At last! “Runnin’ Back to Saskatoon” returns to the Art Hauser Centre

Raiders down archrival Blades 5-1 to delight of home fans

Raiders D Nolan Allan, left, sets to shoot home his winning goal.

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – The Prince Albert Raiders ensured their fans got to enjoy their classic guilty pleasure on Friday night.

Taking on their archrivals the Saskatoon Blades, the 2,402 spectators at the 2,580 seat Art Hauser Centre got to revel in the playing of the Guess Who’s “Runnin’ Back to Saskatoon” with their Raiders posting a 5-1 victory. The festivities got started inside of the final minute of the third period with the final outcome burned on the scoreboard.

It was a long wait for the Raiders faithful to renew that tradition. The last time they beat the Blades at the Art Hauser Centre was a 3-0 victory back on February 29, 2020.

The Raiders celebrate a power-play goal from Nolan Allan.

Previous to Friday’s encounter, that clash on February 29, 2020 was the last time the Raiders and Blades played a regular season game with fans in the stands and was the last contest the two sides played before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic gripped the world.

The 2019-20 WHL season was ultimately stopped on March 12, 2020. The Raiders and Blades played an abbreviated 24-game regular season this past March and April in a bubble environment in Regina with the WHL’s Saskatchewan and Manitoba based clubs to account for a 2020-21 campaign.

While the Friday’s game was a great night for Raiders fans, Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid said a lot of players on his team are still learning what the rivalry is about.

Reece Vitelli had a goal and an assist for the Raiders.

“You look at since we last played pre-COVID it has been a lot of players that have left and a lot of players that have come in,” said Habscheid, whose team will play the Blades 10 times this season. “I guess the rivalry isn’t at its peak right now.

“I’m sure after 10 games it will get there. It is still the two cities and the rivalry. A lot of players really don’t understand the intensity of it yet.”

Of course, the Raiders veteran players are well aware of what the rivalry is about. Standout 18-year-old defenceman Nolan Allan turned out to score the winning goal floating home a point shot for a power-play tally at the 8:53 mark of the second period.

He enjoyed the fact the Raiders faithful got soak in their special victory song tradition for encounters with the Blades.

Jayden Wiens had the Blades lone goal on Friday.

“It is awesome,” said Allan. “It is what we look forward to.

“We love playing those guys over there. It is an intense rivalry. They are the most fun games to play, so it was fun.”

The Blades looked like they were going to do their best to play spoiler early on. They drew first blood at the 4:40 mark of the opening frame when right-winger Brendan Lee got a smart pass to centre Jayden Wiens, who cut across the front of the Prince Albert net and slipped home a backhand shot between the legs for Raiders netminder Carter Serhyenko.

Just past the midway point of the frame, the Raiders evened things up a 1-1 on a beauty coast to coast break out into the offensive zone. Defenceman Tayem Gislason started the rush firing a pass up ice to right-winger Tyson Laventure.

The Blades celebrate a goal from Jayden Wiens (#9)

Laventure proceeded to spring overage centre Reece Vitelli on a breakaway, and Vitelli snapped the equalizer past Blades star overage netminder Nolan Maier.

The Raiders jumped in front 2-1 on Allan’s goal near the midway point of the second period. On that tally, Allan was trying to put a shot on goal that could potentially be deflected home by a forward.

“I was just trying to get pucks to the net,” said Allan. “That is a big thing that we want to do with our power play.

“I was just trying to get a puck on net.”

Landon Kosior scored a big insurance goal for the Raiders.

With 4:29 remaining in the second, it seemed the momentum was going all out in favour of the Raiders. They appeared to go up 3-1 when captain Kaiden Guhle scored on a point shot with his team on the power play.

The Blades challenged for a video review saying the Raiders were offside when they entered the offensive zone. After video review, the officials indeed ruled the play was offside and waved off the goal.

Shortly after that goal was waved off, the Blades went on the power play and had a couple of huge chances to head into the second intermission with a tie score in the game.

Blades star left-winger Kyle Crnkovic was set up and a perfect backdoor chance only to be robbed by a diving Serhyenko.

Ozzy Wiesblatt had a goal and an assist for the Raiders.

Serhyenko proceeded to stone Blades right-winger Brendan Lee on another backdoor chance to keep the Raiders in front 2-1.

Raiders finally did go up 3-1 with teams playing four-versus-four hockey at the 7:20 mark of the third.

During that stint of four-versus-four play, the Raiders got on a two-on-one. Vitelli passed the puck across the front of the goal in defenceman Landon Kosior who ripped a shot bar down into the Saskatoon net.

Habscheid was pleased with Vitelli’s play along with the outing star 19-year-old right-winger Ozzy Wiesblatt had. Wiesblatt also picked up an assist on Kosior’s goal.

Carter Serhyenko made 24 saves in goal for the Raiders.

“Your overage guys they have to be putting in quality time and be dominate players,” said Habscheid. “I think this was his best game.

