SNCSA’s Timbits Saturdays aims to create love for softball

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

A youngster works on her swing at a Timbits Saturdays session.

The reward of watching youngsters improve keeps pulling Danielle Bertoncini back into coaching with the Saskatchewan North Central Softball Academy’s Timbits Saturdays program.

Bertoncini is an outfielder with the University of Saskatchewan Softball team and was contacted about a year ago about helping coach with Timbits Saturdays. The Timbits Saturdays program offers softball instruction to children aged five to 10 in one-hour long sessions that are held Saturday mornings at the Indoor Training Centre at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex from October to February.

Players that sign up for the program will take part in a total of six one-hour sessions.

They participate in activities and games that are patterned after informal playground games that promise fun and action. The activities are set up in a way to allow players with high and low skill levels to be involved.

“When they get better, it is very exciting to see,” said Bertoncini. “I’m very proud in all the kids that we see throughout the years.

“It is awesome to see them get better. It is just an unbelievable feeling. That is why I love coming back every time.

“I’m just like, ‘Yep. Sign me up,’ because I want to comeback. Seeing the kids get better is awesome. You really get to know the kids too and how they play and that kind of thing.”

The Timbits Saturday’s program is in its third season of operation. It was developed after the Indoor Training Centre opened on March 1, 2019 and first hit the field from October 2019 to February 2020.

Noreen Murphy, who is the Timbits Coordinator, said the SNCSA was looking to offer this fun instructional program in the off-season during a time that wouldn’t conflict with other activities youngsters might be involved in. The Saturday Morning time slot was a perfect fit.

Danielle Bertoncini teach pitching to a youngster.

“With the facility being available early in the morning, we just wanted to build off of that, so parents would know that this is always when it is going to be so they could schedule around the family events and activities for the kids,” said Murphy. “It has been pretty consistent.

“We sellout every time we put it out there. We’re excited about that. Lots of kids are learning more skills.”

During the Timbits Saturdays sessions, players participate in basic drills that teach the proper forms for throwing, catching and pitching. On the hitting side, players take part in drills that work on proper stance and swinging before proceeding to hit balls off a tee into a net.

Some of those drills are used with older age groups to help reinforce the basics.

On top of those drills, the players will do some activities that are basically playground games along with some short simulated mini games at the end of the session.

Murphy said the program tries to help young players develop physical literary, but the main focus is trying to ensure they are having fun.

“I’ve always said any time you are instructing whatever you are instructing it doesn’t matter the kids need to have fun at the end of the day,” said Murphy. “If they are not having fun, they won’t comeback.

“That is a huge part of it. You will see when we instruct or teach different skill sets in the sport of softball that we include different activities that don’t look like softball, but they are building the foundation of the ABCs I call them agility, balance and coordination. Those are the pieces that you need to be a strong player and athlete eventually.

“We work on those things. They’ve had a lot of fun here, so that is what it is at the end of the day.”

Kelsey Rokosh has a young daughter in the Timbits Saturdays program, who is always pumped up at the end of the sessions about what took place and immediately looks forward to coming back.

Youngsters practise pitching at a Timbits Saturdays session.

Rokosh said her daughter plays softball in the spring and her family was looking for a way to get in some extra skill development in the off-season. She said the Timbits Saturdays program fit her family’s schedule perfectly.

Rokosh watches the Timbits Saturdays sessions from the spectator loop on the second floor of the Indoor Training Centre and enjoys watching her daughter part in the action on the field below.

“They look really organized,” said Rokosh. “The kids look like they are having fun.

“We can see that they have learned some new skills.”

She was also impressed with how well the coaches interact with the young players.

“The coaches seem really great,” said Rokosh. “They are really involved, and they seem really supportive of the kids.”

Bertoncini said it has made her feel good to be able to come out and coach at the Timbits Saturdays sessions and give back to the game.

She has enjoyed teaching the basic skills of the game to young players. She said it has helped her game, because at the elite adult levels there is a lot of focus on the intricacies and strategies of the game.

“It is honestly good for me, because it is good to go back to the basics,” said Bertoncini. “At the end of the day, ball is very simple.

“Ball is about catching the ball, throwing the ball and receiving the ball, and then hitting the ball as well. It is really good to comeback to square one. Playing for the U of S, it happens really quick, and you have to be on your toes at all times.

“At the end of the day, we want kids to come out and play and that is how the sport continues to grow in Saskatoon here. It is good to comeback to square one and kind of slow it down again and get the little kids to really enjoy their time.”

A youngster throws the ball at a Timbits Saturdays session.

During the sessions, Bertoncini hopes she can help instill a love for the sport of softball like she has for the game. She wants them to have a great experience with the game, so they will keep coming back to it.

“We are just making sure we have them have fun in it, so they continue to play as they get older,” said Bertoncini. “That is often where people drop off.

“If they are not having fun in the sport or certain things are not going well, they tend to drop out. As long as we can make sure they are having fun and pushing themselves to be better, I think that is all we can really ask for.”

For more information about programs offered by the Saskatchewan North Central Softball Academy, feel free to check out sncsacademy.com.

