Valkyries dominant dynasty continues

Saskatoon wins fifth WWCFL title in six years, bombs Storm

The Valkyries celebrate their fifth WWCFL title win in six years.

 LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - The Saskatoon Valkyries execution was near perfect, and the Edmonton Storm got executed as a result.

    On Saturday at the University of Lethbridge Community Stadium, the Valkyries (7-1 overall) returned to the top of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League mountain top with an astounding 81-6 victory over the Storm (6-2 overall). With the win, the Valkyries claimed their fifth WWCFL championship in six years after losing to last year’s league champs the Regina Riot in the WWCFL Prairie Conference final. 

    Against the Storm on Saturday, the Valkyries had the wind at their backs for the first quarter and used that advantage to build a 30-0 edge. Saskatoon cruised to victory from that point.

    “It feels awesome,” said Valkyries running back Julene Friesen. “It was a great game. It is nice to win by a lot and to feel like we had a great end to our season.

Julene Friesen runs in a touchdown for the Valkyries.

    “Everybody played. Everybody did so well. It just shows once again how well rounded our team is and how strong we are through our whole depth chart.”

    Friesen, who had an outstanding season for the Valkyries, book ended the scoring recording the game’s first touchdown on a 28 yard romp and the contest’s final major coming off an 82-yard kickoff return with 2:43 to play in the fourth quarter. She also had a 30-yard touchdown run in the opening quarter to account for three major scores overall.

    In total, Friesen picked up 142 yards rushing on seven carries and 109 yards on three kickoff returns in being named the Valkyries player of the game. She admitted the kick return touchdown was her sweetest jaunt into the end zone.

    “We’ve been talking about it all season,” said Friesen. “Finally to get it on the last return of the year was fun, even though I fumbled around with it a little bit.”

Valkyries LB Beth Thomson (#2) sacks Storm QB Aria McGowan (#80).

    The first quarter surge also saw Valkyries quarterback Alex Eyolfson fire a 10-yard touchdown strike to veteran receiver Stacey Boldt and complete a 56-yard pass and run score to rookie receiver Alyssa Wiebe. Wiebe, who is a former hockey standout with the University of North Dakota, topped all Valkyries with receivers with four catches for 111 yards.

    A strong effort by Saskatoon’s defence the kept Edmonton pinned in its own zone resulting in the Storm conceding a safety in the opening frame. Valkyries linebacker Beth Thomson, who has played for the club in all six years of its existence, had a big first quarter sack and returned an interception 33 yards in the second quarter to set up a 32-yard field goal by kicker Carly Dyck.

    “I had the most fun out there today,” said Thomson. “That pic was awesome. I almost got it into the end zone, but maybe next year.”

    Thomson also said the game couldn’t have gone any better for her squad, and she was elated about the latest title win.

    “Every time you win the championship, you get that feeling of happiness,” said Thomson. “It is there again right now.

Alyssa Wiebe (#13) had 111 yards receiving for the Valkyries.

    “Once we got rolling, it just started happening for us. We just started rolling. It was the Valkyries doing it again.”

    Some of the game’s loudest cheers were reserved for Dyck, who is a Lethbridge product. She played three seasons with her hometown Steel, when the Steel lost three straight WWCFL title games to the Valkyries from 2012 to 2014. She lived in Saskatoon for the last two of those campaigns and decided to remain in that centre year round and play for the Valkyries.

    In the second quarter, Dyck hauled in her only catch on a streak pattern from quarterback Reed Thorstad, which went the distance for a 45-yard major score to delight her hometown supporters. Dyck was pumped that Valkyries offensive coordinator Chad Palmer was looking to dial up her number.

    “Palmer was being real nice to me,” said Dyck. “He was like, ‘I want to get you a touchdown at home, so we are going to send you a long ball.’

    “I was so happy. It was a nice reach out for me, a long run. There was nobody even close to me I felt anyway. I didn’t notice anybody.”

    She was pumped to finally be on the winning side of a WWCFL championship game.

    “It took five years for me to get this win, but it was better late than never,” said Dyck. “It was pretty exciting.”

Carly Dyck hauls in a 45-yard TD reception for the Valkyries.

    Running backs Samantha and Kendal Matheson, who are sisters, added major scores for the Valkyries in the second quarter. Samantha ripped off a 62-yard scoring run, while Kendal, who is in her rookie season, ran one in from 65 yards out.

    Saskatoon led 54-0 at halftime.

    The scoring slowed up a little in the third quarter. Saskatoon went ahead 59-0, when the Storm conceded another safety and Dyck nailed a 27-yard field goal attempt.

    The Valkyries lead expanded to 74-0 in the fourth quarter thanks to a three-yard touchdown run by Samantha Matheson, a 31-yard missed field goal single by Dyck and 39-yard interception return score by defensive back Rienna Rueve.

    Storm running back Brenna Bouchard snapped the shutout bid returning a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown after Rueve’s major to trim Saskatoon’s edge to 74-6. Friesen recorded her kickoff return touchdown after Bouchard found pay dirt.

The Valkyries celebrate Rienna Rueve's interception return TD.

    In total, the Valkyries piled up 624 yards of offence, which included 329 yards on the ground and 297 yards through the air. Edmonton was held to 148 yards offensively.

    Valkyries special teams coordinator Chris Hengen-Braun said Saturday’s win was a great capper to a special season.

    “It feels pretty good,” said Hengen-Braun. “This is really a different team than we have had in the past.

    “They did an amazing job coming together. We have a lot of really young girls. Over half of our team has never won one of these before, so it is really special for them.

    “It was really cool to see a huge effort from many, many different players on offence and on defence. We had a bunch of players step up. It was just really cool to see a lot of these young players come out and be very effective on the field.”

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com. Check Twitter for more game photos of the Valkyries WWCFL championship win @stankssports.