“I think this was (Ozzy) Wiesblatt’s best game as well. (Blades star overage centre Tristen) Robins and him being drafted by the same team one round apart, so there is a little bit of I guess rivalry built in there. It was good.

“It was a good game.”

Wiesblatt scored an empty-net goal with 1:56 remaining in the third to put the Raiders up 4-1. Sophomore 16-year-old defenceman Terrell Goldsmith scored his second of the season blasting home a point shot 20 second later to round out the 5-1 victory.

Blades star LW Kyle Crnkovic was held pointless on Friday.

Serhyenko stopped 24 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Raiders (4-7-0-1). Maier turned away 30-of-34 shots in net for the Blades (9-3-1), who are rated eighth in the CHL’s Top 10 rankings.

The Raiders went 1-for-6 on the power play, while the Blades failed to score on seven chances with man advantage.

Robins and Crnkovic were held pointless in the setback. Crnkovic had points in all of the Blades previous 12 games before Friday.

Habscheid thought Friday’s game might have been the Raiders most complete outing of the current campaign.

“We’ve been getting better,” said Habscheid, who guided the Raiders to the WHL championship the last time it was contested in 2019. “It was a bit of I guess disorganized, and then everyday you try and get more organized and get guys to understand the Raider way.

The Raiders salute their fans after Friday’s win.

“These guys (the Blades) have been playing good. Obviously, they are eighth ranked in the country. The last time I checked we are still defending champions.

“We got a taste of it, and we don’t want to give it up.”

The Raiders and Blades go at it again on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre. Allan said his Raiders have to keep their intensity up in the second half of the home-and-home series.

“I think we are just going to have to stick to our game plan the same thing we did tonight,” said Allan. “We’re going to have to play a full 60 and play our hard, fast style of game.”

Raiders, Blades tabbed for Capital City Challenge

Harrison Lodewyk (#29) was selected for the Capital City Challenge.

The Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades with both have representation at the Capital City Challenge.

The Capital City Challenge is set to run Nov. 26 to Dec. 1 in Ottawa and will feature three men’s under-17 teams and Canada’s senior national women’s hockey team.

Hockey Canada announced on Friday a list of 66 players who will be split into three under-17 teams tabbed Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White.

The Raiders will be represented by 16-year-old left-winger Harrison Lodewyk. He has appeared in all of the Raiders 12 games this season, and he is still searching for his first point.

He will be joined at that event by Raiders goaltending coach Kelly Guard, who will be the goaltending coach for Team Canada White.

The Blades will be represented by 16-year-old defenceman Tanner Molendyk. Molendyk has appeared in nine game for the Blades this season collecting a goal and three assists.

The McBride, B.C., product is currently out of the Blades lineup listed as being week-to-week with an upper body injury.

Also being named to the under-17 Canadian teams are Saskatoon area 16-year-old star forwards Brayden Yager and Riley Heidt, who play for the Moose Jaw Warriors and Prince George Cougars respectively.

Yager has seven goals and six assists in 12 games so far this season with the Warriors. Heidt has four goals and eight assists to lead the Cougars in scoring with 12 points in 10 games.

Raiders honour moms and billet moms before game

The Raiders players give their moms and billet moms roses.

Before their 5-1 victory over the Saskatoon Blades on Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre, the host Prince Albert Raiders resumed one of their long running traditions.

During a pre-game ceremony, the Raiders honour the moms and billet moms of the players. The moms and billet moms lined up on the ice, and the players brought out roses for them.

Raiders skills coach Mark Odnokon presented roses to long time Raiders billet mom Carole Ring, who sang O Canada before the opening faceoff. Ring was the billet mom for famous Raiders alums Mike Modano and Leon Draisaitl.

The Raiders weren’t able to do this tradition last season playing an abbreviated 24 game campaign in a bubble environment in Regina due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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CJFL playoffs arrive for Hilltops

Saskatoon ready to get it on with Huskies in PFC semifinal

Boston Davidsen finished second in the PFC in rushing yards.

The Saskatoon Hilltops never leave anything to chance especially when it comes to playing a quality opponent they seemingly always beat.

At practice this week, the Hilltops have been their traditional businesslike selves preparing for their Prairie Football Conference semifinal clash with the Edmonton Huskies. The two sides go at it in that CJFL playoff clash on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

“It will be a challenge,” said Hilltops quarterback Damon Dutton. “They are definitely a good team.

“We just have to come out and compete and play our best game of the season on Sunday.”

The Hilltops finished second in the PFC regular season standings with a 6-2 mark, while the Huskies were third with a 5-3 record.

Saskatoon earned a bye to host a PFC semifinal thanks to the second place finish. The Huskies romped over the Calgary Colts 53-9 in a PFC quarter-final contest held this past Sunday at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton.

The two sides went at it twice during the regular season with the Hilltops pulling out wins on both occasions.

“You play a team three times you really get to know what they do with their tendencies,” said Hilltops outside linebacker Konner Johnson. “They are going to be the same for us.

“We watched a lot of film. We have a lot of film on them now of us playing them. We know what we have to get better at.”