Speed skating a tradition for Veeman family

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Luca Veeman leads a pack, and Chris Veeman follow at the rear.

Luca Veeman never thought he would lead his family back into the sport of speed skating.

About nine years ago, Luca was convinced by a friend to give the sport a try. At the time, it wasn’t on the forefront of Luca’s mind that his father, Chris, had skated with the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club for a lengthy stretch while growing up.

Luca knew that his father was a speed skater in his youth, but that actually didn’t have any bearing on why Luca got interested in the sport. He thought it would be fun thing to try with his friend.

“I joined kind of along with him,” said Luca, who is one of the top skaters with the Lions at age 16. “I probably would have gotten involved regardless, but I guess that started a bit sooner than I would’ve without my friend joining.

“I think it has always just been fun from the beginning. As of like now, I can say I really like how the sport works in trying to get better times and the passing and skating fast. When I started, it was mostly just a fun weekday activity with my friends.”

Chris said the reason speed skating hadn’t been a big topic of discussion for his family was due to the fact he had forgotten about the sport for a long time. He first started in the sport when he was really young, because his parents were worried he was too skinny to play hockey and would get physically beat up in that sport.

As an alternative to registering for hockey, it was decided that Chris would sign up for speed skating. Growing up, he skated and trained with future Canadian Olympic superstar Catriona Le May Doan at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval.

Around the time Chris was in Grade 11, he got into cycling at first as a way to cross train to help out with speed skating. Chris ended up liking cycling so much he quickly decided to focus on it as his main sport and stepped away from speed skating.

The idea of getting back into speed skating never crossed Chris’s mind until Luca decided to join the sport and sign up with the Lions Speed Skating Club.

“I think because I had a skating background the club kind of roped me in pretty quickly to coaching and getting involved with administering the club and stuff like that,” said Chris. “Since I am on the ice, I decided I might as well skate.”

Luca Veeman is one of the Lions top speed skaters.

In 2017, Chris decided in masters aged skating competitions. The masters age class is for skaters aged 30 or older, and skaters can keep taking part in those competitions as long as they feel they are able to.

These days, Chris, who is 48-years-old, is a masters class long track speed skater, a Lions coach and the president of the Lions Speed Skating Club. He has enjoyed getting the chance to take part in the sport as a skater once again at the masters level.

“It is a good group of people,” said Chris. “It is mostly older people, obviously.

“There aren’t that many people in their 30s and 40s in Canada that do it. It kind of seems to be more of thing you do maybe when you retire, especially the ones I met in Holland (Netherlands) and the northern European countries. They are all kind of retired professionals it seems like.

“No one takes it too seriously at that age. There are still some pretty competitive people. You get to pretend like you are an athlete again.”

As the years have gone on, the Veeman family presence in the sport and at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval continued to grow. Currently, Luca’s younger 13-year-old brother, Mikko, and younger 11-year-old sister, Lena, are also members of the Lions program.

Luca is happy so many of his family members have gravitated to the sport. He said one of his best memories looking back now was getting paired against his father in a race.

Luca admitted that at the time he wasn’t thrilled about the end result of that race.

“I can remember one race in Calgary, where we were paired together in a long track race, and he came out on top,” said Luca, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 140 pounds. “I wasn’t so happy.

“Thankfully, now I think I’m a bit ahead now, which is nice. It is super fun to be able to like go out and skate with my dad and not just have him cheering from the sidelines.”

Chris Veeman skates, coaches and is president of the Lions.

Chris immediately chuckles when the subject of that race was brought up.

“I mostly remember the look on his (Luca’s) face afterwards,” said Chris, who stands 6-feet and weighs 190 pounds. “I think he really thought he was going to get me that time.

“We haven’t raced each other since then, but it wouldn’t even be close now. Back then, I would beat him by two-tenths of a second maybe. Now, he is about three seconds faster or maybe four seconds faster.”

In long track, both Chris and Luca skate in the 500-metre, 1,000-metre and 1,500-meter distances. Luca also takes part in five-kilometre races in long track and competes in short track. Chris coaches in the short track discipline.

At the Canadian Youth Long Track Championship held in early February of 2020 in Red Deer, Alta., Luca finished third in the 500-metre and second in the 1,500-metre distances in the division for all 14-year-old male skaters.

Luca felt like he making a name for himself nationally on a competitive level before the 2020-21 season was wiped out due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world. This season is Luca’s first at the junior level, and he said he is adjusting to going against a large pool of fast skaters.

“I’ve been making steady steps,” said Luca, who is a Grade 11 student in the French immersion program at Walter Murray Collegiate. “The year before COVID it was a bit of a breakout year.

“I had some good results at bigger competitions. I think this year coming back I kind of skipped the last year of an age group. Now in a sense, I’ve been dropped off in the deep end of a larger age group being junior.

“I like to think I am still skating well and doing well. There are a lot less podiums and standing on top. That is just how it works.”

Luca said veteran Lions coach Tim Comfort and his father have been his biggest influences in helping him out in the sport. As for the future in the sport, Luca expects to pursue speed skating for as long as he can and plans to go to university in Calgary and skate there.

