Was Hilltops defence in 2023 the best in team history?

Saskatoon gave up club record low 6.3 points per game

The Hilltops knock down a last play pass on October 8.

One play in “garbage time” typified the tenacity and compete level of the Saskatoon Hilltops defence in 2023.

To put it bluntly, there was no such thing as “garbage time.”

Back on October 8, the Hilltops were leading the visiting Winnipeg Rifles 39-1 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in the final CJFL regular season game for both sides. On the last play of the contest, the Rifles were in range to throw one pass into the Hilltops end zone to try and get a major score.

The Hilltops had been playing with their reserves on defence for a solid stretch as the outcome of the contest wasn’t in doubt. Saskatoon was going to finish out the regular season with a perfect 8-0 record, and the Rifles would miss the CJFL playoffs with a 2-6 mark.

All there was to play for was competitive pride on one play.

Rifles quarterback Myles Desmarais heaved a “Hail Mary” pass into the end zone looking for a major. Hilltops safety Jackson Dean and defensive backs Carter O’Reilly and Carter Borsa all leaped up to knock the ball to the ground to ensure the final outcome finished 39-1.

DC Jeff Yausie calls played for the Hilltops defence.

That knockdown resulted in the Hilltops allowing just 51 points against over their eight regular season games. It was the lowest points allowed total for the team in regular season play dating back to 1949.

At the time that knockdown was made, no one knew the historical significance of what had been accomplished with respect to the storied history of the team. The current modern day version of the Hilltops began play in 1947.

Had the Rifles gotten a last play touchdown, that historical accomplishment of giving up the fewest point in regular season play since 1949 would have been gone just like that.

Word spread amongst the team at practice the following week as the Hilltops prepared to host a PFC semifinal against the high-powered Calgary Colts. After the players on the Hilltops defence heard what they had accomplished, they took things took things to another level and things on that side of the ball took on a life of their own.

The Hilltops defensive players didn’t want to allow opposing teams to get anything in the post-season. The players on the Hilltops defence wanted to live up to what had been accomplished in the regular season.

The Hilltops proceeded to crush the Colts 53-2 in the PFC semifinal. Saskatoon slugged past their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder 21-13 in the PFC final.

Linebacker Matt Wist controlled the middle of the Hilltops defence.

The ’Toppers then blanked the OFC champion St. Clair Saints from Windsor, Ont., 43-0 in a CJFL semifinal. In the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl – held this past Saturday, the Hilltops downed the host and BCFC champion Westshore Rebels 17-10 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

Saskatoon gave up just 25 points in four post-season games. On the campaign itself, the Hilltops posted a 12-0 overall record giving up a total of 76 points against, which is the team’s lowest total in that department since 1949.

In 1949, Canadian Football Hall of Fame member Ron Atchison was playing his final campaign for the Hilltops on the offensive and defensive lines. The Hilltops gave up 70 points in 10 overall games that season falling in the Western Canada Championship game 16-12 to the Vancouver Blue Bombers.

For historical references, touchdowns in 1949 were worth five points instead of six points before a team tried to tack on a one or two-point conversion.

When the 2023 Hilltops beat the Rebels last Saturday, the venerable Saskatoon club captured a 23^rd CJFL title and the sixth perfect season in team history. The 2023 Hilltops gave up fewer points than any of the team’s previous 22 CJFL championship winners.

Riece Kack (#47) had six sacks in the CJFL semifinal.

Actually when it comes to combined action in both the regular season and post-season, the 1949 Hilltops are the only squad in the history of the team to give up fewer points against than the CJFL championship winning 2023 Hilltops did.

When you break things down to average points allowed per game, the 2023 Hilltops in overall play gave up an average of 6.3 points a game, which is the lowest total in team history.

Looking at all those statistical facts, it can be strongly argued that the defensive unit of the 2023 Hilltops was the greatest defensive unit of all-time in the team’s history.

Of course, the Hilltops teams from 1947 onwards played with various different rules as the years and decades went on. With that noted, the rules in today’s version of football are geared to allow the offences to ride high.

In theory, today’s football rules should have prevented the Hilltops from giving up their second lowest points allowed total of all-time in team history.

