Reider has been the difference for Hilltops in 2023

Trey Reider has quarterbacked the Hilltops to a 10-0 mark in 2023.

Trey Reider has gotten the Saskatoon Hilltops over the hump.

During the 2023 CJFL season, Reider has given the Hilltops consistent play at quarterback. With that consistent play, the Hilltops have posted a 10-0 record and captured the Prairie Football Conference championship.

The Hilltops close out their home schedule on Sunday, when they host the Ontario Football Conference champion St. Clair Saints (10-0), who are based out of Windsor, in a CJFL semifinal contest at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The winner advances to the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl – which will be played on November 11 against the British Columbia Football Conference champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) in Victoria, B.C. The start time to the game is still to be announced.

During the Hilltops eight regular season games, Reider has completed 108-of-167 passes for 1,571 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing five interceptions during the regular season. He topped the PFC with a 114.6 quarterback efficiency rating, was named a PFC all-star and took honours as the PFC’s Most Outstanding Quarterback.

Thanks to the fact the Hilltops have a strong running game behind star power running back in PFC MVP Boston Davidsen and the Hilltops defence has given up just 66 points in the club’s 10 outings, Reider hasn’t had to go out and gun the football all over the field like Warren Moon.

The 21-year-old signal caller has done his job in making good decisions and being efficient in the passing game in order to compliment the Hilltops running game, defence and the squad’s special teams unit, which has had a good campaign too.

After returning to action after the 2020 CJFL campaign was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world, the Hilltops didn’t get consistent enough play from the quarterback position in 2021 and 2022. The quarterbacks had some great games in those campaigns, but they also had outings where things stalled out.

Trey Reider has been efficient at QB for the Hilltops.

In 2021, Doug Fleming started the first three regular season games at quarterback for the Hilltops before he got benched after he struggled for a stretch. Damon Dutton took over as the starting quarterback for the rest of that campaign starting with the team’s fourth regular season contest.

The Hilltops finished 6-2 in the regular season and finished with an 8-3 record overall after falling in a CJFL semifinal to the Rams in Langley, B.C., 17-14 after turning the ball over 12 times.

In 2022, Dutton began the campaign as the Hilltops starting quarterback, but after he struggled for a stretch, Reider was inserted at the starting spot for the last three regular season games and both of the club’s post-season contests. The Hilltops made it to the PFC final falling to the Thunder in Regina 39-21.

The Hilltops posted a 5-3 record in the regular season due to a three-game skid and went 6-4 overall. That 6-4 overall mark was the worst record the Hilltops had posted since going 6-4 overall in 1993.

Fleming departed from the Hilltops following the 2021 campaign, and Dutton exhausted his CJFL eligibility with the completion of the 2022 season.

Saskatoon was good but not good enough in 2021 and 2022.

Reider is showing was the storied CJFL club can do with consistent play at quarterback. When the Hilltops won nine CJFL titles in a 10-year period from 2010 to 2019, they never had questions at the quarterback spot.

When the Hilltops won three straight CJFL titles from 2010 to 2012, the late Chase Bradshaw played quarterback with great athleticism and humbleness in the 2010 and 2011 title wins, and Matt Karpinka held down the controls under centre for the 2012 championship win.

In the Hilltops run of winning six straight CJFL titles from 2014 to 2019, Jared Andreychuk quarterbacked the Hilltops in expert fashion to championships in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Jordan Walls was the master at the controls in the title wins in 2017 and an 11-0 perfect season 2018.

Tyler Hermann had the opportunity to call signals as the starting quarterback for one season as a fifth-year senior in 2019, and he put together a memorable campaign that saw the Hilltops go 12-0 in winning the CJFL championship.

Trey Reider (#3) is pictured with the PFC championship trophy.

Over that 10-year run from 2010 to 2019, the Hilltops were spoiled with great play at quarterback, and it went so long that you could almost take it for granted. When the quarterback play was a step under from the level of what those Hilltops signal callers performed to from 2010 to 2019, the drop was noticeable.

In 2023, Reider has given the Hilltops their best play at the quarterback spot since the 10-year run from 2010 to 2019. As a result, the Hilltops record in 2023 has been better than it was in 2021 and 2022.

With Reider at the controls, you have to like the Hilltops chances at potentially getting two more wins to capture a 23^rd CJFL title in the team’s history that dates back to 1947.

Hilltops first CJFL title came against Saints club in 1953

The Saskatoon Hilltops saw one of their defining moments as a team come to pass against the St. Clair Saints franchise.

On Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the PFC champion Hilltops host the OFC champion Saints, who are based out of Windsor, in a CJFL semifinal final. The Saints first trip to Saskatoon came way back in 1953, when they were known as the Windsor AKO Fratmen.

Back in 1953, the modern day current version of the Hilltops were in their seventh year of existence, and they were playing host to the AKO Fratmen in the CJFL title game. The AKO Fratmen entered the contest as defending CJFL champions having defeated the visiting Edmonton Wildcats 15-12 in Windsor in the previous year’s national final.

The Hilltops made it to the CJFL championship game in their second year of existence, but they dropped a 23-10 decision to the Wildcats in Hamilton.

Excitement was high for the 1953 title game in Saskatoon, and the first 4,300 tickets for the contest at Griffiths Stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus sold out quickly. Another 2,900 tickets were sold for the game bringing the attendance to 7,200, which was a record at the time for a CJFL title game played on the Prairies. The large gathering circled the field at Griffiths Stadium.

Hilltops quarterback Ron Adam hooked up with Bill Trout on a sleeper play for the game’s first touchdown and the hosts never looked back. The Hilltops stormed to a 34-6 victory on a -1 C day to capture the then league championship trophy the Leader-Post Trophy, which was also known as “the Little Grey Cup,” as CJFL champions.

For historical references, touchdowns in 1953 were worth five points instead of six points before teams tried to tack on a one or two-point conversion.

In the 1953 CJFL title game, Adam’s arm was golden in that contest as he completed 12-of-20 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns. At the time, football was way more geared to the run, and it was common for the offensive line to contain seven players. It was very rare for quarterbacks at that time to eclipse 300 yards in passing in those days as Adam did.

Adam also ran home a major score from 13 yards out.

At that time, the CJFL drew big crowds as the main feeder for the CFL. Following the 1953 CJFL title game, Adam, who passed away in 2014, went on to play seven seasons with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders mainly as a defensive back.

At the Canadian university level, the first Vanier Cup to declare a national champion wasn’t played until 1965.

The Hilltops and AKO Fratmen met in a CJFL title game in 1996 in a neutral site clash in Oshawa, Ont. Saskatoon romped to a 39-7 victory. The two sides collided in the 2017 CJFL title game in Windsor, which the Hilltops claimed 56-11.

