Quick learner – Valkyries find big time playmaker in Lundquist

Drew Lundquist ran for 137 yards on six carries on Sunday.

Drew Lundquist only needs a handful of opportunities to show how explosive she can be on the football field.

On Sunday afternoon, Lundquist only had six carries playing running back for the Saskatoon Valkyries in a WWCFL regular season game at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Lundquist, who is in her second campaign with the team, piled up 137 yards on those six carries scoring touchdowns on runs of 29 and 70 yards.

Her efforts allowed the Valkyries to improve to 3-0 romping past the visiting Winnipeg Wolfpack 59-0. The contest was ended at halftime due to injuries that were piling up on the Wolfpack side, who dressed about 20 players for Sunday’s clash. The Wolfpack fell to 0-3 with the lopsided loss.

Drew Lundquist (#25) breaks out of tackle attempt on a run.

Lundquist was on the Valkyries practice roster in 2021 and used her first full campaign as an active roster player in 2022 as an opportunity to learn and get better. She did have a couple of big outings as the Valkyries won their seventh WWCFL title in team history.

Coming into 2023, Lundquist knew she was going to have more playing time as the number two running back behind star starter Sarah Wright and wanted to be ready to make an impact.

“This year, I definitely wanted to set the intentions of coming in prepared and being ready to play knowing that there aren’t very many running backs,” said Lundquist. “I do have to know my stuff.

“It was learning the playbook early and trying to get those reps in early and definitely training in the off-season trying to get ready. I think I set my intentions early of just trying to be the best I can this season.”

Drew Lundquist reaches the end zone on a 29-yard TD run.

Lundquist wasn’t a stranger to the game of football when she joined the Valkyries. She played one season with the six-man team at Clavet Composite School during her high school years.

“I played soccer growing up,” said Lundquist, who handled all the Valkyries kickoffs on Sunday. “I played junior Huskies soccer.

“Once I stopped playing soccer competitively, kind of as a joke the guys in high school asked me if I would come and kick for them. I thought I would just show up. I did one practice, and they were like, ‘You know what. You are the kicker now.’

“I played one season as the kicker at Clavet Composite School. I got hooked ever since and started on the practice roster with the Valkyries. I haven’t looked back since.”

Drew Lundquist jets downfield on a 70-yard TD run.

Lundquist actually took part in a winter camp and three winter practice sessions with the Valkyries in early 2020 before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic gripped the world causing massive shutdowns in March of that year. While finishing up her Grade 12 studies in 2021, she joined the Valkyries practice roster.

Last season, Lundquist got to try her hand at some kicking duties and was slated to be the number three running back on the depth chart behind Valkyries all-time great Sam Matheson and Wright. Matheson suffered a season ending injury in the team’s second regular season game in 2022, and Lundquist found herself involved in a bit more of the action offensively for the team playing behind Wright.

The Valkyries celebrate a 70-yard TD run by Drew Lundquist (#25).

“It is a little intimidating,” said Lundquist, who stands 5-foot-6. “It is hard to follow in Sam’s steps there just because she is a very, very good athlete and the same with Sarah.

“They are big shoes to fill. I just feel really blessed to be able to watch from them and learn and have them as my guidance.”

The biggest highlight of the campaign was helping the Valkyries down the Manitoba Fearless 36-6 in the WWCFL championship game on June 25, 2022 at Saskatoon Minor Fooball Field.

Makayla Sader, left, and Jackie Semple-Dyck, right, team up on a tackle.

“It was just so much fun,” said Lundquist. “It was an unreal experience.

“It is like nothing else.”

Valkyries head coach Pat Barry said it has been a joy having Lundquist play on the team. Barry said she has really helped the team out with her contributions on offence and the kicking game, and the coaching staff is trying to get her in the game as much as they can.

“It has been great to have her, and we’ve been trying to get her reps,” said Barry. “Every time we get her game reps she does really well just like today.”

Sarah Wright ran in two touchdowns for the Valkyries.

The sideline boss said Lundquist has been able to pick up the game quickly due to the fact she runs with power and speed.

“She runs hard, when she has the ball,” said Barry. “Sometimes, people just try and arm tackle her, and it just doesn’t work.

“She keeps her legs moving. That is why she has so much success.”

The Valkyries as a team had lots of success against the Wolfpack on Sunday building a 49-0 lead in the first quarter before getting up 59-0 at halftime when the contest came to an end.

Just 1:51 into the opening quarter, Valkyries veteran defensive back Kelsey Murphy got the scoring going returning an interception 45 yards for a touchdown. Wright romped in from 19 yards out just under two minutes later to push the Valkyries lead out to 14-0.

Alex Eyolfson (#15) threw two touchdown passes for the Valkyries.

Valkyries star quarterback Alex Eyolfson hit veteran receiver Reed Thorstad for a short five-yard touchdown reception and Wright tacked on a four-yard run for a major score to give the Valkyries a 28-0 advantage.

Eyolfson hit receiver Grace McCorriston for a 11-yard touchdown toss give the Valkyries a 35-0 lead. The big plays kept coming as veteran receiver Ricki Obed returned a punt 65 yards for a major score to bulge the Valkyries advantage to 42-0. Lundquist tacked on her 29-yard touchdown run to round out the scoring in the first quarter giving the Valkyries an incredible 49-0 advantage.

Grace McCorriston hauls in an 11-yard TD catch for the Valkyries.

In the second quarter, McCorriston booted a 32-yard field goal and Lundquist added her 70-yard rushing touchdown to round out the game’s scoring.