The crazy part of the Hilltops defence in 2023 was it wasn’t just a finesse unit. The players on the Hilltops defence in 2023 could hit hard.

Wade Keating, right, makes a sack for the Hilltops.

The defence of the 2023 Hilltops was aided by a veteran presence. Out of the eight players the Hilltops had on their roster who were playing in their final campaigns of CJFL eligibility, five of those players were on defence.

Middle linebacker Matt Wist, outside linebacker Wade Keating, defensive back Carter Wingert and defensive tackle Craig Torgerson were all holdovers for the Hilltops 12-0 CJFL championship winning team in 2019, which marked the last time the Hilltops captured the Canadian Bowl until 2023. Linebacker Jordan Levesque joined the Hilltops following the 2019 campaign, but he missed a sizable portion of the 2023 season due to a leg injury.

Wist, Keating and Wingert all started, while Torgerson was part of a regular rotation on the defensive line, which saw him take some repetitions at defensive end.

The defence was anchored by first team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars in defensive end Riece Kack and defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens. Wist and hard hitting and ball hawking safety Dalton Urban were named second team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars.

During the post-season, Kack had a memorable performance in the CJFL semifinal win over the Saints on October 29 at SMF Field. Kack pile up six sacks to set a new record for a CJFL playoff game. He actually became the first player to register six sacks in any CJFL contest be it regular season, playoffs or CJFL championship game.

Carter Wingert (#21) made big plays in the Hilltops secondary.

In the Canadian Bowl win over the Rebels, Wist accumulated 36 defensive points, which is a new record for a CJFL championship game. He also equaled the record for most interceptions in a CJFL championship game at three, which had been achieved on five previous occasions.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant and his long time defensive coordinator in Jeff Yausie saw the Hilltops defence play at a level that that has rarely been seen in the CJFL. The Hilltops have traditionally played in the CJFL’s toughest conferences for most of their history be it the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Junior Football League or the Alberta Junior Football League that became the PFC.

It can even be argued that the 2023 Hilltops had one of the greatest defences in the history of the CJFL. 

Of course, there will be arguments from the 1947 Vancouver Blue Bombers, various Winnipeg Rods teams from the 1950s, the Edmonton Huskies of the early 1960s, the Gord Currie coached Regina Rams of the 1960s and 1970s, the Frank McCrystal coached Regina Rams of the 1980s and 1990s and the 2021 Langley Rams.

With that said, the Hilltops are an uncommon football team that strives to hit new heights of competitive greatness.

The Hilltops defence celebrated many big plays in 2023.

What the 2023 Hilltops did on the defensive side of the ball raised a bar that might not be reached for a very, very long time.

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Torgerson faces last dance with storied Hilltops squad

DT to play final CJFL game in Canadian Bowl

Craig Torgerson (#56) mans the middle of the Hilltops D-line.

Craig Torgerson believes time on the football field should be cherished.

The 22-year-old defensive tackle will play his final game with the storied Saskatoon Hilltops on Saturday. The Hilltops will be attempting to win their 23^rd CJFL title in team history when they play in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The PFC champion Hilltops (11-0) will take on the host and BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time at Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria. While Saturday’s game will mark the last time Torgerson plays both for the Hilltops and for a CJFL title, he stressed the game was big for everyone on the venerable Saskatoon club.

“It is actually very important,” said Torgerson. “It kind of not only makes the team better, but it also shows that what the rookies are getting themselves into and also it helps better the team, because you get extra playing time and you get extra practice and practice always makes perfect.”

During his first year with the team in 2019, Torgerson was a rookie who was thankful to be getting extra practice time on the field. The graduate of Saskatoon’s Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints Football Team did his part on the practice field helping get teammates ready for games as the Hilltops posted a perfect 12-0 record and claimed their 22^nd and to date last CJFL championship.

The Hilltops traveled to Langley, B.C., for the Canadian Bowl in 2019 and downed the host Rams 11-6 at McLeod Stadium to win a sixth straight CJFL title. Torgerson wasn’t part of the team’s travel party that year.