Chris, left, and Luca Veeman enjoy being in speed skating.

Chris said he will support Luca and all his kids in anything they choose to do. Chris added that Luca is an accomplished cyclist who finished sixth at junior men’s road nationals this past September in Saint-Georges, Quebec.

Chris said that Lena is really interested in soccer along with the sport of speed skating.

“For now, for all of us, we just really like speed skating, so we are going to stick with it,” said Chris. “It will be fun to watch what Luca gets up to in the next few years.

“The others are coming up behind him too.”

For more information about the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club, feel free to check out their website at www.slspeedskating.com. The photo of Chris and Luca Veeman together is courtesy the Veeman family.

Albers thankful for return to AAA ball and “the Show”

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Andrew Albers sets to throw a pitch in January 2020.

For Andrew Albers, it was a blessing to get another season under the sun playing AAA and Major League Baseball when you are an older pitcher.

When you are a veteran left-handed hurler that hasn’t played at those levels for three seasons, it is even more of a blessing.

After finishing the 2017 season with the MLB’s Seattle Mariners, Albers, who is from North Battleford, Sask., played three seasons in Japan’s top professional league for the Orix Buffaloes from 2018 to 2020.

This past February at age 35, Albers signed a minor league contract with the MLB’s Minnesota Twins that included an invitation to Spring Training. Things took off from there resulting in a spot with the AAA St. Paul Saints and a return to playing games in the MLB this past August.

“They offered me a position out of spring kind of as a depth guy in AAA,” said Albers, who spends his off-seasons back in Saskatchewan. “Obviously, they had a lot of injuries to their pitching staff this year, and I was able to put together a good couple of months.

“I was thankful for the opportunity they gave me. I was able to go out and have a couple of good outings (with the Twins). I probably had possibly the worst start of my career in Tampa. Unfortunately, that is just kind of how things go.

“After that, I was a little bit rough just kind of going up and down and pitching on short notice and some things like that. Again, when you are in my situation, it was all I could ask for. They gave me an opportunity, and I was really thankful for that.”

At the AAA level, Albers was a starter and saw action in 18 total games posting an 8-4 record, a 3.88 earned-run average, 88 strikeouts and 11 walks.

On Aug. 19, Albers, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 200 pounds, made his first appearance of the season at the big league level at Yankee Stadium. He threw four innings of relief for the Twins in their 7-5 loss striking out four batters giving up two hits including a solo home run and one walk.

Andrew Albers unloads a pitch in January of 2020.

Albers got his first start of the season for the Twins at home on Aug. 27. He threw five-and-a-third innings striking out two, while giving up three hits and one walk picking up the pitching win in a 2-0 victory.

In total this past season, Albers made five appearances for the Twins posting a 1-2 record, a 7.58 ERA, 12 strikeouts and nine walks.

He said the biggest adjustment playing at the AAA and MLB levels in 2021 compared to 2017 was seeing how much analytics have changed the game. He noted starters rarely get to throw over 100 pitches in a game, see a batting order for a third time or go six or seven innings deep into a contest.

He had some discussions with pitching coaches and managers about getting an early hook at times this season. Albers added the middle relievers are better than at any other time he can remember in the game, so he understood the strategies there.

“It was really interesting,” said Albers. “For me in my entire career, I’ve been brought up and it was all throw the ball down at the knees with your fastball and work in and out.

“Coming to the analytics this year, it has gone a lot more to throwing the ball at the top of the zone and just working your breaking ball underneath the zone. For me, it was finding a way to incorporate some of those analytics, but then also go back to what I have been successful with. As long as you command the baseball and you throw the pitch where you want to and you have a plan of what you want to do with guys, you can still be successful.”

During the off-season, Albers returns home to Saskatchewan and gets out fairly frequently to help players coming up in the province’s minor baseball system in various training sessions. He has made regular appearances at the Indoor Training Centre on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds the past two off-seasons.

Being based in Saskatoon for this off-season, Albers plans to made a few more appearances to help out.

“I enjoy doing it first of all,” said Albers. “I think second of all I really enjoyed growing up in Saskatchewan.

Andrew Albers demonstrates a pitching technique in Jan. 2020.

“I had a lot of people obviously put in a whole bunch of time and hours into my career and my development. I feel like for me going back and getting to work with some of the younger players I can maybe provide a little bit different perspective than what some other guys can.

“It is always nice to have somebody who has kind of gone through the process whether it is going through college or going through the professional game and things like that just to be able to bounce ideas off of or ask questions to or things like that.”

Albers, who is a graduate of North Battleford’s John Paul II Collegiate, remembers the work the various coaches in the province did with him and likes trying to help out those coaches.

“I had a lot of mentors who did that for me in the province guys like Greg Brons and Rob Cherepuschak who are still there,” said Albers, who played for the defunct Saskatoon Yellow Jackets of the Western Canadian Baseball League in 2004. “They are still doing a great job.

“To be able to give back a little bit in that way especially again in Saskatchewan when you don’t necessarily have everybody come back, for me that is important.”