The Saints/AKO Fratmen franchise last won the CJFL championship in 1999, when they defeated the visiting Kelowna, B.C., based Okanagan Sun 32-29 in Windsor.

The St. Clair College Student Athletic Association bought the Fratmen in February of 2020. The club played as the St. Clair Fratmen in 2021 and took on the St. Clair Saints name before the start of the 2022 campaign.

Rebels knock off Sun for BCFC title, other notes

The road to the Canadian Bowl will lead to Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria, B.C.

On Saturday at that venue, the host Westshore Rebels downed the defending CJFL champion Okanagan Sun 33-19 to capture the Cullen Cup as British Columbia Football Conference champions. With the win, the Rebels, who improved to 12-0 overall, advance to host the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl – on November 11 at Starlight Stadium.

The Rebels will play the winner of the CJFL semifinal between the PFC champion Saskatoon Hilltops and OFC champion St. Clair Saints. The CJFL semifinal between the Hilltops and the visiting Saints is set for Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field at 1 p.m. Both squads enter that contest with 10-0 overall records.

In Saturday’s BCFC title clash between the Rebels and the Sun, the Sun took a 12-4 lead into halftime. The Rebels proceeded to score 29 unanswered points in the third quarter to hold a comfortable 33-12 advantage. The Sun answered back with a touchdown in the fourth quarter to round out the 33-19 final in favour of the Rebels.

The Kelowna based Sun concluded the 2023 campaign with a 9-2 overall record.

• Rob Vanstone, who is the senior journalist and team historian of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, wrote a great piece on the Saskatoon Hilltops PFC championship win. That piece can be found by clicking right here.
• The Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears won the Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate’s 5A Football City Final with a 41-14 victory over the Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints on Friday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.
• The University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team concluded their U Sports regular season with a 43-11 victory over the University of Regina Rams on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. The Huskies finished third in the Canada West Conference with a 5-3 record, while the Rams were last in the six-team Canada West with a 1-7 mark. Attendance for Saturday’s game between the Huskies and Rams at Mosaic Stadium was 1,599.

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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2019 Canadian Bowl win a big moment for Hilltops’ “Sarge”

HC Tom Sargeant, centre, celebrates the Hilltops CJFL title win in 2015.

    When it comes to honouring CJFL coaching legends, it only makes sense to start with Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant.
    On Wednesday, the CJFL started a weekly feature to celebrate its legendary coaches, and the first coach to be featured was Sargeant.

    When you have more post-secondary head coaching victories in the Canadian amateur football ranks that anyone else, it only makes sense to lead a list of features on coaching legends.

    Under Sargeant’s watch as head coach, the Hilltops have won 13 CJFL titles, including nine out of the last 10 championships and the last six straight titles in a row.

HC Tom Sargeant gives tips to Hilltops QB Tyler Hermann (#12).

    He was also part of two Hilltops CJFL title winning teams as an assistant coach and won his first CJFL championship with the team as a player in 1985.

    Sargeant has a career 210-30-2 head coaching record in the CJFL’s regular season and post-season. The 55-year-old has a 155-21-2 record in the CJFL regular season and a 55-9 record in the CJFL post-season.

    At the moment, the Hilltops are on a 31 overall game winning streak including action in the CJFL’s regular season and playoffs. The Hilltops have won their last 29 straight games on the road including the CJFL’s regular season and post-season.

    Having won the last six straight CJFL titles, the Hilltops have won a CJFL record 20 straight post-season contests.

    One of Sargeant’s best works as a head coach may have come in the Hilltops most recent victory in the Canadian Bowl to become CJFL champions.

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant grades a situation from the sidelines.

    On Nov. 16, 2019, the Hilltops downed the host Rams in Langley, B.C., 11-6 to capture the CJFL title.

    The game was a defensive slugfest.

    On top of being the Hilltops head coach, Sargeant doubles as the team’s offensive coordinator. On the competitive side as an offensive coordinator, you had to know it bothered Sargeant his offence wasn’t scoring more points.

    Still, the Hilltops defence was on fire and kicker Rylan Kleiter came up clutch hitting 3-of-4 field goals.

    In the role of head coach, Sargeant focused towards playing into the hand that gave his team the best chance to win with the way that game was flowing.

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant has receiver Rylan Kleiter run in a play.

    That meant creating the best conditions to allow the Hilltops defence under the guidance of defensive coordinator Jeff Yausie and Kleiter to win the game.

    Offensively, that meant the Hilltops ran the ball a lot more and focused on not turning it over.

    In that moment, Sargeant swallowed his pride as an offensive coordinator in order to create the best opportunity for his team to win the CJFL championship on that day. That is a big thing, and it played out to being a key factor as to why the Hilltops prevailed on that day to capture their 22^nd CJFL championship.

    It should also be noted the Hilltops have had monster offensive CJFL championship games with Sargeant calling the plays on offence.

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant conveys orders in the 2018 Canadian Bowl.

    In the Canadian Bowl held in 2018 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops hammered the Rams 58-21 with Sargeant serving as the offensive coordinator.

    In the Canadian Bowl held in 2017 in Windsor, Ont., the Hilltops dismantled the Windsor AKO Fratmen 56-11 with Sargeant calling the offensive plays.

    Reading what you have to do on that particular day to win is one of the many factors that makes “Sarge” an all-time coaching great.

    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 season flew by into a fourth straight CJFL title

The Hilltops celebrate a Colin Stumborg touchdown.

    Two realizations hit when the Saskatoon Hilltops won their fourth straight Canadian Junior Football League title.

    First was the realization of euphoria with the team winning the Canadian Bowl with a 56-11 triumph over the host AKO Fratmen in Windsor, Ont.

    The second unexpected realization hits when you start asking yourself, “Wow, is the season really over?”

    It seemed like yesterday it was July 31 and the Hilltops were opening their main training camp at Ron Atchison Field. Since that opening day of training camp, the season just sped by.

    All of a sudden, it was Nov. 11, and the Hilltops were in Windsor, Ont., winning the Canadian Bowl for the seventh time in eight years. The Toppers also claimed their 20^th CJFL title in team history. Even now, that game was held a week ago from today.

Tom Schnitzler hoists the Canadian Bowl.

   In a double edge situation with a positive twist, the fact the season flew by meant it was fun. There were downs that went along with the ups, but everyone looked forward to practice and game day no matter what was happening.

    Credit on this front has to go to the team’s leadership group. That group starts with the coaching staff led by head coach and offensive coordinator Tom Sargeant and defensive coordinator Jeff Yausie.

    The leadership group proceeds to expand to the team’s captains like quarterback Jordan Walls, running back Logan Fischer, receiver Sam Mike, offensive tackle Kirk Simonsen, middle linebacker Cameron Schnitzler, defensive lineman Tom Schnitzler, outside linebacker Cody Peters and safety James Vause.