“I did not get to dress for the championship game,” said Torgerson, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 225 pounds. “All I remember was I was listening to it on the radio, and I could feel the anticipation and all the jitters just through that.

Craig Torgerson had three sacks in the regular season.

“It was definitely quite an experience.”          

Torgerson is one of six Hilltops players who are holdovers from the 2019 CJFL championship team and will exhaust their CJFL eligibility at the conclusion of the Canadian Bowl on Saturday. The other five include middle linebacker Matt Wist, outside linebacker Wade Keating, defensive back Carter Wingert, running back Boston Davidsen and receiver Evan Ward.

Linebacker Jordan Levesque and offensive lineman Justice Walker, who joined the Hilltops after the 2019 campaign, will also exhaust their CJFL eligibility when the Canadian Bowl wraps up.

While Torgerson was listening to the Canadian Bowl on the radio from Saskatoon in 2019, he will be in the middle of the action on Saturday. 

When it comes to the finality of the current post-season, Torgerson has elected to have fun with the experience and play as hard as he can.

“Definitely when playoffs came around, it was definitely do or die at this point,” said Torgerson, who had three quarterback sacks and seven total tackles in the Hilltops eight regular season games. “Hey, there is no better way than to go out on top.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant has enjoyed seeing how much Torgerson has grown during his time with the club. The sideline boss said Torgerson has set a good example of showing the effort on the practice field and in games that the team expects of its players.

“It has been great to see him develop into the player that he is today,” said Sargeant. “He is a dominant pass rusher.

Craig Torgerson will play his last CJFL game in the Canadian Bowl.

“He is a great special teams player, and he is well liked by his teammates. He shows up. He works hard.

“He practices with purpose, and he plays with purpose. He has been a real good example for how to practice and how to compete.”

Sargeant said Torgerson and the rest of the team’s graduating players played a big role in getting the club back into the CJFL title game since last winning it in 2019. 

As has been the Hilltops mantra for a lengthy stretch of time, the goal is to help those graduation players depart as CJFL champions.

“At the end of the day when you’re in your last game and you are in your last year, there is a different importance,” said Sargeant. “That is why we built this program to be a fifth-year program.

“We put a lot of pride in that. When we’re having out leadership meetings, we’re getting the input from them. We place the expectations.

“We challenge them. We’re always going to go after our best players the hardest and have the highest expectations. Look at this year, they’ve delivered.”

Torgerson still remembers learning about the work ethic players needed to have to be part of the Hilltops in his rookie year. He also recalls learning how everything they did in practice, the film room and off-season training all comes together and becomes a factor in how the team plays.

Craig Torgerson (#56) walks to SMF Field with his parents.

Overall, Torgerson said his best memories in playing for the Hilltops comes from the team bonding that happens in the off-season and throughout the football campaign. He also enjoyed and was thankful for the team suppers the parents prepared for the squad on the Thursday night before every game in the CJFL post-season.

He admits it is different that the end of his playing days with the Hilltops is drawing near.

“It is definitely crazy,” said Torgerson. “Time flew definitely.

“It just felt like a couple of years ago I was in my first year. It has been a great time.”

Wist, Urban named second team all-Canadians

Matt Wist was named a CJFL second team all-Canadian all-star.

Matt Wist and Dalton Urban were tabbed with CJFL individual honours on Monday.

Wist, who is the starting middle linebacker with the Saskatoon Hilltops, and Urban, who is the Hilltops starting safety, were both named CJFL second team all-Canadian all-stars. Both were key players in helping the Hilltops post an 11-0 overall record and advance to the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The Hilltops will take on the host Westshore Rebels (12-0) at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time at Starlight Stadium Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria.

Wist recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, 17 defensive tackle assists, two pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and three interceptions during the Hilltops eight regular season games. The 22-year-old will play his final CJFL game on Saturday, when the Hilltops face the Rebels for the CJFL title.

Dalton Urban became a CJFL second team all-Canadian all-star.

Urban recorded eight solo defensive tackles, three defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, one pass knock down, one fumble recovery and five interceptions during regular season play for the Hilltops. On his fumble recovery, Urban returned the ball 61 yards for a touchdown in the Hilltops 49-0 win over the Rifles in Winnipeg on August 20.

