Murphy’s versatility benefits Valkyries for almost a decade

Saskatoon closes WWCFL regular season with perfect 4-0 mark

Kelsey Murphy returns a kick for the Valkyries.

Becoming part of the Saskatoon Valkyries family allowed Kelsey Murphy to become a better supporter of the football exploits of her two younger brothers.

Murphy joined the Valkyries way back in their 2014 WWCFL championship season and has been with the powerhouse women’s football squad ever since. The veteran defensive back has spent the most consecutive seasons with the team out of anyone on the current roster at nine, which is also good for the most total campaigns spent on the squad as a player with the club’s current lineup.

When Murphy joined the Valkryies in 2014, she fell in love with the game of football quickly. The now 29-year-old admitted she actually didn’t have any warm feelings for the sport until she became a member of the Valkyries.

“Before that, I didn’t like football,” said Murphy. “I didn’t want to watch it, when my family wanted to watch it.

“I regret missing a lot of my brother’s football games early on, because I wasn’t interested in it. Then, Valkyries made that space for women to be in football. For me, that is when I fell in love with it.

“Now, I’m at every game I can get to.”

By the end of Murphy’s first season with the Valkyries, her brother Liam, who is two years younger than her, had just graduated from Aden Bowman Collegiate. By that time, Liam had played tackle football for a lengthy stretch starting in Saskatoon Minor Football’s Six-A-Side program, the KFL and in the high school ranks with the Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears.

After Kelsey played her first season with the Valkyries, Liam joined the Saskatoon Hilltops as a running back and helped them win CJFL championships in all four seasons he played with the club from 2014 to 2017.

Kelsey Murphy looks to blitz from the halfback position.

The elder sister didn’t ignore all her brother’s games before she joined the Valkyries, but she was a regular in the stands at all his games with the Hilltops.

“I would go to his games, but I wasn’t watching it because I didn’t know the sport,” said Murphy, who stands 5-foot-5. “I felt like a big outsider to football.

“Once I started playing Valks, I was at every game watching him, because I was like, ‘This is so cool and exciting.’ I have an idea of what is going on now and feel like it is a space that I can be in and be excited about.”

Liam is currently a running backs coach with the Valkyries. On top of trying to get to all Liam’s games when he was with the Hilltops, Kelsey made it to as many of the high school games as she could of their youngest sibling in brother Jacob at Aden Bowman. Jacob’s tackle football days came to an end when he joined the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Men’s Track and Field team in September of 2017.

Kelsey has continued suit up to play in tackle football games for almost a half decade since Liam or Jacob last suited up to play. She is also one of the oldest active players on the Valkyries roster, and she finds the experience she has gained has become a valuable asset.

“I think there is like a big sense of comfort,” said Murphy. “I know what is coming and can do my best to welcome other people into it.

“I think that is one of my favourite things about being at this stage in football.”

On Sunday at Leibel Field in Regina, the Valkyries stormed out to a 24-0 lead in the first quarter and cruised to a 41-0 victory over the host Riot in the final regular season contest for both sides. With the win, the Valkyries officially wrapped up first place in the Prairie Conference with a 4-0 record. The Riot place second in the Prairie Conference with a 2-2 mark.

So far this season, Murphy has interceptions in each of the Valkyries two regular season home games. She returned one of those interceptions 45 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring in the Valkyries 59-0 romp over the Winnipeg Wolfpack on May 28 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Kelsey Murphy (#85) returns an interception for the Valkyries.

Overall, Murphy loves how the Valkyries have come together this season.

“I do feel like we’ve got a lot of really new young players who are doing amazing and coming up with such skill and talent with all the development that Football Sask and all those people have been putting into women’s football,” said Murphy. “We have a great core as well of vets like Sarah (Wright) and everybody and Woj (Alex Wojcichowsky) that have been around for quite a while and are just like such good players.

“I think it is a really exciting mix.”

Murphy had seen her role with the team change quite a bit over the years. She started out as a running back in 2014 but didn’t see the field a whole lot due to how deep the club was at that position at that time.

Murphy switched over to receiver for a number of years before becoming a defensive back. On special teams, Murphy has returned kicks for a lengthy part of her career.

“I don’t think running back was necessarily the best place for me to start,” said Murphy, who has helped the Valkyries win four WWCFL titles over her playing career. “It was good, because I learned a lot about how to hold a ball going into contact and learning how to get tackled.

“Just for my size, it was like they could just push me over. Receiver was really fun, and I loved it. I’m so happy to be at DB now.

“I wish I had started there from the start, but then I wouldn’t have gotten as much practise catching and carrying the ball.”

Valkyries head coach Pat Barry came on board with the program as a position coach the same year Murphy joined the squad in 2014. At the end of the Valkyries championship campaign last season, Barry asked Murphy if she was coming back for another campaign, and Murphy said she would be back as she was having too much fun.

“She (Murphy) is just a positive person,” said Barry. “Kelsey is a great person, and she does so much for our team, and people just gravitate towards her.

Kelsey Murphy starts into a backpedal for the Valkyries.

“We always wanted the best for her. We thought she would get more playing time as a DB. She has really emerged as a great defensive back, so it is exciting.”

Away from football, Murphy has been involved in various community endeavors. On May 14, 2021, Murphy was recognized by the Saskatoon YWCA Women of Distinction Awards being named the winner of the 29 and Under Award.

