Valkyries post-season road starts with WWCFL home semi

Fearless up next to try and halt Saskatoon’s title quest

The Valkyries are on a quest to win a ninth WWCFL title.

Sarah Wright said every year there are always players on the Saskatoon Valkyries looking to experience their first championship.

That might sound strange for a team that has won the Western Women’s Canadian Football League championship the last three straight times it has been contested. The Valkyries have won eight of the 11 WWCFL Championship Games that have been held since the circuit’s inaugural campaign in 2011.

Wright is the Valkyries veteran star running back who has been with the team since 2017. While she has been a big part of the Valkyries last three straight WWCFL title wins, Wright noted there is always a crop of newcomers to the team who have never experienced a WWCFL title win.

As the Valkyries begin their journey through another WWCFL post-season, that fact always supplies some motivation. The Valkyries (4-0) host the Manitoba Fearless (0-4) in a WWCFL contest on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Sarah Wright carried the ball 60 times for 326 yards in four games.

“We’re very excited,” said Wright. “Every year it seems like we keep getting more younger girls, and it is really exciting.

“We’ve had so much depth this season, which has been something we’ve lacked in other years. We’re excited to get a lot of people on the field and really show it to Winnipeg and get to that final.”

The winner of the clash between the Valkyries and Fearless will travel to face the winner of the other WWCFL semifinal between the Regina Riot (2-2) and Calgary Rage (4-0). The Riot and Rage go at it on Saturday at Cochrane High School in Cochrane, Alta.

The WWCFL semifinal on Sunday in Saskatoon will be the Valkyries final home game for the 2024 campaign.

QB Alex Eyolfson fires a pass downfield for the Valkyries.

“It felt like it has been pretty quick, even though we started at the end of January,” said Valkyries head coach Pat Barry. “Another season has come and gone.

“Now, we are ready for playoffs, which is the part that we’re really excited about.”

The Valkyries will be trying to keep their 31 game winning streak alive too when they face the Fearless. Saskatoon’s last loss came way back on June 24, 2018 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, when the host Riot claimed a 14-10 victory in that year’s WWCFL title game.

While the Valkyries won both of their regular season encounters with the Fearless in 2024, the victories were not eye-popping romps but rather games where the Saskatoon side slowly pulled away. On May 5 at SMF Field, the Valkyries blanked the Fearless 26-0. On June 2 at St. Vital Mustangs Field in Winnipeg, the Valkyries claimed a 19-0 victory in a clash that closed the regular season for both clubs.

“We had a tough game in Winnipeg,” said Barry. “It was 9-0 late in the third quarter.

Haley Girolami (#17) leads the Valkyries with 320 receiving yards.

“We managed to stop them. We got a big defensive touchdown. They are a good football team.

“We’ve had some tough ones against them in the last few years. We’re happy we get them at home.”

Wright has had a big season for the Valkyries carrying the ball 60 times for 326 yards. Valkyries star quarterback Alex Eyolfson completed 71-of-114 passes for 899 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

Haley Girolami topped the Valkyries with 320 receiving yards coming off 19 catches. Reed Thorstad led the Saskatoon side with 24 catches that went for 291 yards.

Running back Hallie Eggie is the top offensive threat for the Fearless carrying the ball 73 times for 313 yards in the regular season.

Reed Thorstad leads the Valkyries with 24 receptions.

At this point in the campaign, Wright believes the Valkyries are in a good place both mentally and physically. While her squad is undefeated, she said her squad continues to get pushed by their WWCFL foes.

“The league just keeps getting better,” said Wright. “The quality of football just keeps getting better.

“Us as a program has to continue to get better. We have had some tough games, but us as a core group we continue to show why the Valkyries are one of the strongest teams in Canada. It is just we can rely on each other, and we just keep pushing through.”

In the present, the Valkyries are focused on concluding their home schedule on a high note. Wright said it is always special to host a home game this late in a campaign.

“Last home game, it is nice because we’re lucky enough to get a home game, and some people don’t,” said Wright. “We love having fans there.

The Valkyries aim to build on their 31 game winning streak.

“I think that is one of the biggest things that kind of riles all of us up. We’re very happy to play at home, and where ever the final may be, I think we will still have a lot of our fans coming to travel with us. I think it will be great.”

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Valkyries give Lammerding WWCFL title winning sendoff

Saskatoon downs Fearless 36-6 for seventh league crown

Jaime Lammerding raises the WWCFL championship trophy.

Jaime Lammerding’s playing days with the Saskatoon Valkyries wrapped up with a familiar championship high.

On Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Valkyries romped past the Manitoba Fearless 36-6 in the WWCFL Championship Game. The Valkyries have won the WWCFL title seven out of the 10 times it has been handed out, and Lammerding has played on all of Saskatoon’s championship teams.

