Huskies’ Westbury worthy of all praise that comes his way

Equipment manager gets Friend of the College award

Dave Westbury gives a cheer to Kaitlin Willoughby after a win in 2017.

When it comes to Dave Westbury, one wonders if his passion for fishing and golf match that of hockey.

If you can’t find Westbury at the rink, you will likely find him at a hot fishing spot or a lush golf course.

What does top all of that is his commitment to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team as the squad’s equipment manager. Westbury joined the Huskies as a video assistant coach about 11 years ago after coaching female minor hockey in Saskatoon for a number of years.

Within days of joining the Huskies, Westbury took on duties as the U Sports squad’s equipment manager. The 39-year-old has performed various other roles with the team over the years like helping with scouting.

He has solely focused on equipment manager duties since the start of the 2017-18 campaign.

When it comes to all levels in the sport of hockey, Westbury has become one of the best in the game in what he does.

During his time with the Huskies, Westbury has done all his work on volunteer hours.

On Monday, the College of Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan named Westbury a winner of the Friend of the College Award along with Dr. Susan Bens, who is an education development specialist in the Gwenna Moss Centre at the University of Saskatchewan.

Westbury works in a role that doesn’t get much thanks.

Still, the Huskies don’t have to worry about any equipment issues with Westbury on the job. 

Dave Westbury works as a video assistant coach in 2015.

Before players arrive for game day, the team’s dressing room always sits in an immaculate state of readiness.

His top skill is his ability to sharpen skates, which was something he learned from former long time U of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team equipment manager Peter Herd. Westbury has gotten so good with skate sharpening that players get anxious if someone else is handling those duties unless Herd is around to help out.

Westbury works a regular full-time job from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On weekdays, he is usually at the rink by 5 p.m. and doesn’t go home until 9 p.m.

On the Thursday night before the Friday night game, Westbury is usually at the rink until midnight ensuring all the players’ skates are sharpened. He is seemingly at the rink all day Saturday and is often there for a bit on Sundays working on something.

When game action is on, Westbury can change out a skate blade or make an equipment adjustment so quickly that players seemingly never a miss a shift. Westbury said the players inspire him to put in the long hours that he does.

“The players work so hard to maintain their grades and then put a tremendous amount of effort on the ice to make themselves better and the team better as we push for a national championship,” said Westbury in a release.

Westbury always offers the players words of encouragement and support.

For many years, Westbury worked in the cramped confines of the equipment and laundry room at the Huskies old long time home in the ancient Rutherford Rink. Often, the only other noise outside of the work he did came from a small television high up on a shelf that was usually tuned into a hockey game.

In those days, players from both the women’s and men’s teams would stop in and socialize for a bit before gearing up for practice or heading up to work on homework in Smuker’s Lounge.

Dave Westbury, left, gives fist bump to Brooklyn Haubrich.

Over the past two seasons, Westbury has worked out of more spacious confines in Merlis Belsher Place. With female under-18 AAA Saskatoon Stars also calling Merlis home, Westbury, who was once a Stars coach, has helped out the Stars equipment manager often teaching all the tricks of the trade with regards to skate sharpening.

With the Huskies being forced to relocate to the SaskTel Centre for practices due to the fact Merlis Belsher Place has become a field hospital in waiting as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has gripped the world, Westbury has set up shop and ensures all runs smoothly in the Huskies temporary home.

He has still found time to help out current Stars equipment manager Colleen Compton, as the Stars are also calling the SaskTel Centre their temporary home.

In recent years, Westbury has deservingly been the subject of feature stories in both The Sheaf, which is the U of Saskatchewan student newspaper, and Global Saskatoon.

He has cemented himself as a key behind the scenes part that makes the Huskies women’s hockey team go.

The University of Saskatchewan College of Kinesiology created a video about Westbury winning the Friend of the College award and it can be found right below.

COVID-19 rocking world juniors pre-tourney, other notes

Ridly Creig in action for the Wheat Kings in 2018-19.

Organizers for the world junior hockey championships have to be itching to get the competing teams bubbled up at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta.

It seems the COVID-19 pandemic that has gripped the world keeps dealing blows or helping to make cuts for the tournament’s 10 competing teams. Teams are slated to arrive on Sunday and quarantine for five days before beginning practices on Dec. 18.

World juniors are slated to begin on Dec. 25 and will run to Jan. 5, 2021.