Hilltops running back Logan Fischer tears downfield against the Thunder.

    That group helped all those involved with the team to stay in the moment. With the Hilltops trying to become the first team in the history of the CJFL to win four straight league championships, it could have been easy to emotionally hook everything up to that end result.
    The Hilltops never got into a position where the players started to think every touchdown would win the Canadian Bowl that day or conversely every missed tackle would cost you a national championship that day.

    If the team got hooked on to that line of thinking, the season could have ground down a team even as storied as the Hilltops.

    Instead, the team focused on the moment no matter where they were at in the campaign.

    In the annual alumni game in August, the players were trying to prove they were ready for bigger roles, but moments were reserved to renew links with alums that played a part of establishing the club’s venerable history.

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant, right, is rocking and rolling on the sidelines.

    On Aug, 12, the Hilltops played their first game ever at Regina’s new state of the art Mosaic Stadium. The players and coaches will always remember stepping on to that field for the first time and hearing the noise from all the supporters that came down from Saskatoon echo in the facility.

    The Toppers won 37-20 that day over the host Regina Thunder. While the coaches and players knew there was still a lot to work on, everyone made sure to take time to thank the family and friends that lined the west side stands after the game to create some special moments.

    A 29-26 loss to the Thunder on Sept. 9 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field provided a grounded moment for the Hilltops. That setback would prove to be the only loss for the Saskatoon side, but it provided many lessons to the Hilltops regarding the challenges in facing a quality opponent.

Hilltops DL Riley Pickett gets one of his nine regular season sacks.

    Everything from one or two off play calls on the coaches’ side to being out executed on the players’ side for one or two plays can result in the scoreboard not coming out in your favour.

    Another big memory was the last regular season game on Oct. 7, where the Hilltops traveled to Edmonton to face the Huskies, who were undefeated at 7-0 at that time. That contest would decide first place in the Prairie Football Conference and there was curiosity on the Hilltops side to see what the Huskies were about.

    The Hilltops were pumped up to play that game and came away with a 38-28 victory in an encounter that was a battle.

    Two exciting playoff contests at SMF Field followed as the Hilltops slipped past the Winnipeg Rifles 28-21 in a PFC semifinal and downed the provincial rival Thunder 36-24 in the PFC Final. Defensive tackle Garth Knittig flew through the air for the game clinching touchdown with 96 seconds to play for Saskatoon. It is safe to say no one will forget that sight.

    On Oct. 29, the Hilltops played their final home game of the 2017 campaign at SMF Field and hammered the Nanaimo, B.C., based Vancouver Island Raiders 48-0 in a CJFL national semifinal.

DT Garth Knittig (#59) flies through the air for a Hilltops TD.

    That set the stage for Saskatoon’s historic win in the Canadian Bowl, where the Hilltops rounded out their 11-1 overall record for the campaign.

    During the journey, a lot of special memories were made for everyone that was involved with the team. You took time to savour each moment as the season progressed, but it still seemed that moment passed along before you knew it.

    The team has spent the past week enjoying the spoils from the Canadian Bowl win, which included being honoured before Wednesday’s Saskatoon Blades WHL game.

    Tonight, the “Hilltops Family” in the club and their supporters will gather one last time in 2017 for the club’s end of the year banquet at Radisson Hotel to enjoy the season that was. After tonight, life circumstances like family, school and work will begin to pull the 2017 edition of the Hilltops in all sorts of directions making harder and harder for future reunions to occur.

    The Hilltops enjoyed a lot of great moments in 2017. It is just too bad time in real life wasn’t able to go a just little slower just to enjoy them that much longer.

Slobodzian, Parker to play for Canada at under-18 worlds

Willow Slobodzian will play for Canada at the under-18 women’s worlds.

    It seems like Willow Slobodzian and Mackenna Parker are destined to do everything together.

    The two 17-year-old Clavet, Sask., products found out on Thursday they will play for Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Under-18 Women’s World Championship, which runs this coming January 6-13 in Dmitrov, Russia.

    Slobodzian, who is a smooth skating standout defender, and Parker, who is a smart and skilled centre, have spent most of the last decade playing together at various levels of minor hockey. Together, they helped the Saskatoon Stars win Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League championship in 2015 and 2016.

    This season, Slobodzian, who stands 5-foot-7, is playing her rookie season with the Cornell University Big Red Women’s Hockey team appearing seven overall games entering play Saturday. On Friday, she picked up her first career NCAA goal scoring on the power play in the Big Red’s 5-1 road victory over the Brown University Bears.

    Last season with the Stars, she was the team’s captain and posted six goals and 21 assists appearing in all of the team’s 28 regular season games.

Mackenna Parker will play for Canada’s under-18 women’s team.

    Parker, who stands 5-foot-5, is using up her final season of midget AAA eligibility with the Stars as their captain. She leads the SFMAAAHL in scoring with 19 goals and 14 assists in nine games.
    Now in her fourth season with the Stars, Parker is currently tied as the third all-time leading scorer in the history of the SFMAAAHL piling up 68 goals and 63 assists in 90 career regular season games for 131 points entering play Saturday.
    Brienna Gillanders, who played for the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats and Notre Dame Hounds from 2006 to 2010, is tied with Parker with 131 career SFMAAAHL regular season points.

    Parker is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Stars.

    Slobodzian and Parker will be joined on the Canadian team by a third Saskatchewan product in defender and Gull Lake resident Taylor Kirwan. Kirwan is the captain of the SFMAAAHL’s Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats this season, and she has six goals and eight assists in 11 regular season games.

    The Saskatchewan trio should help the Canadian side in a big way at the under-18 women’s worlds.

    For Slobodzian and Parker, it is great to see them continue their hockey journey together “side by side and stride for stride” as stated in a 2016 Hockey Canada article about the talented duo.

New committee gets sports gear to rural kids

Steve Hogle chairs the Saskatoon Equipment Drive Committee.

    The new Saskatoon Equipment Drive Committee created under the umbrella of Kidsport Saskatoon made a big first splash on Thursday.

    The new committee was established to collect, process and distribute new and gently used equipment to youth across Saskatchewan. Partnered with Sport Central in Edmonton, Alta., the Saskatoon Equipment Drive Committee received $400,000 worth of sports equipment at the Canadian Tire warehouse on 105^th Street East on Thursday morning.

    The shipment included close to 6,000 pieces of equipment that were distributed to the Big Island Cree Nation, the Yellow Quill First Nation and Ranch Ehrlo in Regina.

    The Saskatoon Equipment Drive Committee is chaired by Saskatoon Blades president Steve Hogle. The committee also includes Saskatoon Police Service spokesperson and communications expert Kelsie Fraser. Both Hogle and Fraser have always been active in getting involved with community initiatives.

