said Sargeant, who Hilltops are 0-2 on the road this season. “We’re working hard in figuring out who is going on the bus when we leave Saturday morning.

“We’re doing the same thing we’ve always done. We’re in the film room. We’re in the coach’s meetings.

“We’re grinding, and the players are grinding. This isn’t a very happy place right now, and that is OK. You know what, you learn way more in adversity.”

In last Saturday’s 23-7 loss to the Thunder at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, the Hilltops pulled starting quarterback Damon Dutton early in the second quarter after he completed 2-of-4 passes for 22 yards, while throwing one interception. Dutton’s interception was returned 35 yards for a touchdown by Thunder star defensive back Justin McKerracher.

Trey Reider, who is the Hilltops 20-year-old backup quarterback, played the rest of the way in relief completing 18-of-29 passes for 180 yards and no touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions. Reider accounted for the Hilltops only major score on a one-yard sneak.

Sargeant said Dutton and Reider are splitting reps at practice this week 50/50, and the team’s coaches are evaluating to see just how many younger players they could elevate up to the starting lineup not just at the quarterback position.

“There are some young guys who are going to start this weekend for sure,” said Sargeant. “They don’t know who it is yet.

“We’re letting them split reps. There are going to be some new starters performing on Sunday. That is exciting for a coach.

“That is a cool thing to see. We’re uncovering every stone and turning everything over just to see if we can find that spark that switch that sort of ignites what we feel this team should be. There is more than enough talent all across the board.”

Veteran defensive tackle Dylan McNutt, who is one of the team’s captains, said his club is focused on getting out of the rut they are in. The graduate of Saskatoon’s Bishop James Mahoney High School Football Team said Sunday’s game provides a chance for the Hilltops to prove they’re not finished as far as this season is concerned.

Konner Johnson leads the PFC in defensive points.

“I think we’re going to come out on Sunday there, and the boys are going to strap up the buckets and go out there and go to work and prove to everybody that there maybe is a glimmer that we are making it through playoffs,” said McNutt. “Once playoffs hit, it is a whole different season.

“The season starts all over again. We’re going to go from there. We’ll finish off the season strong, and the boys will be prepared and ready to go to work.”

McNutt, who will turn 22-years-old in December, believes this down stretch provides an opportunity for the Hilltops to show character and that they can persevere.

“I think we have the right character,” said McNutt. “We definitely have the right set of guys out here on the field at all times.

“Our character is great. We’ve had to face a lot of adversity this year. You know what, adversity is something that it breaks you or you just get stronger from it.

“I think based off what we’ve showcased out here we’re getting stronger off of it, and I’m excited to go show what it is going to look like and how we are going to perform as a team.”

Going into this Sunday’s clash with the Colts, Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen sits second in the PFC with 590 rushing yards coming on 102 carries with two touchdowns. 

Hilltops star outside linebacker Konner Johnson leads the PFC in defensive points at 85 thanks to posting 21 solo defensive tackles, 10 defensive tackle assists, three special teams tackles, two special teams tackle assists, one quarterback sack, five pass knockdowns and three interceptions.

Colts quarterback Nick Kennedy is having a sound season completing 82-of-139 passes for 1,139 yards and 11 touchdowns, while throwing nine interceptions. 

Calgary defensive back Damien Bucknor sits fifth in the PFC with 62 defensive points coming off of 25 solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists, two special teams tackles and one interception.

Dylan McNutt (#51) believes his team has great character.

Sargeant believe his Hilltops is going to face one of the most confident Colts teams they’ve seen in a number of years.

“You know what; they’re probably excited that we are rolling into town,” said Sargeant. “The tape we’ve thrown out the last couple of weeks it is sort of we’re not putting intimation or throwing the awe to anybody.

“At the end of the day, I understand that. Our players need to respect that. The old days of Calgary are gone.

“They are very athletic. They are well coached. You can tell they are heading in the right path.”

Thunder versus Rifles poses intriguing battle

Rifles QB Bryson McNeil (#9) leads the PFC in passing yards.

The Winnipeg Rifles can cement the notion they a powerhouse CJFL club in 2022, if they prevail in what is arguable the game of the week in the Prairie Football Conference.

On Sunday, the Winnipeg Rifles (3-2) host the Regina Thunder (5-0) at IG field in Winnipeg at 1 p.m. local time. The Rifles ride into that CJFL regular season clash with a three-game winning streak and are tied with the Edmonton Huskies (3-2) for the second and third place spots in the PFC.