On the opening day of the CJFL regular season back on August 22, the Hilltops rallied from a 14-0 deficit to slip past the Huskies 18-17 at Jasper Place Bowl. Hilltops punter Doug Fleming kicked a rouge on the last play of the game to win the contest.

Declan O’Flaherty (#4) topped the PFC in passing yards.

The two sides met again on October 3 at SMF Field, and the Hilltops claimed a 34-20 victory in that encounter.

Before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world helped cancel the 2020 CJFL campaign, the Hilltops and Huskies met the last two times the PFC final was contested. The Hilltops claimed both of those encounters pulling out a 30-14 win in 2019 and a 28-9 victory in 2018.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant knows all that past success doesn’t guarantee any future success.

“They are a good football team,” said Sargeant, whose team has won four straight games. “They are well coached.

“They got skill levels at all positions. They are hungry. You got to remember this is a team we’ve faced in the PFC final for that couple of years.

“We have a history with them as well. It is going to be a big, physical clash, but we’re excited that we are playing at SMF.”

During the 2021 regular season, the Huskies had the highest scoring offence in the PFC scoring 334 points in eight games.

The Hilltops defence gave up the least amount of points in the PFC surrendering 135 points over eight contests.

On offence, Dutton became the Hilltops full-time starter in the team’s fourth game of the campaign. During the regular season, Dutton completed 127-of-183 passes for 1,528 yards and 12 touchdowns, while throwing six interceptions.

Dutton had the third most passing yards and touchdown passes in the PFC.

Damon Dutton (#19) finished third in the PFC in passing yards.

Huskies starting quarterback Declan O’Flaherty had a stellar campaign completing 138-of-234 passes for 2,115 yards and 19 touchdowns, while throwing three interceptions. O’Flaherty led the PFC in passing yards and touchdown passes.

He also rested for much of the Huskies quarter-final win over the Colts completing his only pass for nine yards and a touchdown.

On the ground, Hilltops running backs Boston Davidsen and Carter McLean finished second and third respectively in the PFC in rushing yards. Davidsen carried the 98 times for 634 yards and scored six touchdowns, while McLean had 125 carries for 599 yards and four touchdowns.

Huskies running back Alex Gayle carried the ball 149 times for 927 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He topped the PFC in all three of those statistical categories.

Edmonton also has veteran Brandt Burzuk in the backfield at running back. In 2019, Burzuk was named the PFC’s most valuable player, most outstanding offensive player and most outstanding running back. He battle injuries for much of the 2021 season.

Receiver Ethan Godson led the Hilltops and was fourth in the PFC in receiving yards hauling in 30 catches for 524 yards and six touchdowns.

Pass catcher Adner St Hilaire topped the Huskies and finished second in the PFC in receiving yards catching 35 passes for 609 yards and three touchdowns.

During their wins over the Huskies, the Hilltops usually piled up huge yardage on the ground, which included 285 yards rushing in the 34-20 victory on Oct. 3. Dutton said his squad will keep going to the ground game until success doesn’t happen anymore.

“If our running game is working, that means we are doing our jobs,” said Dutton. “We’re confident that it can and it will work.

“We just have good confidence in our guys.”

Alex Gayle (#33) lead the PFC in rushing yards.

On defence, Johnson had a massive year finishing second in the PFC in defensive points. Over eight regular season games, Johnson recorded 26 defensive tackles, 13 defensive tackle assists, 12 special teams tackles, three special teams tackle assists, one quarterback sack, five pass knockdowns, one fumble recovery and five interceptions.

Huskies defensive back Maurice Dubois finished ninth in the PFC in defensive points. He collected 32 defensive tackles, three defensive tackle assists, four special teams tackles, four pass knockdowns and two interceptions over eight regular season games.

Johnson said the Hilltops are going to try and neutralize the Huskies running game first to try and make their opponents one dimensional.

“That is the main goal, especially now it is getting colder out,” said Johnson. “Teams want to run as much as they can.

“I think that is what they are going to be focused on at the start. We have to shut that down. It should be a better game for us.”

Entering the post-season, the Hilltops have won the CJFL championship the last six times it was up for grabs from 2014 to 2019. That means they have an active 20-game CJFL record post-season game winning going into Sunday’s game too.

The last time the Hilltops didn’t make the PFC final when the CJFL playoffs were contested was way back in 2006. During that campaign, the Hilltops season came to an end with a 35-27 setback in a home PFC semifinal contest played at Griffiths Stadium against the Huskies.

Of course in the current campaign, there has been extra excitement for everything that happens in a season after the 2020 campaign was lost.

Sargeant believes his squad will be once again ready to rock ’n’ roll when it comes time to play this Sunday’s post-season game.

“We know what we need to do and how we need to do it,” said Sargeant. “We’re excited to have a great week of practice and focus on the task at hand.

Konner Johnson (#42) and the Hilltops defence are ready to rock.

“We know that the game still comes down to fundamentals. That is what we are doing all week. The coaches are coaching how we expect our players to play.

“The game plan is laid out. The players have to come out and execute that plan. If they do a good job of that, usually things work out pretty well for us.”