Urban finishing out his third season with the Hilltops, and this was the first year he took up the spot as the team’s starting safety.

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Hilltops’ Wingert keys in on his final CJFL stretch run

Carter Wingert, centre, walks on to SMF Field with his parents.

Carter Wingert keeps seeing signs popping up that he is on his last ride with the storied Saskatoon Hilltops.

Last Sunday, Wingert was one of eight graduating players who were honoured before the Hilltops regular season closing 39-1 victory over the Winnipeg Rifles at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The 22-year-old defensive back took part in the Hilltops long time tradition where the graduates make a walk to the field with their parents before the team’s last regular season home game.

Wingert made that walk with his parents in mother, Colleen, and father, Shane. The five-year veteran proceeded to have a good game recording a pair of tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.

Personal time followed when the game concluded, and Wingert spent time talking to and having pictures taken with numerous family members and friends on the playing surface at SMF Field. The supporters made it a priority to get out to this last regular season game to see Wingert play. Those that were often busy with other pursuits inside and outside the sports world made certain to get out to SMF Field on this day.

For Wingert, it was another signal that his CJFL career is nearing an end. This coming Sunday, the Hilltops (8-0) open their post-season schedule hosting the Calgary Colts (3-5) in a PFC semifinal contest at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.

Carter Wingert has forced five turnovers this season.

Football playoffs are simple as the winning teams move on and losing clubs see their campaign come to an end. For Wingert, the focus now is always on the short term to keep winning in order to keep playing.

“I guess it just adds a little more intensity if you want to say,” said Wingert, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 180 pounds. “In playoff football, it is always intense.

“You’re always laying everything on the line. I won’t be thinking too much about it, but I know the Hilltop tradition is always to play for the fifth years. I hope all the guys can rally around and get it done.”

Way back in 2019, Wingert joined the Hilltops after having helped Saskatoon’s Centennial Collegiate Chargers Football Team win two city titles before falling in the provincial final each year in 2017 and 2018. He helped the Hilltops win a sixth straight CJFL title in 2019 posting a perfect 12-0 record.

Now in his final year of CJFL eligibility in 2023, Wingert is one of the Hilltops defensive captains. The Hilltops entered the campaign not knowing where they would stack up in a PFC that was undergoing a major reset due to every club going though sizable graduations following the completion of the 2022 campaign.

On top of helping the Hilltops post an 8-0 regular season record, Wingert was part of a team that allowed just 51 points against all season, which was the venerable CJFL club’s lowest total in that department since 1949.

Carter Wingert (#21) smiles after making a fumble recovery.

Wingert recorded 12 solo defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists, one solo special teams tackle, one pass knockdown, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions. He returned one of his fumble recoveries 50 yards for a touchdown in a 49-0 victory over the Rifles in Winnipeg on August 20.

Wingert said the fact he has played a lot does help with making plays on the field, but added the Hilltops coaches have made adjustments to help the defence play better.

“The more you play the more comfortable you get,” said Wingert. “We’ve switched our technique up a bit this year compared to last year, and I think that has helped us all out a lot as defensive backs specifically.

“It is exciting, and just hopefully, we can keep it going into the playoffs.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant has enjoyed seeing Wingert grow over the years the defensive back has been with the team. The sideline boss said Wingert has been a model member of the Hilltops during his CJFL career and might be having his best season this year.

“Carter (Wingert) has been around the ball all year,” said Sargeant. “You know what, the coaches have done such a good job.

Carter Wingert (#21) charges to the field with his teammates.

“We’ve put them in good spots. You could just see that fifth year pedigree in him. This year, boy, I think personally he has five or six turnovers himself.

“For a wide side halfback boy, that is saying a lot. As I said, this whole group has been special, and especially because of our fifth years, and Carter (Wingert) is one of our special players that as a captain is doing a great job of leading.”

Now, the last ride for Wingert begins in earnest as the club starts is 2023 post-season journey. He will be joined on that journey by fellow grads who were members of that 2019 CJFL title winning team in linebackers Matt Wist and Wade Keating, running back Boston Davidsen, defensive lineman Craig Torgerson and receiver Evan Ward.