Eyolfson completed all four passes she attempted for 45 yards and her two touchdown tosses. Defensive end Emry Halbgewachs had a sack and a forced fumble for the Valkyries. Safety Jaimyn Mantyka topped the Valkyries with five total tackles to go along with one fumble recovery.

Defensive back Danielle Girolami had an interception and middle linebacker Emmarae Dale had a fumble recovery for Saskatoon.

The Valkyries celebrate a TD catch from Reed Thorstad (#12).

Running back Pandora Turcotte accounted for most of the Wolfpack’s offence running the ball 13 times for 63 yards.

Last year, the Wolfpack forfeited a WWCFL quarter-final contest to the Valkyries on top of not being able play Sunday’s game in its entirety. On an overall league perspective, that didn’t sit well with Barry.

“I think we’ve managed to stay healthy in this abbreviated game, which I’ve never seen before,” said Barry. “I’ve never seen a team forfeit at halftime before in my 33 years of coaching.

“I’ve never seen anything like this. That was unfortunate. I hope there is some talk about it in the league.”

The Valkyries will now close their regular season schedule this coming Sunday as they travel to Regina to take on the Riot (2 p.m., Leibel Field). The Riot improved to 2-1 on Sunday downing the Fearless 33-7 in Regina. The Fearless fell to 1-2 with the setback.

Ricki Obed returns a punt 65 yards for a touchdown.

First place in the WWCFL’s Prairie Conference will be up for grabs in the upcoming clash between the Valkyries and Riot. The Valkyries took the first encounter 34-7 on May 7 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Riot would be able to claim a first place finish, if they are able to be the Valkyries by 27 or more points in the upcoming second head-to-head contest.

“They (the Riot) are going to be ready for us,” said Barry, whose team has won 23 straight games overall. “There are a couple of teams in the league that are quite good, and they’re well coached.

“They’re coming after us. Every time we’re on the field we want to be prepared. We want to try and get as many reps for all our players as possible.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get that today.”

The Valkyries enjoy improving to 3-0 on Sunday.

When the dust does settle on the 2023 season, Lundquist said the Valkyries want to complete things with another championship finish.

“It is the ultimate goal every season is to make it to that championship,” said Lundquist. “We wouldn’t be doing it, if weren’t trying to get there.”

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Holynski plays with passion and intensity for Valkyries family

Rookie season in 2019 had big impact on defensive standout

Danaye Holynski (#55) has been a stellar DE for the Valkyries.

Danaye Holynski always tries to live out the belief that one of her early coaches with the Saskatoon Valkyries had in her.

Holynski joined the Valkyries defensive line as a rookie in 2019 after starting on the defensive line with the Tommy Douglas Collegiate Tigers Football Team and toiling on the Valkyries practice roster in 2018. While playing as a starter on a high school boys tackle football team would help Holyski in transitioning to the powerhouse Valkyries of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League, she remembered one position coach wouldn’t let her ride on past accomplishments.

Holynski recalled that as she got going in the 2019 campaign she was really challenged by defensive position coach Justin Filteau. There were times Holynski felt she was doing good but wasn’t doing good enough.

On June 1, 2019, Filteau passed away in a plane crash one day before the Valkyries played their final regular season contest of that campaign against the Riot in Regina. Filteau had been at a social function in Medicine Hat, Alta., and was flying to Moose Jaw, Sask., and planned to meet up with the Valkyries for that final regular season game. The Valkyries would gut out a 22-7 victory over the Riot after finding out the news about Filteau.

Five days later after a team practice, Holynski was named the team’s “Treat of the Week” award winner for her efforts in a 37-0 victory over the Manitoba Fearless in Winnipeg on May 26, 2019. Word came from the Valkyries coaches that Filteau was pushing hard for Holynski to be named the winner of the weekly team award. That would happen to be the last game he coached with the Valkyries.

It hit Holynski at the time how important it was to have had Filteau as her position coach and that feeling has only grown over time.

“It was awesome,” said Holynski, whose Valkyries (2-0) host the Winnipeg Wolfpack (0-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. “He was on me, and it was stressful at times.

Danaye Holynski (#55) is a playmaker of the Valkyries defence.

“Now that I look back, it was because he saw a player I didn’t see yet. Now that I look back, it was awesome. He pushed me past what I thought I was able to do, because he believed in me.

“That I will forever keep close to my heart that he pushed me that hard.”

As a rookie, Holynski made explosive and hard hitting plays to help the Valkyries post a perfect 9-0 record in winning their sixth WWCFL championship in that season. These days Holynski has become a dominate player on the Valkyries defensive line often lining up at one of the end positions.

Her style of play is near identical to that Bobby Jurasin, who starred at defensive end for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1986 to 1997. Holynski helped the Valkyries win their seventh WWCFL championship in 2022, and she played for Canada that year in the International Federation of American Football’s Women’s World Championship that ran in late July and early August of that year in Vantaa, Finland.

After Filteau’s passing, Holynski said you saw in a big way the Valkyries being family. The team dedicated the 2019 campaign to Filteau.

Holynski said the team’s leadership played a huge role in helping everyone come together and cope with Filteau’s passing. On defence, some of the key leaders from that season included Jaime Lammerding, Beth Lalonde, Emmarae Dale and Ehjae Chan.

That rookie season left at lasting impact on Holynski.

Danaye Holynski (#55) makes a tackle in the 2023 WWCFL final.

“It was an amazing first year,” said Holynski, who stands 5-foot-6. “Unfortunately, we lost Filteau that year, but I think that brought our team together on a whole different level.”

These days the 22-year-old Holynski is one of the Valkyries veterans. She looks to help the team’s newcomers on the field and ensure they feel accepted on the team.