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Hilltops to face Huskies in Prairie Football Conference semi

QB Declan O'Flaherty and the Huskies advanced in the PFC playoffs.

In what should come as no surprise, the Saskatoon Hilltops and Edmonton Huskies are going to go at it for a third time in the 2021 CJFL campaign.

On Sunday at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton, Alta., the host Huskies, who were 5-3 in the regular season, went into their Prairie Football Conference quarter-final as huge favourites over the Calgary Colts, who were 1-7 in the regular season. In the six-team conference, the Huskies were third while the Colts finished sixth.

The Colts held a 2-0 lead early in the contest, but the visions of a monumental upset quickly faded away.

The Huskies rolled to a 33-2 advantage at halftime on their way to a convincing 53-9 victory.

With the win, the Huskies advance to face the Saskatoon Hilltops in a PFC semifinal contest at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 7 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Hilltops finished second in the PFC with a 6-2 regular season record to earn a bye to host a PFC semifinal contest.

The Hilltops, who have won the CJFL title the last six times it has been contested, are riding a four game winning streak heading into the PFC semifinal. They met the Huskies twice in the regular season pulling out wins on both occasions.

On the opening day of the CJFL regular season back on August 22, the Hilltops rallied from a 14-0 deficit to slip past the Huskies 18-17 at Jasper Place Bowl. Hilltops punter Doug Fleming kicked a rouge on the last play of the game to win the contest.

The two sides met again on October 3 at SMF Field, and the Hilltops claimed a 34-20 victory in that encounter.

The Hilltops and Huskies met in the 2019 PFC final at SMF Field on October 27 of that year, and the Saskatoon side posted a 30-14 win on that day.

RB Ivan Jaque and the Rifles won their PFC quarter-final.

In the other PFC quarter-final match on Sunday held at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg, Man., the host Rifles, who finished fourth in the PFC with a 2-6 regular season record, downed the Edmonton Wildcats, who placed fifth in the PFC with a 2-6 mark, 29-18.

The Rifles finished ahead of the Wildcats in the PFC standings due to winning the one regular season encounter between the two sides.

With the win, the Rifles advance to face the Regina Thunder in the other PFC semifinal contest, which will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 7 at Leibel Field in Regina, Sask.

The Thunder, who first took the field in 2000, topped the PFC standings with a perfect 8-0 record. That marked the first time the Thunder have finished first in the PFC, and it was also the first time the Thunder went undefeated in the regular season.

The Thunder and Rifles have met twice in the regular season, and the Regina side posted lopsided wins on both occasions.

On the opening day of the CJFL regular season on August 22, the Thunder blanked the Rifles 37-0 at Maple Grove Rugby Park. The two sides met again in Week 2 on August 29 at Leibel Field, and the Thunder romped to a 64-19 victory in that encounter.

Due to the fact the 2020 CJFL campaign was lost due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, it was decided all of the PFC’s teams would make the post-season in 2021.

Dutton takes PFC offensive player of the week honour

Damon Dutton captured a PFC player of the week honour.

Saskatoon Hilltops quarterback Damon Dutton was named the offensive player of the week for the PFC thanks to his performance in his team’s final CJFL regular season game.

On Sunday, October 24 at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg, Man., Dutton completed 28-of-37 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns, while throwing one interception against the host Winnipeg Rifles. Thanks to Dutton’s efforts, the Hilltops won their fourth straight game downing the Rifles 32-17.

Dutton was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week two days after that win.

In helping the Hilltops finish second in PFC with a 6-2 regular season record, Dutton completed 127-of-183 passes for 1,528 yards and 12 touchdowns, while throwing six interceptions. Dutton is playing in his third full season with the Hilltops.

Johnson gets defensive player of the week nod

Konner Johnson (#42) got a PFC defensive player of the week nod.

Saskatoon Hilltops outside linebacker Konner Johnson was named the defensive player of the week for the PFC thanks to his performance in his team’s final CJFL regular season game.

On Sunday, October 24 at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg, Man., Johnson had six solo defensive tackles, one defensive tackle assist, one special teams tackle, one pass knockdown and one interception against the host Winnipeg Rifles. Thanks to Johnson’s efforts, the Hilltops won their fourth straight game downing the Rifles 32-17.

Johnson was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week two days after that win.

In helping the Hilltops finish second in the PFC with a 6-2 regular season record, Johnson recorded 26 defensive tackles, 13 defensive tackle assists, 12 special teams tackles, three special teams tackle assists, one quarterback sack, five pass knockdowns, one fumble recovery and five interceptions. Johnson, who is playing his third full season with the Hilltops, finished second in the PFC in defensive points.

For that final week of the PFC regular season, Edmonton Wildcats kick return Declan Mullin was named the special teams player of the week for the conference for his efforts in his club’s 35-27 setback to the Edmonton Huskies on October 23 at Jasper Place Bowl.

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Funk solidifies middle of Hilltops defensive line

Jaxon Funk has been a rock at DT for the Hilltops.