The Thunder are holding down first place in the PFC and can lock up first place in the conference winning two of their final three games.

If the Rifles can beat the Thunder, they will hold victories over both Saskatchewan based CJFL teams this season. On August 28, the Rifles slipped past the visiting Saskatoon Hilltops 19-16 at East Side Eagles Field.

Before downing the Hilltops, the Rifles nearly prevailed in their first meeting with the Thunder back on August 21 at Leibel Field in Regina. Winnipeg led that contest 22-18 after three quarters, but Regina pulled out a 24-22 victory thanks to two fourth quarter field goals by kicker Zack Schmidt.

If the Rifles can beat the Thunder by three or more points in their encounter this Sunday, Winnipeg would hold the head-to-head standings tiebreaker between the two sides placing more pressure on the Thunder to win out to lock up first place in the PFC.

This contest features the PFC’s two passing yardage leaders in Rifles quarterback Bryson McNeil and Thunder quarterback Carter Shewchuk. McNeil has a PFC leading 1,694 yards passing having completed 116-of-184 passes for nine touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions.

Shewchuk has the second most passing yards in the PFC at 1,662 yards having completed 111-of-162 passes for 11 touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions.

At the moment, folks in Winnipeg might have a chance to see a CJFL classic, when the Rifles and Thunder collide.

Thunder’s McKerracher gets player of the week nod

Justin McKerracher had a dream game that resulted in capturing a PFC player of the week award.

Last Saturday, the star defensive back made three interceptions helping his Regina Thunder down their provincial rivals the Saskatoon Hilltops 23-7 in front of 2,003 spectators at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. McKerracher returned the first of his three interceptions 35 yards for a touchdown.

On top of those interceptions, McKerracher had one solo defensive tackle, four defensive tackle assists and one pass knockdown in the win.

For his efforts, McKerracher was the named the PFC’s defensive player of the week on Tuesday. McKerracher leads the PFC with five interceptions this season.

The PFC’s offensive player of the week went to Edmonton Huskies star running back Alex Gayle. Last Sunday at the Johnny Bright Bowl in Edmonton, Gayle carried the ball 21 times for 194 yards and scored two touchdowns in a 45-27 victory over the Calgary Colts. Gayle also caught one pass for nine yards.

Colts receiver Jonathan Dikoume was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week. In the loss to the Huskies, Dikoume returned two kickoffs for 132 yards, and one of those returns went 101 yards for a touchdown.

Football Weekend in Saskatchewan was a great showcase

The Saskatchewan Roughriders marketing department gets gold star for the successful execution of its Football Weekend in Saskatchewan promotion.

For the first time in history, the Roughriders and Saskatchewan’s two CJFL teams and U Sports teams were all in Regina playing games at Mosaic Stadium over a two-day period this past Friday and Saturday. The promotion really helped highlight the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops and Regina Thunder and U Sports’s University of Saskatchewan Huskies and University of Regina Rams.

Last Friday before a paid attendance of 26,974 spectators, the Roughriders fell 26-24 to the Edmonton Elks. The Roughriders led 24-23 until Elks kicker Sergio Castillo hit the winning field goal from 47 yards out with 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Last Saturday in an afternoon tilt, the Thunder downed the Hilltops 23-7 in front of a crowd of 2,003 spectators and many in attendance don’t normally check out CJFL football. The Roughriders ensured there was a radio call provincially for this contest on 620 CKRM.

In a night time U Sports clash, the Huskies slipped past the Rams 11-10 before 7,055 spectators. Again, many of the people who were in the crowd don’t normally check out U Sports football.

The Rams led 10-8 until Huskies kicker David Solie hit the winning field goal from 32 yards out with two seconds to play in the fourth quarter. Solie was a member of the Hilltops 11-0 CJFL championship team in 2018 ultimately handling duties as a place kicker, punter and receiver.

This game was carried on radio by 620 CKRM and the Huskies home broadcast was heard on 750 CKJH.

It would be cool if this promotion could be repeated in future years involving all five teams.

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

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Huskies put impressive cap on season at U Sports nationals

Women’s hockey squad takes home bronze medal

The Huskies had an impressive showing at U Sports nationals.

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Hockey team penned a happy ending to the most unique chapter in team history.

On Sunday at the MacLauchlan Arena in Charlottetown, P.E.I., the Huskies blanked the University of New Brunswick Reds 2-0 in the bronze medal game at the U Sports elite-eight women’s hockey championship tournament. The bronze medal win equaled the Huskies best result at U Sports nationals matching what the team accomplished in 2014.