“I feel like I definitely try to,” said Holynski. “I try to be a role model as much as I possibly can.

“I try to help them out if needed.”

Overall, Holynski said the team still has the same family feeling and vibe as it did when she was a rookie. She often still sees herself like she did in her rookie year.

“Honestly, it feels the same,” said Holynski. “It doesn’t feel much different.

“I think everyone we all look at each other at the same level. Obviously, we look up to each other, but we don’t really look down on each other. It kind of feels the same nothing too different.”

Valkyries head coach Pat Barry said you could see early on the Holynski was going to be a gifted player, when she first started practicing with the team.

“I’ve known Danaye for a long time,” said Barry. “She played tackle football in high school at Tommy Douglas with the boys.

Danaye Holynski (#55) teams up on a stop in the 2023 WWCFL final.

“She was a starter on that team. She was an exceptional wrestler. I coached her in junior Huskies for a number of years.

“Just seeing her when she started being a practice roster player for us you could see she was going to be pretty special.”

Barry said experience and being focused on off-season training has helped make Holynski a better player over the years. The sideline boss said his defensive line star causes a lot of matchup problems for opposing teams. Along with what Holynski can do physically on the field, Barry said a leadership role is coming naturally to her as well.

“Even though she is young, she is a leader on our team already, so that is exciting,” said Barry. “She is such a positive person too.

“She has so much fun out here that it is just great to have her in that leadership role.”

Before taking the field for the Tigers, Holynski got her start in the tackle game playing in Saskatoon Minor Football’s six-a-side program, so she has been playing the sport for over a decade. She loves everything about the game and would like to play for Canada at the next women’s worlds, which are set to be held in 2026 with the location and dates still to be announced.

Holynski knows she is hitting that adult age where things can change year to year, but she is planning to keep going in the sport for the foreseeable future.

“I’m planning to play next worlds or at least tryout,” said Holynski. “My body has taken a beating with 12 years of playing.

Danaye Holynski (#55) holds up the WWCFL championship trophy.

“I’m going to try and push it out until the next Team Canada for sure.”

NOTES – Sunday’s game against the Wolfpack will be the Valkyries’ Teal game. The Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope Committee, Saskatoon, will be on hand to bring more awareness about this deadly disease. The team will be raising funds to fight Ovarian cancer.  

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Eyolfson, offence hit peak form for Valkyries

Saskatoon advances in WWCFL playoffs with forfeit win

Alex Eyolfson is having a big season as the Valkyries QB.

Alex Eyolfson likes keeping her gals happy.

The Saskatoon Valkyries veteran quarterback is having her best season since joining the team in 2016 averaging close to 300 yards passing per game. In her last two outings that have both been wins over the Valkyries’ provincial rivals the Regina Riot, Eyolfson has completed 40-of-63 passes for 674 yards and seven touchdowns without throwing a single interception.

The 24-year-old is the first to tell you that she is doing well, because everyone on the Valkyries offence is doing well.

“The O-line is creating lots of time in the pocket,” said Eyolfson. “The receivers are running hard routes.

“The running backs are just running unreal and blocking hard. We got to throw more it seems like this season, which is really fun too. We’ve just been connecting well on offence.”

After finishing the regular season with a perfect 4-0 record, Eyolfson and the Valkyries were slated to open the WWCFL playoffs with a quarter-final contest on Sunday against the Winnipeg Wolfpack at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Wolfpack, who went 0-4 in the regular season being outscored 292-0 in those contests, informed the WWCFL on Friday they would be forfeiting that quarter-final contest with the Valkyries, and under WWCFL bylaws, the Valkyries were awarded a 30-0 victory.

Saskatoon advances to host a WWCFL semfinal on Sunday, June 19 at 1 p.m. at SMF Field against the Edmonton Storm. The Storm closed out their regular season schedule downing the visiting Lethbridge Steel 90-0 on Saturday at Olexiuk Field in St. Albert, which is located just northwest of Edmonton, to improve to 3-1.

The Steel finish the 2022 campaign with an 0-4 mark. The WWCFL’s regular season in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world.

Alex Eyolfson (#15) has benefitted from great pass protection.

The winner of the semifinal clash between the Valkyries and Steel advances to the WWCFL title game, and the league championship contest will be played in Saskatoon on Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The Valkyries won the WWCFL title the last time a full campaign was held in 2019. They went 3-0 in a three-game exhibition series last season against the Riot.

As for the roll the Valkyries offence has been on, Eyolfson said it helps most of the starters are veterans who have played together for an extended period of time.

“Definitely the chemistry is there,” said Eyolfson. “We’ve all played together for four years at least.

“Everyone just kind of knows their job, and we can just build off that each practice and put in like more complex plays.”

Four players from the Valkyries starting offensive line are members of Football Canada’s National Women’s team including Lauren Ferguson, Alyssa Funk, Betsy Mawdsley and Ashley Viklund. Centre Alex Wojcichowsky is playing her seventh total season with the Valkyries over two different stints as a player.

Rookie Breanna Allegretto has played well seeing some significant time on the offensive line as an injury replacement.

Alex Eyolfson (#15) fires a pass to Rachelle Smith (#81).

Receivers Haley Girolami, Ricki Obed and Reed Thorstad, who is also the Valkyries backup quarterback, are all members of Football Canada’s National Women’s team too. They are all veterans having strong campaigns along with Rachelle Smith, who joined the Valkyries in 2019 after spending a number of seasons with the Riot.