Jaxon Funk is in the middle of the action when it comes to keeping the Saskatoon Hilltops defensive line strong.

The 22-year-old product of Hague, Sask., is in his fourth full season with the team and his first full campaign as a starter at defensive tackle. During his first full three seasons with the team from 2017 to 2019, Funk said he learned from his veteran teammates, who have since graduated from the program.

When it came time for Funk to start, he was ready to play full time.

“I had great leadership in front of me,” said Funk, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 280 pounds. “It started with Tom Schnitzler.

“He was a great captain and a great guy to learn from. My next biggest influence was obviously Jesse McNabb. He was a great inside player, and he taught me a lot.

“Obviously, all our coaches have been around for a long time. They know exactly what they are doing. They put me in great spots and taught me everything I know.”

Schnitzler was a star defensive end for the Hilltops who graduated following the 2017 season, and McNabb was a star defensive tackle with the Hilltops, who graduated after the 2019 campaign.

Funk has followed in their footsteps continuing the lineage of stellar players the Hilltops have had along their defensive line. Playing on a defensive tackle spot, Funk doesn’t receive a lot of glory.

His job is often to take on double teams in order to allow his teammates to tackle running backs or sack quarterbacks.

Jaxon Funk (#77) storms on to the field with the Hilltops.

Even with that unglamourous role, Funk collected 27 solo tackles 12 assisted tackles, two fumble recoveries and a half sack helping the Hilltops post a 6-2 record during the regular season. Funk personally finished 16^th overall in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference in defensive points.

“Jaxon Funk has had an unbelievable year for us,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “He has been a rock on our defence.

“He is probably the most consistent player we have. He does his job. He doesn’t get a lot of pats on the back.

“To have a noseguard in the top 16 in defensive points is absolutely incredible. He is a captain. He is a great leader.”

During the 2019 campaign, Funk was often rotated on to the defensive line for suspected running situations and kept off the field in obvious pass situations. The coaches worked that rotation to keep players fresh and playing to their strengths.

Now, Funk rarely leaves the field being a full-time starter. The Hague High School Panthers six-man football team graduate said he has had a tonne of help making plays from his teammates on the Hilltops defensive line.

Funk has formed a formidable duo inside with fellow defensive tackle Dylan McNutt, while defensive ends Daylen Hartz and Riece Kack have applied consistent pressure from the outside.

Jaxon Funk (#77) paired with his DT partner in Dylan McNutt (#51).

“We lost a lot of guys, but there have been a lot of guys who have stepped up and did their job,” said Funk. “It has been great.

“Obviously, the coaches are putting everyone in the right spots. It has been a good time.”

If he runs into situations where he is taking on constant double teams, Funk said the Hilltops linebackers coming in behind him have been outstanding making plays.

“I love knowing that if I take on a double team then we got guys behind me that are going to fill their roles,” said Funk. “Wisty (middle linebacker Matt Wist) has been doing a great job this year of filling in gaps.

“If I can get that double and if I end up on a single team, I just have to take advantage of that and try to make a play and do the best I can off that.”

Sargeant said Funk has a number of attributes that allow him to have success.

“Number one, he has worked real hard over the last couple of years to make himself bigger and strong,” said Sargeant. “He has got football IQ.

“He understands leverage and how to work against the O-line and the double teams. He is a player that gets double teamed a lot. He just had a knack for getting off blocks and staying alive and working towards the ball.

Jaxon Funk (#77) passes on kind words to a teammate.

“He is just always around the play. He makes us so much better.”

Before joining the Hilltops, Funk enjoyed playing the six-man game with the Panthers and then head coach Clay Kirby. The Hague Panthers six-man high school team gained notoriety being one of the feature teams in the 2007 “Season of Dreams” documentary about football in Saskatchewan.

Funk said a trio of Hilltops alums from Hague including Richard Zacharias and brothers Tyler and Shayne Dueck were big influences who convinced him to try out for the storied CJFL club.

“Richard Zacharias, who was a linebacker with the team and has helped out coaching recently, really showed me what the team was about,” said Funk. “(Zacharias) helped me get prepared for my rookie season and has been a great mentor ever since.”

Funk’s family became a football family after he first took up the sport in Grade 8. His older sister, Alyssa, has been a star at left tackle for the Saskatoon Valkyries of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League since 2015.

Younger brother, Jeremy, is in his first year with the Hilltops on the team’s practice roster.

Jaxon credits his parents in father, Lyle, and mother, Katrina, for being the biggest influences for helping him along in football.

“My parents are huge on sports,” said Jaxon Funk. “My dad never really played football, but he always wanted to, but Hague didn’t have a team at that point.

Jaxon Funk finished 16th in the PFC in defensive points.

“When I started, he learned everything about it and supported me as much as he could. I kind of started it in our family. My sister played with Valkyries and my younger brother is on the team now. It just turned into a really big football family.”