The star defensive tackle began playing for the Valkyries in their inaugural season back in 2011 when the first WWCFL season was played. She was elated to wrap up her playing career with a championship win at home.

Jaime Lammerding runs off the field for the final time.

“It is just an extra special treat,” said Lammerding, whose Valkyries completed the 2022 campaign with a perfect 7-0 record. “I remember starting with the Valkyries 12 years ago.

“Just to be able to do it at home and go out on top, it is almost undescribable it is so great.”

Inside of the game’s final 10 seconds, the Valkyries head coach Pat Barry ensured Lammerding got a final salute from the crowd in attendance. With the Valkyries on defence, Barry called a timeout to substitute Lammerding out of the game.

She came off to the sideline to a rousing ovation from the crowd and her teammates on the Valkyries sidelines. Once she reached the Valkyries bench area, Lammerding hugged defensive coordinator Wyatt Carleton, Barry and then numerous other coaches and players on the squad.

Jaime Lammerding, left, hugs Valkyries DC Wyatt Carleton.

“The original plan was that I was going to go take the victory formation as quarterback, so I was going to get my old rep as quarterback in my career with negative yardage,” said Lammerding. “It just didn’t work out that way, so it was nice that they pulled me out to just have an emotional kind of run off kind of thing.

“It was great.”

Barry said the Valkyries were pretty motivated to help Lammerding, who is also the president of the WWCFL, conclude her playing days on a championship winning high.

Jaime Lammerding, left, hugs Valkyries HC Pat Barry.

“We all feel very strongly about her,” said Barry, who team has won 19 straight games overall. “She is such a great leader.

“She is a great mentor for the athletes on our team. She is just going to be the next in line of someone who is working with women’s football. We have a number of coaches on our team who are former players, and they are great coaches.

“They are grass roots coaches, and they do a lot of great things. I see ‘Dinger’ (Lammerding) being that in the future.”

In the WWCFL Championship game itself, the Valkyries steadily pulled away from the Fearless in order to win by a convincing margin.

Jaime Lammerding (#21) is pictured with the Valkyries D-line.

At the 9:27 mark of the first quarter, Valkyries star running back Sarah Wright ran home a touchdown from six yards out to give the host side a 7-0 lead. Wright’s major score capped a drive that covered 94 yards.

That drive was also kept alive by Wright running for a first down on a third down gamble.

Before the first quarter came to an end, the Valkyries extended their lead to 14-0, when star quarterback Alex Eyolfson hit veteran receiver Ricki Obed with an 18-yard touchdown toss.

Sarah Wright runs in the Valkyries first touchdown.

Just 59 seconds into the second quarter, Eyolfson hit second-year receiver Grace McCorriston on a beauty over the shoulder fade pattern in the end zone for a 16-yard scoring strike. The Valkyries lead stood at 20-0, when the ensuing conversion attempt was muffed.

With 4:45 remaining in the second quarter, the Valkyries defence hit the scoreboard with middle linebacker Emmarae Dale returning an interception 64 yards for a touchdown. The Valkyries went for a two-point conversion attempt, but Eyolfson’s pass attempt was incomplete to make the score sit at 26-0 for the host side.

Wright thought the Valkyries got great contributions from everyone on their roster.

“Honestly, the Fearless are a great team, and they are getting better each year, and we can’t take that for granted,” said Wright. “As we came into this week, we knew that everyone had a job to do, and they are obviously watching film and studying us.

Alex Eyolfson threw three TD passes for the Valkyries.

“We kind of had to come up with some different plays and different looks, and those worked today.”

In the third quarter, McCorriston hit a field goal from 30 yards out to increase the Valkyries lead to 29-0. Before the stanza expired, Eyolfson connected with Obed for a 14-yard touchdown pass to give the Valkyries a 36-0 advantage.

The Fearless got on the scoreboard at the 3:50 mark of the fourth quarter when quarterback Madison Siwicki hit receiver Morgan Moffatt with an eight-yard touchdown toss. The ensuing conversion attempt was blocked making the final score round out at 36-6.

Before Saturday’s contest, the Valkyries won the WWCFL title the last time it was contested back in 2019.

The 2020 and 2021 WWCFL campaigns were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world. The Valkyries were able to get on the field in 2021 winning all the contests in a three-game exhibition series against the Regina Riot.

Grace McCorriston (#82) sets to make a touchdown catch.

Barry said it meant a lot to the team to win the champions at home with everything that has happened over the past couple of years, because the moment could be enjoyed with family and friends. The Valkyries also hadn’t won a WWCFL title at home since 2014, when they captured the league crown at Griffiths Stadium on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan.

The Valkyries began playing their home games out of SMF Field at the start of the 2015 campaign.

“It feels so good to have something that feels kind of normal again,” said Barry. “We’re super excited about it.