The Huskies have made four trips to U Sports nationals in team history, and in a normal sports campaign, advancing that far in the post-season would be a success story in itself.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, things in the sports world and outside the sports world haven’t operated like normal since the first stoppages in North America started back on March 11, 2020.

The 2020 U Sports men’s and women’s hockey tournaments along with the men’s and women’s volleyball tournaments got their first day of action in on March 12, 2020 before the rest of the action at those events was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

U Sports didn’t hold any national championships in the 2020-21 campaign. The Canada West Conference that the Huskies play out of didn’t take part any meaningful games in 2020-21.

On the Huskies front, no one knew what to expect out of the 2021-22 campaign after the whole conference had a season off. No one knew if there were going to be any stops or starts as the campaign went along.

The Huskies lost Jordyn Holmes to a broken leg at nationals.

Actually, there was no guarantee that the season would be played to a completion.

Still, the Huskies marched through the regular season posting an 11-7-2 record to finish fifth in the Canada West Conference standings. In the Canada West playoffs, the Huskies swept the University of Manitoba Bisons 2-0 in a best-of-three quarter-final series in Winnipeg and swept the Mount Royal University Cougars 2-0 in a best-of-three semifinal series in Calgary, Alta., to advance to the Canada West Championship Series and earn a spot at U Sports nationals.

In the Canada West final, the Huskies were swept 2-0 in the best-of-three set by the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in Vancouver. The series closed with the Thunderbirds taking Game 2 of the series 1-0 in overtime.

After that bump in the road, the Huskies reset and ventured off to Charlottetown for U Sports nationals with a sizable contingent of supporters in family and friends. The Huskies were so good at nationals that it is possible they could have possibly won the whole thing, if two or three breaks went their way.

They opened play on the event’s second day on Friday taking on the Ontario University Athletics champion Brock University Badgers in a quarter-final contest. The fifth- seeded Huskies played arguably their best game of the season in that outing blanking the fourth-seeded Badgers 4-0.

At the 6:12 mark of the second period of that contest, rookie forward Sara Kendall ran it back to her days with the Swift Current Innovation Credit Union Wildcats under-18 female AAA team opening the contest’s scoring on a sweet backhanded wraparound.

The Huskies surged for three goals in the third with singles coming off the sticks of rookie defender Brooklyn Stevely and third year forwards Kara Kondrat and Nicole Fry. Kondrat picked up an assist on Fry’s empty-net tally and was named the Huskies player of the game in what might have been her best game at the U Sports level.

Kendra Zuchotzki turned heads as a rookie on defence.

Star third-year netminder Camryn Drever made 27 saves to pick up the shutout win for the Huskies. Netminder Tiffany Hau stopped 29-of-32 shots sent her way to take the setback in goal for the Badgers.

While the win over the Badgers was a great game for the Huskies, they did face adversity. Before Kendall scored her goal to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead, the team’s gritty, speedy, heart and soul third-year forward Jordyn Holmes broke her left leg on a crash into the boards and was lost for the rest of the tournament.

She had to have surgery on Saturday in Charlottetown to help start her injury recovery process.

In a semifinal on Saturday, the Huskies faced the top seeded Concordia University Stingers, who were the champions of the Reseau du Sport Etudiant du Quebec. Before the game, Holmes standing ovation from the crowd, when she arrived to cheer on her team.

In the semifinal contest, the Stingers came away with a 2-0 victory with Audrey Belzile and Maria Manarolis potting singles in the second period. Stingers netminder Alice Philbert made 20 saves to pick up the shutout win in goal.

Drever turned away 37 shots to take the setback in goal for the Huskies. The Huskies put up a big fight but weren’t able to find a traction moment to start a comeback.

They almost got that traction moment with four minutes remaining in the third, when Kendall rang an in close shot off the post of the Stingers goal.

Camryn Drever cemented herself as a top goalie in U Sports.

The Stingers would advance on to blank the sixth seeded Nipissing University Lakers 4-0 in the U Sports championship game on Sunday to capture the Golden Path Trophy.

Before the tournament’s title game was played, the Huskies took the ice for the bronze medal game against the second seeded Reds, who were the Atlantic University Sport conference champions.

At the 7:51 mark of the first, the Huskies jumped ahead 1-0 on a blast from the left point by rookie defender Kendra Zuchotzki. 