At the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, Albers like working with Jordan Draeger and the rest of staff at the Going Yard Training Centre in developing young players.

Albers hopes that his presence does put the idea in the minds of young players that you can come from Saskatchewan and eventually play the game at a level as high as the MLB.

“The more of those guys you can see around and the more that you realize that it might be possible, maybe that motivates them a little bit,” said Albers. “They realize that even though it can be a tough and a long road it is possible, and that is what you hope just being able to see those pro guys come in.”

As for next season, Albers is currently a free agent and said at this point there isn’t much clarity as to where he will be. The collective bargaining agreement between the MLB and the MLB Players Association is set to expire on Dec. 1.

Albers, who turned 36-years-old on Oct. 6, believes there is a good chance there will be a little bit of a work stoppage. For someone his age, he would appreciate the chance to experience one more season under the sun.

Andrew Albers chats with some young players in Jan. 2020.

“I’m hoping to hopefully go back and play in AAA again next year in kind of a similar situation to this year,” said Albers. “We’ll see if I can find an opportunity to do that.

“Obviously you know, you start getting a little bit older, and you are not quite sure how many more opportunities you are going to have. I looked at the playoff rosters this year. If I were on them, I would have been the oldest on five out of the 10 (teams).

“I just think, ‘Holy smokes, that is kind of crazy.’ For me, I look at it as a guy like me to still be playing when the game has gotten very young very quick, I’ve just been very fortunate and blessed to play as long as I have. Hopefully, I can trick somebody into giving me one more shot next year, and then we’ll go from there.”

Sweet happenings in photos enjoys last moments of fall

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

The Hilltops celebrate a playoff winning TD by Dillan Heintz.

The snow has yet to fall, but the chill of winter is in the air.

The final sprint of the fall sports season is nearing the finish line. During the fall months, Saskatoon Minor Football Field is often the main hub of activity at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

As October drew to a close and turned over to November, the playoff chase in various leagues like the KFL, high school football and the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops took flight.

The lead main photo for this post showcases the Hilltops celebrating a winning touchdown from Dillan Heintz with 21.3 second to play. Heintz’s major score allowed the Hilltops to down the Edmonton Huskies 33-31 in a PFC semifinal contest at SMF Field just two days ago.

While most of the action was at SMF Field, the crew with the Going Yard Training Centre got some final outdoor sessions in at Leakos Field.

Activity at the Indoor Training Centre is picking up as various sports groups stop in to train.

Still, these photos capture some of the memories that are made on our grounds. Most of these photos were taken by our Communications Coordinator in Darren Steinke, but Louis Christ checked in with a couple of spectacular shots.

Without further ado, here is a selection of 11 pictures we hope you enjoy.

Hot grounder gets snagged

In one of the last outdoor sessions held by the Going Yard Training Centre, this infielder runs down a hot shot grounder at shortstop on October 13 at Leakos Field.

Helping out on the base paths

Greg Brons, who is the High Performance Director for Baseball Saskatchewan, rakes the base paths at Leakos Field for an outdoor session help by the Going Yard Training Centre on October 13. Brons assisted the Going Yard crew with coaching at the training session too.

Final walk out of the tunnel

For a large number of years, the Saskatoon Hilltops have honoured their graduating players during the team’s last regular season home game of each CJFL campaign. The graduating players take a final walk to the field with their parents. On October 17, linebacker Emmarae Dale made that walk at Saskatoon Minor Football Field with her mother, Wendy, and father, Darren. Emmarae Dale is the first female to play in the CJFL.

Hilltops’ Dale makes history in 2021

Linebacker Emmarae Dale takes on the middle linebacker role for the Saskatoon Hilltops on October 17. Dale made history this entire season becoming the first female player to play in the CJFL. Photos like these are keepers for the archives. Dale is a familiar face on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds having played for the WWCFL’s Saskatoon Valkyries, and she is strength and conditioning coach with Ignite Athletics.

Rusholme Road rivalry fun

In this high school football clash on October 22, the quarterback of the E.D. Feehan Catholic High School Trojans evades a pursuing defender from the Bedford Road Collegiate Redhawks. The Trojans ultimately prevailed in this Rusholme Road rivalry game 20-14.

Teaching the finer points

The coaches with the Saskatchewan North Central Softball Academy get deep into detail involving the skill of hitting during a training session on October 26 at the Indoor Training Centre. In this photo, coaches Jon Equina, left, and Dave McCullough demonstrate the finer points of the skill of hitting.

Let it rip

A player drive the ball into the net during a hitting drill at a Saskatchewan North Central Softball Academy training session on October 26 at the Indoor Training Centre. The players were focused on improving on the detailed points of the skill of hitting.

Pumped up touchdown

St. Joseph High School Guardians quarterback Quinn Hofer lets out a big cheer after scoring a touchdown against the Walter Murray Collegiate Marauders on October 28 at SMF Field. The score helped the Guardians pull out a 28-14 win in a SSSAD 6A semifinal contest.