Valkyries' Dyck pumped for homecoming in WWCFL final

Receiver returns to Lethbridge and fondly recalls football roots

Valkyries receiver Carly Dyck (#4) returns kick against the Edmonton Storm.

    When the Saskatoon Valkyries started celebrating their Prairie Conference title win, receiver Carly Dyck began thinking about going home.

    With a 29-14 victory over the visiting Regina Riot last Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Valkyries advanced to the Western Women’s Canadian Football League title game for the fifth time in six years. 

    This year’s WWCFL title game is set to be held on Saturday in Lethbridge, which happens to be Dyck’s hometown. The Valkyries (6-1 overall) will face the Edmonton Storm (6-1 overall), who are making their second straight WWCFL final appearance, in a match that starts at 1 p.m. Lethbridge time at the University of Lethbridge.

    Before joining the Valkyries, Dyck began her football career playing for her hometown Lethbridge Steel from 2012 to 2014 in the WWCFL’s Western Conference. It was during that time she developed a love for the game.

    The Steel advanced to the WWCFL in all three seasons Dyck was a member of the team, and the Steel fell in every appearance to the Valkyries. Saskatoon claimed the first four straight WWCFL championships from 2011 to 2014 before the Riot won the league title last year.

Carly Dyck (#4) boots a field goal for the Valkyries.

    “I was always hopeful with Lethbridge,” said Dyck. “I always thought that we could do it.

    “I want to say I am even more hopeful now, because I know that we can do it. It feels nice playing in front of my family again and my friends and people who haven’t been able to see me play the last two years.”

    The closest the Steel came to winning the WWCFL title was back in 2013, when the Valkyries pulled out a 27-13 decision. Saskatoon took the 2012 and 2014 title clashes by respective 64-21 and 53-0 blowout scores.

    While the Steel weren’t able to claim a WWCFL title, Dyck didn’t see herself leaving the team. Opportunities away from the game steered her in that direction.

    After her first season with the Steel, Dyck started attending school in Saskatoon at the University of Saskatchewan. For two years, she lived a double life, where she spent nine months in Saskatoon focusing on her studies and three months living in Lethbridge focusing on football.

    “I’d be there for two practices before the first game, and they would throw me into the game after being at home for only a week,” said Dyck. “My coaches would be sending me playlists, so that I could study.

Carly Dyck tears up field for the Valkyries.

    “I’d be in school, and I’d be studying for my final exams. My study break would be studying for football.”

    During her lengthy stays in Saskatoon, Dyck started to become more rooted in that centre. She started meeting members of the Valkyries and began playing in the city’s adult flag football league. As the friendships developed, Dyck decided it was time she made Saskatoon her year round home.

    She got her release from the Steel and proceeded to join the Valkyries in 2015. Dyck discovered a different football world during her two seasons in Saskatoon.

    “Playing in Alberta, we thought we were a really great football team, and we were,” said Dyck. “Just the caliber of football here that we have in Saskatchewan is so much beyond what we could even have imagined from the program that we had in Lethbridge.

    “You could tell after being here just the organization of our program, all the fundraising that we do, the training staff that we have (and) the coaches, everything here is just so much higher so much better than what I had known in Lethbridge.

    “Coming and seeing the depth we have on our team it is really not a surprise that we lost to Saskatoon all three years that I played for Lethbridge. We’d come to the championship game with 20 players, and that is not enough for a football team.”

    With the Steel, Dyck played offence, defence and special teams. Having grown up playing soccer, Dyck handled the Steel’s kicking duties.

Carly Dyck catches a deep pass for the Valkyries.

    With the Valkyries, Dyck mainly focuses on her role among a strong group of receivers that includes Marci Kiselyk, Stacey Boldt, Kelsey Murphy and Alyssa Wiebe. On special teams, Dyck is entrusted with place kicking duties.

    “I think the biggest change for me here now is feeling rested,” said Dyck. “When I go in on offence, I’ve had water. I’ve had a break. I’ve had a mental break to focus on what I am going to do next.”

    Dyck still has a lot of good memories from her time with the Steel. She enjoyed playing for the team’s then head coach Jamie Fisher, who rejoined the Steel this season as a defensive coordinator after one campaign off.

    When Dyck went to her first meeting with the Steel, she wasn’t sure if she was going to play at all.

    “I showed up at the meeting, and everybody there was tattoos and piercings and crazy hair,” said Dyck. “I thought I am not going to fit in here at all.

    “Jamie Fisher, the head coach, came up to me, and he asked me if I played any sports. I knew nothing about football. He was like, ‘If you’re an athlete, that is all we need.’

    “He made me feel really at home there.”

Carly Dyck (#4) celebrates a TD with Marci Kiselyk.

    Now Dyck sees Saskatoon as her home, and she expects to keep playing football for the foreseeable future. Besides playing for the Valkyries, she will be part of Saskatchewan’s provincial team that participates in Football Canada’s inaugural senior women’s national championship tournament, which runs July 28-31 in Regina.

    Still, there were some perks Dyck enjoyed while playing in Lethbridge that she hopes she will get to enjoy again.

    “The Lethbridge wind is what made me feel like I was an amazing kicker,” said Dyck with a chuckle. “Now I play here, and the wind is not as strong, so my kicks don’t go quite as far. It is OK.”

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

Eyolfson guns Valkyries back into WWCFL final

Alex Eyolfson fires one of her four TD passes down field for the Valkyries.

    Alex Eyolfson greeted the attention that comes with being a big game hero with a lot of giggles.

    On the turf at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Saskatoon Valkyries 18-year-old rookie quarterback looked like a poised veteran on Sunday. She completed 10-of-18 passes for 151 yards and four touchdowns to lift the Valkyries past the Regina Riot 29-14 in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League’s Prairie Conference title game. She also ran the ball seven times for another 72 yards.

