By Gordie
Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| Haley Girolami makes a catch for the Valkyries on May 7. |
For the
longest time, it seemed like winter was content to just hang around. As of
April 20, most of the outdoor facilities at the Complex were under the cover of
snow. Around that time, football groups were getting practices and training
sessions done in snowy conditions at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.
With the snow
development, baseball and softball teams along with some football groups
continue to train and hold modified scrimmages in the friendly confines of the
Indoor Training Centre waiting for the weather to warm up.
At the
start of the final week of April, spring conditions finally took hold. Football
groups were able to use Saskatoon Minor Football Field in dry conditions. The
mix in weather created the opportunity to put together a variety of indoor and
outdoor pictures for our photo roundup.
Our lead
photo comes from the Saskatoon Valkyries WWCFL regular season opener on May 7
with a catch from star receiver Haley Girolami. Girolami hauled in nine passes
for 111 yards and scored one touchdown in a 34-7 win over the Regina Riot.
The first
part of our photo roundup features scenes from Saskatoon Minor Football’s
annual Playground To Pros camp held at the Indoor Training Centre just before
the midway part of April. Players of all skill levels had a huge amount of fun
developing skills and fundamentals.
The photo
roundup goes from there all the way to seeing the first action on the softball
diamonds with a Saskatoon Selects under-19 team practice on May 1. Softball
league action got going about a couple of days later.
Saskatoon
Minor Football’s North Sask Academy started with league action, and SMF oversaw
league action with the Rush High School Female Flag Football.
These photos
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.
Break on through
A young running back gets out of a tackling attempt while staying in bounds during a gauntlet drill at the Playground To Pros camp held on April 11 at the Indoor Training Centre. The young players at this camp run by Saskatoon Minor Football improved their skills quiet quickly.
Bullet pass
A quarterback at the Playground To Pros camp fires a pass to a receiver on a crossing route on April 12 at the Indoor Training Centre. The Indoor Training Centre allows for a variety of drills to take place at once, which is big for a camps like Playground To Pros, which develops skills.
Deep ball snag
A receiver shows textbook technique in hauling in a deep pass on the final day of the Playground To Pros camp on April 13 at the Indoor Training Centre. Players look forward to the final day of the camp as they get to show what they learned in a series of scrimmage games.
Coaching up the kids
Riley Pickett, who is a defensive lineman for the British Columbia Lions, gives a group of players instructions before calling a defensive play during a scrimmage on the final day of the Playground To Pros camp held on April 13 at the Indoor Training Centre. A number of players from around the CFL helped with the camp. Pickett is also an alum of the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team in the U Sports ranks.
Off to the races
A Saskatoon Phantoms base runner takes off on the base paths during a scrimmage between two Phantoms squads on April 22 at the Indoor Training Centre. As a snowfall earlier in the week delayed outdoor practices, teams like the Phantoms enjoy being able to use the Indoor Training Centre to get work in.
In for the flag football sack
Looking the ball in
A receiver tracks the ball into his hands at a Saskatoon Minor Football North Sask Academy practice on April 24 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The North Sask Academy program showcases some of the best players in Grades 8 to 12 from Saskatoon and area.
High point interception
Saskatoon Valkyries linebacker Emmarae Dale makes an interception during a drill at a team practice on April 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The defending WWCFL champion Valkyries are known for getting maximum results at their practice sessions.
Outdoor practice at last
An infielder makes a catch at third base during an infield fielding drill at a Saskatoon Selects Under-19 team practice on May 1 at Glenn Reeve Field #4. The Selects practice was one of the first outdoor sessions to take place on any of our softball and baseball diamonds this year.
Night time special at Bob Van
Impe Stadium
It doesn’t matter the night of the week. For the softball/fastpitch community, it is always a joy to play under the lights at Bob Van Impe Stadium. In this game from May 4, a Dry Creek Penguins pitcher sends an off-speed pitch to the plate to keep a batter off balance. The Penguins beat the Saskatoon Padres 9-2 in this encounter.
Cool under pressure
A quarterback fires a pass downfield while under pressure from a defensive lineman during league action for Saskatoon Minor Football’s North Sask Academy on May 5 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Players in the academy league are drafted to teams, so you will often see players from the same school teams going head-to-head.
Eyolfson delivers again for
Valkyries
Star quarterback Alex Eyolfson had another big game for the Saskatoon Valkyries in their WWCFL regular season opener on May 7 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Eyolfson completed 23-of-36 passes for 275 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 34-7 victory over the Regina Riot.
Gang tackle Valkyries style
A number of players from the Saskatoon Valkyries defence gangs up to tackle of Regina Riot running back Bethany O’Toole on May 7 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Valkyries defence held the Riot to 96 yards of net offense in a 34-7 win to open the regular season for both clubs.
