Forrest gets past surprise medical issues to play final Cubs season

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Ethan Forrest sets to throw a pitch for the Cubs.

Ethan Forrest wants to create one last set of good memories in his final season with the Saskatoon Cubs, but he never foresaw the campaign taking an unexpected turn before it began.

As the 17-year-old second baseman and relief pitcher was training at Inside Pitch Saskatoon over the winter months, he started to notice what he believed was regular pain in his right throwing arm. At first, Forrest thought it was something that was going to go away.

The pain never went away. At a Cubs practice shortly before the under-18 AAA baseball club began playing exhibition games, Forrest asked the team’s coaches about the pain he was experiencing and a pattern that had developed on his arm. The coaches told their veteran player to see a doctor.

“It got really bad in kind of my armpit area, kind of the lat area, and that is when I knew it wasn’t any normal pain,” said Forrest. “I could hardly lift my arm.

“That is when we went into the hospital, and then I was diagnosed with a blood clot. A couple of weeks later, it was removed, but they found I had thoracic outlet syndrome. It is usually a pitcher syndrome.

“Max Scherzer in the MLB is just suffering from it right now. He is just getting off rehab for it. It is just kind of where you get a little bit of kind of build up of scar tissue from overuse and right under your clavicle bone there in your neck, and then it pinches off and kind of just forms a clot or you’ll have nerve damage.”

Scherzer, who is an ace right-handed pitcher who helped the Texas Rangers win the World Series last year, started his MLB season with a lengthy stay on the injured list with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome in his throwing arm. He saw his first action with the Rangers on June 23.

When Forrest first got his diagnosis, he thought he might miss the Cubs season.

Ethan Forrest was diagnosed with a blood clot.

“When they told me I had a blood clot, it is a pretty scary thing,” said Forrest, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 170 pounds. “The pain went away really quickly with the blood thinners, and I was playing almost a week later in pre-season.

“I didn’t know if it was going to be months or a few days. I was scared to miss the season for sure.”

Forrest has been thankful that everything that has been done to treat his blood clot and manage his thoracic outlet syndrome has worked. It allowed him to return to action with the Cubs in quick order.

Having just graduated Grade 12 from Holy Cross High School, Forrest has committed to joining the Miles Community College Pioneers Baseball Team in Miles City, Montana. He will play second base and third base for the Pioneers, who are part of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II ranks.

At the moment, Forrest is still taking blood thinners every day, and that has allowed him to play for the Cubs. He is considering options to further deal with his thoracic outlet syndrome after the Cubs season comes to an end.

“I just kind of have to be careful now,” said Forrest, who will turn 18-years-old on July 29. “Now, I play and lift weights with no pain anymore.

“The next step we are doing is just deciding with surgery and stuff before I head to college and what that is going to look like. We have to decide if we’re going to go with surgery now or not. We don’t really know yet.”

Once Forrest’s medical diagnosis was clear, Cubs co-head coach Jordan Frey said the team’s focus was to help the veteran standout get healed up.

“Obviously, it wasn’t something we wanted to deal with or foresaw coming, but it was something we did have to deal with,” said Frey. “We talked with him lots and wanted to make sure that he had our support as a coaching staff and as a team.

Ethan Forrest is dealing with thoracic outlet syndrome.

“Whatever decision he wanted to go down whether it was getting surgery or not being able to finish the rest of the year, we supported that decision. His health came first and foremost. Just to see him back on the field just shows how much he cares about the game and wants to be on our team and be a leader.”

Frey said the Cubs coaches weren’t worried if Forrest had to miss a few games or a lengthy amount of time to possibly the whole season. The team’s coaches were pumped, when Forrest made a quick return.

With that noted, Forrest’s workload on the pitching mound has been managed as he comes back from his medical challenges. When Forrest has come in to play relief, the Cubs coaches at first tried to limit him to an inning or two.