“We’ve never won a championship on this field. It has never happened. This is a first for us for our team.

The fans at SMF Field cheer on the Valkyries.

“I’m very happy. I’m so proud of the whole team.”

Wright was named the game’s most valuable player for the Valkyries carrying the ball 20 times for 157 yards and one touchdown. She also had a 14 yard catch to go with her production along the ground.

The multipurpose running back was surprised to be named the game’s MVP for her team.

“I definitely think that there were a few other girls that played their heart out today, and we’re very deserving of it,” said Wright. “I’ll take it, but again, it was definitely a team environment and group.

Danaye Holynski (#55) had 12.5 total tackles for the Valkyries.

“There were a handful of girls that should have got that too.”

Having joined the Valkyries in 2017, Wright was part of the championship win in 2019, and she pumped to win the WWCFL title in 2019.

“I’m so happy,” said Wright. “It is so great to be at home actually.

“Having everyone come on to the field and we’re able to talk to everyone, it means the world. When they (the hometown fans) are cheering so loud in the stands, that brings that environment, and I feel like that definitely played into the game today.”

Eyolfson finished the contest completing 16-of-27 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns without throwing any interceptions. 

Ricki Obed had 107 yards receiving and two TDs for the Valkyries.

Obed led all receivers with eight catches for 107 yards and scored two touchdowns. She also carried the ball twice for eight yards and returned three punts for 24 yards.

Siwicki completed 11-of-23 passes for 106 yards and one touchdown, while throwing two interceptions for the Fearless. Running back Hallie Eggie was named the game MVP for the Fearless carrying the ball 18 times for 60 yards.

Valkyries defensive end Danaye Holynski piled up a game high 12.5 total tackles in the win. Dale had eight total tackles to go with her interception for a touchdown.

Saskatoon safety Kelsey Murphy had an interception, while defensive backs Rienna Rueve and Kendal Matheson each had one fumble recovery.

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

Defensive back Taylor Post topped the Fearless with 7.5 total tackles.

The Fearless entered Saturday’s game riding a five-game winning streak and finished the 2022 campaign with a 5-2 mark.

For the Valkyries, the biggest memory from Saturday’s contest will be the fact that Lammerding was able to conclude her playing time on a championship winning note. Wright was pleased she could help Lammerding go out on a high.

“She (Lammerding) means pretty much everything,” said Wright. “She has been around since the inauguration of our team.

The Valkyries celebrate winning the WWCFL Championship Game.

“Every year she has been sort of a grounding person and honestly the focal point of our family environment. She is pretty much the program, so we will take her in the future however she can come coach wise or anywise. She is just an anchor point.”

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Valkyries aim to make good on rare home WWCFL title game

Saskatoon faces Fearless in Saturday championship showdown

Rienna Rueve (#7) reacts to making an interception for the Valkyries.

The 2022 Saskatoon Valkyries season has been a bonus one for Rienna Rueve.

Having played with the Valkyries since the start of the 2012 campaign mainly at safety while taking on duties in the kicking game, Rueve was not expecting to suit up this season.

“I thought I was taking this season off as I got surgery on my foot in December,” said Rueve. “Somehow, (Valkyries head coach) Pat (Barry) got me sneaking in to help with some kicking coaching, and from there, he was like, ‘I bet maybe you could try punting.’”

The request about punting came when the Valkyries lost all-time great running back Sam Matheson, who handles punting duties, the season due to a knee injury in the team’s second game. All of a sudden, Rueve found herself donning her customary number seven jersey.

Rienna Rueve punts the ball for the Valkyries.

From that point, injuries started to pile up on defence, and Rueve was back in the mix taking on a starting role at cornerback. In the Valkyries 52-0 victory over the Edmonton Storm last Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Rueve had an interception and a fumble recovery.

On Saturday at 7 p.m. at SMF Field, Rueve will be trying to help the Valkyries (6-0) win their seventh WWCFL title taking on the Manitoba Fearless (5-1). Rueve was a member of five out of the Valkyries previous six WWCFL championship teams helping the Saskatoon side win league titles in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2019. The 2014 title victory marks the last time the Valkyries won the WWCFL crown at home.

Unlike those previous title winning campaigns, Rueve wasn’t training with the Valkyries in the off-season to take the field with the team in 2022.

“It is different,” said Rueve. “I still don’t feel like I have been as invested as I am regularly from start to finish just as this hasn’t been my season.

Rienna Rueve (#7) dives for a fumble recovery for the Valkyries.

“Everything is kind of a bonus. I’m still playing football, and for every game I get to play, I’m super thankful for. It is still a championship game.”

Rueve is used to making big plays on defence. The big plays she made against the Storm helped her feel more like she normally feels on game days taking on roles on defence and special teams.