Running back Sarah Wright made Football Canada’s National Women’s Team as well, and she is having a stellar campaign in her fifth season with the team. The Valkyries were really stacked at running back with the presence of one of the squad’s all-time greats in Sam Matheson. Matheson is out due to a season ending injury, but is still on the reserve list for Football Canada’s National Women’s Team.

With the help of so many standouts, Eyolfson got on a roll right from the Valkyries first regular season game, when they downed the Manitoba Fearless 43-14 at SMF Field on May 1. In that contest, the graduate of Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School completed 18-of-26 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Valkyries head coach Pat Barry said Eyolfson is having a season that is kind of legendary. The veteran sideline boss still marvels at the game Eyolfson had when the Valkyries downed the Riot 46-7 at SMF Field on May 28.

In that contest, Eyolfson completed 23-of-29 passes for 434 yards and four touchdowns without throwing an interception.

“That is stunning at any level of football,” said Barry. “She is having a great year, and we’re very proud of her.”

Alex Eyolfson has great confidence calling plays for the Valkyries.

Barry said Eyolfson’s familiarity with her receivers having played an extended time together is evident. He noted the Valkyries defence gets tested quite a bit in practice.

“It is a big deal,” said Barry. “When we are practicing in the winter, you see Alex (Eyolfson) expect to know where one of our receivers is going to be, and they get there.

“It is a challenge for any defence and ours as well. It is a pretty cool competition that happens.”

Eyolfson plays a big role in the leadership department in being able to pick up her teammates on offence. If someone on offence makes a mistake, you often see Eyolfson talking to that teammate on the sidelines in such an upbeat, encouraging and beautiful way the teammate forgets her troubles right away.

On the field, Eyolfson admits there are times it seems she always knows where her teammates are going to be.

“Obviously, we have our bread and butter plays,” said Eyolfson, who helped the Valkyries win WWCFL titles in 2016 and 2019. “We all know what we are doing, and we kind of can add to and build on them.

“Everyone has their job, and we all know what we are doing out there.”

While the Valkyries got an unexpected bye with their post-season forfeit win over the Wolfpack, Eyolfson is still pumped for the post-season road ahead.

Alex Eyolfson (#15) aims to help the Valkyries capture another WWCFL title.

“It is so exciting to finally have playoffs again,” said Eyolfson. “It just seems like it is a different energy going in, more intense, and we are all ready.

“It will be fun.”

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Sader finds her groove on Valkyries defence

Saskatoon closes WWCFL regular season at 4-0

Makayla Sader (#8) is making her mark with the Valkyries defence.

For Makayla Sader, it was worth the wait to finally join the Saskatoon Valkyries.

Growing up just north of Saskatoon in the centre Martensville, Sader took part in all sorts of sports. She focused on figure skating for a time in her childhood years, and she took part in basketball, soccer and track and field in high school.

Out of all the sports she participated in, one sport interested Sader to the point she wanted to continue it past high school.

“In high school, I played flag, and I really liked it,” said Sader, who is a Valkyries defensive back. “I actually injured my knee, and I needed surgery.

“I kind of took a few years off, but I did want to play Valkyries. Because of my knee injury, I was scared, because it is contact.”

On Saturday night, Sader and the Valkyries closed out their WWCFL regular season schedule downing the Regina Riot 33-14 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. Sader had four total tackles and fumble recovery in that encounter with the Riot. 

The Valkyries already had first place in the WWCFL’s Prairie Conference locked up going into Saturday’s contest and now exit the regular season with a 4-0 record. Saskatoon will host the Winnipeg Wolfpack (0-3) in a WWCFL quarter-final at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on Sunday, June 12 at 1 p.m.

The Riot fall to 1-3 to close the regular season and will finish third in the Prairie Conference. They will travel to Winnipeg to face the Manitoba Fearless (2-1) in another WWCFL quarter-final at a date and time to be announced.

The Fearless and Wolfpack meet on Sunday in Winnipeg to close the respective regular season schedules for both of those clubs.

Back in 2018, Sader graduated from Martensville High School, and due to focusing on healing up her knee, she elected to not join the Valkyries in 2019, when they won their sixth WWCFL championship in team history. 

Makayla Sader (#8) was a Valkyries running back in 2021.

The 2020 WWCFL campaign was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world.

The Valkyries were able to get back on the field in 2021 taking on the Regina Riot in a three-game exhibition series. Sader’s boyfriend and fellow Martensville product, Carter Dyck, joined the Valkyries as a position coach for that three-game exhibition series.

Dyck, who member of the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops in 2018, convinced Sader that the three-game series with the Riot would be an excellent time to join the Valkyries, and she dressed as a running back for that three-game set.

“It is a good group of girls to play with for sure,” said Sader, who stands 5-foot-6. “I felt very welcomed.

“I liked how high intensity it was. I didn’t know what to expect if it was going to be more slack, or if it was going to be pretty aggressive. It was actually a pretty aggressive team, which was awesome.

“Everybody gives a 100 per cent effort, and that is what I really liked about it.”

In the second game of that series played on July 16, 2021 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Sader got to see some decent action carrying the ball seven times for 38 yards and scoring one touchdown in a 42-7 Valkyries victory. The playing time she did receive gave her the itch to return to the Valkyries in 2022 for a full WWCFL campaign.

“I just really wanted to try like an actual season,” said Sader. “Last year wasn’t really a season.

“We played three games against the same team in Regina. I think we really only had like maybe two months of football.”

At first, the 21-year-old thought she was going to play running back in her second year with the team. Due to the fact the Valkyries were returning veteran star running backs Sam Matheson and Sarah Wright for the 2022 campaign, the team’s coaching staff was looking for a better way to get Sader on the field.