At the 14:08 mark of the second, rookie forward Jasper Desmarais ran it back to her days with the Prince Albert Northern Bears under-18 AAA scoring a beauty goal on a three-on-one rush that ultimately sealed the 2-0 victory.

Desmarais blew down the right wing, got in close and roofed home a shot past Reds netminder Kendra Woodland.

Woodland made 23 stops to take the setback in goal for the Reds.

Drever turned aside all 17 shots she faced to pick up the shutout win in goal for the Huskies. The alumna of the St. Albert Slash female under-18 AAA team posted four shutouts in the Huskies nine total post-season games.

When Drever joined the Huskies, she came with the reputation of being a clutch goaltender having backstopped the Slash to Esso Cup titles in 2017 and 2018 as national female under-18 AAA hockey champions. Following this post-season run, Drever has cemented her place as one of the top goaltenders in all of U Sports.

Following the win over the Reds, Huskies veteran head coach Steve Kook got to put the first bronze medal around the neck of the team’s fifth-year captain in Bailee Bourassa. Bourassa is the lone fifth-year player on the squad.

Bailee Bourassa is a golden role model on and off the ice.

After receiving her medal, Bourassa presented the rest of the bronze medals to the rest of the team. 

Bourassa finished her degree in nursing and returned to the Huskies after deciding to pursue her master’s degree in nursing taking on the role of captain.

Having helped her hometown Weyburn Gold Wings in and Esso Cup title in 2014, Bourassa wanted to help the Huskies get a good restart this season after a season off in 2020-21. 

She played a big part in helping the Huskies stay relevant and show you can play high-level hockey in Canada’s U Sports ranks and get a sound education that can take you on to a great career when the playing days come to a close.

Bourassa has become the perfect example of the golden role model on and off the ice. She has always represented the team in the community with class and grace.

Forward Abby Shirley, who is the long fourth-year player on the team, was another key returnee who helped show the way and be a leader for the Huskies young generation.

Third-year defender Isabella Pozzi provided a steady hand to the Huskies back end, and she was named to the U Sports championship tournament all-star team. The Huskies have a rookie group on the back end who came into their own in the post-season and have the potential to be even better in future seasons in Stevely, Zuchotzki, Larissa Bohlken and Emily Holmes, who is Jordyn’s younger sister.

While she didn’t get any goals at U Sports nationals, third-year forward Kennedy Brown came through in clutch moments in the Canada West playoffs. She had her chances at nationals and will be another key returnee in future seasons.

Kennedy Brown came through with clutch post-season goals.

Overall, the journey the Huskies took to win a bronze medal at U Sports national on Sunday was unlike any season the Huskies have played to date. 

All the time players spent training on their own or as a team in a 2020-21 campaign that didn’t happen seemed worth it for sure after Sunday’s win.

During training time when there was no certainty of when the next game was going to be, some players had to be questioning if it was time to close the book as far as competitive hockey was concerned.

Credit has to go to all teams in U Sports for making the season happen and able to be played to a conclusion where a national champion was crowned.

After the NCAA still crowned a national women’s hockey champion in the Division I ranks in 2020-21, minor hockey players in the female game in Canada had to wonder if going down to the United States was ultimately going to be the place where they could play high-level hockey at the post-secondary level in the future.

Now, U Sports is back as a destination female players in Canada’s minor hockey system that want to continue playing high-level hockey at the post-secondary level.

The Huskies have shown they will continue to be a place where good things can happen in the classroom and on the ice whether you come from the province of Saskatchewan or any other community in Canada.

The Huskies renewed their legacy of being a great team to play for.

Ultimately, that reminder might be the lasting legacy of the 2021-22 Huskies team.

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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Five Huskies get all-Canadian nods in lead up to Vanier

Dogs play in U Sports title game on Saturday

David Solie was named a first team all-Canadian all-star.

While team success is always the most remembered thing in football, it always good to take time to celebrate individual honours.

Ultimately, it is the players and individual stories in the game that help followers draw a closer connection to the sport.

On Thursday night at the annual U Sports football awards show held in Quebec City, Quebec, five members of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies were named all-Canadian all-stars.

At the ballroom in the Hotel le Concorde Quebec, running back Adam Machart, left tackle Noah Zerr, defensive end Nathan Cherry and kicker David Solie were named first team all-Canadian all-stars, while Connor Berglof, who plays both centre and right guard, was named a second team all-Canadian all-star.