    Anyone seeking information about the Saskatoon Equipment Drive Committee can contact kidsportequipment@sasksport.sk.ca or check out the committee’s web page by clicking here.

Nogier plugs SPS K-9 calendar

    Nelson Nogier might be sidelined with a shoulder injury, but he is finding time on the recovery trail to be a pitchman for the Saskatoon Police Service’s K-9 Unit Calendar.

    The 21-year-old defenceman sent out a tweet on Wednesday encouraging everyone to pick up the calendar, which raises funds for the Saskatchewan SPCA Stryker K9 Care Fund. Nelson’s father, Patrick, used to be part of the Saskatoon Police Service’s K-9 unit. The Nogier family would keep Patrick’s retired K-9 unit partners as pets.

    Nelson is in the second year of his NHL entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets. On Sept. 29, he suffered a serious shoulder injury playing a pre-season game with the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose, and is currently involved in a rehabilitation process that is expected to last four-to-six months from the time the injury occurred.

    The defensive defenceman, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 191 pounds, is a Saskatoon area product and is a graduate of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades and Red Deer Rebels. Last season, Nelson played 60 games with the Moose collecting two goals, 11 assists and was a minus-five in the plus-minus department.

    He finished off his first professional campaign play 10 games with the NHL’s Jets posting a minus-one rating. The Jets posted an 8-2 record in Nelson’s 10-game stretch with the team.

Just picked up my 2018 SPS K-9 Calendar! Great work done by @SPSCanine and @SaskatoonPolice . All proceeds go to a great cause. Get yours today! pic.twitter.com/2JouUsv3IS

— Nelson Nogier (@NelsonNogier) November 15, 2017

    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 claim record fourth straight CJFL title, hit new heights of competitive greatness

The Hilltops enjoy a fourth straight CJFL title. (Photo courtesy Bonnie Bitz)

    The Saskatoon Hilltops are an uncommon football team.

    In the Canadian Junior Football League, they continue to accomplish things that have never been done before.

    On Saturday in Windsor, Ont., the venerable Hilltops continued to add their list of unique experiences. They rolled into Alumni Field at the University of Windsor and proceeded to dismantle the host Windsor AKO Fratmen 56-11 in the CJFL title the game – the Canadian Bowl.

    The Hilltops, who finished the 2017 campaign with an 11-1 overall record, became the first team in the history of the CJFL to win four straight league championships. The circuit’s national championship game dates back to 1908.

    On top of that accomplishment, the Hilltops became the first team to win seven CJFL titles over an eight year span, and they have now won a total of 20 CJFL championships. Their first national championship came way back in 1953, when they downed the AKO Fratmen 34-6 before 7,200 spectators at Griffiths Stadium on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan.

    Since Tom Sargeant became head coach in 1998, the Hilltops have won 11 of their 20 CJFL championships. Their seemingly endless dynasty under Sargeant seemed destined to continue on Saturday in Windsor as the host AKO Fratmen ultimately finished 9-2 overall this season.

    On the game’s second play from scrimmage, the AKO Fratmen had the ball on offence, and the centre’s shotgun snap sailed over the head of quarterback Brandon Reaume.

    Hilltops fifth-year star defensive end Tom Schnitzler recovered the ball at the Windsor one yard line. On the ensuing play, Hilltops star big game fifth-year running back Logan Fischer powered into the end zone for a touchdown to give Saskatoon a 7-0 lead.

    Saskatoon forced 10 turnovers in Saturday’s contest and converted those takeaways into 35 points. With Jeff Yausie as defensive coordinator, the Hilltops have cemented a reputation of taking the ball away and those takeaways always seem to result in points causing the score to snowball in favour of the blue and gold.

Hilltops defensive lineman Tom Schnitzler lifts the Canadian Bowl.

    Usually, the Hilltops can produce a lopsided game in their favour off of four turnovers. If they get 10 turnovers, the outcome is academic.

    Before the first quarter expired the Hilltops lead grew to 16-0 thanks to a conceded safety by the AKO Fratmen and a one-yard touchdown run from running back Joshua Ewanchyna.

    Near the start of the second quarter, Sargeant showed off how great he was as a play caller taking over the offensive coordinator role this season from Sheldon Ball, who departed from the club for work and family reasons. With the Hilltops facing a third-and-eight from the Windsor 32, Sargeant called a quarterback draw showing he can throw curveball plays at the opposition like Ball once did.

    The play was executed perfectly and signal caller Jordan Walls sprinted 32 yards for another major to put the Hilltops up 23-0.

    At that point, the AKO Fratmen started to push back. With around 11 minutes to play in the second quarter, Reaume hit receiver Devon Woods for an eight-yard touchdown toss to cap a long scoring drive to cut Saskatoon’s lead to 23-7.

    Just when it seemed like the hosts were building momentum, the Hilltops stomped out the uprising. Hilltops fifth-year defensive back Luke Melnyk made an interception. The ensuing offensive series for the visitors was capped by a 10 yard sweep touchdown run by Ewanchyna to put the Hilltops up 30-7.

    Inside of the final two minutes of the second quarter, Hilltops linebacker Adam Benkic recovered an AKO Fratmen fumble at the Windsor 37. The Hilltops quickly drove downfield on a short touchdown drive that was capped when Walls hit Turple with a 16-yard scoring strike to expand Saskatoon’s advantage to 37-7 with 34.7 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Hilltops DB Luke Melnyk picks up defensive player of the game honours.

    Driving into the wind early in the third quarter, the Hilltops lead shrank to 37-9 after they conceded a safety. When it seemed the AKO Fratmen might get going, they were stuffed on a third-and-one gamble at their own 54.

    The Hilltops quickly drove down on another scoring drive that was capped on a touchdown catch from Schnitzler. The defensive standout lined up as a tight end on short yardage offence near the goal-line and hauled in a three-yard touchdown toss on a short slant route to give the Hilltops a 44-9 lead.  

    Saskatoon conceded another safety before the third quarter ended but still held an insurmountable 44-11 edge.

    An interception by fifth-year middle linebacker Cameron Schnitzler set up the Hilltops final major of the game. On the ensuing offensive series, Walls hit Turple with an eight-yard scoring pass to increase the Hilltops lead to 51-11.

    The Fratmen conceded a safety and second-year receiver Rylan Kleiter booted a 37-yard field goal to round out the 56-11 final in favour of the visitors.

    The 56 points the Toppers put up on the scoreboard was the second highest total ever for a CJFL title game. The Hilltops hold the record for most points scored in a CJFL title game when they blasted the Victoria Rebels 59-0 in the 2003 Canadian Bowl in Chilliwack, B.C.