With the PFC having completed its regular season schedule, the Hilltops earned a bye to host a PFC semifinal contest due to finishing second in the conference standings. The Hilltops are scheduled to host that contest on Sunday, November 7 at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

They will play the team that has the best record that advances out of the two PFC quarter-final games that will be held on Sunday.

Due to the fact the 2020 CJFL campaign was lost due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, Funk said there is extra excitement within his team as that first post-season contest draws near.

He said the businesslike approach to that contest mirrors what the Hilltops do in the regular season.

“It is just the same kind of atmosphere,” said Funk, who helped the Hilltops win CJFL titles in each of his first three seasons with the team. “You have to put your time in and practise hard.

“That will reflect how we play on the field. Obviously, we were all pretty excited to back into playoffs after last year not being able to play. You really appreciate the time we can have out here.

Jaxon Funk (#77) and the Hilltops have enjoyed playing after a year off.

“Everyone knows that they’ve got to step it up and have their best game of the year next Sunday and just keep it going.”

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Victory falls through Raiders’ grasp again

Wheat Kings rally for 5-4 win after tiebreaking shootout

The Wheat Kings celebrate a shootout winner from Tyson Zimmer (#25).

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – The Prince Albert Raiders were lamenting the one that got away for a second straight game.

On Friday night playing before 2,234 spectators at the 2,580 Art Hauser Centre, the Raiders held a 3-2 lead going into a third period. After the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings tied things up at 3-3, the Raiders got ahead 4-3 with 8:18 remaining in the third.

The Wheat Kings tied things up at 4-4 on a power play and proceeded to take the WHL regular season encounter 5-4 after a tiebreaking shootout.

Brett Hyland had a goal and two assists for the Wheat Kings.

The Wheat Kings took the shootout 2-1 with right-winger Tyson Zimmer potting the winner in the third round.

In Prince Albert’s previous outing last Saturday, the Raiders led the Hurricanes in Lethbridge 3-2 going into the third period. The Hurricanes proceeded to score three goals inside the final six minutes of the third frame to prevail 5-3.

 “We deserved better,” said Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid, whose team’s record moved to 2-7-0-1. “We should have won.

“We should have won the last two games. We got one point out of four, so that is disappointing. A couple of goals they scored we probably gave it to them.

Kaiden Guhle had three assists for the Raiders.

“We made a couple of glaring errors, and it ended up in our net. We also need a save.”

Friday’s game started with Raiders star centre Ozzy Wiesblatt laying a big crowd pleasing hit on Wheat Kings captain Ridley Greig early in the first period.

The Raiders proceeded cash in on that energetic start going ahead 2-0 on goals from Remy Aquilon and Reece Vitelli.

Before the opening frame ended, the Wheat Kings answered back pulling even at 2-2 with goals coming from Zimmer and Belarusian import Zakhar Polshakov. Those tallies came 19 seconds apart from each other.

The host side got the only goal of the second period. At the 10:56 mark of the frame, Raiders right-winger Cale Sanders picked up a loose puck at the left side of Brandon net, and he put the puck home into an cage to give Prince Albert a 3-2 lead.

Remy Aquilon had two goals for the Raiders.

The hosts ran into penalty trouble to close out the second frame too. At the 12:11 mark of the second, Aquilon received a double minor for checking from behind for a hit he threw on Greig behind the Prince Albert net. Greig was helped off the ice and didn’t return.

The double minor by Aquilon will be automatically reviewed by the WHL office for a possible suspension.

The Wheat Kings were unable to score on those chances with the man advantage.

With 2:53 to go in the second, Raiders 17-year-old left-winger Niall Crocker received a slashing minor, and Brandon was unable to score on that power play.

Nolan Ritchie had a goal for the Wheat Kings.

After the penalty expired, Crocker emerged from the penalty box and was sprung on a breakaway after receiving a stretch pass coming from the Raiders zone. Crocker ended up firing the shot wide of the Brandon goal.

“Our forwards have to score,” said Habscheid. “Everybody wants to score.

“You just have to play the right way.”

At the 4:38 mark of the third, Wheat Kings left-winger Brett Hyland scored to even the score at 3-3. Hyland had two assists to go along with his goal for a three-point night.

With 8:18 remaining in the third, Aquilon fired home a point shot for his second tally of the night to put the hosts up 4-3.

When it appeared the Raiders were going to close out the contest, rookie Belarusian import forward Vladislav Shilo took an untimely roughing penalty with 3:56 remaining the frame to put Brandon on the power play.

Niall Crocker eyes up a shot on a breakaway he would miss.

The Wheat Kings capitalized on this chance when left-winger Nolan Ritchie knocked home a rebound opportunity to even the score at 4-4 with 3:40 remaining in the frame.

Despite the fact Brandon tied the contest for a third time, Aquilon thought the players on his squad didn’t get emotionally down.

“The guys did a good job of keeping it up, especially the older guys trying to make sure to just shake it off,” said Aquilon. “It is definitely not the one we want to give up late in the third there.”

Before overtime came around, the Raiders were able to go on the power play, but failed to score. They were 0-for-5 with the man advantage in the contest.

Tyson Laventure had an assist and six shots for the Raiders.