On June 30 at Cairns Field, the Cubs brain trust allowed Forrest to go a little longer. Forrest pitched an efficient three scoreless innings with one strikeout leaving the mound with the Cubs holding a 4-1 lead over the Saskatoon Diamondbacks after six innings. The Diamondbacks rallied scoring four runs in the top of the seventh to pull out a 5-4 victory after Forrest left the game.

Frey said the Cubs coaches were pretty inspired to get the superb three innings from Forrest.

“We know what we are getting with him on the mound,” said Frey. “He is going to be consistent.

“He is going to throw strikes. Thirty-three pitches in three innings is nothing we’re ever going to complain about. It is just one of those things we have to get him ramped back up again to a higher pitch count.”

Forrest has been a regular when it comes to playing second base, and Frey said his graduating veteran has been outstanding at that position.

Ethan Forrest has played regularly for the Cubs this season.

“Infielding wasn’t something he needed to take a step back on,” said Frey. “The throwing part he did a little bit.

“Obviously playing second base, it helps with a little bit of a shorter throw. Just being able to have him out there and being a third-year kid, it helps our team. You can see when he is in the lineup.

“The boys absolutely love having him around. Even when he was hurt, he was just on the bench trying to help out anyway he could.”

On offence, Forrest has gone 19-for-67 at the plate for a .284 average with 16 runs batted in as the Cubs have built a 18-8 record to battle for first place in the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League. Looking at everything he has dealt with, Forrest is pleased with his season so far.

“I feel like it is going pretty good,” said Forrest. “We’re first in the league team wise, and we’re all having a good time this year.

“The team is performing really well. Personally, I think I am having a decent year. I always have stuff to improve on obviously on the offensive side.

“I’m happy with how my pitching is going right now for sure. It has been a fun year overall for sure.”

In 2022, Forrest took part in as many Cubs practices as he could as an affiliate player. He played that campaign full time with the Saskatoon Cardinal Sluggers Under-18 AA team, and he was around Cubs when they won their Saskatchewan title in that campaign.

He moved up to the Cubs on a full-time basis in 2023 as they had another stellar year but were unable to make it to the provincial final. Forrest believes the Cubs have all the pieces to win another provincial title and qualify for nationals, or make the provincial final and earn a spot to Westerns.

Ethan Forrest believes his Cubs can win a provincial title.

Forrest said a lot of the best memories he has have been made with the Cubs. Due to the challenges he has faced on the medical front this season, Forrest believes he is cherishing his final campaign with the team in a good new way, because he hasn’t had to spend large portions of the season out of the lineup.

“As a third year especially, it is my last kind of summer season here in Saskatoon,” said Forrest. “It is going to be tough one.

“With the clot as well, I’m fortunate enough to be healthy right now and playing with no pain. Definitely, I am very appreciative to be playing right now.”

Softball Super Series leads outdoor photo roundup fun

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Luchi Bondi (#34) jets to home for the Chiefs.

Softball has a storied history in Saskatoon, so it was only fitting Bob Van Impe Stadium played host to the Super 8 Men’s International Softball Super Series.

The Super Series was a six-team tournament that include the Saskatoon Angels, Saskatoon Jacks, Softball Canada’s National Men’s Team, New York Gremlins, New Zealand Black Sox and Hill United Chiefs from Brantford, Ont. It ran from July 4 to 7 at BVI and was warmly received by the sizable number of spectators that turned out.

In the championship final played on the afternoon on July 7, the Chiefs downed the Black Sox 7-1 after getting off to a rocket start scoring four runs in the top of the first on a grand slam by Lenny Villalvazo. 

Devon McCullough sets to fire a pitch to home plate for the Angels.

Chiefs pitcher Marco Diaz went the distance in the pitching circle striking out 10 batters.

With that tournament going on, it only made sense that the lead items for this latest Howe Happenings photo roundup came from this event.