    In Saturday’s win over the AKO Fratmen, Walls completed 11-of-18 passes for 192 yards and three touchdown passes to pick up offensive player of the game honours. As a team, the Hilltops ran the ball 37 times for 188 yards. Fischer, who was playing his final game of his storied Hilltops career, ran the ball 14 times for 80 yards and one touchdown.

Hilltops veterans enjoy the Canadian Bowl.

    Melynk was named the defensive play of the game for his two key interceptions. Defensive ends Riley Pickett and Tom Schnitzler each had a sack.

    Reaume completed 12-of-24 passes for 197 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Windsor running back D’Angelo Knox ran the ball seven times for 37 yards and caught two passes for 104 yards.

    AKO Fratmen linebacker Quinten Earhart had nine tackles and a sack.

    After the final seconds ticked away, the Hilltops walked off the field with the Canadian Bowl and their 13^th consecutive playoff win. During their run of four straight CJFL championship victories, the Hilltops run could have been derailed.

    The Prairie Football Conference semifinal and final contests in each of the past two years could have been lost, if a couple of plays were changed. In those tight games, the Hilltops character and resiliency always rose up to allow them to make the two to three key swing players that are needed to win tight games.

    Against the AKO Fratmen on Saturday, the Hilltops showed how well they can roll, when they are firing on all cylinders forcing their opponent to play without making a mistake.

    Sargeant got to lay claim to his 14^th CJFL championship ring with the team including 11 rings from his time as head coach, two as an assistant coach and his first as a player won back in 1985.

    He will admit it takes everyone pulling in the same direction, constantly striving to improve and bonding as a family to create the success the Hilltops have had. As a result, the Hilltops keep achieving new feats of competitive greatness no team in the CJFL has ever done before.

CANADIAN BOWL CHAMPIONS!! The Saskatoon Hilltops Win our twentieth national championship with a 56-11 win over the Windsor AKO Fratmen. #fourpeat pic.twitter.com/bffxavnwpL

— Saskatoon Hilltops (@SaskHilltops) November 11, 2017

    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, AKO Fratmen bring standouts to Canadian Bowl

QB Jordan Walls has had a big impact on the Hilltops.

    The Saskatoon Hilltops and the Windsor AKO Fratmen will bring some outstanding athletes to the field, when they collide for the Canadian Football League title.

    On Saturday, The Hilltops (10-1) and AKO Fratmen (9-1) will battle it out in the Canadian Bowl in Windsor, Ont., at Alumni Field on the campus of the University of Windsor (12 p.m. Saskatchewan time, www.we-tv.ca). The Hilltops are trying to become the first team in the history of the CJFL to win four straight league championships and their 20^th title overall in team history.

    The AKO Fratmen are trying to capture their fourth CJFL title in team history and first since they defeated the Kelowna, B.C., based Okanagan Sun in 32-29 in 1999.

    On Thursday, the CJFL announced its all-Canadian offensive all-stars, and it was no surprise to find Hilltops fifth-year star running back Logan Fischer on that list. His career with the Hilltops is filled with numerous big game performances, and he captured the most outstanding offensive player of the game award in Saskatoon’s Canadian Bowl victories in each of the last two years.

    This season, Fischer carried the ball 121 times for 804 yards and scored 11 touchdowns during his team’s eight-game regular season.

RB Logan Fischer has been a big game player his whole Hilltops career.

    The Hilltops have depth at running back as both Adam Machart and Joshua Ewanchyna had standout seasons. In the regular season, Machart carried the ball 83 times this season piling up 686 yards, and he scored three touchdowns. Ewanchyna appeared in five regular season games for the Hilltops and carried the ball 37 times for 320 yards and six touchdowns.

    Saskatoon’s running backs are able to motor their way upfield thanks to the work of a powerful offensive line that includes right tackle Kirk Simonsen and left tackle Mason Ochs, who were both named CJFL all-Canadians.

    Due to the fact the Hilltops can run the ball so well, one almost forgets they are strong through the air. Fourth-year quarterback Jordan Walls, who was in his first full campaign as the team’s starter, had a strong campaign completing 124-of-202 passes for 1,870 yards, 16 touchdowns and two interceptions in the regular season.

RB Adam Machart had a breakout season with the Hilltops.

    Fifth-year receiver Ryan Turple was the Hilltops most dangerous pass catcher during the regular season setting career highs in catches (33) and yards (542). He matched his career high in touchdown catches with three.

    Windsor didn’t place any players on the CJFL’s offensive all-star team, but they have strong group of playmakers. Quarterback Brandon Reaume completed 92-of-136 passes for 1,827 yards, 21 touchdowns and three interceptions in seven regular season appearances.

    AKO Fratmen receiver Devon Woods was named an Ontario Football Conference all-star catching 22 passes for 496 yards and five touchdowns in his team’s eight-game regular season.

    On the ground, AKO Fratmen running back D’Angelo Knox topped the OFC in rushing during the regular season running the ball 71 times for 654 yards and six touchdowns.

    DeMarcus Ware and Mustapha Mehry were the cornerstones of the Windsor offensive line and both made the OFC all-star team.

    Both sides have plenty of players that can stop the opposition on defence.

DE Riley Pickett piled up sacks for the Hilltops.

    Hilltops defensive lineman Riley Pickett and defensive back Colton Holmes were both named to the CJFL all-star team on Wednesday.
    Pickett had 15 solo tackles and nine sacks in eight regular season games. Holmes had 22 solo tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery during regular season play.

    Middle linebacker Cameron Schnitzler and defensive lineman Tom Schnitzler, who are cousins, are looking to end their fifth and final seasons with the Hilltops with another national championship rink. 

    Cameron Schnitzler had 33 solo tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery over the Hilltops eight regular season games.
    Tom Schnitzler faced constant double teams and still recorded 14 solo tackles, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one sack during the regular season.

    Safety James Vause is a key player in the Hilltops secondary, and he recorded 18 tackles and 11 assisted tackles during the regular season. 

Cameron Schnitzler directs the Hilltops defence at middle linebacker.

    Defensive lineman Adam Slikboer was the only CJFL defensive all-star for Windsor.
    He has 13 solo tackles and four sacks during the regular season.

    AKO Fratmen defensive lineman Jacob Benson made the OFC all-star team recording six solo tackles and four sacks during the regular season.
    Defensive back Elijah Blythe also made the OFC all-star team making 10 solo tackles and four interceptions during the regular season.

    Thanks to winning the last three straight Canadian Bowls and six out of the last seven CJFL titles, the Hilltops are favoured in this year’s CJFL championship game.
    The AKO Fratmen do have enough pieces to make an upset possible.

New “Smuker’s Lounge” to be part of new U of S rink

Cody Smuk at the Rutherford Rink on Jan. 30, 2015.