    Off the field, Eyolfson, who graduated from Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School last year, seemed genuinely surprised a string of reporters came to talk to her about the day’s proceedings. She smiled and laughed her way through answering various questions.

    Even when she was asked what it was like to lead the Valkyries to the WWCFL championship game, Eyolfson responded with pure joy.

    “I’m so excited,” said Eyolfson. “It is all new to me. It is going to be awesome.”

    The Riot entered Sunday’s clash as the defending WWCFL champs. A year ago, they downed the Valkyries 31-29 in a Prairie Conference title game that was played in Regina. That Riot victory ended the Valkyries quest to win the WWCFL title for a fifth straight year.

Stacey Boldt zips up field for a major score on a 15-yard pass reception.

    On paper, the Riot held a huge edge in the experience department at the quarterback position with star veteran Aimee Kowalski taking the snaps from centre.

    Saskatoon had been utilizing a two-quarterback system for much of this season with Eyolfson and sophomore Reed Thorstad sharing signal calling duties. Thorstad was limited to playing about four different series at quarterback on Sunday.

    For a moment, it appeared the biggest excitement in this year’s Prairie Conference final might come from the weather conditions in Saskatoon. After a scoreless first quarter, both teams were chased to their dressing rooms when a sudden storm opened up dropping sheets of rain and hail on the field accompanied by lightning with 12:08 to play in the second quarter.

    Those weather conditions disappeared after about five minutes, and the teams returned to action under sunny skies following a 20-minute delay.

Valkyries Receiver Marci Kiselyk (#19) celebrates a TD catch.

    When action resumed, Eyolfson went to work. With 4:18 to play in the second quarter, she found veteran receiver Marci Kiselyk on a streak pattern for a 44-yard touchdown pass to give Saskatoon a 7-0 lead. Just over two minutes later, Eyolfson hit veteran slotback Stacey Boldt on a 15-yard post pattern for a second touchdown strike to increase the Valkyries advantage to 14-0.

    Eyolfson wasn’t done there. With 6.3 seconds remaining before halftime, she hit Kiselyk again this time for a 28-yard touchdown pass. The Riot blocked the ensuing convert, but the Valkyries took a 20-0 edge into halftime.

    Valkyrie head coach Jeff Yausie was pleased with Eyolfson’s performance.

    “She (Eyolfson) played very well, and she is a very athletic person,” said Yausie. “Lots of times she escaped pressure and broke contain on the edge and she ran for some first downs.

    “She has played flag football for a long time. This is her first year in tackle football. She has run around a lot and played in a lot of big games.”

Carmen Agar piled up 200 yards rushing and receiving for the Riot.

    The Riot were able to move the ball on Sunday piling up 440 yards of total offence. Star running back Carmen Agar posted 147 yards rushing on 26 carries and 53 yards receiving on six catches. Regina also turned the ball over 10 times including seven occasions on downs which aided the Riot’s downfall.

    Regina’s first offensive possession stalled at the Saskatoon three yard line after a pass on a fake field goal by holder Claire Dore fell incomplete.

    The Riot finally broke through on the scoreboard with 2:05 to play in the third quarter. The Valkyries fumbled away a punt return in their own end zone, and Agar recovered the ball for a touchdown to cut Saskatoon’s lead to 20-7.

    The momentum swing didn’t last. Just 1:44 into the fourth quarter, the Valkyries jumped ahead 28-7, when Eyolfson found Kiselyk for a two-yard touchdown pass and then hit slotback Stacey Boldt on a five-yard pass for a two-point convert.

    Kiselyk, who has been with the Valkyries since they started in 2011, caught four passes for 90 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday’s win.

A gang of Valkyries defenders take down a Riot ball carrier.

    “The receivers adjusted so well,” said Eyolfson. “They were really open I guess when I threw it every time.

    “They adjusted and ran their routes really hard. It was just easy to get it to them.”

    Kicker Carly Dyck added a single from 29-yard missed field goal to give the Valkyries a 29-7 edge. Regina round out the scoring with 62 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, when Kowalski hit receiver Robyn Tulloch on a 30-yard touchdown pass to cement the final outcome at 29-14 in Saskatoon’s favour. The Riot finished the season with a 5-2 overall record.

    Kiselyk was pumped her side came out on the winning end.

    “We’ve been aiming for that all year,” said Kiselyk. “Every season is a new season, but I hadn’t forgotten last year. It really felt like redemption for us.”

    The sure-handed pass catcher was also proud of the effort Eyolfson had.

Valkyries QB Alex Eyolfson eludes Riot defender Robyn Tulloch.

    “Alex (Eyolfson) really stood out for us today,” said Kiselyk. “She made a lot of plays with her legs as well as with her arm.

    “Even though we struggled early, she was able to keep her head in a big game in a high pressure situation, and that shows a lot of maturity for someone so young.”

    The Valkyries advance to the WWCFL championship game to face the Edmonton Storm this coming Saturday in Lethbridge. The Storm took the Western Conference championship last Saturday with a 14-4 victory over the Lethbridge Steel in Edmonton.

    The Valkyries and Storm enter the WWCFL championship game with identical 6-1 overall records. Those two clubs met in an exhibition tilt back on April 30 in Saskatoon, where the Valkyries pulled out a 30-17 victory.

The Valkyries celebrate their WWCFL Prairie Conference title win.

    Edmonton fell 53-6 in last year’s WWCFL championship game held in Winnipeg to the Regina Riot.

    The Valkyries beat the Storm in the inaugural WWCFL championship game 35-7, which was held in Lethbridge in 2011.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com. Check Twitter for more WWCFL Prairie Conference final game photos @stankssports.

Riot rally past Valkyries, win with late field goal

Saskatoon still finishes first in WWCFL’s Prairie Conference

Morgan Turner kicks the winning field goal for the Riot.