Our lead photo sees Chiefs utility player Luchi Bondi being waved home to score a run in the final inning of the championship contest. Both the Chiefs and the Black Sox finished the event with 5-1 overall records with the Black Sox having prevailed over the Chiefs earlier in the tournament.

The second photo of the roundup sees Angels pitcher Devon McCullough in the action of delivering a pitch in the tournament’s opening game on July 4 against the Jacks. McCullough, who has thrown his share of memorable contests at BVI, showed he is still at the top of his game as the Angels blanked the Jacks 4-0 after eight innings.

Cole Evans fires a throw to first base for an out for the Black Sox.

The third photo is also from the championship game, and it shows Black Sox shortstop Cole Evans making a big defensive throw for an out at first. Throughout the Super Series, the Black Sox played incredible infield defence.

Along with images from the Super Series, July’s photo roundup is packed with pictures from baseball, football and softball.

The pictures in this photo roundup capture some of the memories that are made on our grounds. In this photo roundup, all of these pictures were taken by our Communications Coordinator in Darren Steinke.

Without further ado, here is a selection of 13 shots we hope you enjoy.

Heading to the Hall of Fame

On the right, members of the Lee Morrison Curling Rink from 2009 that won the Canadian masters 60 and older national championship shake hands with other members of the announced 2024 class to enter the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame. The announcement press conference to reveal the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame’s latest class was held on June 13 at the main hall in the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building. The official induction dinner for the Hall of Fame class will be held November 2 at Prairieland Park.

Perfectly placed drive

A hitter from a Twin City Angels team nails a smart drive into the outfield at Glenn Reeve Field #5 during a game at the Murphy’s U11 Softball Super Series Tournament on June 15. The Murphy’s tourney allowed young players to gain confidence making plays.

Off to the races

Saskatoon Valkyries star receiver Haley Girolami jets to the end zone making a 14-yard touchdown catch early in the second quarter of a WWCFL semifinal contest held on June 16 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Girolami caught seven passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns as the Valkyries downed the Manitoba Fearless 48-14.

Final Valkyries home cheer for 2024

The Saskatoon Valkyries do a post-game cheer on June 16 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field after downing the Manitoba Fearless 48-14 in a WWCFL semifinal contest. That win would be the last home outing for the Valkyries in the 2024 campaign. The Valkyries traveled to Regina on June 23 and beat the host Riot 36-21 in the WWCFL Championship Game.

“Air Lumeka”

Clovis Lumeka fires a perfect Warren Moon type pass during Saskatoon Adult Flag Football League action on June 19 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Lumeka was once a star defensive back with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team having played his final season of eligibility in 2021. On this day, he showed off his offensive skill.

Alert throw

Saskatoon Diamondbacks catcher Carter Simms got to take part in a rare double-play in Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League Under-18 AAA action against the Saskatoon Cubs on June 30 at Cairns Field. With the bases loaded, a Cubs hitter hit a grounder to the Diamondbacks pitcher. Simms received a throw back to the plate from the pitcher to get the out at home. This picture shows Simms making a throw to first to get the second out of the double-play.

How low can you go?

One of the fans at Cairns Field for the Saskatoon Berries WCBL doubleheader on July 1 got to take part in a limbo contest during the club’s second game of the day. The promo contest was part of the fun of Berries games on Canada Day.

Team Canada group gathering

Players and coaches from Softball Canada’s Men’s National Team gather outside the team’s dugout after giving up four runs in the top of the seventh inning to the New Zealand Black Sox during play at the Super 8 Men’s International Softball Super Series on July 5 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. After the team chat, Team Canada wasn’t able to pull off a rally in the bottom of the seventh falling 7-3 in the round robin contest.

Superb toss from short

Saskatoon Berries shortstop Bryce Campbell slings the ball to first base for an out during a WCBL game against the Weyburn Beavers on July 6 at Cairns Field. Thanks to some strong defence the Berries pulled out a 6-3 victory on this night.