Team Canada returned to the ice for selection camp activities in Red Deer on Tuesday after 14-day, team wide quarantine. The quarantine period occurred after two players tested positive for COVID-19.

Before Canada hit the ice on Tuesday, five players were cut from the selection camp for being unfit to play based on return to play protocols. The cuts included defencemen Matthew Robertson (WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings), Mason Millman (OHL’s Saginaw Spirit) and Daemon Hunt (WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors) along with forwards Ridly Greig (WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings) and Xavier Simoneau (QMJHL’s, Drummondville Voltigeurs).

Jonathan Habashi of the Drummondville L’Express wrote that Simoneau was diagnosed positive for COVID-19 at the start of Canada’s camp. Hunt confirmed he tested positive to Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun.

Greig was late getting to camp due to testing positive for COVID-19 well before camp.

It has been ruled that anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 after Nov. 29, which is two weeks prior to team arrivals in Edmonton, is ineligible for world juniors including players, coaches and organizers.

Sweden has had four coaches including head coach Tomas Monten test positive for COVID-19, and they are all out of the tournament.  Sweden will be without four players due to positive COVID-19 tests including Albin Grewe, William Wallinder, Karl Henriksson and William Eklund.

Eklund, who is an 18-year-old forward, is viewed as a top prospect for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Germany will be without four players due to positive COVID-19 tests in Lukas Reichel, Nino Kinder, Elias Lindner and netminder Tobias Ancicki.

The United States has lost three players due to positive COVID-19 tests in Robert Mastrosimone, Alex Vlasic and goalie Drew Commesso.

Austria will be minus defenceman Thimo Nickl due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Switzerland has lost forwards Yves Stoffel and Kevin Lindemann due to positive COVID-19 tests, and forward Jannik Canova has been nixed from the roster for being a close contact.

While there has been positive news there will be initial vaccine rollouts for COVID-19 in Canada starting next week, the initial rollouts will be in limited fashion. A lengthy amount of time will pass before the vaccines are rolled out to the general population.

New case numbers are still going up on a daily basis for COVID-19. On Sunday, Alberta will begin strict COVID-19 lockdown restrictions that include the banning of all outdoor social gatherings and the closure of all facilities where sports operate out of.

World juniors have exemptions which will allow the tournament to be conducted.

On Thursday, Canada did cut five forwards and two goalies as part of regular roster cuts. The cuts included Saskatoon product and Spokane Chiefs left-winger Adam Beckman.

Another cut was 16-year-old centre Shane Wright of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs who is expected to be a top pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging, the look of the final rosters for the 10 teams that will take part in world juniors is uncertain.

COVID-19 has even affected life in the offices of the International Ice Hockey Federation as president Rene Fasel and general secretary Horst Lichtner tested positive this week.

Don’t fool yourselves, world juniors will be pushed ahead because there is too much money that could be lost that is generated from television rights and advertising sponsors.

Before teams get settled in the Edmonton bubble, you wonder how bad the train wreak could get.

• On Monday, the University of Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team postponed their final four NCAA regular season games of the 2020 calendar year due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests on the team. On Tuesday, the Kenosha News reported six Badgers players have tested positive for COVID-19. The Badgers played their first two NCAA games before the final six contests of the 2020 calendar year were postponed due to issues with COVID-19. Saskatoon Stars female under-18 AAA team alumnae and sisters Sophie and Grace Shirley play for the Badgers.
• As of Thursday night, the 50/50 jackpot for the Hockey Harvest Lottery sat at $261,800. The lottery is being used to raise money for the player scholarship funds of Saskatchewan’s five WHL teams in the Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades and the Swift Current Broncos. Tickets can be purchased by clicking right here, and purchasers must be in Saskatchewan in order to buy tickets.
• As of Friday night, the December jackpot for the Saskatchewan Amateur Football Mega 50/50 lottery sat at $5,100. The funds from this 50/50 lottery will go to support the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops and Regina Thunder and the WWCFL’s Saskatoon Valkyries and Regina Riot. One prize will be drawn per month, and the draw dates are December 31, 2020, January 31, 2021, February 28, 2021, March 31, 2021, April 30, 2021 and May 31, 2021. Tickets can be purchased by clicking right here, and purchasers must be in Saskatchewan in order to buy tickets.
• Back on Dec. 3, Saskatoon Stars 17-year-old defender Bridget Rezansoff committed to play for the University of Calgary Dinos women’s hockey team starting in the 2021-22 season. In the two Saskatchewan Female Under-18 AAA Hockey League regular season games the Stars have played, Rezansoff has one assist. Last season, Rezansoff had five goals and three assists appearing in 28 regular season games for the Stars.
• On Wednesday, Saskatoon Stars 17-year-old forward Sydney Mercier committed to play for the University of Calgary Dinos women’s hockey team starting in the 2021-22 season. In the two Saskatchewan Female Under-18 AAA Hockey League regular season games the Stars have played, Mercier leads the team in scoring with three goals and two assists. Last season, Mercier topped the Stars in scoring appearing in all 30 of their regular season games collecting nine goals and 10 assists.
• On Thursday, the Adrian College Bulldogs women’s hockey team located in Adrian, Mich., that plays in Division 1 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association announced the commitment of Prince Albert Northern Bears 17-year-old forward Rhea Peterson. Peterson has appeared in two Saskatchewan Female Under-18 AAA Hockey League regular season games with the Bears this season recording two assists. She appeared in 29 regular season games with the Bears last season posting two goals and eight assists.

