Hilltops, AKO Fratmen bring standouts to Canadian Bowl

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RB Adam Machart had a breakout season with the Hilltops.

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

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

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

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

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

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

DE Riley Pickett piled up sacks for the Hilltops.

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

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

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

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

Cameron Schnitzler directs the Hilltops defence at middle linebacker.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rookie Arnold delivers Stars to road victory over Bears

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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