Makayla Sader (#8) is piling up the tackles on defence.

They pitched the idea to her about converting to a defensive back, and Sader jumped at the opportunity to see the field more often. Sader had her biggest outing in the Valkyries third regular season game on May 28 leading the team with 7.5 total tackles when they downed the Riot 46-7 at SMF Field.

“When you think about that, she (Sader) has played three games of defence in her life,” said Valkyries head coach Pat Barry about that contest. “I think she had seven-and-a-half tackles, which was unbelievable.

“That is hard to do as a defensive back. It was an impressive game she had. She is picking it up quick.

“Clovis (Lumeka) our defensive backs coach is really pleased with how she is doing.”

Sader quickly became fond of playing defence, especially the tackling and physical play on that side of the ball.

“I’m really liking it,” said Sader. “It is a lot more aggressive on that end.

“I’m not the punching bag I have to be (as a running back). Of course, I’m punching the bag, so it is way more fun.”

Barry said Sader is doing well in pass coverage too.

“In practices, she is jumping routes,” said Barry. “She is anticipating throws already, which is exciting for a young player.”

Sader said she encountered a huge learning curve during her first two games playing defensive back. She felt comfortable in the May 28 win over the Riot and was able to clue into what the Riot were doing strategically on offence.

“We just focused on a lot more on what I was struggling with in the games,” said Sader. “Honestly, the second half was a lot better for me than the first half, because I kind of figured out the team a little bit better.

Makayla Sader (#8) enjoys making big hits on defence.

“After they run a few plays, you can kind of pick up what they are doing. Something just clicked. I read the game a lot better.”

Sader also enjoys the family feeling that exist in the Valkyries team unit.

“It is sweet,” said Sader. “I feel like a lot of the sports that I played have been awesome.

“There is something about this group of girls. We’re just a lot closer and tight knit. Everybody gets along.

“I’ve never had any issues with any of these girls. I think that is huge when it comes to a group of girls. Definitely, everybody getting along and being able to play together and have a good competitive side is just huge.”

Going forward, Sader is excited to take part in her first post-season with the Valkyries. She would like to help them win a seventh WWCFL title this season.

Saskatoon is scheduled to host the WWCFL championship game on June 25 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field with an expected start time of 1 p.m.

When this season wraps up, Sader plans to continue play for the Valkyries for the foreseeable future.

“I definitely plan to come back,” said Sader. “I think I will for sure play for at least a few more years if not more than that.

“Growing up, I never had a really full aggressive sport that I had to play. Soccer was as close as it got. This is kind of right up my alley.

Makayla Sader (#8) loves the upbeat vibe the Valkyries have.

“I’m definitely coming back next year for sure.”

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Valkyries’ Thorstad aims to make lasting impact in football as player, coach

Reed Thorstad (#12) is a heart and soul member of the Valkyries.

It seemed Reed Thorstad was destined to have football as a part of her life due to family ties, but she ultimately got involved with the game due to finding her own love for the sport.

Her father, Brian Thorstad, has coached football at various levels in the city of Saskatoon and in the province of Saskatchewan for decades. Reed carved out her main identity in the sport as a veteran receiver and backup quarterback for the Saskatoon Valkyries having joined Western Women’s Canadian Football League powerhouse squad back in 2015.

When she was growing up, Reed said her father wanted her to enjoy playing sports, and it didn’t matter what those sports were. Whatever sport Reed tried, Brian was supportive and often took on the role of coach.

“He’s coached me in lots of different sports,” said Reed, whose Valkyries blanked the Wolfpack in Winnipeg 59-0 on Sunday to improve to 2-0 in WWCFL regular season play. “He coached me in hockey, football and basketball when I was young.

“I think (he instilled) just like the general love of sports. We’d be playing catch in the backyard and going to the park and all kinds of things. Sometimes, I still make him do that with me.”

Reed said she initially got into playing football through the encouragement of friends.

Reed Thorstad (#12) is a dependable receiver for the Valkyries.

“I started playing flag football when I was about nine,” said Reed. “It was kind of like a few connections to friends.

“They were getting a team going. My dad coached me a lot growing up, and there is a good crew of us in Saskatoon that have played for a long time together, and I just always loved it. It was one of my favourite sports.”

Through her high school years at Walter Murray Collegiate, Reed continued to play all sorts of sports. At that time, she started going to a number of flag football nationals with Team Saskatchewan. From there, Reed was introduced to the idea of joining the Valkyries.

“Coming out of high school, it was actually Marci Halseth that convinced me to come play Valkyries,” said Reed. “I think just my love of football has just like grown from there.

“I love the complexity of the game for sure.”

A year after graduating from Walter Murray, Reed joined a Valkyries team that was stocked with veteran players, and a number of those players were with squad since it first hit the field in 2011. Halseth, who was a star receiver at that time and is now a receivers coach, was one of those veteran players who had been with the Valkyries from their inception.

The composition of the team started to change shortly afterwards. In Thorstad’s second season, the Valkyries roster was basically a 50-50 split of veterans and newcomers, who were in their first or second year with the team.

Reed Thorstad helped the Valkyries win WWCFL titles in 2016 and 2019.

Thorstad’s long time friend in Alex Eyolfson joined the Valkyries in 2016. The pair rotated quarters playing quarterback for most of that campaign helping the Valkyries win their fifth WWCFL title.

In 2017, Thorstad played receiver more and backed up at quarterback with Eyolfson taking the starting role. A few more long time veterans left the Valkyries following the 2016 campaign.