    REGINA, Sask. - It was almost déjà vu for Regina Riot kicker Morgan Turner, who is developing a habit of nailing game winning field goals against the Saskatoon Valkyries.

    On Saturday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Turner booted a 21-yard field goal with 2:10 to play in the fourth quarter to give the Riot a 27-26 edge over the Valkyries. That score held up as the final outcome of Western Women’s Canadian Football League clash between these provincial rivals.

    Last year, Turner hit a 12-yard field goal into a stiff wind in the final seconds of the Prairie Conference championship game also at Mosaic Stadium to give the Riot a 31-29 win over the Valkyries. Regina advanced on to win the WWCFL title.

    Turner was pumped to come through again in the clutch but noted the circumstances around this winning kick were a lot different than the one a year ago.

    “It wasn’t as much pressure as last time,” said Turner. “We had a little more time, and I have a little more confidence in myself, because of the backing of my team.”

Samantha Matheson runs to daylight on a 56-yard TD score for the Valkyries.

    Saturday’s game also closed the regular season schedule for both clubs. The Valkyries and Riot both finish with identical 3-1 records, but Saskatoon finishes first in the Prairie Conference having outscored the Riot 73-48 in the two clashes between the teams. The Valkyries romped to a 47-21 victory over the Riot on May 22 in Saskatoon.

    Both teams host conference semifinal games on June 12 against opponents that are still to be determined.

    Saturday’s clash began in a downpour of rain that lasted for about the first five minutes of the contest.

    When the weather cleared up, the Valkyries surged out to a 19-0 edge on three rushing touchdowns by power running back Samantha Matheson, who ran the ball in from two, 20 and 56 yards out. Her 56-yard romp was a thing of epic beauty.

    Regina was able to block two of Saskatoon’s conversion attempts, which would haunt the Valkyries later in the game.

Valkyries DB Rienna Rueve tackles Rachelle Smith of the Riot.

    The Riot gained some traction manufacturing a 92-yard touchdown drive shortly before halftime. With 42 seconds remaining in the second quarter, the Riot march finished with star veteran quarterback Aimee Kowalski hitting receiver Claire Dore on a seven-yard TD strike. The two proceeded connect on a short pass on a two-point conversion attempt to cut the Valkyries lead to 19-8.

    “We are very frustrated about the way that the game went tonight,” said Valkyries special teams coordinator Chris Hengen-Braun. “(Give) all credit to the Riot, they did a really good job of game planning for us.

    “We saw a lot of new girls get in there and get a lot of playing time. It was really cool to see. A lot of girls stepped up for us as well too tonight.

    “It was really cool to see a lot of players really fly around and make some good plays. We had a couple of fumbles and a couple of other turnovers that really swung the game for us.”

    The Valkyries were without a number of regulars. Most of their missing players were in Halifax, N.S., playing in the senior flag football nationals including their two regular quarterbacks Alex Eyolfson and Reed Thorstad as well as head coach Jeff Yausie. Stacey Boldt, who was the Valkyries starting quarterback last season, moved back into the signal calling role in Saturday’s loss.

Riot RB Celeste Schnell tries to pull away from the Valkyries defence.

    Despite missing a number of players, the Valkyries still had a solid outing. The Riot just found a way to gut out a win which included converting a number of third down gambles.

    In the third quarter, the Valkyries lead shrank to 19-17 after they conceded a safety and Riot powerback Carmen Agar ran in a score from three yards out.

    On the ensuing series after Agar’s score, Boldt hit receiver Carly Dyck on a deep route resulting in a 54-yard major for the Valkyries. The score put the visitors up 26-17 going into the fourth quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, Riot running back Celeste Schnell powered in from a yard out for a touchdown to cut the Valkyries lead to 26-24. That helped set the stage for Morgan to nail her winning field goal.

    Saskatoon’s final drive fizzled out at about the Regina 42 yard line.

The Valkyries defence sets up during a downpour of rain in the first quarter.

    Having locked up home field advantage through the Prairie Conference in the post-season, the likelihood is extremely high the Valkyries and Riot will face each other in the conference final. Going into playoffs, Hengen-Braun likes the effort he is seeing from his players.

    “The players that we asked to step up today did step up,” said Hengen-Braun. “The girls that did play today they did a really good job for us.”

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

Valkyries look good, can be even better

Julene Friesen (#14) tears down field for the Valkyries.

    The Saskatoon Valkyries look good, but they have the potential to be better.

    That might be a scary observation to make considering the local Western Women’s Canadian Football League team thumped the Winnipeg based Manitoba Fearless 61-1 on Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. With the win, the Valkyries improved to 2-0 in regular season play and 3-0 overall.

    With 27 first-year players on their roster, the Valkyries are expected to go through some growing pains. During their three solid wins, the growing pains are evident, but it has to be noted that improvement is also visible.

    Saskatoon needs that improvement to continue with two big head-to-head clashes looming with their biggest rivals in the defending league champion Regina Riot. The Riot also sport a 2-0 regular season record and a 3-0 overall mark. They have been dominant in their three outings, which included dumping the Winnipeg Wolfpack 47-0 on Sunday in Regina.

    With their respective 2-0 regular season starts, the Valkyries and Riot will host Prairie Conference semifinal playoff games on June 12. Their regular season ending home-and-home series will determine which side will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs in the Prairie Conference. The Valkyries host the Riot this coming Sunday at 7 p.m. at SMF Field, and the Riot host the Valkyries on May 28 at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.

Valkyries DL Jaime Lammerding forces a fumble.

    In the win over the Fearless, the Valkyries were impressive offensively, when it came to running the ball. Saskatoon piled up 330 yards on the ground using five different running backs. Each player had strong games running behind an always powerful Valkyries offensive line.