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 gain new appreciation for being together

Rylan Kleiter hauls in a pass at Hilltops practice.

Saskatoon Hilltops veteran safety Brant Morrow is pumped his studies at the University of Saskatchewan haven’t been his one life consuming thing.

For the last three weeks, Morrow has been able to head to Ron Atchison Field and practice with the Hilltops. The Hilltops have practiced every Tuesday through Thursday for the last three weeks and will continue to get together on those nights for the next three weeks.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, CJFL cancelled its entire 2020 campaign back on Aug. 6. Had the Hilltops on been practising, Morrow’s life would have been consumed with online classes at the U of S.

“For me, I woke up at 7 a.m. this morning, and I studied all day,” said Morrow after a practice this week. “That can’t be too good for the mental health sitting in one spot.

Brant Morrow goes into coverage during a Hilltops practice.

“Getting out here and seeing your friends running around, it is activity and socializing. They are the two best things for your mental health. It is the best part of my day.”

The venerable Hilltops are the CJFL’s most storied program. In their modern history since the club was reformed in 1947, the Hilltops have won 22 CJFL titles which included winning three different league championship trophies in the Leader-Post Trophy, the Armadale Cup and the Canadian Bowl.

The Hilltops have won nine of the last 10 CJFL championships and the last six CJFL titles in a row.

Over that time, the moniker “Hilltop family” has reached new heights in describing how close everyone associated with the historic team is.

Rylan Kleiter makes a catch at Hilltops practice.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there was a big fear the “Hilltop family” wouldn’t be able to get together this year. The practices have allowed the players, coaches and staff to get an extra jump in their step.

“It has been a tonne of fun,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, who is the all-time wins leader in Canadian amateur football in the post-secondary ranks. “It is good to get around my buddies, my coaches, the guys, we work so hard together.

“It is good to get around these young athletes. They’re excited. It was fun to see everyone compete.

“The juices were flying, so that was good.”

Over the first two weeks, the Hilltops veterans practised in their own sessions on Tuesdays and Thursday. The club’s newcomers hit the field in sessions on Wednesdays and Thursday.

Brant Morrow makes a read during a Hilltops practice.

This past week, everyone took part in the same sessions from Tuesday to Thursday.

With all the changes that have come due to the COVID-19 pandemic, veteran Hilltops receiver/kicker Rylan Kleiter said everyone with the club has developed a new appreciation just to be able to get together for practice.

“It is kind of a welcoming feeling knowing that everybody is here again,” said Kleiter, who has played four seasons with the team. “Honestly, I’m just excited to see everybody again.

“It has been awesome to have everyone out here even just as a mental release to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. Just getting the chance to see everybody out here again is a pretty sweet opportunity.”

Rylan Kleiter secures a catch last season for the Hilltops.

Of course, there are noticeable differences. Players are arriving at Ron Atchison fully dressed in all their equipment as the dressing rooms at the Hilltops clubhouse aren’t being used, which is a standard procedure at sports facilities during the pandemic.

Hilltops directors are on hand before practice to do temperature checks. There are frequent breaks to sanitize and get water.

The team runs through a lot of individual position drills before doing walk throughs of some of the offensive and defensive schemes the team runs.