    The late Cody Smuk’s memory will be part of the new University of Saskatchewan twin-pad hockey rink – Merlis Belsher Place.

    On Thursday, the U of Saskatchewan Huskies announced Inland Steel Products, a local scrap metal recycling company, has donated $150,000 to the Home Ice Campaign to create a new “Smuker’s Lounge” in Merlis Belsher Place, which is currently under construction. The lounge will be built in honour of Smuk, who was a player with the U of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team who lost his battle with cancer in June of 2015 at age 26.

    After Smuk’s passing, the centre ice broadcast booth and attached team function area on the second floor of the Rutherford Rink was named “Smuker’s Lounge” in honour of the hard-working, gritty, glue-guy forward. The donation by Inland Steel Products ensures a “Smuker’s Lounge” will be part of the new rink facility. It will be a gathering spot for players, alums and Smuk’s friends to gather and reminisce while cheering on the Huskies.

    Matt Ditlove of Inland Steel said his family wanted to make a substantial investment back into the community to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of their business and saw an opportunity to honour a family friend as well.

    Darla Smuk, Cody’s mother, said she and her family were honoured to find out “Smuker’s Lounge” will be part of the new rink.

    “It meant a lot to Cody to be a part of the Huskies program,” said Darla Smuk in a release. “He was always very proud to wear the Huskie jersey and do his very best for the team.

    “This is a beautiful gift Matt (Ditlove) and his family are giving our son. His memory will live on in the new facility, and he will be remembered. We can’t thank Matt and his family enough for their kindness and generosity now and during Cody’s battle with cancer.”

    Cody Smuk played four seasons with the Huskies from 2010 to 2014, and he posted six goals and 14 assists in 89 career U Sports regular season games.

    Due to the fact he was good natured, easy going and genuine, he easily became one of the most popular players on his own team and amongst all teams that are part of the Huskies program.

    He exemplified the hard work and determination that are characteristics the Huskies hockey teams want to see in themselves that also led to creating the motto, “We all play the Cody Smuk way.”

    No words can describe how welcome this announcement will be to the alums of the Huskies men’s and women’s hockey teams. It is a development that only seemed right to happen with the new rink facility.

Rookie Arnold delivers Stars to road victory over Bears

The Stars improved to 9-0 with a win in Prince Albert.

    Calli Arnold, who is a 14-year-old rookie from Dodsland, Sask., skated into the spotlight on Thursday night to keep the Saskatoon Stars undefeated.

    Arnold had her first career assist and her first career goal turned out to be the game winner to help the Stars down the defending Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League champion Northern Bears in Prince Albert 3-2 at the Art Hauser Centre.

    Camryn Amundson scored unassisted to give the Bears a 1-0 lead at the 6:45 mark of the first period. Joelle Fiala scored right at the 10-minute mark of the opening frame for the Stars to force a 1-1 tie.

    With under a minute to play in the first, Arnold teamed up with Jordyn Gerlitz to set up Stars captain Mackenna Parker for her 19^th goal of the season.

    Arnold scored with 5:37 to play in the third to give the Stars a 3-1 lead. Jasper Desmarais replied for the Bears with 4:14 to play in the third to pull the host side within one goal of the lead.

    The Stars held on from that point for the win to improve to 9-0.

    Arden Kliewer made 30 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Stars. Ryan Fontaine turned away 21 shots to take the setback in goal for the Bears (6-3). All of Prince Albert’s losses have come against Saskatoon.

    The Bears return to action on Saturday, when they travel to Swift Current to take on the Diamond Energy Wildcats. The Stars return to action Nov. 18, when travel to Regina to take on the Rebels.

   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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Fischer was born to play for CJFL’s storied Hilltops

Star running back aims for final big game in Canadian Bowl

Logan Fischer (#21) leads the Hilltops on to SMF Field.

    Since the day he was born, it seemed like destiny that Logan Fischer would one day play for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

    His father, Axel, was a star tight end and kicker for the Hilltops, and Axel helped the Hilltops win a Canadian Junior Football League title in 1978 with a 24-4 victory over the Ottawa Sooners at Saskatoon’s Gordie Howe Bowl. The Hilltops captured the Armadale Cup, which was the league championship trophy at the time, with that win. Following his playing career, Axel spent some time with the Hilltops as an assistant coach and was part of the coaching staff of the 1985 CJFL championship winning team.

    Logan, who is currently a star fifth-year running back with the team, remembers being enamoured with his father’s links to the venerable CJFL team from a very young age.

    “I remember when I was a little kid I would always play with his rings,” said Logan. “I’d look at them and be like, “Oh, one day I’m going to win one of these.”

    “Sure enough, I have three on my hand and am looking for that fourth.”

Logan Fischer is the ultimate “big game” player.

    Logan has helped the Hilltops win the last three straight CJFL titles, and he was named the offensive player of the game in the league championship game in each of the past two years. He will finish off his junior eligibility playing in one final CJFL title game on Saturday in Windsor, Ont., when the Hilltops (10-1) battle the host AKO Fratmen (9-1).

    The Hilltops are trying to become the first team in the history of the CJFL to win four straight league titles. They won three straight league titles on two other occasions from 2001 to 2003 and 2010 to 2012.

    Going into his final career CJFL game, Logan remembered how proud his father was of his playing days with the Hilltops and hearing the stories of those days growing up.

    “He showed me lots of the film on VHS,” said Logan. “He would be like, “Oh, that’s me right there” catching a nice touchdown pass as the tight end or putting the ball deep punting.

    “He was a very versatile guy I heard. I guess I got to see a little bit of it, which was nice.”

    After graduating from Saskatoon’s Bethlehem Catholic High School in 2013, Logan joined the Hilltops. During his rookie season, he enjoyed the fact the team’s older directors recognized him as Axel’s son.

Logan Fischer was named to the PFC all-star team.

    In year two with the Hilltops, the son started to make his mark with team after then star fifth-year running back Wayndel Lewis injured his ankle in a Prairie Football Conference semifinal playoff game and was out for the rest of the 2014 post-season. Logan Fischer stepped into the starting spot and ran the ball 28 times for 183 yards in a 27-7 PFC final victory over the Calgary Colts.

    The Hilltops advanced to that year’s Canadian Bowl in Langley, B.C., and they dumped the host Rams 39-14. In his first CJFL title game, Fischer carried the ball 19 times for 94 yards and scored one touchdown. He also hauled in four passes for another 37 yards.

    Fischer’s big games kept coming.

    During a regular season game on Sept. 5, 2015 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Fischer ran the ball 32 times for 293 yards and scored a touchdown and caught two passes for 26 yards as the Hilltops downed the Regina Thunder 35-17 in a downpour of rain.