    Veteran Julene Friesen ran the ball for 89 yards on 10 carries, and she scored the game’s opening touchdown on a nine yard scamper. Fellow veteran Samantha Matheson ran for 79 yards on five carries and ran in her squad’s second major slashing through the middle of the Fearless defence on a 31-yard run.

    Rookie Kendal Matheson showed she can run like her older sister, Samantha, and piled up 68 yards on five carries. The younger Matheson ran in a major from 37 yards out in the fourth quarter.

    Fellow first-year runners Tyra Tkachuk and Ricki Obed both had their strong moments as well. Tkachuk had 52 yards on six carries, while Obed had 26 yards on three carries.

Stacey Boldt hauls in a TD grab for the Valkyries.

    Saskatoon’s passing game did look a bit disjointed due to the fact some players in that area have moved around. In hopes of getting more production out of the passing game over the long term, the Valkyries moved last year’s starting quarterback Stacey Boldt back to receiver.

    At quarterback, the Valkyries are using a tandem of two youngsters in rookie Alex Eyolfson and sophomore Reed Thorstad in fashion similar to the way the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders utilized John Hufnagel and Joe Barnes way back in 1981.

    Eyolfson played the first and fourth quarters completing four of five passes for 85 yards. She scrambled for a four-yard rushing major late in the first quarter.

    In the fourth quarter, Eyolfson hit rookie receiver and former University of North Dakota hockey standout Alyssa Wiebe for a 45-yard touchdown pass reception off an intermediate out route. Eyolfson later found Boldt on a shot eight-yard middle pass for a second throwing major.

    Thorstad called signals in the second and third quarters and completed one of seven passes. She was also intercepted by Fearless defensive back Marissa Milani deep on the Manitoba side of the field.

    The Valkyries passing game will smooth out with more repetitions in practice and games as the season moves on. Saskatoon’s passing game will receive another big boost, when veteran receiver Marci Kiselyk returns from injury.

    On defence, the Valkryies limited the Fearless to 68 net yards. In the second quarter, defensive back Shaylyn DeJong returned an interception 47 yards for a major score, while teammate Kelsey Dick had a pick-six of her own from 45 yards out late in that same frame.

Kendal Matheson (#25) runs in a touchdown for the Valyries.

    DeJong and sophomore linebacker Kathleen Kent topped the Valkyries with three tackles each.

    Carly Dyck kicked a 25-yard field goal and the Fearless conceded a safety to round out Saskatoon’s scoring. Fearless kicker Sara Milani accounted for her side’s only point on a 16-yard missed field goal.

    Going forward, the Valkryies will really see where they are at, when they face the Riot. Regina returns star quarterback Aimee Kowalski and star running back Carmen Agar along with sure-handed receivers Amanda Hungle, Claire Dore and Alex Kowalski. The Riot’s defence will be tough.

    Both teams have pushed each other to be better over the history of the WWCFL dating back to 2011. These two upcoming clashes should prove to be no different.

Samantha Matheson in the Express

Valkyries RB Samantha Matheson powers her way through Fearless tacklers.

    I recently caught up with Valkyries running back Samantha Matheson for a feature in the Saskatoon Express.

    In last year’s Prairie Conference final at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Matheson had a game for the ages running for 159 yards on 14 carries and scoring four touchdowns. She helped the Valkyries rally from a 28-7 deficit to the host Riot to take a late 29-28 fourth quarter lead. The Riot took the clash 31-29 on a last second field goal.

    Matheson was going to walk away from football after playing through the 2015 campaign with nagging injuries to her knees. Over the off-season, her knees healed up to the point she decided to return for her third season. Her story can be found right here.

Roller derby in the Express

Action at a recent Saskatoon Roller Derby League practice.

    I had a busy week with the Saskatoon Express.

    Besides the story on Matheson, I also wrote a feature on the Saskatoon Roller Derby League. Since forming in 2007, Roller Derby is moving from a social function into a more serious sport.

    The Saskatoon league hosted its first-ever tournament on Saturday and Sunday at the Legends Centre in Warman billed as the “Attack of the 8-Wheeled Woman.”

    Veteran skaters Mel "Forna Skate" Langeler and Laurel "Bella Von Bastard" Turner talk about their experiences with the local league and the sport. 

    The feature on the league can be found here.

Rush fever to hit new heights

A Rush display at the Saskatoon airport.

    If you thought people in Saskatoon and area were crazy over the Saskatchewan Rush before, you likely ain’t seen nothing yet.

    On Saturday in Calgary, the Rush claimed Game 1 of the National Lacrosse League’s West Division final 16-10 against the host Roughnecks. Game 2 is slated for this coming Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre. In necessary, a series deciding 10-minute mini game will be held right after Game 2.

    The Rush played in front of crowds of over 10,000 people in each of their last six home dates. They drew 15,027 spectators to their last home contest back on April 16, which was an 11-8 victory over the Colorado Mammoth. One has to wonder if the Rush will be able to sneak in a few extra bodies into the SaskTel Centre past the fire marshal this coming Saturday in order to eclipse the attendance mark from the Mammoth game.

    The atmosphere at all nine regular season home games for the Rush has been raucous to say the least. Their merchandise is being worn by fans all over “the Bridge City.”

    “Rush Fever” will likely reach new heights this Saturday. There might even be tailgating in the parking lot with the warm weather. Getting to the SaskTel Centre early definitely seems like a must.

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

Riot take conference title in epic clash

Last second field goal ends Valkyries' drive for five

Morgan Turner follows through on the Riot's  last second winning field goal.

    REGINA - For a short time, it appeared it would be a happy bus ride home for the Saskatoon Valkyries.

    The four time defending Western Women’s Canadian Football League champions looked to be on the verge of advancing to a fifth straight league title game. Thanks to an amazing fourth quarter rally, the Valkyries erased a 28-7 deficit to surge ahead of the Regina Riot 29-28 on a 25-yard touchdown run by Sam Matheson with 1:26 to play in regulation on Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.