“Obviously, special teams can win or lose you games,” said Raiders 18-year-old right-winger Tyson Laventure, who had an assists and six shots on goal in the setback. “Obviously, we went 0-for-5 which didn’t help.

“They got a goal on their power play, which ended up tying the game and giving them the win. We have to be better on the power play in the future for sure.”

The Raiders had a 4-1 edge in shots on goal through the scoreless three-on-three five-minute overtime period.

In the tiebreaking shootout, captain Kaiden Guhle scored for the Raiders, while Hylund and Zimmer responded for the Wheat Kings to give them the win.

Tikhon Chaika stopped 18 shots on goal over 65 minutes for the Raiders and one of three shooters in the shootout. Ethan Kruger turned away 33 shots on net over 65 minutes for the Wheat Kings (5-6) and two of three shooters in the shootout.

Ethan Kruger made 33 saves over 65 minutes for the Wheat Kings.

Guhle collected three assists and posted a plus-three rating in the plus-minus department for the Raiders in the setback.

These two teams go at it again on Saturday at Westoba Place in Brandon, Man., at 7 p.m. local time.

Laventure said his team needs take advantage of chances to close out games, when his squad has a lead in the third period.

“Obviously our last couple of games we’ve been going into the third period with the lead and having it with less than 10 minutes left,” said Laventure. “We just have to finish those off.

The Wheat Kings celebrate their win on Friday night.

“We can’t be giving up games in the last 10 to five minutes in the game. We have to look to close one out tomorrow.”

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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Raiders underdog Peekeekoot easy player to root for

Dallyn Peekeekoot jets up for the Raiders on Oct. 1.

Based on just his draft status, Dallyn Peekeekoot might always be an underdog story.

Peekeekoot was selected by the Prince Albert Raiders in the 10^th round and 220^th overall in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft, which is now known as the WHL Prospects Draft. With that selection, the product of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation had no guarantees of being a WHL regular.

The draft selection meant he would have a chance to come to at least a couple of Raiders training camps to try and make an impression. The high energy right-winger ended up being able to do just that.

Peekeekoot cracked the Raiders roster as a 16-year-old to play a shortened regular season in a bubble environment at the Brandt Centre in Regina this past March and April against the WHL’s other member teams from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The shortened season was developed to allow teams to play with health orders that were in place to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This column of mine appeared in the Prince Albert Daily Herald. To read the full article, feel free to click the link right here.

Family feeling brings Chisholm back to Hilltops

Saskatoon closes regular season with 32-17 win in Winnipeg

Jonathan Chisholm (#71) walks out of the tunnel with his parents.

About a year ago, Jonathan Chisholm was in the working world and uncertain if he would play his fifth and final season for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

When the 2020 CJFL campaign was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that had gripped the world, the Hilltops were able to practice for six weeks in September and October, but Chisholm wasn’t there.

“This past year, I was actually back in Swift (Current) like in my hometown,” said Chisholm. “I went back to work.

“I didn’t really workout. I went on the oil rigs and just made some money to kind of get my life back on track.”

While the veteran right tackle was away from the team, an avenue existed for Chisholm to return. The Hilltops still had him on their roster in 2020.

Due to the fact the 2020 season was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CJFL allowed players who were on team rosters as 22-year-old in 2020 to return this season as 23-year-olds in 2021. Once the 2021 campaign was given the green light to go, Chisholm had his heart set on rejoining the Hilltops, and he returned to Saskatoon.

Going into training camp, he admitted to being scared due to the fact he wasn’t sure what the season was going to be like.

“I hadn’t practised in a while, especially with COVID and everything,” said Chisholm, who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 295 pounds. “After the first week of practice, I felt really good.

“The boys were there. We were all rallying up together. I felt it was electric.”

On Sunday, the Hilltops closed their CJFL regular season schedule downing Rifles 32-17 at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg, Man.

Chisholm had a highlight moment that offensive lineman rarely get to obtain in that contest. With the Hilltops trailing the Rifles 3-0 in the first quarter, Chisholm caught a three-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Damon Dutton on a lineman eligible trick play to give the Hilltops a 7-3 lead.

Saskatoon never trailed again in that contest winning a fourth straight game to finish the regular season with a 6-2 record. The Rifles fell to 2-6 to wrap up their regular season schedule.

Jonathan Chisholm, right, is a standout at right tackle.

When Chisholm returned to the Hilltops, the 23-year-old found himself in a leadership role more than any point he was with the team. He wasn’t trying to project being the leader.

Chisholm found his role evolved that way when numerous newcomers were coming up to him with queries or just wanting to talk to get an extra feel of comfort.

He said the other two members of the Hilltops who are playing their fifth full season with the club in star left tackle Mason Ochs and standout boundary cornerback Jared Giddings have experienced the same thing too.

Chisholm added that linebacker Emmarae Dale, who is also in her graduating year with the team, is also being looked upon in that same way. Dale is playing out her first and only full season with the Hilltops after being recruited to join the storied CJFL squad after having a lot of success with the Saskatoon Valkyries of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League.