Plate block

United Hill Chiefs catcher Josh McGovern makes a plate block on a rare slightly off pitch during the championship game of the Super 8 Men’s International Softball Super Series on July 7 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Chiefs would down the New Zealand Black Sox 7-1 in the title game.

Black Sox pose for farewell photo

The New Zealand Black Sox pose with the runner-up trophy after falling in the final of the Super 8 Men’s International Softball Super Series on July 7 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Black Sox were fan favourites during the four days the tournament ran.

Chiefs on top of the hill

The United Hill Chiefs pose with the championship trophy after winning the final of the Super 8 Men’s International Softball Super Series on July 7 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Chiefs played at an elite level in all six of their tournament games.

Championship finish for Lasers

The Saskatoon Lasers pose for the traditional team picture after they won Softball Saskatchewan’s Under-11 A Girls’ North Provincials. They downed the Prince Albert Aces 10-5 in the championship final to take the title on July 7 at Joe Gallagher Field.

Gieni’s happy place is track and field track

Masters athlete has set Canadian records at least 60 times

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Muriel Gieni is an all-time great masters athlete in track and field.

Muriel Gieni discovered a whole new life when she followed her son into a sport.

About 23 years ago, Gieni’s son, Morgan, joined the Riversdale Athletics Club. At first, Gieni would drive Morgan to practice and watch him take part in the sport.

One day, Morgan’s coach, Doug Boyd, invited the parents to come out and take part in training. That led to Gieni at the time in her early 40s becoming a regular participant in practice sessions and eventually to taking part in masters athletics competitions.

In over two decades, Gieni is now 66-years-old and still going strong in the sport. Over her career, she has traveled all over and broken Canadian masters records in track and field on at least 60 occasions.

That included earning 3,852 points in the pentathlon at the Alberta Indoor Games on Edmonton this past February 4. Gieni’s point total set a new Canadian masters women’s indoor record for those aged 65 to 69.

“Your life has a journey, and you are rolling along here,” said Gieni. “What I learned is find what you love to do and do it.

“The second I walk on to a track I’m in my happy place. This is where I belong. This is where I should be.”

Before joining the Riversdale Athletics Club, Gieri had an athletic background. She grew up in a small town and in high school she took part in basketball, volleyball, badminton and track and field. Like small town athletes in the current day, Gieri moved from one sport to another as the year went along.

She remembers back then taking a liking to track and field.

“Our track season was four or five weeks long whatever it was,” said Gieni, who stands 5-foot-6. “I loved it.

“I loved track and field. It just was very limited to the time. I didn’t really get proper counselling to further my pursuit in track and field.

Muriel Gieni has set a number of records in triple jump.

“I was married with children for 20 years after that and then joined track again.”

Following high school, Gieni played volleyball in her post-secondary years as a student. After her post-secondary school was complete, Gieni continued to stay in shape doing workouts in the gym.

Upon getting back into track and field with the Riversdale Athletics Club, Gieni felt a new motivation in her pursuit to stay fit forming friendships with the athletes at the club. She enjoyed the youthful energy of the young members who were in junior high school or high school.

At first, Gieni saw herself being in the background as the person that was working to stay in shape and offer words of encouragement to the young athletes in the club. To her surprise, she received coaching, and she loved it.

“Right away, every single coach I’ve ever had has treated me like an athlete, and they talk to me like they would anybody in the group coaching specific technique, coaching specific to me what I need to do,” said Gieni. “It has been, ‘OK. I’ll ride this wave.’”

Gieni said the coaching she has received over the years from the Riversdale Athletic Club and the track and field community as a whole in Saskatoon has been outstanding. She added the track and field coaches in Saskatoon genuinely want to see the athletes they work with do well.

As for track events themselves, Gieni’s favourite is hurdles. Her main disciplines are hurdles, triple jump and long jump. Over the years, Gieni has picked up shot put, high jump, the 200-metre race, 800-metre race and javelin in order compete in pentathlons and heptathlons.