While there were still veterans that had been with the Valkyries since the team’s first season and two are still currently with the team in defensive lineman Jaime Lammerding and linebacker Beth Lalonde, players like Thorstad and Eyolfson found themselves taking on a bigger role in the leadership department.

“I think there was some kind of feeling out of like who was going to step into those leadership roles,” said Thorstad. “I think something that came from that is that we have like so many different leaders on the team now and have for the last few years.

“I think the leadership is spread out between almost everyone on the team that has been around for a year or two at least has stepped into be a leader at certain points in time. I think it is really neat that we have like so many people that can do that.”

Thorstad’s most memorable moment with the Valkyries was when the team won a sixth WWCFL championship in 2019. During that campaign, the Valkyries were rocked when defensive position coach Justin Filteau died in a plane crash on June 1 of that year.

Reed Thorstad can play QB at an elite level.

After learning of Filteau’s passing, the Valkyries dedicated their 2019 season to their late coach and posted a 9-0 overall record in that campaign.

“Probably my favourite moment was in 2019 when we won the championship, and it really felt like that whole season was for Filteau after he passed away,” said Thorstad. “I feel so proud of how our team came together that season and just like the dynamic that we had in supporting each other and fighting for that championship despite the challenges that came.

“That is something that I feel really proud to be a part of, and I feel really lucky to be a part of the team. Those relationships and that team dynamic that was built that season has really continued. I still feel that on this team this year too, so that is really exciting.”

Valkyries head coach Pat Barry said Thorstad’s presence on the Valkyries has been valuable in so many ways.

“She is like having an extra coach on the field,” said Barry. “I can say that, because I brought her in to coach with me in high school at Evan Hardy.

“She has a fantastic offensive mind. I’m just so pleased to have her around and continue to be a part of this team. She is a big part of what we do.

“When we need someone to come in and fill a position whether it is offence or special teams, Reed can fill that.”

On top of playing for the Valkyries, Thorstad found herself following in her father’s footsteps taking a more active role in coaching the sport. Along with being an assistant coach at Evan Hardy, Thorstad coaches flag football in the Rush female flag league overseen by Saskatoon Minor Football.

Reed Thorstad enjoyed coaching at the Playground to Pros camp.

In April, Thorstad worked as a guest coach with Saskatoon Minor Football’s annual Playground to Pros camp alongside a number of CFL veterans. The camp helps develop skills and fundamentals at the grassroots level of the game.

“I think that every single sport that I’ve played I’ve really loved thinking about the strategy,” said Thorstad, who is a teacher at City Park School. “I love getting my brain going on that kind of stuff.

“I started coaching when I was in high school, and I have two younger sisters. I feel like that kind of made it easy to help out with their teams. I’m also a teacher, so I feel like it kind of comes with the territory with that too.

“I do really love coaching both flag, and I’d love to get into coaching tackle more. The Playground to Pros camp was really fun, and then I was coaching senior football at Hardy. I want to keep getting involved with tackle football and coaching as well.”

While she is getting more into coaching, Thorstad is still getting better as a player on the field. She turned a lot of heads at the training camp that Football Canada held in Ottawa, Ont., to evaluate players for its Senior National Women’s Team.

In the Red-White game that closed that camp, Thorstad was named MVP for Team White playing quarterback. Playing the first half in Team White’s 30-16 victory, Thorstad completed 14-of-19 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

Reed Thorstad is pictured with the Playground to Pros camp coaches.

It is expected Football Canada will name its Senior National Women’s Team roster by the end of this week.

Besides potentially making the Senior National Women’s Team, Thorstad wants to help the Valkyries win another WWCFL title this season. The Valkyries resume their regular season on Saturday, May 28, when they host their provincial rivals the Regina Riot at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Looking into the future, Thorstad expects to keep playing the sport for some time to come.

“I’m 26 right now,” said Thorstad. “I feel like I want to be around for a few more years.

“I feel like I still have lots to learn. I think that probably like the plan one day whenever I decide that I’m done is I’d love to help coach the Valkyries or coach women’s football in some way. I think I’ll be playing for another couple few years.

Reed Thorstad plans to keep playing football for a few more years.

“We’ll see what happens.”

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Veteran Kolosky achieves first as inspired Valkyries romp to win

Denise Kolosky returns an interception for a touchdown.

    Denise Kolosky achieved a feat at defensive end she was never able to capture as a linebacker.

    On Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the eight-year veteran with the Saskatoon Valkyries hit the highlight reel with a defensive score.

    Lining up at defensive end late in the second quarter of a Western Women’s Canadian Football League quarter-final game against the Winnipeg Wolfpack, Kolosky dropped into a passing lane and picked off quarterback Rebecka Clark.

    Kolosky dashed 36 yards up the right sideline for a touchdown. It marked the first time she returned an interception for a major score in her football career.

    The score put the Valkyries up 57-0 as they cruised to a 66-0 victory.

    Saskatoon came out with an inspired effort playing for late defensive position coach Justin Filteau, who passed away tragically in a plane crash on June 1. Filteau coached the defensive line this season having previously coached the linebackers since he joined the club’s coaching staff in 2017.

The Valkyries celebrate a touchdown from Denise Kolosky (#44).

    “We all wanted to play for (Justin) Filteau today,” said Kolosky. “That little interception was for him just to show the D-line is athletic too and we can get it done.”

    Kolosky couldn’t believe how fast her pick six developed.

    “It just happened,” said Kolosky. “I caught it, and I was ‘go!’ That was it.

    “I was just thinking don’t look back. That is a huge milestone for me, a huge one. I love it.”