“It makes punting better,” said Rueve. “It is hard for me just to punt.

“I don’t feel like that is my primary position, so I need to be moving around in order to kind of clear my mind enough to do (punting) and it is good. It was fun moving around. It (playing cornerback) was a different position from what I have been playing the last few years.

Rienna Rueve is playing cornerback on defence for the Valkyries.

“I think it has kind of been nice just to focus on a couple things at a time and take my time and no real pressure to get into the full swing of things. It is all a bonus.”

Saturday will mark the first time the WWCFL Championship game was held since June 29, 2019, when the Valkyries downed the host Riot in Regina 25-3 at Mosaic Stadium. The 2020 and 2021 WWCFL campaigns were cancelled due to the world being in the grips of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Valkyries were able to play a three-game exhibition series against the Riot in 2021.

This season, the Valkyries and Fearless met once way back in Week 1 on May 1, when Saskatoon claimed a 43-14 victory at SMF Field against the Winnipeg-based club. Since that encounter, the Fearless have won five straight entering the WWCFL Final.

Hallie Eggie has had a strong season for the Fearless.

They advanced to the WWCFL title game for the first time in team history downing the Rage in Calgary 15-6 in the other WWCFL semifinal that was held this past Saturday.

Barry expects the Fearless to provide a tough challenge. Fearless running back Hallie Eggie has had an outstanding season, while quarterback Madison Siwicki has provided steady leadership calling signals.

Andrea Backlund and Julie Sprague are the cornerstones of a strong offensive line.

Brooklyn Dyce and Nura Muhindo anchor the Fearless defence from the defensive line, while defensive back Nicole Drouin keeps things steady in the secondary.

Eggie, Backlund, Sprague, Dyce, Muhindo and Drouin are all members of Football Canada’s National Women’s Team.

“On defence, they have some outstanding players, and they are a problem,” said Barry. “We have to account for them.

The Valkyries defence will aim to clamp down on the Fearless offence.

“Eggie number 20, she is an outstanding running back. She gets better the more carries she gets, so that is always a concern. Their quarterback, she is willing to throw it, and she has some receivers. 

“On special teams, they have players who cover hard, work hard, they block and they catch. They do a lot of things right. They are well coached.”

Of course, the Valkyries have a loaded roster with 12 players cracking the main roster Football Canada’s National Women’s Team. That list includes Emmarae Dale (MLB), Lauren Ferguson (OL), Alyssa Funk (OL), Haley Girolami (R), Danaye Holynski (DL), Arden Kliewer (DL), Beth Lalonde (LB), Betsy Mawdsley (OL), Ricki Obed (R), Reed Thorstad (QB/R), Ashley Viklund (OL) and Sarah Wright (RB).

Alex Eyolfson (#15) is having arguably her best season for the Valkyries.

Matheson was placed on the reserve list with her knee injury.

On top of the presence of National Team players, Valkyries quarterback Alex Eyolfson is having arguably her best season ever.

Saturday’s WWCFL title game will be the last game veteran defensive tackle Jaime Lammerding plays for the Valkyries. Lammerding has played for the Valkyries since their first season in 2011.

“It is a mix of emotions,” said Lammerding. “It is kind of odd feelings.

DT Jaime Lammerding got to run the ball in a WWCFL semifinal.

“I know some things are going to be my last things that I am doing. It is weird to kind of make it all make sense in my head like when I do my speech here it all kind of jumbles together. I want to be happy, and I am still sad.

“It is just tough.”

Lammerding enjoyed the fact she got to carry the ball a couple of times on offence in the Valkyries WWCFL semifinal win over the Storm.

“I started off playing running back with the Valkyries,” said Lammerding. “It was kind of more of a throwback.

“It was a treat of course, but it was kind of a throwback to my early days. It was great to get in there. Luckily, they gave me a simple play, where I just had to run left or right and just take the ball so that was good.

Jaime Lammerding (#21) lines up at defensive end.

“It was great to get in there. It is always so nice. Everybody is always behind you so much whenever anybody gets to do something neat and different.”

She added it is cool that her final game will be in a WWCFL title game at home.

“I think it is extra special,” said Lammerding. “It wasn’t really a thought when I decided this was going to be my final year was that we would have the championship here, because who knows if we were going to make it or not.

“I think it ends off everything on just that extra special note that cherry on top.”

Barry said he has been thankful for what Lammerding and Rueve have done for the team over the years. He expects both will play key roles in helping the Valkyries try to win the WWCFL Championship game on Saturday.

The Valkyries aim to raise their helmets for victory on Saturday.

“They are quality people, and they know what they are doing,” said Barry. “We can put them in various situations, and they excel.

“When they are both on the field, it is just their confidence. Their confidence spreads, and it helps everybody on the field.”

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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