The pentathlon in masters women’s competitions includes 60-metre hurdles, 800-metre race, high jump, long jump and shot put. The heptathlon for masters women’s competitions is made up of the 80-metre hurdles, 200-metre race, 800-metre race, high jump, long jump, shot put and javelin.

When Gieni picked up new track disciplines over the years, she usually encounters a local coach who is an expert in that discipline, and the instruction she receives helps her performance immensely.

“I’ve always believed a champion is made by the athlete who buys into the coach,” said Gieni. “If you can coordinate that where your believing what he or she is saying you have magic.

Muriel Gieni takes part in Saskatchewan provincial in July of 2023.

“Sometimes I have a regular coach say just in high jump or some other coach and it could be from another club. It could be a senior coach that has come back to visit. I’ll just hear one thing, and I’ll say, ‘OK,’ because you hear it different. Then that works.”

As a bonus, the Canadian records started to come. Gieni’s first Canadian record was set in Calgary in the women’s 80-metre hurdles at age 45 in the 45-49 masters age class.

“I was absolutely over the moon, because it means I’m the first Canadian woman at this age that has ever run this fast,” said Gieni, who also sometimes has to chuckle when she sets a record. “Then I got into jumping, and I found out I could set Canadian records in the triple jump and long jump.

“I’ve been very successful in shotput as well. I’ve been very successful in high jump lately for some reason in my 60s. I’ve over 65.

“I’m jumping higher than I ever did in my 40s. What’s with that? The things that coaches challenge me with then I ask my body to try it, and I have actually no idea where this is going to go but sometimes it has been extremely successful and kind of laughable.”

Over the years, Gieni has cherished the friendships she has made through track and field. Last year, she did regular training sessions in the morning with the elite group on the Track and Field Track on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds that includes Michelle Harrison, Nicole Ostertag, Savannah Sutherland and Madisson Lawrence.

For one morning session last year, Gieni brought a camera to get photos of herself going through her events. She decided to get a photo of herself together with Harrison, Ostertag, Sutherland and Lawrence for a keepsake.

“My relationship with the other athletes is just the joy I carry around with me,” said Gieni. “I’m taking a picture, because this is who I am out here training with.

“They like me, but I like them way more. I love these kids. They treat me really, really well.”

Muriel Gieni picked up shot put to enter pentathlons and heptathlons.

With the track and field track being her happy place, Gieni plans to competing in the sport for as long as possible. Due to the fact masters records are classified via five year age groups, Gieni has a new set of records to go after the older she gets. At the moment, she his just at the beginning of going after the records in the women’s 65-69 age group.

While she enjoys pursuing Canadian records, Gieni stays in track and field, because she flat out loves it.

“It is absolutely my thing,” said Gieni.“I don’t do it to inspire others, but I do it to charge myself up, and my family loves it.

“They get a big kick out of it. It brings happiness all around. Fitness brings happiness. You got this where you are feeling good everyday.”

Berries home debut highlights busy photo roundup

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Oakland Flodell, right, meets some young baseball players.

It was a night where Cairns Field felt like the big leagues on a miniature scale.

On May 28, the Western Canadian Baseball League made its return to Saskatoon’s fabled baseball park when the first-year Saskatoon Berries held their home opener against the Regina Red Sox, who have traditionally been one of the WCBL’s best teams. A sellout crowd of 2,200 spectators packed the park to take in great baseball action and enjoy a number of cool promotions that went on throughout the contest.

The concessions had unique menu options and there was a special beverage choice tailored to Saskatoon’s new baseball team. Those that are young or young at heart also enjoyed the upbeat nature of team mascot Barry the Bear.

It seemed a natural fit that the lead items for this latest Howe Happenings photo roundup came from the Berries first home game in team history.

Ryan Olchoway unloads a pitch to home plate.

Our lead photo sees Berries outfielder Oakland Flodell heading to the field during pre-game introductions being greeted by players from the Saskatoon Royals female baseball program. Flodell is a graduate of the Saskatoon Giants under-18 AAA program, and he just finished playing his first season with the Arizona Western College Matadors.