Barry said Murphy has a gift when it comes to leading by example.

“Having that leadership that transfers or translates is kind of unique on our team, because as adults, they can keep playing,” said Barry, whose team has won 24 straight games overall. “It is essential.

“It really helps. It sort of teaches the younger players how we do things around here. She is great at that.”

Murphy said she has great memories of her first year coming in with a rookie group that included Ehjae Chan, Sam Matheson, Danielle Haughian and Kelsey Dick. She is still enjoying the game as much as ever now in her ninth year with the team.

Murphy wants to help the members of this year’s team create many more amazing memories. She would love to help the Valkyries win another WWCFL title also to give a nod to the coaches for all the work they’ve put in this season.

“It would be amazing,” said Murphy. “It would be awesome to win with this coaching staff that has worked so hard to kind of get us to where we are.”

The Valkyries are expecting to open the WWCFL playoffs this coming weekend with a Prairie Conference semifinal with the day and time of that contest still to be announced. They will have home-field advantage throughout the post-season including if they reach the WWCFL Championship Game.

Looking beyond this season, Murphy is expecting to continue to play with the Valkyries, but she isn’t sure how many years down the road that will continue for.

“That is a tough question, because it does just get like harder on your body,” said Murphy. “It is tough to say.

Kelsey Murphy (#85) visits some Valkyries alum after a game.

“I think a few, but I don’t know for sure.”

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

-------

If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.

Heintz soaks in final playoff ride with Hilltops

Dillan Heintz, centre, walks on to SMF Field with his parents.

During his first two seasons with the Saskatoon Hilltops, Dillan Heintz never doubted the words of the team’s veteran leaders, but he admits they hit differently now that he is a veteran leader.

The 22-year-old receiver is one of the Hilltops captains. He is set to embark on his final playoff run with the team as he will graduate out of the CJFL ranks whenever the Hilltops post-season run comes to an end.

The Hilltops open the CJFL post-season taking on the Edmonton Huskies in a PFC semifinal on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Both teams sported 5-3 regular season records, but the Hilltops finished second in the PFC and earned the right to host the PFC semifinal due to taking the lone head-to-head regular season encounter with the Huskies 38-10 on August 21 at SMF Field.

Heintz said it was different knowing this will be his last playoff run with the Hilltops.

“Looking back at it now, it went by in a flash,” said Heintz, who is one of 20 players who will graduate from the Hilltops at the conclusion of their 2022 post-season run. “Back in my first and second year, I would listen to the old guys who said to enjoy every moment.

“Now, you look at that, and it means a lot more. I’m just trying to enjoy the guys and take it as far as we can.”

Last year, Heintz had a memorable clutch moment in a PFC semifinal against the Huskies. With the Hilltops trailing 31-27, Heintz caught a pass on a five-yard out pattern from quarterback Damon Dutton with 21.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to allow the Hilltops to pull out a 33-31 victory.

Dillan Heintz scores the PFC semifinal winning TD in 2021.

Heintz remembers the offence getting in the zone during the winning two-minute drill drive, and he happened to have the honour of being put in position to catch the winning score.

“It is pretty spectacular honestly,” said Heintz, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 185 pounds. “Just as a team, that was such a special moment.

“For us to do the whole two-minute drill and go there with whatever it was a minute and 18 seconds on the clock and win the game, I just had my number called. It was a combination of good plays.

“It wasn’t just one guy. It was all 12 of us on the field, and yeah, it was pretty special.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said the team’s coaching staff always has memories of the clutch plays Heintz makes in the back of their collective minds. When the time comes where the team needs a clutch play, Sargeant said Heintz is one of the players the club’s coaches look to.

“He (Heintz) is a prime time player,” said Sargeant. “He has played a lot of games for us – a lot of big games.

“We just have a lot of confidence in him. Dillan is a captain. He is a leader.

“He is one of the top guys on this offence. He is one of the guys we expect to make the tough catch and make the tough block.”

Heintz, who is graduate of Saskatoon’s Centennial Collegiate Chargers Football Team, is versatile too. He is a player the Hilltops will give the ball to on a jet sweep or have him throw a pass on a gadget play. Heintz has a sound understanding of the offence and comes though with the unnoticed task of making key blocks on running plays.

Dillan Heintz motors upfield after making a catch.

When Heintz was unable to play during the team’s third and fourth games of the regular season due to a minor injury which they lost, Sargeant said Heintz’s absence hurt the team way more than people would suspect. When Heintz returned to play, Sargeant said it added an infusion of stability and confidence.

“On our offence, you just know that the spotlight is on him (Heintz),” said Sargeant. “Where he goes a lot of times that is where the ball seems to go.

“We try to take advantage of what defences are trying to do. When they are over playing him, that gives us the hitch pass or the bubble pass those types of things. As I said, he is just always heavily involved in our game plan.

“We always try to scheme for him like we are doing this week to put him in spots. The sooner you get him the ball he is a tough guy to tackle. We love that he is here, and we are enjoying every minute we can with him.”

Heintz was pleased he wasn’t out of the lineup for more than two games due to the fact he is playing his final CJFL season. When he did make his return, he was energized to get on the field.

“I was trying to get back like a week or two earlier than I even did,” said Heintz. “It was kind a collective decision for coaches and trainers.