Linebacker Jordan Levesque and offensive lineman Justice Walker are also on that journey as graduating players having joined the Hilltops following the 2019 campaign.

“It has definitely hit home,” said Wingert. “When you’re playing, you’re just focused on the game.

Carter Wingert (#21) is pictured with the Hilltops grads and their parents,

“I’m not really thinking about it too much. I’m just trying to do my job and help my team out in whatever way I can.”

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Hilltops have unique vibe so far in 2023 campaign

In season experiences feel new for young squad

The Hilltops charge on to the field to start their season on August 13.

Winning feels new again for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

Actually, all the experiences that go into a football season feel new for a mainly youthful squad. That might sound strange for a Hilltops program that has won 22 CJFL championships in the club’s storied history.

The Hilltops have started 3-0 in the current CJFL regular season and everyone has kind of lived in the moment.

Right now, the focus for this practice week is to get better in order to prepare to face the Regina Thunder this coming Saturday at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium. Both squads head into that contest with identical 3-0 records, and the clash is already getting the vibe of a heavyweight tilt.

The two clubs last met in the PFC final on October 30, 2022 at Mosaic Stadium, where the Thunder pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 39-21 victory. Regina hosted the CJFL championship game on November 12, 2022 and fell 21-19 to the Kelowna, B.C., based Okanagan Sun.

Both the Hilltops and Thunder experienced significant turnover when their respective 2022 campaigns came to a conclusion.

For the Hilltops, a little more time has passed since their last CJFL championship season in 2019. Saskatoon’s CJFL title win in that campaign capped a run of six straight championship wins and also closed a stretch where the Hilltops won nine CJFL championships over a 10 year period.

Riece Kack has 4.5 sacks in three games.

The Hilltops roster in 2023 contains seven players in their fifth and final campaigns of CJFL eligibility, and five of those players were with the team in 2019. The five holdovers from that 2019 Hilltops club that posted a 12-0 record to win the CJFL title include middle linebacker Matt Wist, outside linebacker Wade Keating, defensive back Carter Wingert, running back Boston Davidsen and defensive lineman Craig Torgerson.

Linebacker Jordan Levesque and offensive lineman Justice Walker round out the group of seven playing out their final CJFL campaigns.

Unlike pass seasons in recent times, the Hilltops don’t have a sizable group of fourth and fifth year players who already sport three of four CJFL championship rings. 

Hilltops teams in those seasons did an admirable job of staying in the moment, but there was a feeling back in everyone’s mind that the team would make it to the CJFL title game and capture the Canadian Bowl trophy as CJFL champs.

There was a feeling that no matter what happened with the ups and downs of the season the Hilltops were going to be in the CJFL title game. The focus on being in the presence came from a place where the players wanted to embrace each moment of the campaign knowing time was going to fly by way to fast.

In 2023, Wist, Keating, Wingert, Davidsen and Torgerson are the only Hilltops players who have CJFL championship rings. No one has really thought about being in the Canadian Bowl to play for a CJFL title.

Before the current CJFL campaign got underway, the 2023 Hilltops were hit with a reality check. In the Hilltops Alumni Game played on August 3 at Ron Atchison Field, the current Hilltops were hammered 32-1 by the Alumni Team.

Trey Reider has 716 yards passing in three games.

While the PFC as a conference is going through a “great reset” this season, there was early concern about how 2023 could possibly go for the Hilltops. Over their first three games, they’ve outscored the opposition 149-20.

They wiped out the Edmonton Wildcats 50-2 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on August 13. The Hilltops then traveled to Winnipeg and ran over the Rifles 49-0 on August 20. Back at SMF Field on August 27, the Hilltops corralled the Calgary Colts 50-18.

Davidsen tops the PFC with 458 yards rushing coming on 49 carries and scoring three touchdowns along the ground. He is on track to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in the regular season for a second straight year. In 2022, Davidsen topped the PFC in rushing piling up 1,037 yards on 149 carries to go with seven touchdowns.