The second photo of the roundup sees Berries pitcher Ryan Olchoway firing a toss to a batter. Olchoway ultimately took the loss on the mound.

The third photo of the roundup comes post-game with a trio fans getting their photo taken with mascot Barry at home plate. The Berries trailed 5-4 heading into the ninth inning before falling 8-4 that night, but they make their games at Cairns Field the place to be in Saskatoon over the spring and summer months.

A trio of fans are pictured with Berries mascot Barry the Bear.

With the spring season well underway, it has been busy on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. 

The grounds have hosted the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Green and White Day, Saskatoon Valkyries football, the SHSAA’s Track and Field Provincial Championships and all sorts of baseball and softball action.

The pictures in this photo roundup capture some of the memories that are made on our grounds. In this photo roundup, all of these pictures were taken by our Communications Coordinator in Darren Steinke.

Without further ado, here is a selection of 19 shots we hope you enjoy.

Set to let it rip

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris gets set to fire a pass downfield working scrimmage and modified game type drills during the team’s Green and White Day at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on May 18. The Roughriders use the event as a way to give Rider Nation a small preview of the upcoming season.

Fun with the fans

Members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders visit with Rider Nation after going through scrimmage and modified game type drills during the team’s Green and White Day at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on May 18. The Roughriders use the event as a way to connect with their fans.

Goal-line stretch

Saskatoon Valkyries receiver Reed Thorstad battles through a couple of Regina Riot defenders to break the plane of the goal-line for a touchdown during a WWCFL regular season contest at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on May 18. The Valkyries downed the Riot 41-7 on this night.

Get that out of here

The Saskatoon Valkyries zone defence rejects a Regina Riot pass attempt in a WWCFL regular season game at Saskatoon Minor Football field on May 18. Defending on the play were Jaimyn Mantyka (#26), Skyler Smith (#23) and Kaylin O’Neill. The Saskatoon side claimed a 41-7 victory on the night.

Hot liner

A hitter drives a hot liner to the outfield at Glenn Reeve Field #3 on May 19 during the identification camp for Softball Canada’s Under-18 Women’s National Team. The camp attracted a healthy gathering of players from all over.

Bringing the heat

A Saskatoon Hustlers pitcher unloads a pitch at Glenn Reeve Field #7 on May 26 during game action at the SMSL’s President’s Tournament. The tourney drew in numerous teams for action in U13 A, U15 A, U17 A and U19 A age groups.

A Berrie good sight

A look at a packed Cairns Field for the Saskatoon Berries first WCBL home game on May 28. A sellout crowd of 2,200 spectators saw the Berries fall to the visiting Regina Red Sox 8-4.

Grateful first pitch honour

Bryan Kosteroski, our Board of Directors Chair, and Johnny Marciniuk, our Operations Manager, took part in throwing the ceremonial first pitches for the Saskatoon Berries first home game on May 28 at Cairns Field. Kosteroski, who is on the left, and Marciniuk, who is on the right, were honoured to take part in the Berries opening game festivities.

Excited for the opener

One Saskatoon Berries fan decided to rise above the crowd in showing his excitement for the team’s WCBL home opener on May 28 at Cairns Field. A sellout crowd of 2,200 spectators came out to this contest.

Beauty big screen

The new big video board located behind the outfield fence at Cairns Field shows off all sorts of great displays including this one in the late innings of the team’s home opener on May 28. The video scoreboard is one of many things that improves the game day experience at Berries home games.

Going for broke

Alaina Reid of Bedford Road Collegiate and Morgan McCleary of St. Joseph High School fly over their hurdles during a race at the Track and Field Track on May 30 during action at the SSSAD’s Bob Adams City Championships for track and field. Athletes from all over the city put in a top effort in competing for the chance to go to the SHSAA’s Track and Field Provincial Championships.