“It was the right call to sit out a couple of games. When I got back, I was ready to get out there, and I was ready to smash my face into someone else honestly. It was kind of one of those things you are just itching.

“No one likes to be injured, so you’re ready to get back out there as soon as you can.”

Dillan Heintz hold on to an acrobatic catch for the Hilltops.

Due to his injury, the Hilltops early season struggles in the passing game and how spectacular the team’s run game has been, Heintz had modest numbers in the 2022 regular season. 

In six games, he caught 20 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns and ran the ball once for 23 yards.

Heintz said he has always cared more about wins than personal statistics. With the Hilltops ground game averaging 227.3 yards rushing per contest over the team’s eight regular season games and 309 yards rushing per outing in the club’s three game winning streak heading into playoffs, Heintz is ready to play the hot hand and continue block.

While the run is important, Heintz is staying prepared to make a difference in the passing game.

“As receivers, we take a lot of pride in our blocking,” said Heintz. “We practise that every single day.

“You’re always ready when your number is going to get called. In the game, you’re lucky if you get five to six balls thrown your way. You have to make sure you capitalize on every single one of those chances.

“We’re a heavy run team, so we take pride in our blocking.”

The Hilltops celebrate Dillan Heintz’s PFC semifinal winning TD in 2021.

While the end of the 2022 Hilltops campaign is near, Heintz said he isn’t sure what he is going to do when the post-season wraps up. He has put thoughts about his time coming to an end with the storied CJFL team to the back of his mind.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” said Heintz. “I’m trying to just kind of focus on here and now.

“Right now, we have the Edmonton Huskies this week. I’m trying to enjoy as much time as I can with these guys. They’re my brothers, so coming here every day is a privilege.

“To be here with my brothers and my coaches and trainers and everyone, it is just a special experience, and I’m trying to soak it all in.”

Davidsen gets second PFC player of the week nod

Boston Davidsen rumbles downfield for the Hilltops.

A big game that allowed Saskatoon Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen to break the 1000-yard rushing barrier also resulted in his second player of the week nod for the 2022 CJFL campaign.

On Wednesday, Davidsen was named the PFC’s player-of-the-week for efforts in the Hilltops 43-14 victory over the Calgary Colts this past Sunday. In that contest, Davidsen carried the ball 16 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns by the halftime break.

Those became his final game totals as the Hilltops held a 26-0 lead at halftime and rotated in their talented and deep stable of running backs in the second half. During the eight game regular season, Davidsen carried the ball 149 times for 1,037 yards and scored seven touchdowns.

Regina Thunder linebacker Stephen Smith took home honours as the PFC’s defensive player of the week on Wednesday. In the Thunder’s 42-14 victory over the Edmonton Huskies last Sunday at Leibel Field in Regina, Smith had four defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists, 1.5 quarterback sacks, a pass knockdown, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and one interception.

Thunder linebacker Devin Baumann took the nod as the PFC’s special teams player of the week Wednesday for his efforts in the Thunder’s win over the Huskies this past Sunday. Baumann made a CJFL record five special teams solo tackles helping the Thunder improve to 8-0 on the campaign.

Title matches set in BCFC and OFC

This coming Saturday will be championship Saturday for the CJFL’s BCFC and OFC conferences.

The BCFC championship will see the Okanagan Sun host the Westshore Rebels at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, B.C., on Saturday. The Sun posted a perfect 10-0 record in regular season play and dumped the defending CJFL champion Langley Rams 44-20 in one BCFC semifinal last Saturday at the Apple Bowl. The Rams posted a 5-5 record in regular season play.

In the other BCFC semifinal played this past Sunday, the Rebels blanked the Valley Huskers 34-0 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria, B.C. Both clubs had 7-3 regular season records and split their two game regular season series 1-1, but the Rebels hosted the BCFC semifinal having outscored the Huskers 48-35 in their two head-to-head regular season meetings.

The OFC championship will see the St. Clair Saints host the London Beefeaters at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont., on Saturday. The Saints posted a perfect 8-0 record in regular season play and blanked the Hamilton Hurricanes 44-0 in one OFC semifinal played last Saturday at Acumen Stadium. The Hurricanes had a 3-5 regular season record.

In the other OFC semifinal played last Saturday, the Beefeaters downed the Ottawa Sooners 38-14 at City Wide Sports Park in London, Ont. The Beefeaters were 6-2 in regular season play, while the Sooners had a 5-3 mark.

The OFC champion will host the BCFC champion in a CJFL semifinal slated for Saturday, October 29.

WWCFL stars Chan, Zuck break into CJFL coaching ranks

Ehjae Chan, left, hangs with Adrienne Zuck. (Photo courtesy Ehjae Chan) 

The 2022 season has been a special one for the CJFL as two stars from the WWCFL broke into the junior circuit’s coaching ranks.

From the start of the current campaign, Ehjae Chan has been working as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Edmonton Huskies and Adrienne Zuck has been a toiling as a defensive backs coach with the Regina Thunder. Both have had long playing careers in the WWCFL, and it is believed they are the first two female coaches to work in the CJFL.

Chan starred at linebacker and defensive back for the Saskatoon Valkyries for six seasons from 2014 to 2019 helping them win three WWCFL titles in 2014, 2016 and 2019. She moved to Edmonton following the 2019 campaign and suited up for the Edmonton Storm this past season after the 2020 and 2021 WWCFL seasons were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world.