    During a contest where numerous members of the Valkyries had big games, head coach Pat Barry pleased that Kolosky was able to have a big moment with a defensive score.

    “I’m so happy for Denise,” said Barry. “She is one of my favourite people that I know not just in football.

Emmarae Dale (#45) nails a Wolfpack ball carrier.

    “She is such a high quality person. I really admire her. She is tough, and she is physical.

    “She is great mom to her family. Her kids are always running around here with (her husband) Colin (Kolosky). She is a great lady. I’m very proud of her.”

    The Valkyries shot out of the gate quickly in Sunday’s post-season clash. Just 64 seconds into the opening quarter, star running back Sam Matheson ripped off a 40-yard touchdown run down the right sideline to give the Valkyries a 6-0 lead.

    Just over four minutes later, quarterback Alex Eyolfson hit rookie receiver Haley Girolami on a 43-yard bomb pass to extend the Valkyries edge to 13-0.

    With 2:36 remaining in the opening quarter, running back Sarah Wright ran home a touchdown from seven yards out to put the Valkyries up 20-0. Matheson added a single from a missed field goal from 27 yards out as time expired in the first quarter to give the hosts a 21-0 lead.

Sarah Wright (#88) dashes home on a 42-yard touchdown run.

    Saskatoon proceeded to score 43 points in the second quarter to go up 64-0.

    Sophomore receiver Danielle Girolami hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarter Reed Thorstad. Matheson added her second major on a 12-yard run.

    Wright ripped of a 42-yard touchdown run. The Wolfpack conceded a safety.

    Rookie running back Natasha Englot ran in a pair of touchdowns from one and 10 yards out. Kolosky had her interception return for a major score between Englot’s two touchdowns.

    The Valkyries rounded the game’s scoring in the second half with a 31-yard punt single from Rienna Rueve in the third quarter and a 27-yard punt single from Matheson in the fourth quarter.

Rienna Rueve (#7) returns an interception for the Valkyries.

    Rueve hit seven out of nine conversion attempts.

    Wright had the biggest game of the day offensively for the Valkyries carrying the ball nine times for 120 yards to go with her two scores.

    “We were doing fairly well blocking,” said Wright. “Once we kind of got in a groove, everything was starting to fall into place.”

    Wright said it has been fun to run behind a veteran offensive line including right tackle Betsy Mawdsley, right guard Lauren Ferguson, centre Eden Rakochy, left guard Ashley Viklund and left tackle Alyssa Funk.

    “They are just trying to improve all the time,” said Wright. “It is awesome that they are doing everything they can to get us as many yards as they can.”

Members of the Saskatoon Hilltops are out supporting the Valkyries.

    Matheson had a great day as well finishing with 86 yards rushing on only five carried to go with her two scores.

    Defensively, middle linebacker Emmarae Dale topped the Valkyries with 9.5 total tackles. Linebacker Jamie Wingate had a sack, while Dayna Bear and Danaye Holynski split a sack on the defensive line.

    Rueve had an interception from her safety position.

    Defensive back Mobina Mosallat topped the Wolfpack with 8.5 total tackles.

    Barry thought his team’s performance on Sunday was a fitting way to honour Filteau’s memory. 

Sam Matheson (#22) ran in two rushing touchdowns for the Valkyries.

    The Valkyries have dedicated their season to Filteau, who was a standout at linebacker for both the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops and U Sports’ University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

    “Justin (Filteau) did a lot for us,” said Barry. “To not have him there was very difficult this week.

    “I was very happy with the players today. He would have enjoyed it. Even a lot of the music we have going on right now, Justin (Filteau) loved these songs.

    “It is not an accident that they have it playing. It is pretty exciting.”

    With the win, the Valkyries, who were 4-0 in the regular season, improve their overall record to 6-0. The Wolfpack, who were 0-4 in the regular season, finish at 0-5 overall.

    The Valkyries advance to host a WWCFL semifinal game against the Lethbridge Steel (3-2 overall) on June 23 at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.

    The other semifinal features the defending WWCFL champion Regina Riot (2-3 overall) taking on the Edmonton Storm (4-1 overall) in the Alberta capital. That contest will be played either on June 22 or 23.

The Valkyries celebrate their win over the Wolfpack.

    The WWCFL championship game is slated for June 29 in Regina.

    Kolosky is looking forward to the fact the Valkyries will continue their playoff run and said it never gets old being a member of Saskatoon’s WWCFL team.

    “It is amazing the love you feel from each and every player,” said Kolosky. “All the hugs I got after my interception touchdown, it was awesome. I can’t explain it.”

    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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Valkyries play in honour of late coach Filteau

Saskatoon starts WWCFL playoffs Sunday at SMF Field

Justin Filteau listens into a headset during a 2017 Valkyries playoff game.

    Rookie defensive lineman Danaye Holynski received an unexpected surprise from Saskatoon Valkyries defensive position coach Justin Filteau.

    After the Valkyries blanked the Manitoba Fearless 37-0 in Winnipeg on May 26, Filteau told the team’s coaching staff that Holynski should take the team’s “Treat of the Week” award for her efforts in that game.

    The encounter with the Fearless would be the last game Filteau would coach with the Valkyries. He was one of three people who died in a plane crash just east of Medicine Hat late in the night on June 1.

    After the Valkyries team practice on Friday night at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Holynski was named the Valkyries “Treat of the Week” award winner.

    “I’m going to keep that in my heart for sure,” said Holynski. “It means a little extra for him to say that, and that would be one of the last things he said.”

    Filteau, who was in Medicine Hat for a social function, was flying to Moose Jaw, Sask., and planned to meet up with the Valkyries in Regina last Sunday for their final regular season game against the host Riot.