    In that season’s Canadian Bowl, Fischer earned his first most outstanding offensive player of the game award in a CJFL title clash as the Hilltops got past the Okanagan Sun 38-24 at SMF Field. 

Logan Fischer (#21) piled up the yardage in the 2015 Canadian Bowl.

    He ran the ball 23 times for 102 yards and scored two touchdowns and caught seven passes for 107 yards.

    At the 2016 Canadian Bowl in Langford, B.C., Fischer ran the ball 28 times for 202 yards and caught four passes for 43 yards and two majors as the Hilltops downed the host Westshore Rebels 37-25. He claimed his second most outstanding offensive player of the game award in a CJFL title clash.

    Fischer said all those big games blend together as one great experience over the years. He didn’t really know how to react to the realization he will play the final game of his CJFL career before exhausting his junior eligibility on Saturday.

    “It is quite the feeling,” said Fischer, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 220 pounds. “You don’t really know if you are going to win.

    “I’m sure there are a lot of guys out there that feel really confident, and I’m amongst them. We have a good team. I think this is the year we are going to get the job done and get that four-peat.”

Logan Fischer takes top offensive player honours in the 2015 Canadian Bowl.

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said Fischer hits another gear when the games get bigger and the spotlight gets brighter.

    “He thrives in those situations,” said Sargeant. “He loves being the guy. He loves getting the ball.

    “He makes everyone around him better. The thing that we love is he is a great runner, tough and physical, but he is also a great pass catcher out of the backfield.

    “He certainly creates mismatches for defences and allows us to open up a game plan that includes him in both the run and the pass, which is why he gets featured so much and why he sees the ball so much.”

    Sargeant added Fischer plays with a high competitive edge and has been a good leader for the team’s younger running backs including third-year tailback Adam Machart and sophomore ball carrier Joshua Ewanchyna.

Logan Fischer (#21) muscles his way into the end zone for the Hilltops.

    “He (Fischer) is an uncommon football player for his frame how physical he is, how aggressive he runs the ball,” said Sargeant. “He has an intensity that is tough to match.

    “When he is on, there is no one else you want making plays for you. Why do you think the other two running backs are running so great? He has certainly helped to motivate them and be a good mentor for them and has taught them how to play the game and play running back for the Saskatoon Hilltops, so we are thankful for that.”

    Before joining the Hilltops for his final CJFL campaign, Fischer attended the training camp for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. During the CJFL season itself, he had battled a nagging leg injury all season, but he still ran the ball 121 times for 804 yards and scored 11 touchdowns over the eight-game regular season. He was named a PFC all-star and the PFC’s most outstanding offensive back.

Logan Fischer (#21) has three CJFL title rings.

    If he received another invite to a Roughriders training camp, Fischer said he would take it. If a CFL avenue doesn’t work out, Fischer doesn’t plan to continue playing football in the Canadian university ranks.

    “I’m more of a trades guy,” said Fischer, who turns 22-years-old in December. “I’m getting ready for my third year apprenticeship with plumbing.

    “I’d don’t see why I would kind of step away from that. I’m making good money. School is only two months versus four years.”

    Knowing he has a good post-playing life to transition on to, Fischer’s current focus is on having one final great game playing for the team he always wanted to play for. He wants to be a factor in helping the Hilltops prevail over the AKO Fratmen.

    “I think the guys are ready,” said Fischer. “Sarge (Sargeant) gets us in the right mindset, and we are just ready to go.

    “He makes us focus up for practice, and we have to respect the opponent. He can’t stress that enough. They have good athletes.

    “I think ultimately, we are a team of perseverance really. We’ve come back in the past, and I don’t think we are going to let it slip this year.”

Back in the Express with Simonsen

Kirk Simonsen (#51) locks up on a block for the Hilltops.

    I was back in the pages of the Saskatoon Express this week with a feature on Saskatoon Hilltops right tackle Kirk Simonsen.

    Simonsen is part of a group of 11 players in their fourth year of eligibility with the team looking to go four-for-four in seasons played with CJFL championship victories. Adam Benkic, Bobby Ehman, Connor Guillet, Logan Kelsey-Stern, Liam Murphy, Sam Mike, Cody Peters, Jason Price, James Vause and Jordan Walls are the other Hilltops are trying to be part of a fourth straight CJFL championship win in four years of eligibility.

    A total of six players in their fifth and final seasons of eligibility are trying to lay claim to being part of a fourth straight CJFL championship victory including Logan Fischer, Luke Melnyk, Cameron Schnitzler, Tom Schnitzler, Colin Stumborg and Ryan Turple.

    Centre Jack Sloboda is in his final year of junior eligibility, but he joined the Hilltops at the start of the 2016 season after spending time with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team.

    Simonsen has a cool individual story. He came to the Hilltops after playing six-man high school football in Hanley, Sask., with the Hanley Compsite School Sabres.

    In six-man high school football, Simonsen got to do something most offensive linemen don’t normally do. He talked about what the transition was like going from the six-man game to the 12-man game.

    The story on Simonsen can be found right here.

Hilltops first CJFL title came versus Windsor in 1953

    The Saskatoon Hilltops try to win their 20^th CJFL title in team history against the team their first national junior title came against way back in 1953.

    Back in 1953, the modern day current version of the Hilltops were in their seventh year of existence, and they were playing host to the Windsor AKO Fratmen in the CJFL title game. The AKO Fratmen entered the contest as defending CJFL champions having defeated the visiting Edmonton Wildcats 15-12 in Windsor in the previous year’s national final.

    The Hilltops made it to the CJFL championship game in their second year of existence, but they dropped a 23-10 decision to the Wildcats in Hamilton.

    Excitement was high for the 1953 title game in Saskatoon, and the first 4,300 tickets for the contest at Griffiths Stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus sold out quickly. Another 2,900 tickets were sold for the game bringing the attendance to 7,200, which was a record at the time for a CJFL title game played on the Prairies. The large gathering circled the field at Griffiths Stadium.

    Hilltops quarterback Ron Adam hooked up with Bill Trout on a sleeper play for the game’s first touchdown and the hosts never looked back. The Hilltops stormed to a 34-6 victory on a -1 C day to capture the then league championship trophy the Leader-Post Trophy, which was also known as “the Little Grey Cup,” as CJFL champions.

    Adam’s arm was golden in that contest as he completed 12-of-20 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns. At the time, football was way more geared to the run, and it was common for the offensive line to contain seven players. It was very rare for quarterbacks at that time to eclipse 300 yards in passing in those days as Adam did.

    Adam also ran home a major score from 13 yards out.

    At that time, the CJFL drew big crowds as the main feeder for the CFL. Following the 1953 CJFL title game, Adam, who passed away in 2014, went on to play seven seasons with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders mainly as a defensive back.

    At the Canadian university level, the first Vanier Cup to declare a national champion wasn’t played until 1965.