Solie earned his first team all-Canadian all-star nod at punter. Berglof claimed his second team all-Canadian all-star position at centre.

The awards were handed out as the Huskies close in on playing in the U Sports championship game – the Vanier Cup – for the first time since 2006.

The Huskies (8-1 overall) face the University of Western Ontario Mustangs (9-1 overall) in the Vanier Cup on Saturday at Stade Telus – Universite Laval in Quebec City, Quebec (12 p.m. Saskatchewan time, CBC). The Mustangs head into that clash as favourites, but the weather might favour the Huskies as it is expected to be -10 C with a 60 per cent chance of snow according to Environment Canada.

The Dogs are looking for their first Vanier Cup win since 1998, while the Mustangs last won the U Sports title in 2017. The Huskies have won the Vanier Cup three times, and Mustangs claimed the top prize in U Sports football seven times.

On the individual front, Machart picked up a first team all-Canadian nod after a solid campaign. He led the Huskies in rushing yards during the regular season piling up 415 yards on 60 carries and scoring two touchdowns appearing in five of U of S’s six regular season games.

During those five regular season contests, Machart hauled in 14 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown. This was the second consecutive season Machart was named a first team all-Canadian all-star.

Noah Zerr, right, makes a blog in a double team.

U Sports didn’t hold any national championships and most of that circuit’s teams didn’t play in the 2020-21 campaign due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world.

Zerr was named an all-Canadian for the first time with his first team all-Canadian all-star nod. On September 1, Zerr was rated 20^th among the top 20 prospects for the 2022 CFL Draft as ranked by the Canadian Football League Scouting Bureau.

Cherry also picked up his first all-Canadian honour with his first team all-Canadian all-star selection. He had a monster year at defensive end recording 5.5 sacks and 13.5 total tackles playing all six of the Huskies regular season games.

Solie took all-Canadian status for the first time with his first team all-Canadian all-star award thanks to his outstanding year punting the ball. Appearing in all six of the Huskies regular season games, Solie punted the ball 36 times for 1,563 yards for an average of 43.4 yards per kick.

Berglof claimed all-Canadian status for a second straight season. In 2019, he was named a first team all-Canadian all-star at centre.

This season, Berglof was named a second team all-Canadian all-star at centre. The CFL Draft selection of the Toronto Argonauts played most of the regular season at centre for the Huskies.

He was moved to right guard near the end of the regular season and remained at that spot through the post-season.

The work Zerr, Berglof and the rest of the Huskies offensive line put in saw quarterback Mason Nyhus only get sacked four times and the Huskies lead U Sports in rushing yards per carry.

As for the major award winners in U Sports football, University of Waterloo Warriors quarterback Tre Ford won the Hec Crighton Award as the most outstanding player of the year.

Mustangs defensive end Deionte Knight claimed J.P. Metras Award as the most outstanding lineman.

University of Alberta Golden Bears linebacker Josiah Schakel took the Presidents’ Trophy as the most outstanding defensive player.

Connor Berglof (#68) throws a block for the Huskies.

Concordia University Stingers receiver Jaylan Greaves claimed the Peter Gorman Trophy as the rookie of the year.

Late University of Ottawa Gee-Gees defensive lineman Francis Perron was posthumously awarded the Russ Jackson Award for outstanding community service. Perron passed away after the Gee-Gees first regular season game, when they fell 11-10 to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in Toronto on September 18.

Queen’s University Golden Gaels head coach Steve Snyder captured the Frank Tindall Trophy as the coach of the year.

University of Guelph Gryphons offensive line coach Michael MacDonald took the Gino Fracas Award as the Volunteer coach of the year for U Sports.

Alums send pump up messages to current Huskies team

Tyler Siwak (#19) in action for the Huskies in 2002.

The alumni of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football put together video of pump up messages for the current team going into this year’s Vanier Cup.

The Huskies play the University of Western Ontario Mustangs in the U Sports football championship game on Saturday at Stade Telus – Universite Laval in Quebec City, Quebec.

The video was shared over the social media channels for the Huskie Football Alumni and the University of Saskatchewan. The messages were great and a number of them were colourful.

The video showed how many beauties played on the team and were characters that have character like Murray Sadownick, Cal Hobbs, Brent Schneider, Kelly Bates, Tyler Siwak, Lyndon Rush, Ben Coakwell, Ivan Brown, Laurence Nixon, Parker Siemens, Rylund Hunter, Ben Heenan and Tanner Secord.