Kleiter said arriving to practice already dressed in equipment brings back memories of playing minor football in the Kinsmen Football League.

“It is definitely different than what we are used to without the locker room camaraderie and all the other stuff outside of the football field,” said Kleiter, who is continuing to skill his high level curling team in men’s competition after winning four straight provincial junior titles. “We’re enjoying it just being out here.”

Brant Morrow celebrates a big play with the Hilltops in 2019.

Morrow said he misses the bonding time in dressing room.

“That is one of the best parts is the camaraderie in that locker room,” said Morrow, who has played three full seasons with the Hilltops. “I’m missing that a lot.

“Before practice, we get to talk a bit.”

Morrow enjoys getting locked in and focusing in on football, when he is on the field. He said you can tell the returning veterans have putting in good working during the off-season, because everyone looks in shape and are stronger and faster on the field.

When he sees the improvement in his teammates, Morrow wishes there could have been a season this year. Still, he all you can do is do the best with what has been dealt your way and prepare of 2021.

HC Tom Sargeant mans the Hilltops sidelines last season.

The Hilltops practices have helped perk up Morrow.

“It is good just getting back together with your friends and competing and getting better for next year,” said Morrow. “It takes your mind off of whatever is going on in your life.

“It is still our escape from life. We get come out here and have fun for a couple of hours and get better at football. Hopefully at some point, we can get some contact in this year.”

Sargeant said he believes the practices have helped the players, coaches and staffers on the mental health front, because it gets them all doing something they are used to doing. While Sargeant is normally upbeat and energetic, the sideline boss said the practice sessions have been a big help to him as well.

The Hilltops look forward to getting back to moments like this.

“I think it is huge, and that is one of the reasons we wanted to come together,” said Sargeant. “I think absence makes the heart grow fonder.

“It was really nice to see when we came together again just that spirit and that attitude and the care and love for each other. This has been good for everybody. We’re enjoying what it has brought us.

“It has just been a tonne of fun. It is good to get back on the old Hilltops field again. It makes me feel good.”

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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Please don’t let new U of S rink die on political rhetoric

Huskies trainers clear up during a “rust break” at the Rutherford Rink.

    So close, yet so far.

    Those that are linked with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies hockey programs have to be feeling some level of anxiety, if you have followed the latest news regarding the fundraising efforts to build a new twin-pad rink complex on campus.

    In early January, the City of Saskatoon was asked for an additional $3-million to support the new arena complex on campus, which will cost $41-million to build. The facility will be called Merlis Belsher Place, which is named after the U of S alumnus who donated $12.25-million towards the project. The City of Saskatoon has already agreed to put $1-million in towards the facility.

    When the latest request for an additional $3-million was made, it was also stated the fundraising campaign for the new rink was $6-million short of its goal.

    On Monday, Tim Hodgson, who is the chair of the Home Ice Campaign committee that is raising funds for the new rink, appeared before the City of Saskatoon’s planning, development and community services committee to address the latest funding request. The city committee voted unanimously to bump the debate on spending an additional $3-million to the next meeting of city council on Feb. 27.

    If you have ever been to the ancient Rutherford Rink on the U of S campus, you will realize it needs to be replaced in the worse way possible. The 87-year-old facility is best known for its “rust breaks” or “rust delays,” when a puck hits the roof causing rust from the steel beams in the ceiling to rain down on the ice. The training staffs of the Huskies hockey teams proceed to race on to the ice to clean up the mess.

    Actually, it is surprising Rutherford hasn’t been condemned. Back in 1997, then Huskies athletic director Ross Wilson said he was actively pursuing a new rink, and Rutherford needed to be replaced at that time. Since that time, the process to replace Rutherford has had way too many stops and starts.
    After the request was made to the City of Saskatoon for an additional $3-million, those that are connected to the Huskies hockey programs must have a little fear that things might fall through again.
    There hasn’t been any ground breaking to start construction of the new facility despite being $6-million away from raising the total funds that are needed for the project.

    The new facility would allocate one rink to be used by the Huskies men’s and women’s teams for games and practices. The second rink will be mainly used by the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association, which will gain an additional 1,500 additional hours of ice time per year.

Wyatt Johnson fires a shot on goal at the Rutherford Rink.