Chan has helped coach minor football in the Alberta capital along with returning to action and playing for the Storm this season. She was a member of Team Alberta’s Under-18 Women’s Team coaching staff that saw Alberta win Football Canada’s Women’s Under-18 Championship tournament downing Saskatchewan 36-12 in the title game on July 9 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

Zuck is an original member of the Regina Riot suiting up for that club in the inaugural WWCFL season in 2011. From the start, Zuck was a star at linebacker for the Riot, and she played with the team through the end of the 2019 campaign. She helped the Riot win three WWCFL titles in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Internationally, Zuck suited up for Canada as a defensive back for the International Federation of American Football’s Senior Women’s World Championship in 2013 and 2017 helping Canada win silver at both events.

Zuck has coach in Regina Minor Football and the Regina high school ranks with Thom Collegiate, Winston Knoll Collegiate and Campbell Collegiate. She joined the Riot coaching staff this past season as a defensive backs coach.

Chan and Zuck were teammates helping Team Saskatchewan win Football Canada’s Senior Women’s National Championship tournament in 2016 at historic Taylor Field in Regina, Sask. Saskatchewan took the gold medal game over that event on July 31 of that year with a 34-22 victory over Quebec.

Both entered the CJFL on the heels of Emmarae Dale becoming the first female to play regular season games in the CJFL during the 2021 campaign, when she suited up at linebacker for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

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

-------

If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.

Wingate rises up to be key playmaker on Valkyries defence

Saskatoon to host Storm in WWCFL semifinal

Jamie Wingate (#47) is a playmaker on defence for the Valkyries.

Jamie Wingate is filling a need for the Saskatoon Valkyries that wasn’t seen at the start of the season.

When the 2022 WWCFL campaign began, the 25-year-old alumna of Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School was penciled in as a starter at linebacker for the Valkyries. Wingate was entering her third season with the team and second season as a starter.

She didn’t expect to be veteran presence in the Valkyries linebacker corps. That was the role Wingate found herself in as the injury bug started taking chunks out of the Valkyries defensive unit.

Star outside linebacker Beth Lalonde, who has played for the Valkyries since their inaugural season in 2011, was injured before the 2022 campaign began and has yet to dress for a game. Star middle linebacker Emmarae Dale was injured during the Valkyries second game of the season and has been kept off the field until returning to practice this week.

Star defensive back Shay De Jong is still out with a leg injury and various other players have been in and out the Valkyries defence with various dings.

Wingate along with defensive tackle Jaime Lammerding, who has been with the Valkyries since their inaugural season in 2022, have often been the two to offer the veteran presence on a defence that has usually consisted of first or second year players or veterans that have converted over from offence.

“That was kind of a shock for me,” said Wingate, who has mainly played middle linebacker as the injuries piled up. “I’m still learning every practice and every game too.

“We’ve had so many injuries just hit every position. Everyone just has to work together, and we just try to make it as best as we can with who we have on the field. Obviously, we can tell we are missing them (the injured defensive players).

Jamie Wingate has taken her game to a higher level.

“That is one thing I feel like this year we did great at is just like overcoming those things and being able to still come together as a team and still pull off a ‘W’ and everything.”

Even with the constant changes on defence, the Valkyries finished the WWCFL regular season with a 4-0 record. 

After the Winnipeg Wolfpack forfeited their WWCFL quarter-final to the Saskatoon side, the Valkyries (5-0 overall) are set to host a WWCFL semifinal against the Edmonton Storm (3-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The other WWCFL semifinal takes plays on Saturday in Calgary as the host Rage (3-1) take on the Winnipeg based Manitoba Fearless (4-1 overall). The Fearless downed the Regina Riot 20-13 in a WWCFL quarter-final contest held this past Sunday in Winnipeg.

The semifinal winners advance to the WWCFL champion game slated for Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. at SMF Field.

Wingate played a big role helping the Valkyries close their regular season schedule winning both games of a home-and-home series against the Riot. On May 28 at SMF Field, Wingate made an interception and had two total tackles helping the Valkyries post a 46-7 victory.

On June 4 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Wingate piled up 8.5 total tackles helping the Valkyries post a 33-14 victory over the Riot.

Valkyries head coach Pat Barry said Wingate has helped the Valkyries defence stay steady through adversity.

Jamie Wingate has taken on a leadership role on defence.

“When you think what our linebacking corps was going to look like at the beginning of the year, it is amazing with what Jamie (Wingate) has done for us,” said Barry. “She has stepped up.

“She has been a leader. She has so much fun out here. She is really starting to get it, and she is playing so well.

“It is something that is super exciting to how she has been for our linebacking corps.”

During her final two years of high school at Holy Cross, Wingate played in the Rush high school female flag league. Valkyries quarterback Alex Eyolfson was her teammate on those flag teams at Holy Cross.

Wingate played hockey, basketball and volleyball growing up, and basketball became her main sport at Holy Cross. Eyolfson and Wingate were teammates on the Holy Cross Crusaders senior girls’ basketball team and won a 5A Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association title in 2015.

Following her graduation from Holy Cross in 2015, Wingate played for the Medicine Hat College Rattlers Women’s Basketball team in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association ranks for a season and a half before deciding to end her competitive playing career.

