Saturday, October 9, 2021

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.”