    The last new sheet of indoor ice was built in Saskatoon in 1998 with the second pad at the private Rod Hamm Memorial/Harold Latrace Arena. The last public rink was built in 1981, when a hockey ice pad was added to the ACT Arena.

    In my opinion, most of the minor hockey rinks in Saskatoon are dumps. They aren’t dumpy at the level of the Rutherford Rink, but they are still dumps.

    When you step into the six-sheet minor hockey ice palace that is the Co-operators Centre in Regina, you are pretty much embarrassed to say you play out of any of the facilities in Saskatoon.

    The Home Ice Campaign is so close to realizing its fundraising goal you could almost see yourself skating on the campus rink.

    It would likely cost the City of Saskatoon $6-million or more to add an ice pad to any of their existing rinks, so the investment in the new U of S facility would be a wise one.

    Unfortunately, the request for more funding will raise all sorts of political rhetoric. Those that want the new rink will point to the cost overruns of the Remai Modern Art Gallery noting the city would likely write a cheque if that project needed another $3-million or more.

    Others will say the money should be put into roads or other infrastructure.

    What all of that talk does is distract people away from the fact a new rink is needed on campus and for the city. A number of community leaders like Belsher have stepped up to really push the envelope to make a first rate facility a reality.

The Huskies women’s team celebrates a goal at the Rutherford Rink.

    If you think ice time for minor hockey in Saskatoon is tight now, imagine if Rutherford did get condemned forcing two elite level U Sports hockey teams to find times for their games and practices amongst the existing facilities in the city. That theoretical development would likely toast the campus recreation hockey program at the U of S for a time too.

    The reality of getting a new rink on campus has never been closer than it has been at this moment. It would be extremely sad if this opportunity slipped away.

    The twin-pad rink is needed. Whether the funds come from the city or possibly other donor, please find some way to get this done.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com. It should be noted that I made a donation to the Home Ice Campaign. If you want to donate to the Home Ice Campaign, you can do so by clicking here.

Huskies in transition period

Expect more changes to come from U of S athletic program

The Huskies football team storms out to the field for a game in September.

    The winds of change are blowing through the University of Saskatchewan Huskies athletic program, and an educated guess makes one suspect the changes haven’t finished just yet.

    In stepping back to take a look at the bigger picture, it appears the wheels were in motion to make changes at the storied Huskie Athletics program long before high profile departures were announced this month. The departures include the retirement announcement by athletic director Basil Hughton on Dec. 5 that becomes effective June 30, 2017 and the announcement that after 33 years Brian Towriss was stepping down as the head coach of the football team on Dec. 19.

    News of Towriss’s departure was taken with quite a bit emotion from alums, current coaches, current players and supporters of the football program. The shock was also felt from alums and current players from the other Huskies teams as well.

    The overriding emotion was one of being upset because of a feeling that Towriss was being pushed out. I know for myself my gut tells me it was a force out too.

    Signs that the Huskies were heading in a new direction appeared five years ago, when the Sheaf – the student newspaper at the University of Saskatchewan - produced a feature in October of 2011 questioning the association local businessman, philanthropist and Huskies football alumnus David Dube had with the football program. 

    In a well-constructed piece, the Sheaf story explores the question of Dube’s influence going beyond being a sponsor and having influence on the team’s direction.

    Fast forward to April 1 of this year, the Huskies were celebrating a very successful 2015-16 campaign during the Huskie Salute annual awards night. During the 2015-16 campaign, the Huskies claimed Canada West titles in men’s track and field, men’s wrestling, men’s hockey, women’s basketball and a national championship from women’s basketball.

    The whole night felt very warm, cozy and inviting. It seemed like everything was in a state of being great.

Basil Hughton, right, announced he will retire as Huskies athletic director.

    Then in July, two of the program’s elite coaches announced they were taking a professional leave of absence for the 2016-17 campaign first in men’s volleyball head coach Brian Gavlas followed by women’s hockey head coach Steve Kook. The announcements were made within six days of each other.

    Joel Dyck is the interim head coach of the men’s volleyball program, while Robin Ulrich is the interim head coach of the women’s hockey team. Both are former players and had been assistant coaches for their respective teams.

    Normally if one head coach goes on a leave of absence for a season, no one blinks. It is a bit unusual for two coaches to depart at relatively the same time and during a period that is getting a little late in the off-season and makes you slightly feel like something is up. With that said, Kook has attended a few women’s hockey games and has been present at announcements for the Home Ice Campaign, which is raising funds for a new hockey arena on campus.