Secord, who played his fifth and final year in 2019 on the offensive line, told former teammate and current fourth-year centre and right guard on the offensive line Conner Berglof that he was allowed to smile after the current team wins on Saturday.

Feel free to check out the video below.

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A post shared by Huskies FB Alumni (@huskiealumni)

Hockey men’s Huskies romp past MRU 7-2

Jaxan Kaluski had two goals and an assist for the Huskies.

It was all Dogs all night at Merlis Belsher Place on Friday night.

In a U Sports men’s hockey regular season contest, the host University of Saskatchewan Huskies thumped the Mount Royal University Cougars 7-2 holding a 37-17 advantage in shots on goal before 1,673 spectators. The Huskies, who are rated fourth in the U Sports Top 10 rankings, led 2-0 after the first period and 4-0 after the second frame.

Jaxan Kaluski had two goals and an assist for the Huskies. Jared Dmytriw and Vince Loschiavo each picked up a goal and two assists in the win.

Captain Gord Ballhorn, Donovan Neuls and Owen Hardy had singles for the Huskies.

Riley Sawchuk and Tyson Helgesen replied with singles for the Cougars.

Roddy Ross made 15 stops to pick up the win in goal for the Huskies (8-3). Riley Morris turned away 30 shots going the distance in goal for the Cougars (6-5-1).

Those two squads go at it again on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Merlis Belsher Place.

MRU blanks Huskies women’s team 1-0

Bailee Bourassa had eight shots on goal for the Huskies.

Zoe De Beauville was a brick wall the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team wasn’t able to overcome.

The netminder for the Mount Royal University Cougars women’s hockey team made 28 saves to backstop her squad to a 1-0 U Sports regular season win over the Huskies at the Flames Community Arena in Calgary on Friday. The shutout was the third of the season for De Beauville.

Cougars captain Amy Tatum scored on the power play at the 11:12 mark of the first period to account for the game’s only goal. Emma Bergesen and Breanne Trotter picked up assists.

The Cougars, who are rated fifth in the U Sports Top 10 rankings, improved to 8-1-2 with the win.

Camryn Drever made 24 stops to take the setback in goal for the Huskies 6-3-2. Huskies captain Bailee Bourassa had eight shots on goal.

The Cougars were 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Huskies were unable to score on five power-play chances.

The two sides go at it again on Saturday in Calgary.

Expect Bombers to pull out win on Irving’s last call, other notes

Andrew Harris and the Bombers to give their all for Bob Irving.

On the CFL front, the Saskatchewan Roughriders might be heading into a buzz saw, when they head into Winnipeg to face the host Blue Bombers in the West Final on Sunday.

On sports talk shows based out of Saskatchewan, locals have been phoning in their support for the Roughriders saying they will win as the Bombers battle rust. The Bombers topped the entire CFL standings with an 11-3 record and closed the regular season losing two straight games that wouldn’t effect where they were in the standings.

The Roughriders, who were second in the West Division with a 9-5 mark, have won five of their last six games including a thrilling 33-30 overtime victory over the Calgary Stampeders in the West semifinal at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

The Bombers head into the West Final at IG Field in Winnipeg with extra motivation.

The West Final will be the last game Bob “Knuckles” Irving calls as the iconic play-by-play voice of the Bombers. The 71-year-old has filled that roll with CJOB in Winnipeg since 1974.

Irving is a total professional when it comes to calling the game. He has piled up many accolades including induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and having the press box at IG Field named in his honour as the Bob Irving Media Centre.

He has called Bombers games through many ups and downs and seen the team win Grey Cup championships in 1984, 1988, 1990 and 2019.

Irving means a lot to the team. While the Bombers were favourites in this game anyways, you have to believe they will dig down to find another gear to get this one for Irving.

You can expect veterans like star running back and hometown hero Andrew Harris, who is returning from injury, will try his best to allow Irving to depart on a high.

Irving will be inducted to the Bombers ring of honour before Sunday’s game.

He is a true media professional, and he gets uncomfortable when the story becomes about him or a fuss is made over him.

Hopefully, he lets himself enjoy the ride this time.

If the Bombers do win as expected, it would be cool if the management and broadcasters at TSN work things out to allow Irving to call the Grey Cup game in Hamilton on Dec. 12 as an extra treat for a national audience. That won’t likely happen, but it would be the right thing to do, if the Bombers are in that game.