She continues to coach basketball both at Holy Cross and in Saskatchewan’s provincial team system.

While she was coaching, Wingate wanted to get back into playing a sport competitively, but she didn’t want play through a sport that had a lengthy season. 

With the Valkyries playing all their games usually inside a three-month time period, Wingate decided to give tackle football a try. She had always wanted to play with the Valkyries since her high school days.

Jamie Wingate, right, loves the physical aspect of football.

Wingate joined the Valkyries after they had already played their first game in the 2019 season. She saw action in two regular season games and all of the team’s playoff contests helping them win the WWCFL title.

Wingate took to the sport immediately and enjoyed the fact everyone on the Valkyries were best friends. She found the contact side of the game fun too.

“Hitting people is very nice,” said Wingate. “You can ask anyone who played basketball against me or with me they know I’m a very aggressive person.

“I feel like it was just very suiting for my temperament. That is the one thing I like too is basically I don’t get in trouble for any of the stuff that I used to do in other sports that I would get in trouble for. It is also different than any other sport that I’ve played as well.”

During the second half of that 2019 season, Wingate remembers she tried to be there to help her teammates emotionally after defensive position coach Justin Filteau died in a plane crash on June 1 of that year. 

She was proud her team was able to win the WWCFL title that season after dedicating that campaign to Filteau’s memory.

Beating the host Riot 25-3 in the title game at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on June 29, 2019 will always be a highlight for Wingate.

“Being there with everyone was like super awesome,” said Wingate. “It was like great just like being on the Mosaic Field.

Jamie Wingate is good reading opposing offences.

“Just to have that experience was crazy to me. With Alex Eyolfson on the team, me and her we’ve won provincials and stuff in basketball. To be in a big CFL stadium like that was crazy, and the competition was really good too.

“It was just like a totally different game honestly than any other games that we played.”

Following the 2019 campaign, the 2020 and the 2021 WWCFL seasons were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world. The Valkyries managed to get on the field in 2021 playing a three-game exhibition series against the Riot winning every one of those contests.

In the second game of that series, Wingate returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown in a 42-7 victory at SMF Field on July 16, 2021.

Barry said Wingate has improved a lot since she first joined the Valkyries. When she first game to the team, Barry said the coaches through she would be a great fit at linebacker.

“She is a big fearless and physical athlete,” said Barry. “That is sort of the definition of linebacker.

“That is why she excels in that position.”

Wingate is looking forward to play the Storm on Sunday. When the regular season came to a close, Wingate said you could feel the level of play in practice has gone up a notch now that the playoff are here.

Jamie Wingate (#47) and the Valkyries aim for playoff success.

“It just seems like our intensity is up, and we’re really trying to focus and get everything down and make sure that we’re prepared for this game,” said Wingate. “Another big thing is like we’re not thinking about what is after this.

“We’re really focusing down on the team ahead of us and making sure we have them under control. Once we have that handled, then we can move on to the next team. It will be good.

“With the playoffs, obviously, we are a little nervous, but hopefully, we will be able to shake it off and take it to them.”

Former Valkyries star Chan makes homecoming with Storm

Ehjae Chan (#24) celebrates an interception in 2019.

Sunday’s WWCFL semifinal game at Saskatoon Minor Football Field will be a homecoming for Ehjae Chan.

Chan will be playing for the visiting Edmonton Storm when they take on the host Saskatoon Valkyries at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Before joining the Storm, Chan starred at linebacker and defensive back for the Valkyries for six seasons from 2014 to 2019 helping them win three WWCFL titles in 2014, 2016 and 2019.

Chan had an interception in the 2016 WWCFL Championship game when the Valkyries hammered the Storm 81-6 at the University of Lethbridge Community Stadium in Lethbridge, Alta.

In the 2019 WWCFL Championship game, Chan recorded two interceptions and three tackles helping the Valkyries down the host Regina Riot 25-3 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. The Valkyries dedicated that 2019 campaign to the memory of defensive position coach Justin Filteau, who passed away in a plane crash before Saskatoon’s final regular season game.

Filteau was on Chan’s mind, when she took part in a large post-game media scrum.

“This feels unreal, especially with everything that has happened this year, the adversity our team has experienced and overcome on this field,” said Chan. “It means so much like more than words can even express.

“For us to be here to have played in this game and pulled through, we really felt coach Filteau here today. This game was 100 per cent for him. I think for us it just felt fitting.”

Chan moved to Edmonton after the 2019 campaign came to a close. She is helping coach minor football in the Alberta capital along with returning to action and playing for the Storm this season.

Ehjae Chan (#24) celebrates the Valkyries 2019 WWCFL title win.

No matter where life takes her, she will always be part of the Valkyries family.

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

-------

If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.

“This game was 100 per cent for him” - Valkyries win WWCFL title in memory of late coach Filteau

Ron Filteau holds the WWCFL title trophy for the Valkyries team picture.

    REGINA, Sask. - It was far from an ordinary Western Women’s Canadian Football League championship for the Saskatoon Valkyries.

    On Saturday, the Valkyries downed the host Regina Riot 25-3 to capture their first league title since 2016 and sixth WWCFL championship since the team first hit the field in 2011. 

    The Riot entered Saturday’s game looking for their third straight league championship having won the WWCFL title in 2017 and 2018.