    The Valkyries found out about Filteau’s tragic passing before they hit the field against the Riot. The Saskatoon side took the field that day and pulled out a 22-7 victory to finish the Western Women’s Canadian Football League regular season with a 4-0 record.

Justin Filteau, left, goes to get a white board before a 2017 Valkyries game.

    The Valkyries dedicated that win and the rest of their season in Filteau’s memory. The team opens the WWCFL playoffs hosting a quarter-final contest against the Winnipeg Wolfpack (0-4) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.
    Holynski said it hasn’t been a normal practice week preparing for that post-season encounter with Filteau’s passing.

    “It has definitely been hard, but it is bringing our team closer than ever before,” said Holynski. “Everyone has been there for each other, and I think that is helping us get through this week together.

    “I think that is the important part.”

    Filteau, who stood 5-foot-9 and weighed 214 pounds, was born and raised in Moose Jaw and became a high school football star at A.E. Peacock Collegiate.

Justin Filteau, left, listens in during a Valkyries game timeout in May.

    After graduating from high school, Filteau moved to Saskatoon and played five seasons at linebacker for the storied Saskatoon Hilltops of the Canadian Junior Football League from 2010 to 2014.
    He helped the Hilltops win four CJFL titles in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. Filteau was a CJFL all-Canadian all-star in that final championship campaign.

    When Filteau exhausted his eligibility with the Hilltops, he joined the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team in the U Sports ranks for three seasons from 2015 to 2017.

    He battled injuries throughout his time with the Huskies and ultimately spent the 2017 season on the sidelines helping out the team’s coaches.

    Filteau first joined the Valkyries coaching staff as a linebackers coach in 2017. He was coaching the squad’s defensive line this season. He passed away at age 26.

Justin Filteau in action for the Hilltops in 2014.

    “He has just been such a positive guy,” said Valkyries head coach Pat Barry. “He is such a team guy.

    “He put the team first. I am really going to miss him. He was a great player.

    “He was now a great coach. He is an even better person. He was my friend, so I am going to miss him.”
    The Valkyries have received messages of support all this week, especially from the football community and the member clubs of the WWCFL.

    They were invited by the Saskatchewan Roughriders to the CFL club’s pre-season game on Thursday in Regina against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Valkyries attended that contest, and the Roughriders held a tribute for Filteau before falling 35-29 to the Blue Bombers.

    “It has been a bit of a tough week,” said Jaime Lammerding, who has anchored the Valkyries defensive line for all nine seasons of the team’s existence. “I think that is to be expected.

Justin Filteau in action for the Huskies in 2016.

    “I don’t think anybody expects us to be 100 per cent going through everything. The league has really kind of come around us and supported us. All the other teams, players, even the football community here in Saskatoon, we’re making our way through it by leaning on each other a lot.”

    Lammerding said everyone on the Valkyries has lots of memories of Filteau being upbeat and fun loving.
    She said he got a laugh when the players teased him with the “Filteau’s the worst” line starting back in 2017.

    Lammerding said the line came from the team’s coaches who were former Hilltops players with Filteau.

    When the Hilltops won the CJFL title in Langley, B.C., in 2014, the players started the “Filteau’s the worst” chant on the bus, when he was holding the Canadian Bowl trophy on his lap with a big grin.

    It was one of those sporadic things that happened all in the name of having fun.

    Lammerding remembered Filteau being extra energetic during what would be his final practice with the Valkyries. She said defensive coordinator Wyatt Carleton had asked for a football for a drill, and before anyone could act, Filteau jetted off to the sidelines to get a football and jetted back with just as much speed.

Danaye Holyski (#55) was propped for a weekly award by Justin Filteau.

    “That kind of uncontained energy that you always hear about, somebody just jittering, that was him that day,” said Lammerding. “He was smiling a lot, and it was good.

    “Just even before that practice we got to chat just one-on-one a little bit, because we had some time. It was a good memory to have of him.”

    Barry said the Valkyries coaches are all getting “Filteau’s the Worst” T-shirts made up for themselves. The Valkyries players gave Filteau a “Filteau’s the Worst” T-shirt during the team’s awards banquet following the 2017 campaign.
    “He just loved life, and he was just a fantastic guy,” said Barry. “The way that he giggled too it just made the whole room laugh too.

    “I’ve got some great memories of Justin.”

    The Valkyries players will being wearing “J.T.” decals on their helmets for the rest of the campaign. The team is hoping people attending Sunday’s playoff game against the Wolfpack will wear a jersey or a piece of clothing from the team or organization they associate Filteau with.

Jaime Lammerding (#21) want to make big plays to honour Justin Filteau.

    Filteau played a big role with the “Be More than a Bystandard” program with Football Saskatchewan. He coached different teams in Saskatoon’s minor football program and was on the coaching staff of Saskatchewan’s under-16 provincial team.

    The Valkyries believe playing to honour Filteau will give them an extra push to win their first WWCFL title since 2016.

    “I think it is going to drive us through every game and every play we do,” said Lammerding. “Our game (last) Sunday was tough, because it was a very raw, very new emotion.

Justin Filteau had a great sense of humour.

    “I think now we have going into our playoff games going forward we’ve had a little time to adjust. It is going to be something to drive us continuously. There is still some emotion on the back end, but just not quite raw and up front.”

    “I think we all had the drive to begin with at the beginning of the season,” said Holynski. “We have a good team this year.

    “We have talented players. I think this is just giving us even more of a drive for it. I think we can push through and do it.”

    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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