• On Monday, the Winter Universiade, which was set to run Dec. 11 to 21 in Lucerne, Switzerland, was cancelled due to concern over the omicron variant of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The COVID-19 pandemic has gripped the world since March of 2020. Switzerland had imposed border restrictions on travelers from several countries where the new omicron variant has been discovered causing the cancellation of the games. Several countries including Canada have introduced new travel restrictions due to the omicron variant. The Winter Universiade was originally supposed to be held back in January but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic as vaccines were just starting to be distributed at that time.
• As the Universite Laval Rouge et Or won’t be playing in the Vanier Cup, it is unknown who the neutral crowd at Stade Telus – Universite Laval in Quebec City, Quebec, will cheer for in the U Sports football championship game on Saturday. The University of Saskatchewan Huskies take on the University of Western Ontario Mustangs for the title. Since London, Ont., is way closer to Quebec City than Saskatoon, Mustangs fans might travel to give their side more of a home field advantage. Fans in Quebec City may cheer on the Huskies due to the fact they had to travel further to get to the game and the Mustangs developed a slight rivalry with the Rouge et Or after meeting the Vanier Cup in 2017 and 2018. The Mustangs took the 2017 Vanier Cup and the Rouge et Or claimed the 2018 title game.
• The Bodog sports betting site has the University of Western Ontario Mustangs favoured in an opening spread by 9.5 points over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in Saturday’s U Sports football championship game – the Vanier Cup. The game will be played at Stade Telus – Universite Laval in Quebec City, Quebec. You can check those odds out by clicking right here.
• On Friday, Nov. 26, former WHLer and University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team alum Matt Swaby passed away in a farming accident. His celebration of life was held today in Prince Albert. Swaby played defence for the Prince Albert Mintos under-18 AAA team from 2002 to 2004, the WHL’s Tri-City Americans from 2004 to 2007, the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings from 2007 to 2008 and the U Sports’ Huskies from 2008 to 2011. He leaves behind his wife Carla and their three boys Thomas, 6, Blake, 4 and Cody, 2. Swaby was a friend to all and a GoFundMe campaign has raised over $221,000 for the family. Anyone looking to donate to the GoFundMe campaign for the family can do so 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 will be back

Venerable CJFL club will continue positive impact in Saskatoon

Austin Thorarinson raises the Canadian Bowl for the Hilltops in 2015.

     The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic became a tough more real for the followers and all those involved with the Saskatoon Hilltops.
    While the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the North American sports scene since March 11, the reality of it hits teams and leagues to a more elevated degree when normal events of an entire season stop happening. That includes missing training camp activities and games.

    On Thursday, the CJFL announced the cancellation of the entire 2020 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount of regulations regarding travel and large gatherings that needed to be eased for football activities were just a couple of factors that were too much for the CJFL to overcome.

Tom Sargeant gets the ice bucket shower after the 2015 CJFL title win.

    Many other leagues in Canada are dealing with similar hoops the CJFL is trying to overcome. On Friday, the Prince Albert Minor Football Association cancelled all its fall programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    On the CJFL front, the Hilltops have won the last six straight league title and nine out of the 10 CJFL championships. The Canadian Bowl trophy has comfortably resided in the trophy display located at the entrance way of the Hilltops clubhouse.

    For the Hilltops, Thursday’s announcement would have been the latest shoe drop for this week. For those involved with the team, events that were missed in annual timelines had to be running through everyone’s minds.

Justin Filteau in action for the Hilltops in 2014.

    Monday would have normally be the start of Hilltops training camp. Thursday would have been the usual time for the team’s Alumni Game.

    The Alumni Game is an annual event alums look forward to, because it is often the one time every year the old players get to come back and see each other again. The alums often take part in some social gatherings after the game.

    There were likely a few times this week where those involved with the Hilltops thought, “Wow, we actually aren’t doing this for this year.”

    At this point in time, it is apparent the whole sports scene in Canada is going to go through a reset due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No one can predict what that reset will look like outside of the fact things will look a lot different than they did on March 10, which was seemingly the last normal sports calendar day in North America.

    The Hilltops will be there when the pandemic ends and the reset runs its course. In a current world that has very few certainties, this is one you can bank on.

Jordan Walls fires a pass downfield for the Hilltops in 2018.

    The current modern day version of the Hilltops first hit the field in 1947 and won the provincial title that year. They made it to the CJFL title game in 1948 falling 23-10 to the Hamilton Wildcats.