Hilltops receiver Drake Douglas sits second in the PFC so far this season with 254 yards receiving having caught 18 passes with one of those going for a touchdown.

Quarterback Trey Reider has been an outstanding signal caller for the Hilltops so far in 2023 completing 45-of-68 passes for 716 yards and eight touchdowns, while throwing one interception.

Hilltops defensive ends Riece Kack and Kai Kukurudza have 4.5 and three quarterback sacks respectively. Wist, Keating, Justin Adamko, Andy Scrivens, Dalton Urban and Denym Mantyka all have single interceptions for Saskatoon this season.

Place kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas has made 9-of-10 field goal attempts for the Hilltops this season. Wist have averaged 39.5 yards per punt on 15 punt attempts.

Xavier Sabo jets upfield on a 33-yard TD run on August 13.

Hilltops legendary head coach Tom Sargeant and his veteran coaching staff seems to be enjoying tackling the type of challenge they haven’t had in about 13 years. They likely revisited how they handled the team in the past when CJFL title didn’t pile up in consecutive years in order to help guide the current squad.

For the coaches, it seems like coaching a more youthful team has become new again.

As the campaign goes on, the Hilltops focus on allowing their graduating players to go out on a high note, which has been a continuing theme for the club certainly since Sargeant became head coach in early December of 1997.

Still, it is cool that the grind of a season can feel new again even for a storied, historic and venerable team like the Hilltops.

’Toppers Davidsen gets player of the week nod, other notes

Boston Davidsen has 458 yards rushing in three games.

This past Wednesday Saskatoon Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen picked up his first PFC player of the week honour for the 2023 campaign.

Davidsen was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week for his efforts in his team’s 50-18 win over the visiting Calgary Colts on August 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. In that contest, Davidsen carried the ball 15 times for 190 yards and one touchdown.

A graduate of the Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints Football Team, Davidsen is playing out his final season of CJFL eligibility for the Hilltops. He is on pace to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in the regular season for a second straight year.

Regina Thunder linebacker Stephen Smith was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week this past Wednesday for his efforts in his club’s 45-21 victory over the visiting Winnipeg Rifles on August 27 at Leibel Field in Regina. Smith had five solo defensive tackles and nine defensive tackle assists in his team’s win.

He leads the PFC with 48 defensive points coming on 14 solo defensive tackles, 13 defensive tackle assists, one solo special teams tackle, one quarterback sack and one blocked kick.

Thunder kicker Shawn Green took honours as the PFC’s special teams player of the week this past Wednesday for his efforts in the August 27 win over the Rifles. Green made all three of his field goal attempts coming from 32, 31 and 17 yards out, and he hit on all five of his convert attempts.

He kicked off five times for 307 yards for an average of 61.4 yards per kick and recorded a rouge on an 80-yard kick. Green punted the ball nine times for 249 yards for an average of 27.7 yards per punt.

• Thunder receiver Isaiah Woodley leads the PFC with 383 receiving yards. Woodley has piled up his yardage on 14 catches and has scored three touchdowns.
• Thunder quarterback Carter Moberg has completed 51-of-91 passes for 1,025 yards and 10 touchdowns while throwing two interceptions this season. His passing yard and touchdown pass totals sit first in the PFC.
• It appears Gregg Drinnan is walking away from the sports writing game after about 52 years and this time it might be for good. He had taken breaks before and cut down on writing only to fire up full steam like he did before those breaks. On a post this past Wednesday on his Taking Note blog, Drinnan wrote he was stepping away from his blog and didn’t know when or even if he would return. He wrote he wanted to get away from social media in the worst way and was looking forward to not turning on a computer. On Sunday, Drinnan posted a picture of a typewriter on his blog that has just finished typing out the phrase, “The end.” Drinnan has been in the sports writing game since 1971 having worked with the Brandon Sun, the Winnipeg Tribune, Regina Leader-Post and Kamloops Daily News. He was a sports editor at both the Leader-Post and the Daily News. After the Daily News folded in January of 2014, Drinnan had mainly produced pieces for his blog. He is best known for his coverage of the WHL, but he has covered sports of all sorts during his career. Here is hoping he can get out and enjoy more time with family and friends.

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