    The Riot responded with a gutty final drive that ended when Morgan Turner kicked a 12 yard field goal with 15 seconds to play to give the hosts a 31-29 victory in the WWCFL’s Prairie Conference title game.

    Regina advances to the WWCFL final to face the Edmonton Storm this coming Saturday at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg. The Storm dumped the Calgary Rage in the Western Conference championship game 51-14 last Saturday.

    “It hurts to lose plain and simple,” said Valkyries head coach Jeff Yausie. “It hurts a little less when you lose to a good football team, and Regina is a very good football team.

    “We missed some opportunities in the first quarter with the wind, and didn’t score any points. We could have used those, and I think it might have been a different outcome.

    “We were down pretty significant. We found a way to fight back in the fourth quarter and take the lead. I am super proud of our girls.”

    The Valkyries had won every WWCFL title since the league’s inception in 2011. Entering Sunday’s game with the Riot, Saskatoon had won all 12 of its post-season games to date, which included eliminating the Riot from the playoffs in the Prairie Conference final in four consecutive years.

Sam Matheson runs in her fourth major of the game for the Valkyries.

    The Riot are the only team to have ever defeated the Valkyries with two victories coming in regular season play. The second of those wins came this season courtesy of a 49-9 blowout on May 30 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    Quarterback Aimee Kowalski, who has been with the Riot since the start, was elated to finally get a post-season victory over the Valkyries.

    “We’ve been working towards it all season, and we have been wanting it for five years now,” said Kowalski. “It is nice to get it in our grasp and take it home.”

    Saskatoon had a couple of good chances to jump ahead at the start of the game, but Rienna Rueve hit the post on a 23 yard field goal attempt, and quarterback Stacey Boldt fumbled the ball away at the Riot 19 yard line.

    The Riot jumped ahead 7-0, when backup quarterback Sami Bray scored from a yard out on a quarterback sneak with two seconds to play in the first quarter. The lead grew to 16-0, when Kowalski hit Amanda Hungle on a 46-yard touchdown pass play, and Valkyries quarterback Stacey Boldt conceded a safety.

    Matheson scored on an eight-yard run to cut the gap to 16-7. Regina’s lead grew to 21-7 at halftime thanks to an 18 yard field goal by Turner and Boldt conceding another safety.

    Due to driving into a strong wind, Boldt conceded two more safeties in the third quarter, and Morgan kicked a 13-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to give Regina a 28-7 edge.

    When it looked like Regina was poised for victory, momentum swung totally Saskatoon’s way. Boldt hit veteran receiver Marci Kiselyk on a long pass play that helped set up an 18-yard touchdown run by Matheson. Boldt proceeded to find Kiselyk again on a two-point conversion toss that cut Regina’s lead to 28-15.

    With 3:31 to play, Matheson ran in a score from 28 yards out to trim the Riot lead to 28-22. Her final major gave the visitors a one-point lead and visions of an epic comeback win.

Riot receiver Claire Dore holds up the WWCFL Prairie Conference trophy.

    The Riot gutted their way downfield on their final drive thanks to some big runs by Kowalski and running back Carmen Agar, who both broke numerous tackles. That led to Turner’s winning kick.

    “We have a very young football team,” said Yausie. “Our best years are ahead of us. For us to show the heart to be able to comeback from 21 points says a lot to me.”

    On the Riot’s game-winning drive, Kowalski said everyone on her offensive unit had a part in making big runs happen for her side.

    “Our O-line did an amazing job blocking,” said Kowalski. “Agar and I, we just kind of have a chemistry like no other.

    “We were able to take it home. We had some huge blocks from the receivers. Everybody did their job just like we practiced.”

    If you have any comments about this blog post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com. Check out images of the playoff clash between the Riot and Valkyries on Twitter @stankssports.

So long Wolfpack, Bring on the Riot

A trio of Valkyries gang tackle a Wolfpack receiver.

    Now the Saskatoon Valkyries can look forward.
    Entering a Western Women's Canadian Football League Prairie Conference semifinal playoff game as a heavy favourite over the Winnipeg Wolfpack, the Valkyries had to avoid looking forward to the possibility of playing their provincial rivals the Regina Riot in the Prairie Conference final.
    On Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Valkyries stayed focused on the task at hand. They scored touchdowns on three of their first four offensive plays and romped over the Wolfpack 66-7.
    In Regina on Sunday, the host Riot thumped the winless Manitoba Fearless 73-0 at Mosaic Stadium in the other Prairie Conference semifinal. As a result, the Riot will host the Valkyries in the Prairie Conference final this coming Sunday at 2 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
    Before looking towards playing the Riot, Valkyries quarterback Stacey Boldt was pleased her side stayed focused on the task at hand against the Wolfpack.
    "We just take it game by game," said Boldt. "The minute this game ended that is when we start preparing for Regina."
    Early in the semifinal clash at SMF, the Wolfpack did have success moving the ball offensively collecting a number of first downs. The Valkyries halted the visitor's momentum with the big play.
    After the Wolfpack failed to score on their first drive, Boldt hit veteran receiver Marci Kiselyk on a 61-yard touchdown strike to put the hosts up 7-0 after just their first offensive play of the game.

Valkyries receiver Marci Kiselyk hauls in a big-play catch.