Cornered

A shifty ball carrier from a Falcons team gets trapped by a trio of defenders from a Bengals team during NFL 5on5 Youth Flag Football action on June 1 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The NFL 5on5 Youth Flag Football program is one of many great programs run by Saskatoon Minor Football.

Got it!

A Saskatoon Phantoms infielder settles under an infield fly to secure an out at Joe Gallagher Field on June 1 in action at the Saskatoon Hustlers Softball Tournament. The softball diamonds at the Complex host many local tournaments as well as two or three nationals during the annual spring and summer seasons.

Off to the races

Receiver Gage Prodaehl carried the ball on a jet sweep for Team Gold in Saskatoon Minor Football’s Varsity Academy Final on June 5 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Prodaehl helped Team Gold down Team Green 24-10.

Let the celebration begin

Players from Team Gold raise the championship trophy after winning Saskatoon Minor Football’s Varsity Academy Final on June 5 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Team Gold downed Team Green 24-10 for the championship in a game that was played in tough windy conditions.

Let it fly

Maddox Thibodeau launches a shot during shot put junior boy’s tetrathlon action on June 7 at the SHSAA Track and Field Provincial Championships held at the Track and Field Track. When the SHSAA Track and Field Provincial Championships are hosted at the Complex, it makes for usually the busiest days of the year for the Track and Field Track and the K+S Potash Canada Multi-Sports Centre.

Taking flight

Happy Oluwasikun flies over a hurdle during the senior girls’ 80-metre hurdles championship race on June 7 at the SHSAA Track and Field Provincial Championships held at the Track and Field Track. Oluwasikun captured the gold medal winning the race in a time of 12.21 seconds.

Up and over

Kaileah Ulmer-Lutudromu lifts her way over the bar in the intermediate girls’ high jump on June 8 at the SHSAA Track and Field Provincial Championships held at the Track and Field Track. She just missed the medals finishing in fourth place as one of competition’s younger competitors.

Sweet victory

Will Sawchuk raises his hands in victory after taking the intermediate boys’ 3,000-metre race on June 8 at the SHSAA Track and Field Provincial Championships held at the Track and Field Track. He completed the run in a time of nine minutes and 51.72 seconds.

Hus holds Gordie Howe Sports Complex in heart

Now Honorary Chair of “Sharing Sport Together” campaign

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Jorgen Hus coaches players at Playground To Pros in April.

Jorgen Hus keeps getting pulled back into the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The 34-year-old Saskatoon product is the veteran long snapper for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and he has a lengthy history with city’s storied sports park. Hus played for the football program at St. Joseph’s High School taking part in games at Saskatoon Minor Football Field from 2003 to 2006.

He moved on to play three seasons with the CJFL’s powerhouse Saskatoon Hilltops from 2007 to 2009. The Hilltops have played their home games at SMF Field since 1960. After becoming a member of the Roughriders in 2015, Hus kept returning to SMF Field as the CFL squad began to regularly hold its annual “Green and White Day” there starting in 2016.

Making a career away from football as a mortgage broker in his hometown, Hus does all his off-season training in Saskatoon. Once the Indoor Training Centre opened on March 1, 2019 on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds, Hus was able to work on his long snapping on the field turf field and do conditioning training at Ignite Athletics.

“This park in general has been a huge part of my life,” said Hus, who helped the Hilltops win a CJFL title in 2007. “It has supported my career and being able to come here in the winters has just helped my career out in so many ways.

“It is pretty incredible what we have here. I just think I wish I had something like this when I was starting high school. I’m curious to see how things would have gone, and if they would have gone any different.

“It is a state-of-the-art facility, and these kids that get to come now they have no idea how good they have it. This is one of the top places in Canada, if not the best as far as I’m concerned. I have a lot of memories here, and a lot of opportunity.”