    The big news came down on Sept. 13, which Huskie Athletics entitled a “New Direction For Huskie Athletics At U of S” on a website release. It was announced that on Nov. 1 a Board of Trustees will advise and guide Huskie Athletics.

    The board consists of six community members and five representatives from the university. Dube, who is also a member of the U of S Board of Governors, was appointed as the chairperson. The board reports to U of S president Peter Stoicheff.

    When the board was announced, Dube made it clear change was overdue when he said, “Do you have the same cellphone as 20 years ago? I doubt it. I’m sure you don’t fly in a 100-year-old airplane, or a 100-year-old car. This was a 100-year-old governance model.”

    Usually, something like the creation of the Huskies board of trustees is a process that comes over a period of a number of months. When you consider when the board was announced and remember the mandate for change, you start connecting the dots regarding the moves that were made in July and the ones that came in December along with the formation of the board.

Brian Towriss’s resignation shocked the majority of Huskies backers.

    You start to wonder how much influence the Board of Trustees or a single person on that board really has.

    Will Gavlas and Kook be back? Only time will truly answer that question.

    Greg Jockims took his professional leave of absence after leading the Huskies men’s basketball team to Canada West and national titles in 2010. A year later, he resigned his post in order to spend more time to help raise his young family.

    Will other aspects in Gavlas’s and Kook’s lives move them to consider a similar choice?

    For now, you start to wonder what will be the next major move made by Huskie Athletics?

    The next move might be delayed given the fallout from when Towriss stepped down. The vocal minority that sat in the one corner of Griffiths Stadium heaping criticism on Towriss in recent years seems really small these days.

    The amount of alums that have come forward saying how important the veteran bench boss has meant to their lives has been staggering. A few fans are suggesting they won’t renew their season tickets for the football team.

    Even when I went shopping on Boxing Day just a week after Towriss resigned, I had three people come up to talk to me about him. It even distracted me on a visit I had with a family member.

    Overall, the prestige of Huskie Athletics on the national stage did take a negative hit with how Towriss’s situation played out. The athletic department overall is successful, so how much change does one want to make?

    I am sure there members of the university’s communications department who are choked that the company message track that it was Towriss’s choice to step down was widely rejected. When Towriss fumbled a bit with that question at his departure news conference, the optics showed something else was going on due to the fact Towriss had a long standing tell it like it is reputation.

    There are some, who seem like the minority, who agree with the moves that have been made on the Huskies front. On the football front, there are some that say the Towriss move was the right one looking at the team’s eight straight post-season losses.

    Some want the Huskies to make moves like a professional team or a WHL one if wins or not enough wins are coming. You make a change to go in a different direction and move on.

The Huskies have won a lot of recent trophies and championship banners.

    When the Huskies teams that are still in action resume play in the new year, all of this will be a slight distraction. Due to the pressures of managing basically two full time jobs of being a university student and a university level athlete, players are used to taking things day by day. If romantic relationships are happening, that just increases the day-to-day focus.

    When each team reaches the end of its season, then the future will be more of a distraction.

    At the end of 2016, the Huskies are looking different from the start of the year. Change might be the only consistent as the 2017 calendar year plays out. If the Huskies pile up the championship banners after the changes are made, a lot of the hurt feelings will likely go away.

    NOTES – Saskatoon Express editor Cam Hutchinson was at the press conference when Towriss announced his resignation. Hutchinson’s piece on the matter can be found right here.

    The Sheaf’s 2011 story on Dube’s influence on the football program can be found here.

Message from Stoicheff and Towriss

    It is likely a coincidence, but a message was posted from Stoicheff and Towriss on the Huskies website and communicated along Facebook and Twitter lines about an hour after this blog was originally posted.

    In the joint statement, Stoicheff publicly apologized for how the news regarding Towriss’s resignation was handled. In an eloquently written comment, Towriss said he appreciated the apology from the university president.

    Huskie Athletics has taken heat from a number of different sources about how Towriss’s departure was handled since the news came down on Dec. 19.

    My initial reaction is this will help heal things over time. Initially, there have been some immediate disappointment reactions on social media. With that said, the statement was a step in the right direction and the best course of action the U of S could take at this time.

    The statement from the Huskie Athletics site can be found 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.