    Saskatoon's second offensive play resulted in a 63-yard touchdown run by tailback Julene Friesen. On the Valkyries fourth offensive play, Boldt connected with receiver Carly Dyck on a 48-yard touchdown strike.
    Boldt said the early scores allowed her side to settle into the game.
    "It takes a lot of weight off the defence's shoulders and us as an offence going along the rest of the game too," said Boldt. "It was a great way to start the game."
    Before the first quarter ended, Friesen put the Valkyries up 28-0 scoring on a 96-yard touchdown run.
    The big plays kept coming in the second quarter, as Saskatoon built a 56-0 lead. Boldt hit Kiselyk on a 35-yard touchdown strike, running back Kelsey Murphy ran in a major from 27 yards out, Boldt found Dyck for 77-yard score through the air and Friesen ran in another major from 76 yards out.
    By halftime, Boldt completed all 10 of her pass attempts for 292 yards, and the Valkyries combined for 345 yards rushing.
    "It is a huge confidence booster for us," said Boldt about all the big plays. "We are seeing lots of different people play different positions right now. We are just gaining confidence game after game.
    "I just think we just came together as a team. We had a lot of injuries and bruises along the way here. We knew we had to bring our best game, and I think we did that."
    After a scoreless third quarter, Rienna Rueve kicked a 22 yard field goal to put Saskatoon up 59-0.
    The Wolfpack finally got on the scoreboard, when quarterback Amy Mohr connected with receiver Char Mash-Hadlow on a 14-yard touchdown pass.

Valkyries QB Stacey Boldt fires a strike downfield. 

    Valkyries tailback Sam Matheson ran in the game's final score from 26 yards out.
    The Valkyries and Riot meet in the Prairie Conference final for the fifth consecutive year. Saskatoon won the four previous encounters and proceeded to move on and win the WWCFL title in each of those campaigns.
    This season, the Valkyries slipped past the Riot 28-19 on May 19 in Regina. The Riot then bombed the Valkyries 49-9 in Saskatoon on May 30. The third encounter might be the most anticipated head-to-head match between the two squads.
    "It is going to be a great game," said Boldt. "We look forward to playing them every year. They are our rival.
    "We need to bring our A-game. We need to make up for kind of the last time we played them."

    If you have any comments about this blog post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com. Check out more photos of the Valkyries win on twitter @StanksSports.

Valkyries' Friesen finds new appreciation for football

Julene Friesen (#14) charges to the end zone after catching a pass.

    When Julene Friesen stopped trying to prove herself, she gained a lot more joy out of playing tackle football.

    After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan Huskies track and field team in 2013, Friesen wanted to try something completely new and joined the Saskatoon Valkyries of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League. Having experienced a lot of success as a middle distance sprinter for the Huskies, Friesen was driven to prove she belonged with the Valkyries.

    As rookie running back on a team that had won the first two WWCFL titles, Friesen was frustrated at times with the growing pains she endured.
    “It was something completely new, and I wasn’t feeling much success at the start,” said Friesen, who stands 5-foot-5. “I was so used to individual sports and having all the pressure on me that it took me awhile to realize that I can have teammates block for me.

    “When I screwed up, a lot of times it is so many other things that went wrong too. It is never just one player. I learned to love it.”

    By the end of the 2013 campaign, Friesen had helped the Valkyries win a third straight WWCFL title. She took 2014 off from playing tackle football, because she wanted to try her hand at beach volleyball and running 30-kilometre races. At the U of S, the distances Friesen ran were a lot shorter being commonly between 400 and 800 metres.

    While the former track star stepped away from football, Friesen’s confidence did grow as her first campaign progressed with the Valkyries. She rejoined the team this season with a new appreciation for the sport.

Julene Friesen (#14) celebrates a TD with Marci Kiselyk.

    “I knew what I was getting into this time around,” said Friesen. “It has been a good transition back into football. I have really enjoyed it.”

    In high school, Friesen played touch and flag football. Her biggest influence in helping her improve her skills then was physical education teacher Darla Lee-Walde. Friesen and Lee-Walde were Valkyries teammates in 2013.

    Growing up, Friesen saw the contact version of the sport from the stands on a frequent basis, because her older brother Mitch played. Mitch would go on to suit up with the Saskatoon Hilltops of the Canadian Junior Football League and the Huskies football team.

    Julene’s interest in tackle football also grew due to the fact her boyfriend is Kit Hillis, who played for the Hilltops and is the Huskies all-time leader in career receptions. Hillis exhausted his eligibility with the Huskies last season.

    As a member of the Huskies track and field team, Julene wasn’t allowed to play tackle football, because her U of S track coaches were concerned about her getting injured. Friesen joined the Valkyries about a month after she graduated from the Huskies track program, and she also learned playing tackle football wasn’t like the touch and flag versions of the sport.

    “It is just a totally different game,” she said. “I love how complex it is. It is just a total team sport.”

    Friesen’s confidence showed in the Valkyrie first two games this season. In a 75-0 romp over the Winnipeg Wolfpack on May 10 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Friesen scored touchdowns on runs of 46, 62 and 17 yards and hauled in another major on a 55-yard pass play.

    On May 17 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Friesen had a big performance against the host Riot. Down 16-8, the Valkyries rallied for a 28-19 victory, and Friesen accounted for the last two Saskatoon touchdowns coming off a 13-yard outlet pass and a tough eight-yard run.

    “She is a very explosive player and is extremely fast,” said Valkyries head coach Jeff Yausie. “She plays with an attitude and a bit of a temper, which is a good thing as long as you can control it. She is a special player in how she runs.”

Julene Friesen charges through the line for the Valkyries.

    Friesen was pleased with how her team performed and how she played in a very physical contest against the rival Riot.

    “The whole game just felt like a battle, and it was so fun to be in a game rather than feeling so far ahead that it didn’t even really feel like a competition,” said Friesen, who works as a teacher in Langham. “I had a lot of fun, but it was definitely challenging.

    “By the end in the third and fourth quarters, I felt so beat up I was running on fumes. It was honestly the help of my teammates just pulling me through and encouraging me and the coaches being so encouraging.”

    The Valkyries have won all four WWCFL titles that have been handed out dating back to 2011, but the Riot have always provided a good test. Saskatoon’s only loss in franchise history came on May 12, 2013 against the Riot in Regina by a 15-7 score.