All out effort

A Steelers running back was able to score a touchdown by breaking the plane of the end zone despite the valiant effort of two Titans defenders in KFL action on October 31 at SMF Field. In this Huskie Division semifinal contest, the Steelers outlasted the Titans 26-18.

Ultimate high hurdle

A St. Joseph High School Guardians ball carrier high hurdles a Holy Cross High School Crusaders tackler during the SSSAD’s 6A football title game on November 5 at SMF Field. Louis Christ snapped this spectacular photo.

Jetting into the clear

A Holy Cross High School Crusaders running back bursts into the open field during the SSSAD’s 6A football title game against the St. Joseph High School Guardians on November 5 at SMF Field. The Crusaders claimed the championship with a 26-0 victory. The photo was courtesy the outstanding work of Louis Christ.

KFL – tackle football in its purest form

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

The Steelers and Maddogs go at it in KFL action.

Bill Eng coached high school football for over 30 years, but he still gets great pride helping players learn the game in its purest form.

Eng is in his second season coaching the Titans team that plays in the Huskie Division for Grade 8 and 9 players in Saskatoon’s storied Kinsmen Football League. For a lot of players, playing in the Kinsmen Football League is their first experience of playing tackle football in an organized team environment.

“They are very enthusiastic,” said Eng. “They are very eager to learn.

“We improve a lot. Almost every single week we improve. You have to keep it in perspective, because a lot of them they haven’t played football before.

“We want to give them a real good experience, so that they will play next year and also into high school.”

Eng said it is a fun challenge on the coaching front to ensure the players have a fun experience and are able to learn the game so they are able to enjoy it. With having coached high school for a lengthy stretch, Eng didn’t realize how big the adjustment would be in having to get down to the basics to coach players in the KFL.

He also gained a new appreciation for the fun in making that coaching adjustment to teach the basics.

“You start at square one,” said Eng. “As a coach, you have to go back to how you started coaching.

“When you first start coaching, you really don’t know much. As the years go along, you kind of add on. I always believe you almost got to think as that kid in Grade 8 and 9.

“Sometimes it is hard, because that has been a long time that has happened.”

Since first taking the field in 1968, the KFL has been a fixture in Saskatoon’s sports scene. A large amount of players who would go on to play in the Canadian Junior Football League for the Saskatoon Hilltops or U Sports with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies locally got their start playing in the KFL.

Dustin Gusikoski (#19) scores a TD for the Titans in KFL action.

There have even been a handful of players that have gone to play professionally in the CFL, who got their start in the KFL.

During its history, the KFL has played the bulk of its games at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

Before the start of the 2020 season, Saskatoon Minor Football assumed control of the KFL. Brian Guebert, who is Executive Director for Saskatoon Minor Football, was once a former KFL player himself, said he was happy SMF could be the stewards of the KFL and its legacy.

“It has been great just to be apart of the history of the KFL and bring our own kind of spin to it from minor football and what we’ve learned over the years,” said Guebert, who played in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2007 and 2008. “It has been really exciting.

“It has been awesome being here (at Saskatoon Minor Football Field) 12 hours every weekend to have these games and just seeing the players develop.”

Guebert still has fond memories of playing in the league and remembers finding his way in the sport in those formative years.

“I got my first taste of not really knowing what position I would play,” said Guebert, who played football for both the Hilltops and Huskies. “I knew my uncle played safety, and I thought that would be pretty cool.

“I obviously had a different body type being shaped like a bowling ball, so I learned how to play O-line and D-line in Kinsmen. It was a great experience, great coaches and lots of fun.”

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that had gripped the world, SMF was able to conduct a 2020 KFL season playing in a six-versus-six format in order to navigate the public health orders that were in place at that time.

Play in the KFL returned to its regular 12-versus-12 format this season.

Under the current structure of the KFL, teams are divided into two divisions. The Hilltop Division is for players in Grades 6 and 7 and the Huskie Division is for players in Grades 8 and 9. Teams are organized geographically.

Bill Eng, centre, enjoys helping KFL players learn the game.

Team practices usually start around August 27 and the final games of the campaign usually get played around November 7. Each team is able to play six regular season games and two post-season contests.

Guebert said the fun the kids have is honest and natural.

“You see kids congratulating each other from opposite teams after big plays,” said Guebert. “It is amazing just to see the fundamentals of football at their finest.”

Dustin Gusikoski, who is a Grade 9 quarterback for the Titans team in the Huskie Division, is in his third season playing in the KFL, and he said he has a blast every time he hits the field.

When he first started playing, Gusikoski said he played slowly as he was thinking out what he was supposed to be doing. The 14-year-old said he improved a lot since those humble beginnings.

“I really didn’t know too much coming in, but my coaches helped me a lot,” said Gusikoski. “They helped me understand the game.”

A student at St. Joseph High School, Gusikoski plans to continue to play football in the future and will have a soft spot in his heart for the KFL.

“(I will remember) just making new friends and just all the coaches that helped me along the way and my parents support,” said Gusikoski.

Guebert said the coaches in the KFL do a tremendous job to make the league work.