While Dale is a newcomer with the Hilltops, she is well known by the team for her time with the Valkyries and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s track and field team.

“It is pretty awesome,” said Chisholm. “There are four of us graduating, and these guys just look up to us.

“They think we are their parents, and it feels good. They are guys I like talking to. This year, they were very nervous.

“I was very vocal about if you needed to say something or ask questions please do so. We want you guys to like being here and feel welcome and make sure you guys like playing the game. That is what matters most.”

Unfortunately, events on the field didn’t unfold as planned. In the Hilltops second game of the season on August 29, Chisholm suffered a knee injury in his team’s 35-18 victory over the Colts in Calgary.

Thanks to the fact the Hilltops had two bye weeks, Chisholm was able to take six weeks to make another comeback to the field. The bye weeks cut down the games he missed to four contests.

Chisholm was pumped to see Jayson Kehler play well as the Hilltops starting right tackle position during that time. Kehler is in his fourth full season with the Hilltops.

Chisholm made it back for the Hilltops final regular season home game on October 17, when they romped over the Edmonton Wildcats 44-7 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Jonathan Chisholm spent 2020 in the working world.

He participated in the traditional last walk out of the tunnel the Hilltops do with their graduation players, where they take a walk out of the tunnel to the field with their parents. He made that walk with his mother, Donna, and father, John.

“I know my parents were really happy to come out on the field,” said Jonathan Chisholm. “I was happy for them, especially when I gave my mom flowers. She was really excited and really happy.

“It just felt really special, especially with all the players just being there and just supporting you.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was happy to see Chisholm make it back for a final stretch from his injury.

“Number one, we love running the ball,” said Sargeant. “We love having big physical offensive linemen.

“It just helps to bring an identity back to our team that he played a big part in creating. He is an aggressive player. He loves to get after you.

“Him and Mason Ochs are a great combination. We feel we have the two best tackles around, and we’ll take that against anybody. As I said, we’re excited for them to finish off their fifth years in grand style.”

Chisholm said he still isn’t 100 per cent physically, but he is enjoying the present. There is nowhere else he would want to be than with the Hilltops.

“I come to films, and I am still learning,” said Chisholm. “Being here is the most important part than just being at home.

“It is just absolutely crazy. It honestly feels like Week 3 for me right now. It is really like playoffs are right around the corner.

“The weather is really good too. I can’t even complain right now. I’m pretty happy.”

When he does finally depart the Hilltops as a player, Chisholm said he will carry a tonne of memories with him and will always cherish his relationships with everyone connected with the team.

“Just being around the fans, the whole fanbase like the parents and the club and the trainers,” said Chisholm. “Everything just coming together.

“It feels like one big family. Going into that locker room and you see that sign, ‘It starts with you and ends with us.’ It means a lot to me just seeing that.”

Jonathan Chisholm caught a touchdown pass on Sunday.

In Sunday’s clash with the Rifles, Winnipeg took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a 17-yard field goal from kicker Matt Kennedy.

The Hilltops responded with Chisholm’s touchdown catch to go ahead 7-3.

Before the first quarter ended, Dutton hit receiver Lachlan Horsley with a 10-yard touchdown pass to increase the Hilltops advantage to 14-3.

At the start of the second quarter, Rifles receiver Everrett Findley made an eight-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Bryson McNeil to cut the Hilltops lead to 14-10.

The Rifles had to concede a safety due to bad field position to increase the Saskatoon lead to 16-10.

The Hilltops put up another score when Dutton hit speedy pass catcher Ethan Godson with a 25-yard touchdown pass to increase the edge for the visitors to 23-10.

Before the second quarter ended, the Rifles got a one-yard rushing touchdown from Sekina Scheibler to trim Saskatoon’s lead to 23-17.

The Hilltops accounted for all the scoring in the second half. In the third quarter, kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas hit a field goal from 11 yards out to give the Hilltops a 26-17 advantage.

Early in the fourth quarter, star running back Carter McLean scored a touchdown on a four yard run. When the ensuing convert attempt hit the upright, the Hilltops lead sat as the game’s final outcome at 32-17.

The Hilltops finished second in the Prairie Football Conference and will have a bye to host a PFC semifinal game. That game is slated to be held on Sunday, November 7 at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The Regina Thunder topped the PFC standings with a perfect 8-0 record, and they will host the other PFC semifinal also on Sunday, November 7.

The Edmonton Huskies finished third in the PFC with a 5-3 mark and they will host the sixth place Calgary Colts (1-7) in a PFC quarter-final on Sunday, October 31.

The Rifles placed fourth in the PFC and will host the Edmonton Wildcats (2-6) in the other PFC quarter-final contest on Sunday, October 31. The Rifles finished ahead of the Wildcats in the standings thanks to winning the one head-to-head game between the two sides.

Jonathan Chisholm, centre, is going to miss the Hilltops family feeling.

After the 2020 CJFL season was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided all six of the PFC’s teams would participate in the post-season in 2021.

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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