    The Valkyries were playing to honour the memory of their late defensive position coach Justin Filteau, who died in a plane crash on June 1. After learning about Filteau’s passing, the Valkyries dedicated their 2019 season to their late coach.

Sam Matheson (#22) jets off on a 16-yard touchdown run.

    Following Saturday’s win over the Riot, the Valkyries brought Filteau’s father, Ron, on to the field to share in the celebrations. The team had a big group hug with Ron, and he took part in a team picture with the squad.

    “This feels unreal, especially with everything that has happened this year, the adversity our team has experienced and overcome on this field,” said sixth-year defensive back Ehjae Chan. “It means so much like more than words can even express.

    “For us to be here to have played in this game and pulled through, we really felt coach (Justin) Filteau here today. This game was 100 per cent for him. I think for us it just felt fitting.”

    The Valkyries improved to 8-0 overall with the win.

Haley Girolami makes a tough sidelines catch.

    They still have one more exhibition game this coming Saturday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field against the Montreal Blitz, who play out of a women’s league in the United States.

    The Riot, who won two straight road playoff games to make the WWCFL final, finished off with a 3-4 overall mark.

    Valkyries quarterback Alex Eyolfson, who was named her team’s MVP for the title game, said she couldn’t find the words to adequately say how she felt regarding all that her squad had to persevere through.

    “It is just amazing,” said Eyolfson. “It is a great feeling.

    “Everyone just has so much heart on this team. It just showed today at the end. We just pushed through and got it for Filteau.”

    The Valkyries actually closed their WWCFL regular season schedule one day after Filteau’s sudden passing on June 2 at Mosaic Stadium against the Riot. Saskatoon prevailed in that contest 22-7.

    “When we found out about Justin’s passing, we were playing our last regular season game here on June second, and it was a challenge,” said Valkyries head coach Pat Barry. “I had never been involved in anything like that.

Ehjae Chan (#24) celebrates a fourth quarter interception.

    “The resiliency of our athletes is incredible. I am so proud of them. Their mental toughness is something I will never forget.

    “I will remember it all of my days.”

    Saturday’s clash was a typical physical affair that traditionally occurs between the Valkyries and Riot. The defences on both sides force their share of turnovers.

    The Valkyries ultimately made their takeaways count scoring 24 points off turnovers.

Saskatoon went ahead 1-0 early in the first quarter on a 40-yard punt single from Rienna Rueve.

    In the second quarter, Valkyries rookie defensive back Kori Herner intercepted Riot star quarterback Aimee Kowalski.

    The Valkyries turned that turnover into a short scoring drive that was capped by a four-yard touchdown run by star running back Sam Matheson to give the visitors an 8-0 edge.

    Near the end of the second quarter, Chan intercepted Kowalski and made a long run back into Regina’s end of the field.

Valkyries LB Beth Lalonde sacks Riot QB Aimee Kowalski.

    A short drive resulting from that turnover ended with Rueve hitting a 15-yard field goal to give the Valkyries an 11-0 lead with 14 seconds remaining before halftime.

    “As a DB, anytime you get to have an interception it’s really meaningful, especially when it kind of changes the tide of the game,” said Chan. “Our whole team has been playing unreal.

    “Our defence, we were working together, so I feel like that was just a reflection of how well our defence was playing as a unit. I just happened to get to take the glory for that moment, but it was really the whole team working together to make that happen.”

    Early in the third quarter, the Riot appeared to seize the momentum, when defensive end Jessie Noname blocked a punt and recovered the ball at Saskatoon’s 34 yard line.

QB Alex Eyolfson (#15) threw for 200 yards for the Valkyries.

    On the ensuing Regina offensive series, Kowalski appeared to hit receiver Kyla Krenbrink for a nine-yard touchdown pass, but the score was called back due to an off-side penalty against the Riot.

    That series ended with Krenbrink hitting a field goal from 20 yards out to cut the Valkyries lead to 11-3.

    In the fourth quarter, the Valkyries got the ball on their own 45 yard line after stopping the Riot on a third down gamble.

    Saskatoon proceeded to drive the ball downfield for a scoring march that was capped by a one-yard sneak by short-yardage quarterback Reed Thorstad. Thorstad’s score gave the visitors an 18-3 lead with 6:47 remaining on the clock.

The Valkyries held Reed Thorstad (#12) up after she scores a touchdown.

    After stopping the Riot on another third down gamble, the Valkyries mounted another scoring march that was capped by a 16-yard touchdown run by Matheson to put Saskatoon up 25-3 with 2:35 to play.

    Chan made her second interception of the contest on the ensuring Riot offensive series to cap the Valkyries victory.

    “It is always nice to come and battle,” said Chan, who had three tackles to go with her two interceptions. “We always have great games when we play the Riot.

    “We appreciate that, because football is more fun when it is a challenge and you aren’t sure what is going to happen. Obviously, it is great. We’re so proud of the football community in Saskatchewan.

Valkyries head coach Pat Barry gets the ice bucket shower.

    “Obviously, we love keeping it (the WWCFL championship) in the province and battling it out.”

    Matheson had a monster game for the Valkyries running the ball 21 times for 176 yards to go with her two scores.