“We’ve got a great group of coaches and guys that just put their heart and soul into these programs,” said Guebert. “You just see the benefits of it being every week actually the kids are getting better and better.

“I think there are a lot of benefits to being involved in the KFL, and it is just a great launching pad into our academy program and into high school football.”

Eng said the most rewarding aspect of coaching in the KFL is seeing the players improve. The sideline boss said his Titans team films all their games.

Players come away with great memories playing in the KFL.

At the end of the season, they show players the film, so they see the difference of where they were at the start of the season compared to the end of the campaign.

Another joy for the veteran coach is seeing the players continue to play at the high school level and or with the SMF’s academy program.

“When I see these guys move on to play senior high school football, it is pretty rewarding for us to see,” said Eng. “If it is an extra and they go on to play Huskies and Hilltops, that is pretty tremendous.”

For more information on the Kinsmen Football League or programs offered by Saskatoon Minor Football, feel free to check out saskatoonminorfootball.com.

Complex happenings in photos that feel good in fall

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

A beauty look at SMF Field. (Photo courtesy Scott Woroniuk)

The weather to start the fall sports season has been hot and so has the been the action on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

Since the start of September, Saskatoon Minor Football Field has become a hub of activity with action coming from Saskatoon Minor Football, high school football and the return of the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops.

On October 2, Scott Woroniuk of Ganarly Films captured a picturesque view of Saskatoon Minor Football Field on a day when all the conditions outside were perfect, which is the lead photo of this post.

We’ve still had action on most of our softball diamonds as the Saskatoon Minor Softball League conducts fall ball activities. Training still happened at our Track and Field Track through the end of September and at Leakos Field for baseball.

Things are starting to shift indoors a little too as activity picks up at the Indoor Training Centre.

It is always great to look at the pictures of these warm memories. Most of these photos were taken by our Communications Coordinator in Darren Steinke.

Without further ado, here is a selection of 11 pictures since August 28. We hope you enjoy.

Ready to bring the heat

A pitcher gets set to unload at toss at the tryouts for the 222’s Fastpitch program at our Indoor Training Centre on August 28. The players were out to impress the coaches in attendance.

Celebrating Olympic medalists

This photo is courtesy of YXE Fastpitch from September 4 shows off a new door wrap at Bob Van Impe Stadium that commemorates the bronze medal win by Canada’s National Women’s Softball team at the Summer Olympics held this past July 23 to August 8 in Tokyo, Japan. The wrap was unveiled at the 2021 Rawlings Grand Slam Softball Championship that ran Sept. 2 to 5 at the Complex.

Maximuik’s big winning boot

The Gordie Howe Sports Complex knows all about how competitive the football rivalry is between Saskatoon and Regina. We still have to give props and respect to Eric Maximuik of the Regina Thunder for hitting this last play of the game winning field goal from 51 yards out to beat the Saskatoon Hilltops in a CJFL contest on September 11 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Coming down the pipe

A pitcher fires home this pitch right through the strike zone during fall ball game action overseen by the Saskatoon Minor Softball League on September 12 at Bob Van Impe Stadium.

50/50 ball battle

After a one season absence, high school football action returned to Saskatoon Minor Football Field in September. In this photo from September 17, a defensive back from the Bethlehem Catholic High School Stars battles a receiver from the Walter Murray Collegiate Marauders for the ball.

Busting through the line

This running back busts through the line of scrimmage on his way to a big run in Kinsmen Football League action on September 25 at SMF Field.

Fans enthusiastic return

The Saskatoon Hilltops have packed in decent crowds at SMF Field for their first three home dates of the CJFL season. The fans pictured at this home game on September 26 are trying to get the attention of the person shooting T-shirts into the crowd with a T-shirt gun.

Enjoying the outdoors with Going Yard

A pitcher with the Going Yard Training Centre fires off a throw during an outdoor training session at Leakos Field on September 28. The crew at Going Yard was able to get in a number of outdoor sessions in September.

Huskies wrap up Track and Field Track sessions

Members of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Track and Field team jet down the backstretch at the Track and Field Track on September 29. The Huskies officially wrapped up their outdoor training sessions at the Track and Field Track for 2021 on October 1.

Davidsen’s dominant day

Saskatoon Hilltops running back Boston Davidsen rumbles through the Edmonton Huskies defence in a CJFL contest on October 3. Davidsen ran the ball 31 times for 221 yards and scored three touchdowns for the Hilltops to capture offensive player of the week honours for the Prairie Football Conference.

The Oval is coming

Our Operations Manager Johnny Marciniuk checked in with this photo on October 7. The Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval is taking shape at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. We look forward to hearing the sounds of blades on the ice soon. We pass on a huge thank you to Saskatoon Urban Camp for their assistance with this job and all the work they do for us throughout the year to make this facility look great. “Many hands make light work.”

ZONE homecoming happy one for Jahnke

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Dan Jahnke started at ZONE Sports Physiotherapy in March.

Dan Jahnke likes homecomings so much he did it twice.