    In 1953, the Hilltops won their first CJFL championship hammering the Windsor AKO Fratmen 34-6 in front of 7,200 spectators at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon on the golden arm of quarterback Ron Adam, who completed 12-of-20 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns. Adam’s throwing was complimented by powerful and tough rushing attack.

    Since that first CJFL championship win, the Hilltops have gone on to win a total of 22 CJFL titles hoisting three different league championship trophies in the Leader-Post Trophy, the Armadale Cup and the Canadian Bowl in the process.

Jadyn Pingue in action for the Hilltops in 2019.

    Since 1998, the Hilltops have been guided Tom Sargeant as head coach and have won 13 CJFL championships under his direction. Sargeant also experience CJFL title wins one as a player and twice as an assistant coach with the Hilltops.

    He holds the record for most career post-secondary head coaching football wins in Canada posting a 210-30-2 mark in the CJFL regular season and post-season. Sargeant is cemented on the Mount Rushmore of amateur football coaching greats in Saskatchewan.
    Tonnes of his former players credit him for being one of their biggest life influences.

    Besides “Sarge,” the Hilltops have a legacy of stellar people hold executive and coaching roles with the team who have had big impacts in the community. The list includes people like Ed Henick, Len Richardson, Don McDonald, Bob Arn, Al Ledingham and Dave Hardy.

Rylan Kleiter makes a tough catch for the Hilltops.

    Due to the great leadership the club has had over the years, the Hilltops have build a vast network of alums and people that identify with the team in the community.

    If Saskatoon is having a year where seemingly everything is going on in the world is bad, the Hilltops inevitably seem to be the one thing that rises up and shows you can still do great things by doing things the right way.
    Any time the Hilltops go on a CJFL championship run, people in Saskatoon can recall warm memories the team produced in the past and relive those memories in the present.

The Hilltops celebrate winning the Canadian Bowl in 2018.

    The memories include players like Ron Atchison, Steve Molnar, Wayne Shaw, Gord Barwell, Ted Dushinski, Warren Muzika, Sheldon Ball, Brian Guebert, Jorgen Hus, Andre Lalonde, Justin Filteau, Jordan Walls and Jadyn Pingue leaving everything on the field for the team.

    The amount of people that have positive emotional investment in the Hilltops seems endless. You can bet the Hilltops will continue to leave a positive and inspirational mark on Saskatoon sports scene when North America and the world gets rolling after the tough part of these current pandemic times end.

Huskies’ Vance, Drever to coach one day female goalie camp

Information on Solid Goaltending’s all-girls one day camp.

    If you are a young female goaltender that is looking to get out of the house, Solid Goaltending has an offer that is too good to pass up.

    On Sunday, Aug. 16, Solid Goaltending will be running a one day girls’ only camp featuring Jessica Vance and Camryn Drever as instructors at the Jemini Arena. Vance and Drever make up the dynamic goaltending tandem for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team.

    Solid Goaltending is run by Sheldon Goertzen, who is the goaltending coach for the Huskies women’s team.

    The camp has six spots open for goalies in the under-18 age group and six sports for the under-15 age category.

    For young female netminders, this camp will be well worth their time. Vance and Drever are outstanding goalies and are both personable and approachable.

Jessica Vance in action for the Huskies.

    Odds are quite high those attending the camp will come away feeling they had a great experience.

Vance just finished her fourth season of U Sports eligibility and third campaign with the Huskies. The Prince Albert, Sask., product has appeared in 59 career regular season games with the Huskies posting a 38-14-6 record, a 1.17 goals against average, a .947 save percentage and 20 shutouts.

    In the 2017-18 U Sports campaign, Vance was the most valuable player of the Canada West Conference and a U Sports first team all-Canadian all-star. She starred for five seasons with the Prince Albert Northern Bears female under-18 AAA team from 2010 to 2015.

    Drever just finished her second U Sports campaign with the Huskies. She has appeared in 14 career regular season games posting an 8-5-1 record, a 1.56 goals against average, a .928 save percentage and four shutouts.

Camryn Drever makes a stop for the Huskies.

    The Edmonton product backstopped the Alberta based St. Alberta Slash to Canadian female Under-18 AAA championships capture the Esso Cup in 2017 and 2018.

    Together, Vance and Drever bring a vast amount of experience that they can pass on to a younger generation and give the camp attendees an upbeat break from the stress of the current COVID-19 pandemic world.

    Those interested in registering for the camp can call (306) 371-6008 or email solid.goaltendingsk@gmail.com.

    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.