    Eyolfson, who was named her team’s MVP for the game, completed 13-of-27 passes for 200 yards with one interception. Valkyries rookie receiver Haley Girolami led all pass catchers with six catches for 65 yards, which included a key 24-yard sideline catch in the fourth quarter.

    “We had a great group of receivers this year,” said Eyolfson. “I think it was probably like one of the strongest years we’ve had as an offence for sure.

    “We’ve played flag before, so it is good. I can connect with them. I know how they run.”

    The Riot were limited to 199 yards of total offence as a team. Kowalski completed 14-of-37 passes with four interceptions.

Ron Filteau, centre, gets emotional from a warm greeting by the Valkyries.

    Linebacker Emmarae Dale and defensive end Danaye Holynski each had 10.5 tackles for the Valkyries.

    Defensive tackle Brittany Boschman was named the game MVP for the Riot making 3.5 tackles and recovering one fumble.

    Barry spoke to Justin Filteau’s mom, Nancy, before the contest and she said to tell the players to have fun. The side boss reminded his players of that bit of advice at halftime, and he thought they were more upbeat with how they played in the second half.
    With all the Valkyries had to go though, Barry was overjoyed to see his team win the WWCFL title.

The Valkyries raise the WWCFL championship trophy.

    “I’m a little speechless right now,” said Barry. “I am so proud of these players.

    “I am so proud of these athletes. I am really excited for them. They had a great day.”

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

-------

    If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.

People who rock part two

    I first wrote a column listing people who rock in June of 2015, and I have been itching to do it again.

    I thought the first time I wrote a “people who rock” column it made for a great feel good exercise to create some positive energy, and the post was really well received. I wish it didn’t take me so long to write another one of these lists, but it is better late than never.

    By no means is this list complete or in any sort of order. Here are a few “beauties” that just make life just so much better.

Brian Towriss

Brian Towriss shakes hands with U of Regina Rams players.

    Towriss stepped down on Monday from his post after 33 years as the head coach of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team to shock of the football world in Canada and even beyond the country’s borders.

    In the aftermath, it was easy to see how many lives he had a positive impact on during his career. Tonnes of former players from the start of Towriss’s head coaching days spanning all the way to current players have talked about how meaningful an influence the bench boss had on their lives. To a lot of those players, Towriss was a second father.

    That reaction in itself is bigger than the U Sports record 196 career victories, 11 Canada West titles, nine Vanier Cup appearances and three Vanier Cup championships Towriss piled up walking the Huskies sideline as head coach. If you as a coach are trying to make your players better people on top of being better athletes, all the wins and championships and coach of the years honours will look after themselves.

    Towriss also had the ability to work with a diverse group of people over the years. He got the best out of players that were as cerebral as quarterback Brent Schneider and characters who had character that were a little bit out there in a good way in power tailback Tyler Siwak and rush end Brent Dancey.

    During his farewell press conference, Towriss said teams won a lot of games with honesty, respect and hard work. His Huskies teams were always respected for those qualities.

    “BT” did things the right way, and his Huskies teams produced a high-quality legacy in competition and away from the game that all U of S steams should strive to uphold.

Ehjae Chan

Ehjae Chan (#24) tackles an Edmonton Storm fullback.

    Chan is the kick butt defensive back/linebacker with the Saskatoon Valkyries women’s football team, and she was a member of Saskatchewan’s provincial team last summer that won nationals.

    She always tells me to include the linebacker position when talking about her role in football, and I don’t question that because she kicks butt. In an era of football that tends to be a little more pass happy, defensive players frequently have to play that tweener role between defensive back and linebacker.

    When Chan’s Valkyries face their arch rivals the Regina Riot, you definitely see she excels in that role. She is able to be the cover corner in the secondary that makes a key interception and tough enough to mix it up in the front seven to make a tackle to stop a tough runner.

    Chan is also known for her gifted artistic talents off the field. She can take some of the most beautiful pictures you have ever seen and they can span from amazing scenic shots to people pictures.

    Her ability to draw and paint is also a gift that has been handed down from a Higher Power. Her work is way better than anything you will find in a store or on display in a gallery.

    Chan also wears her soul on her sleeve, and when you combine everything she does, you have one incredibly inspiring person.

Jordon Cooke

Jordon Cooke has stood tall in goal for the Huskies.

    The gutsy goalie from the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team just gets the job done wherever he goes.

    In his final season in the major junior ranks in 2013-14 with the Kelowna Rockets, Cooke was named the Canadian Hockey League’s goalie of the year. He posted a 39-7-4 record, a .922 save percentage, a 2.28 goals against average and four shutouts.

    Last season in his sophomore campaign in the U Sports ranks, Cooke had another dream season. He set a Huskies record for wins in a regular season at 19 posting a 19-5 record, a .921 save percentage, a 2.52 goals against average and two shutouts. 

    Cooke backstopped the Huskies to a Canada West Conference championship, was named the conference’s most outstanding player and took home honours as the top goaltender in U Sports.

    Currently in his third year with the Huskies, Cooke is having another outstanding campaign posting a 10-3-2 record, a .928 save percentage, a 1.98 goals against average, and three shutouts.

    He has the talent that should give him a shot to play in the NHL ranks, but those clubs shy away from drafting or signing goalies that stand 5-foot-10 and weigh 185 pounds like Cooke does. Cooke plays a style that is similar to Chris Osgood, who was a former star netminder of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. Osgood also mirrors Cooke in size.