Back in 2018, Jahnke finished up a four-year career playing baseball for the Newman University Jets, which is an NCAA Division II program in the United States in Wichita, Kansas. He completed his bachelor of science in biology at Newman University and moved back to Saskatoon to pursue his master of physical therapy at the University of Saskatchewan.

In December of 2020, Jahnke completed his master of physical therapy degree. At the start of this year, he began working as a physiotherapist in Cold Lake, Alta.

Jahnke saw a job posting for ZONE Sports Physiotherapy back home in Saskatoon. He applied for it, and at the end of this past March, he was back home working at the ZONE location inside the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

“It was really nice to be able to come back,” said Jahnke. “This is where lots of my family is.

“I have lots of friends here obviously growing up here. It is home. It is just where I like being.”

The 25-year-old is a recognizable face not just in Saskatoon’s baseball community but in the city’s much larger sports community.

Jahnke played hockey along with baseball growing up. As a goalie in hockey, Jahnke suited up for the Saskatoon Blazers under-18 AAA for two seasons from 2010 to 2012 before joining the now defunct Beardy’s Blackhawks under-18 AAA squad for the 2012-13 campaign.

In his Grade 12 year in high school, Jahnke became a member of the Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears football team. On top of enjoying rounds of golf, Jahnke said his senior year in high school was the time he tried to soak in playing as many sports as he could.

“I just liked doing anything where I could move around and hit things and throw things – just have fun playing around and competing,” said Jahnke, who stands 6-feet and weighs 190 pounds. “It got me involved in a lot of different sports growing up.

Dan Jahnke playing for Newman University. (Photo Courtesy Dan Jahnke)

“Throughout high school, I was playing hockey and baseball mostly with the (under-18) AAA level there. I decided hockey wasn’t in my future competitively at least. I had a Grade 12 year after that.

“I figured I would try out everything I missed out on for the rest of high school. In that high school year, I did football, badminton, wrestling and track and field. I was just trying to do everything I could.”

During his high school years, Jahnke played for the Saskatoon Diamondback under-18 AAA baseball team. He credited his Diamondbacks coach, Matt Kosteniuk, as being a big influence on helping him enjoy baseball to the point he wanted to play it at the post-secondary level.

“I had really good experiences in baseball,” said Jahnke. “I had always been part of good teams growing up.

“We were good on the field and good off the field. In (under-18 AAA), I was lucky enough to have Matt Kosteniuk as my coach. He is a great guy. I still really enjoy hockey, but the competitive hockey I just decided wasn’t for me in the future.

“I wanted to keep playing something, and I loved baseball. I had a lot of fun with it. I figured it was a good way to keep competing and keep pushing myself while getting an education.”

At Newman University from 2014 to 2018, Jahnke played numerous positions with the Jets. He mainly played at first base and third base, spent a season in the outfield and was a backup catcher at one point in time.

Jahnke had such a good experience at Newman University that it did feel tough leaving the people he knew in Wichita to come home.

“Kansas is so similar to here in a lot of ways,” said Jahnke. “It is definitely different in some ways too.

“It is very similar in quite a few. I made a lot of good friends down there, so that kind of sucked leaving the friends behind. Coming back, I just got thrown right into the fire with physio school.

Dan Jahnke’s Jets promo picture.

“When you’re busy, it kind of helps you transition back into things. It forces you to get back in pretty quick.”

Once he returned to Saskatoon, Jahnke found it was a smooth transition to resume life where he grew up.

“I guess it was relatively easy,” said Jahnke. “I had been back every summer.

“I still knew everybody around here. I didn’t have any real issues.”

Jahnke said one of the obvious perks to becoming a physiotherapist is it allows you to stay involved in sports. That was just part of the reason he became a physiotherapist.

He had a larger interest in helping people function better physically.

“I obviously love sports,” said Jahnke. “I’ve played a lot of sport in my life.

“I’ve always been really interested in how people perform better and what makes people perform better from a physical perspective. That led me kind of into the biomechanics of things. Physio just seemed to fit that really well like combining biomechanics.

“You have the sport aspect of it. I thought if I was lucky enough to get to that area it would be great and here we are. It just kind of ticked all the boxes.”

Jahnke has enjoyed working alongside Mitch Dahl and Brad Spokes at the ZONE clinic at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. Jahnke had been one of Dahl’s clients for years when it came to rehabbing from various sports injuries.

“Mitch (Dahl) and Brad (Spokes) are both awesome,” said Jahnke. “I have a lot to learn from both of them.

“It is interesting. I think back even two years ago I was coming into this clinic for physio to see Mitch as a client. It is kind of cool to be able to hang out and say ‘hi’ to somebody that helped you through that much when you were growing up and helped you keep playing and do what you want to do.

“I feel like I am getting to learn from one of the best crews around.”

This year, Jahnke began helping the Saskatoon Valkyries of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League as a trainer. He would like to be involved with more teams in the future and wants to learn and grow as a physiotherapist at ZONE.

Dan Jahnke enjoys being at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

When he sees clients, Jahnke believes the fact that he took part in numerous sports growing up aids in his career now.

“I think it helps,” said Jahnke. “It is nice to know when somebody comes in that I can say I was doing something in this sport.