Knowing the impact the Complex has made on his football career, Hus thought it was natural to take on the role as Honorary Campaign Chair for the “Sharing Sport Together” campaign. That campaign overseen by Friends of the Bowl has a goal of raising $10-million to compete the final upgrades for the Complex grounds. Hus was honoured when he was presented with the opportunity to be the Honorary Campaign Chair.

Jorgen Hus works on long snapping at the Indoor Training Centre.

“This place it obviously has a place in my heart,” said Hus. “It has done so much for me.

“It continues to do even more. With the opportunities that are right there, anything that I can do to help that come to fruition is going to help the dreams of the next kid, the next generation be fulfilled. It is all possible.

“It was a no brainer for me.”

Johnny Marciniuk, who is the Operations Manager for the Gordie Howe Sports Complex Management Incorporated, was excited that Hus came on board to be the Honorary Campaign Chair for the “Sharing Sport Together” campaign. Marciniuk was pleased Hus took up the role, because of the positive history he has in Saskatoon’s sports scene.

“It is awesome to have Jorgen as our Honourary Campaign Chair as he is a successful local boy who played sports in our high school and junior system in the province,” said Marciniuk. “He is a role model for professional football players as well as young boys and girls and adults to strive to achieve their goals.

“What is even better is all of our clients young and old can end up walking side by side with him in our facilities as he uses them on a daily basis, which brings a sense of community to everyone. Lastly, Jorgen is a business man, husband, father and gentleman. We couldn’t be prouder to have him associated with our campaign.”

Hus said some of his earliest memories of playing football in Grade 9 was being able to get out of class early to catch the bus to come down to SMF Field. From there, he built more memories playing against buddies from elementary school who suited up for Evan Hardy Collegiate. The high school post-season inevitably seemed to lead to a showdown with Holy Cross High School.

Playing for either St. Joseph’s or the Hilltops, recollections piled up of playing on the old grass surface at SMF Field when it would eventually become a mud bowl often late in the season.

“There are definitely a few games there where you can’t even tell anybody’s number,” said Hus. “There are just so many games that have been like that.

“I can’t even like pick one out. There was definitely a lot of them. Those were the most fun games.

Jorgen Hus works with youngsters at a clinic in February.

“You’re sliding around in the mud. You feel bad for the folks who have to do the laundry, because that wouldn’t have been easy. That was all part of it playing in all the elements.”

Since 2014, the mud bowl became a thing of the past as a field turf field was installed. With the turf field that exists at the Indoor Training Centre, Hus has been impressed with the number of different camps and programs Saskatoon Minor Football offers thanks to the increased field time. He is a regular when it comes to coaching with SMF’s Playground To Pros Camp.

“All the camps and stuff that are going on now, obviously, they weren’t around when I was coming out of college,” said Hus, who helps coach long snappers at various levels of the game in Saskatoon. “I don’t even know if the CFL combine had lasers when I came out.

“There is definitely more opportunity. Now even with the indoor facilities that we have, we can go throughout the winter. There are no excuses.

“There is a time all year round. We don’t have to wait for the good weather.”

Hus said he has improved quite a bit working on the craft of his position since the Indoor Training Centre opened.

“I’ve had two all-star seasons since being able to work in this place and having the winters to do this,” said Hus. “It is no coincidence.

“I’ve been able to practice on good turf all year round essentially all winter. It has been huge for my career, massive.”

Along with improving for his sport, Hus has enjoyed meeting the numerous athletes that come to the Complex to train and improve in various other sports. He has found those athletes have developed a feeling of attachment to the Complex like he has. Hus said seeing the drive of the other athletes helps his drive.

Jorgen Hus speaks at the Hilltops End Zone Dinner on Sept. 30, 2023.

“You are seeing people come here and working their tail off chasing their dreams, and it is not hard to get motivated by that,” said Hus. “You can be walking in here on your worst day, and you’ll find plenty of reasons to get motivated and fired up.

“That is why I love coming here. I’ll be a client forever after the football career is done. It is pretty special.

“There are not a lot of places where you can see that and get that out of people.”