    Despite being overlooked, Cooke just goes about his business in a humble manner and always ensures to spread the credit around to his teammates that play in front of him for any success he has. Osgood used to do the same thing.

    With that in mind, good things do come to good people, and Cooke was recently named to Hockey Canada’s roster for the Spengler Cup tournament in Davos, Switzerland. Canada opens play this coming Monday against HC Dinamo Minsk. The Leduc, Alta., product will be the first active Canada West player in over 30 years to play at this event.

    It would not be a shocker to see Cooke excel at this event and see other big doors open for him in hockey.

Kylie Gavelin

Kylie Gavelin wheels in the offensive zone for the Cougars.

    Gavelin is the silky smooth offensive sparkplug for the University of Regina Cougars women’s hockey team.

    If you are not aware of where Gavelin is in the offensive zone, she will make you pay. If she has time and space, her rocket snapshot will be in the back of the goal. During her career with the green and gold, Gavelin has netted a couple of impressive overtime winners where the goalie could see the shot and had no chance to stop the puck.

    The Mankota, Sask., product started to turn heads as a sophomore at the university level during the 2014 playoffs, where she netted three goals and two assists in eight games as the Cougars advanced to the Canada West championship series. They eventually fell to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in a hard fought best-of-three series that went beyond the distance.

    In her third year in 2014-15, Gavelin, who stands 5-foot-6, picked up a career high 13 goals and netted eight assists in 27 games.  She had her best season last year picking up 11 goals and 16 assists in 26 games.

    Now in her final season of eligibility, Gavelin will get to wear Canada’s colours in the new year. She will play for Canada’s women’s hockey team at the FISU Winter Universiade, which runs Jan. 29 to Feb. 8, 2017 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Gavelin will be joined by U of R teammates Jaycee Magwood and Alexis Larson.

    Gavelin is also pretty popular with her teammates in the Cougars dressing room, but the opportunities to see her in action are running out as this is her retirement run. The gifted sniper has six goals and six assists in the Cougars first 16 games this season.

    She will be part of one more run through the playoffs and players that wear #13 for the U of R Cougars women’s teams seem to traditionally create magic in the post-season. Gavelin likely still has a little more magic on her stick.

Brooklyn Haubrich

Brooklyn Haubrich is the Huskies feisty forward.

    Haubrich is the feisty forward for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team who will kill you with kindness.

    The former captain of the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats midget AAA team standing only 5-foot-4, but she is not afraid to be an energy player and battle in all the greasy areas on the ice. In almost all of those physical battles, she is usually battling against a player that is bigger physically than her.

    The Hodgeville, Sask., product is also a happy intense player. No matter how intense the physical battle gets, Haubrich always has a huge smile on her face. When you are around her, you think she has never had a bad day in her life. Her style of play on the ice mirrors what former NFL receiver Hines Ward used to do with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

    As a rookie last season with the Huskies, Haubrich chipped in a little bit offensively collecting four goals and three assist appearing in all 28 of her team’s regular season games. She has managed an assist in 11 appearances this season.

    Her speedy and feisty style of play will help change the tone of a game in her team’s favour after one shift. Her upbeat personality also makes the morale in the Huskies dressing room take a big spike upwards.

    Haubrich is one of those unsung heroes, who plays a key part in helping the Huskies succeed.

James Vause

James Vause gets set in the Hilltops secondary.

    Vause is the kick butt and first rate person safety of the current three time defending Canadian Junior Football League champion Saskatoon Hilltops.

    Since joining the Hilltops in 2014, Vause has become one of the key leaders on the defensive unit becoming one of the team’s captains this past season. Off the field, he always seems to be one of the first guys to step up and do the blue and gold’s community functions.

    In July of 2015, Vause played a big part in organizing the Cody Smuk Memorial Road Hockey Tournament, which raised funds for Choc ‘la Cure. Choc ‘la Cure collects funds for equipment at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre.

    Vause’s sister, Stephanie, was engaged to Smuk. Smuk was the heart and soul gritty glue guy forward of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team, who passed away in June of 2015 after a battle with cancer that lasted over a year.

    On the field, James Vause’s specialty is pass defence. He has a strong ability to dissect a play and get to where the ball is going to make a knockdown or interception. He has also earned huge respect from his rivals thanks to his heightened level of sportsmanship.

    When you lose to the Hilltops and then meet Vause, you come away with a great impression of that team.

    On the humourous front, Vause is well-known for breaking up the Hilltops dressing room with impersonations of the team’s head coach Tom Sargeant. Vause also gives killer funny interviews on radio shows in the days leading up to a Hilltops contest.

    The Hilltops are fortunate to have the Aden Bowman Collegiate grad on their roster for another two seasons.

The Happiest Christmas Tree

The Happiest Christmas Tree.

    I know this isn’t a person, but it is Christmas time and you have to love the Happiest Christmas Tree.

    I bought this at the Wal-Mart in Medicine Hat about three or four years ago. You should have seen the looks and smiles on people’s faces, when I had this thing in my shopping cart.

    When you get it singing its song and dancing, you can’t help but laugh. One word of warning, the tune this things sings is catchy.

    You can hear the Happiest Christmas Tree doing its thing in a video that can be found right here.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass on about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com. The first “people who rock” column can be found right here.