    The Hilltops and AKO Fratmen last met in a CJFL title game in 1996 in a neutral site clash in Oshawa, Ont. Saskatoon romped to a 39-7 victory.

    The AKO Fratmen last won the CJFL championship in 1999, when they defeated the visiting Kelowna, B.C., based Okanagan Sun 32-29 in Windsor.

Ridley set to call 3,800^th game

Bob Ridley has called 3,799 games for the Tigers.

    Bob Ridley, who is the iconic play-by-play voice of the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, once admitted to me the day would come when he would bid listeners a “good night” for the final time.

    “One of these days I am going to have to retire,” said Ridley. “You can’t do it forever.

    “But, it has been a great ride. I hope to stay on as long as I can.”

    The talk I speak of occurred way back in August of 2006, when I was doing an interview for my first feature story on Ridley, who was 62-years-old at the time.

    These days at age 73, Ridley is still the only play-by-play voice in the history of the WHL’s Tigers. He gave up driving the team bus about three years back, but he is still going as strong as ever calling games on the radio, as the Tigers play through their 48^th season of existence.

    On Friday when the Tigers (10-6) travel to Calgary to take on the Hitmen (6-10-1) at the Scotiabank Saddledome, Ridley will call his 3,800^th game as the Tigers play-by-play voice. His total of 3,799 games called to date includes 3,379 of the Tigers 3,380 regular season contests, one standings tiebreaker game, all 399 contests the Tigers have played in the WHL playoffs and all 20 contests the team has played in the Memorial Cup tournament.

    If someone called an average of 80 games between the regular season and playoffs each season for 47 seasons, that person would still fall short of the total number of games Ridley has called.

    It is extremely likely no one in the Canadian media industry will ever come close to Ridley’s still growing games called total as the play-by-play voice of one team.

Blades should be in a barnburner with Broncos, other notes

Cameron Hebig and the Blades could be in for a shootout.

    The SaskTel Centre should be the site of a pretty good WHL clash on the day before Remembrance Day.

    The Saskatoon Blades (7-8-1) return home after four straight road games to tangle with the Swift Current Broncos (11-3-1) at 7 p.m. on Friday night at the SaskTel Centre. The Blades have won four of their last five games, while the Broncos have been one of the WHL’s best teams in the early going of the 2017-18 campaign. Both sides have players that can light up the scoreboard.

    Broncos right-winger Tyler Steenbergen leads the WHL in scoring with 23 goals and 15 assists. Finnish import left-winger Aleksi Heponiemi is second in the WHL scoring race potting 12 goals and 25 assists playing on Swift Current’s top line with Steenbergen.

    Swift Current captain Glenn Gawdin, who centres the line with Steenbergen and Heponiemi, is fourth in the WHL scoring race piling up 11 goals and 22 assists.

    Defenceman Colby Sissons had quarterbacked the offence from the back end for Swift Current recording four goals and 14 assists.

Tyler Steenbergen (#17) and the Broncos have been on fire.

    Centre Cameron Hebig and left-winger Braylon Shmyr have paced Saskatoon’s offence in their overage seasons. Hebig leads the Blades in scoring with 14 goals and eight assists, while Shmyr is second in team scoring with seven goals and 10 assists.

    Czech import defenceman Libor Hajek has helped pace Blades offence from the back end picking up four goals and seven assists.

    Overager Logan Flodell is having an outstanding start to the season playing goal for the Broncos posting a 10-2-1 record, a 2.68 goals against average, a .920 save percentage and two shutouts. He was with the Blades, but was traded to the Broncos right before the start of the regular season.

    Ryan Kubic, who is the Blades 19-year-old starting goalie, is beginning to play stronger after a slow start to the season. So far this season, Kubic has posted a 7-6-1 record, a 3.76 goals against average and a .880 save percentage. The St. Andrews, Man., product has started every contest of the stretch where the Blades have won four of their last five games stopping 152 of 164 total shots for a .927 save percentage.

    The Broncos, who are rated second in the Canadian Hockey League’s Top 10 rankings, have won two of the three head-to-head meetings with the Blades this season. The Blades took the last encounter between the two squads 4-3 back on Oct. 27 in Swift Current.

    Friday’s game will be the Blades “Salute Our Forces” night contest due to the fact Remembrance Day falls on Saturday.

• It has been great getting to have short visits with brothers Jeff and Dean Chynoweth during the early part of the WHL campaign. Jeff is the general manager of the Calgary Hitmen, and he is the former general manager and owner of the Kootenay Ice. Dean is an associate coach with the Vancouver Giants. Before joining the Giants, Dean had been the head coach of the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage. The sons of the late Ed Chynoweth, who playing an integral part in building the WHL, have had a long and great history with the WHL. It is great they are still part of the circuit.
• Defensive end Riley Pickett and defensive back Colton Holmes of the Saskatoon Hilltops were named to the CJFL’s all-star team on the defensive side of the ball on Wednesday. Pickett had 15 solo tackles and nine sacks in eight regular season games. Holmes had 22 solo tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery during regular season play. Defensive lineman Adam Slikboer of the Windsor AKO Fratmen was also named to the CJFL’s defensive all-star team.
• Saskatoon Express editor Cam Hutchinson wrote a great column about how media moguls don’t deserve handouts and the changes that occurred at the Saskatoon StarPhoenix over the years as that publication has slipped in stature. It can be found here.
• Former CTV Regina sports broadcaster Bianca Millions deserves to be working in a mainstream outlet in a big centre. It is a shame that she isn’t working in the mainstream media in Canada somewhere. When working sporting events in Regina, she made a great duo with Arielle Zerr of CJME. Millions and Zerr always lifted the atmosphere wherever they appeared together. Millions took time to speak about her career as a female sports reporter and the obstacles she has faced with the University of Regina’s School of Journalism magazine publication. The magazine with the story about Millions can be found here.
• On Wednesday, it was announced the last edition of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald would be published on Dec. 7 and the media outlet’s website would also be shut down. The Times-Herald still provided beat coverage for the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors, so that will come to an end too, as the WHL beat writer becomes an even more endangered species in Canada’s media landscape. The Times-Herald was founded as a weekly newspaper in 1889 and became a daily in 1906. Like a lot of media outlets, questionable management helped bring the Times-Herald to an end, but you will likely hear spin on how the changing media industry brought down an outlet that was in kind of a monopoly situation in Moose Jaw. The Times-Herald was the home to the late great Rick Moore, who passed away from cancer in 2008 and was the publication’s legendary sports editor. The content produced in the sports section when Moore was the editor was outstanding, and the local sports scene was treated like prime time. His celebration of life attracted close to 1,000 people in April of 2008. It will be sad to see the Times-Herald fall by the wayside.

    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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