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| Hilltops OL Jordan Hydomako walks to the field with his parents. |
For 16 members of the Saskatoon Hilltops, they are enjoying
their final days as players for the storied Canadian Junior Football League
club. If the team goes all the way to host this year’s Canadian Bowl on Nov. 7,
it means those fifth-year graduating players have at most 23 full days starting
on Friday to enjoy suiting up for the blue and gold for practices and games. They
only have at most 23 full days to enjoy spending time with their teammates.
When Nov. 8 rolls around, there will definitely be no more
practices or games to take part in as a CJFL player.
The Hilltops begin their playoff run on Sunday, when they
host the Winnipeg Rifles in a Prairie Football Conference semifinal contest at
1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Saskatoon topped the PFC regular
season standings with a 7-1 mark, while Winnipeg finished fourth with a 4-4
record.
On paper, the contest is a severe mismatch, as the Hilltops
swept the two regular season meetings between the clubs outscoring the Rifles
115-17. The Toppers are expected to win this first contest on the post-season
trail, but the results afterwards are not a sure thing.
Even with that in mind, the veterans have to relish the
limited time they have left and not take anything for granted including that
playoff match with Winnipeg.
The soon to be graduates include Blake Adams, Chad Braun,
Nathan Heide, Tyrell Hering, Jordan Hydomako, Evan Kopchynski, Matt Kozun,
Davis Mitchell, Preston Njaa, Quinn Pierce, Derek Sadownick, Brad Schnitzler,
Terry Thesen, Austin Thorarinson, Brett Thorarinsson and Evan Turkington.
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| Hilltops LT Terry Thesen guides the way for Logan Fischer. |
They have had a huge hand in adding to the Hilltops proud
legacy. During their years, the Hilltops claimed the Canadian Bowl three times,
and they would all love to add a fourth title this season, which would be the
team’s fifth CJFL championship in the last six years.
The fact that the end is getting closer became more real
during the Toppers final regular season home game last Sunday. In what has to
be one of the most heartwarming annual traditions any sports team has in
Canada, each graduating Hilltops vet was introduced to the crowd making the
walk out of the tunnel with their parents. The parents were almost all decked
out in cool looking team gear.
That moment was definitely something the players and the
parents will never forget, and it gives the parents recognition for the support
they have given their boys over the years even before joining the blue and gold.
A lot times, you can find the parents along with the players’ brother and
sisters out watching practice in order to further share in the Hilltops
experience.
As the final days move on for the graduates, they will
experience other memories they will never forget, and they won’t likely all
revolve around winning games.
The memories will include telling jokes between drills at
practice at Ron Atchison Field or in the dressing room at the Hilltops clubhouse.
Just being around the other guys, who become like family, will be a big thing
that is missed. For anyone that has spent any around the Hilltops clubhouse,
you can’t miss the family feeling atmosphere at that place.
Going out into the community and being recognized is another
thing that will be missed. The Hilltop players have always carried themselves
with humility and class, but it always feels special to hear a good word from a
complete stranger, who follows what the team does.
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| Brett Thorarinsson boots the ball away for the Hilltops. |
Not all the graduating veterans might be able to play these
final playoff games, as like any football season the injury bug has something
to say. The hearts of a lot of Toppers fans dropped when Adams, who has been an
extremely popular member of the team’s star defensive line, suffered a left
knee injury in the final regular season game and is questionable for the
post-season.
If they can’t play, the injured graduating players will
likely be passing on encouragement and coaching tips to those that will fill
their roles to keep adding to the Hilltops experience.
The final days are indeed here for the graduating players,
but the best time is still right now. You can be sure each will ensure every
day is a good day, and as those good days add up, there is a good chance they
will culminate with one last championship celebration memory on Nov. 7.
If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this blog post, feel free to email
them to stankssports@gmail.com.