“It is nice to know what they mean. It is good for talking points. It is easy to make conversation with people, especially with a few of the people from (The Going Yard Training Centre) that we might say high too and people over at Ignite (Athletics).

“We are all into sports and performance and just general fitness. It is kind of what we are doing here. The variety of sport definitely adds to that for sure.”

Hilltops make long-awaited return to SMF Field

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

The Hilltops celebrate a CJFL title win in 2018.

The last time the Saskatoon Hilltops graced the turf at Saskatoon Minor Football Field they were making yet another memorable moment.

On October 27, 2019, the storied Canadian Junior Football League club downed the visiting Edmonton Huskies 30-14 to capture the Prairie Football Conference championship. The Hilltops proceeded to march onward from there to captured their 22^nd CJFL title in team history.

That encounter with the Huskies marks the last time the Hilltops played a game at SMF Field as the 2020 CJFL season was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world.

The Hilltops make their long-awaited return to SMF Field on Saturday, September 11, taking on their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder at 7 p.m. The will be a battle of teams that both sport 2-0 records so far in the CJFL regular season.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said his team is pumped to be back in action.

“It is just awesome to be back here,” said Sargeant. “It is awesome to be around my coaches and my players.

“It is such a good vibe and such a good feel. We have a lot of rust. We have lots of things we have to get better at.

“There is lots in front of us. We have the right kids here. We’re ready to develop this team and take it to great places.”

The Hilltops have played most to almost all of their home games at SMF Field since 1960, when the stadium was originally called the Holiday Park Bowl. 

The Hilltops raise the Canadian Bowl in 2015.

They have won 19 of their 22 CJFL championships since they started playing their home games at SMF Field.

The Hilltops have won the last six straight CJFL titles before the circuit went on hiatus in 2020. During that run of six straight titles, two of those championship wins came on the grounds of SMF Field.

In 2015, the Hilltops hosted the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl - downing the Kelowna, B.C., based Okanagan Sun 38-24. That contest was played on the new field turf that was install prior to the start of the 2014 season, and both clubs were able to use the dressing rooms at the nearly completed Gordie Howe Sports Centre building.

In 2018, the Hilltops won the Canadian Bowl again dumping the Langley Rams 58-21 at SMF Field to complete a perfect 11-0 campaign. This marked the first CJFL title game played at SMF Field where all the renovations and improvements at the facility had been completed.

In 2020, the Hilltops gathered for practice for six weeks in September and October at Ron Atchison Field.

When the 2021 CJFL season was given the green light to go, the Hilltops couldn’t wait to get back into game action.

“It feels great,” said fifth-year left tackle Mason Ochs, who is a three-time CJFL all-Canadian all-star. “It has been too long.

“It almost kind of felt like it was never coming back after you lose 2020. I didn’t even know if that was my last game in 2019 there. It couldn’t be better to be back.”

The Hilltops enter their home opener with linebacker Emmarae Dale on their roster.

Jared Giddings makes an interception for the Hilltops in 2018.

Dale has been a familiar face for a long time on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. Before joining the Hilltops, Dale starred for the Saskatoon Valkyries, who are a powerhouse club in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League, from 2016 to 2019.

She helped the Valkyries win two WWCFL titles in 2016 and 2019.

Dale also works at the front desk and is a strength and conditioning coach at Ignite Athletics.

The former member of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s track and field team was added to the Hilltops roster last year.

On August 22, she became the first female player to play in a CJFL regular season game as the Hilltops downed the Edmonton Huskies 18-17 at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton, Alta. Dale had a special teams tackle in the win.

“It was pretty surreal,” said Dale. “I think it was just such a long time coming that it is kind of weird to think that it has already come and gone.

“It was the first game back since COVID. I think everyone is still just kind of getting the rust off after such a long wait, but it was awesome being there. I think even when I was just first putting on the shoulder pads and the Hilltops jersey it definitely kind of hit me that it was going to be a big game and very meaningful game.

“It was really awesome. It was definitely exciting and humbling. It was just a lot of emotions just kind of wrapped into one I think.”

After going through 2020 without a regular season, Hilltops fifth-year defensive back Jared Giddings said there is a renewed appreciation for the chance to take part in practices and game. Giddings said there were times where he wasn’t sure if he would get to play his fifth and final season with the team.

Along with Ochs and right tackle Jonathan Chisholm, Giddings is one of three players who are playing a fifth full season with the Hilltops in 2021. Giddings has always appreciated being part of the storied Hilltops, but he admits his spark for playing a season has been renewed.

A sign at SMF Field lists the Hilltops CJFL title wins

“Football is a grind, and sometimes coming to practice isn’t easy,” said Giddings. “Honestly, it is all just a little bit easier now.

“When we were off, you don’t know what is happening. You don’t know what is going to happen next. Every day, it is like it is a blessing.

“I don’t mind coming to practice and getting bruised up a bit and hitting some guys. It is a lot of fun. I think it brought the fun back into football for me personally.”

For more information about the Saskatoon Hilltops, feel free to check out their website at www.saskatoonhilltops.com.