    The Valkyries (2-0) and the Riot (1-1) face each other again on Saturday (7 p.m., SMF Field).

    Friesen expects to keep playing for the Valkyries in future seasons, but in the present, she gets pumped up for games against teams like the Riot and is looking forward to Saturday’s clash.

    “It is going to be unreal,” said Friesen. “I can’t wait to play them at home with our crowd behind us.

    “I hope everybody is healthy. I know we got pretty banged up last game. I think come game time we will be ready to go, and we will have so much adrenaline that we will be fine.”

Boldt shines as Valkyries signal caller

Stacey Boldt gets set to unload a throw for the Valkyries.

    Besides talking to Friesen, I also caught up with new Valkyries starting quarterback Stacey Boldt.

    A third-year member of the team, Boldt had big shoes to fill as the starting signal caller, because she followed in the steps of Candace Bloomquist, who led Saskatoon to its four straight league titles as the starting quarterback.

    My story on Boldt appears in this week’s edition of the Saskatoon Express, which can be found by clicking right here.

    I appreciate the fact that editor Cam Hutchinson contacts me to write for the Express on a fairly regular basis. The staff there is outstanding to work with, and I recommend that readers check out the rest of the stories and columns in the weekly Express publication as well.

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

Valkyries rally past Riot

Showdown at Mosaic shows potential of WWCFL

Julene Friesen speeds downfield for the Valkyries.

    It was a rare sight to see the Saskatoon Valkyries at the wrong end of the scoreboard.
    It also gave the four time defending Western Women's Canadian Football League champs a chance to show their resiliency.
    On Sunday at Mosaic Stadium, the host Regina Riot jumped ahead of the Valkyries 16-8. The Riot had a habit of giving their Bridge City Rivals tough contests, which included a 15-7 victory over the Valkyries on May 12, 2013. It wasn't out of the question Regina could pull out its second victory over Saskatoon in 13 tries.
    Like a squad that is used to winning championships, the Valkyries battled back. The Riot lead shrank to 16-14 by halftime. Saskatoon proceeded to jump ahead 21-16 with 52 seconds remaining in the third quarter, when first year starting quarterback Stacey Boldt hit tailback Julene Friesen on a 13 yard outlet pass for a major.
    Victory wasn't assured until Friesen ran in the game's final touchdown from eight yards out to give the visitors a 28-18 lead with 66 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Saskatoon came away with a 28-19 final after Regina concluded the scoring with a rouge coming off a missed field goal as time expired.
    Unlike a lot of the contests involving the Valkyries, Sunday's game with the Riot provided intrigue.
    Saskatoon is the model franchise in the WWCFL and has run away from opponents with numerous blowout victories. The lopsided results occur due to a combination of the fact the Valkyries are well run with a strong coaching staff, and the WWCFL is still in its formative years. Women's tackle football is still a relatively new sport experiencing growing pains.
    The Riot have run a strong program, and they could have easily come away with a victory Sunday had the outcome of two or three plays been changed. The battle between Saskatoon and Regina showed the potential of how interesting WWCFL games can be.

Aimee Kowalski slings a pass for the Riot.

    The Valkyries jumped ahead 8-0 thanks to the Riot conceding a safety in the first quarter and Boldt hitting veteran receiver Marci Kiselyk for a 34-yard pass and run TD strike early in the second quarter.
    Regina sputtered early offensively due to a number of dropped passes but proceeded to catch fire. Riot quarterback Aimee Kowalski hit receiver Claire Dore with a 20-yard scoring pass cutting the Saskatoon lead to 8-6. A two-point conversion attempt by Regina to tie the contest failed.
    After Valkyries receiver Tori Giles fumbled away a punt return, the Riot were in business again. The turnover resulted in a 22-yard field goal from Morgan Turner to put Regina ahead 9-8.
    With 1:58 remaining in the second quarter, Aimee Kowalski connected with her sister Alex Kowalski for a long 75-yard home run strike to put Regina up 16-8. At that point in the game, the Riot had all the momentum and were making the majority of the plays.
    The Valkyries tightened things up scoring just 45 seconds later, when Boldt hit Kiselyk from eight yards out to cut the gap to 16-14. A two point conversion attempt failed, but Saskatoon was successful in stopping Regina's momentum.
    After Boldt connected for her third touchdown pass of the game to Friesen to put the Valkyries up 21-16, the Riot didn't go away. Near the halfway point of the fourth quarter, Regina had a golden chance to go back in front, but Aimee Kowalski's end zone pass to open rookie receiver Rachelle Smith was dropped.
    The Riot proceeded to turn the ball over on downs, but the Valkyries had to concede a safety on the ensuing series shirking their edge to 21-18.
    Regina would be doomed from two more mistakes. While running downfield after a catch, Alex Kowalski fumbled the ball away near her own 35 after getting tackled by Valkyries defensive back Amber Buchholz and linebacker Beth Thomson. Thomson recovered the ball for the visitors.

Valkyries DB Carisa Polischuk, right, takes down Riot receiver Diane Nesbitt.

    It appeared Regina would hold Saskatoon to scoring just a field goal, but the Riot were penalized for contacting Valkyries kicker Rienna Rueve. The infraction gave the Saskatoon a first down, so the visitors took the field goal off the board by accepting the penalty.
    The Valkyries proceeded to run more time off the clock before Friesen ran in for the clinching major. Regina attempted a last play field goal in case the points were needed for a standings tiebreaker down the road, but settled for a single.
    With the win, the Valkyries improved to 2-0, while the Riot fell to 1-1. After a bye weekend, these two clubs meet again on Saturday, May 30 at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.
    Regina needs to win that contest by 10 or more points to claim the season series. With that in mind, hopes are high that the next clash will be as compelling as Sunday's match was.

    If you have any comments about this blog, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com. To see more photos of the Valkyries victory over the Riot, check out Twitter @StanksSports.