Valkyries 11th WWCFL title win highlights photo roundup

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

The Valkyries celebrate winning the WWCFL title on June 27.

WWCFL championship wins for the Saskatoon Valkyries are always special, but it is a bonus when they can occur at home.

On Saturday, June 27, the Valkyries hosted the Edmonton Arctic Pride in the WWCFL Championship Game at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Arctic Pride hit the scoreboard first when quarterback Bianka Suzuki connected with receiver Emily McMillan on a long touchdown pass to go ahead 7-0.

The Valkyries responded scoring 40 unanswered points to romp to a 40-7 victory. With the win, the Valkyries have won the WWCFL title 11 times since first taking the field in 2011, and they have emerged victorious in the last six consecutive WWCFL Championship Games. Saskatoon finished out the 2026 campaign with a perfect 6-0 record to go along with a 45 game overall winning streak.

Emmarae Dale makes a tackle for the Valkyries.

While the Valkyries have piled up 11 WWCFL title wins, the majority of those triumphs have come away from “The Bridge City.” Since making the Gordie Howe Sports Complex their regular home stomping grounds in 2015, the Valkyries have only won the WWCFL title twice at SMF Field including 2022 and the most recent triumph on June 27.

The Valkyries claimed the 2023 WWCFL title playing at Griffiths Stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus due to SMF Field being booked up that year. They also won WWCFL title games when they called Griffiths their main home field in 2012 and 2014.

Our lead picture of this photo roundup shows the Valkyries captains raising the WWCFL Championship Trophy following their latest WWCFL title win on June 27. The second shot sees Valkyries star middle linebacker Emmarae Dale taking down an Arctic Pride ball carrier.

Drew Lundquist ran for 126 yards in the WWCFL title game.

The third photo shows veteran star Valkyries running back Drew Lundquist running the ball. Lundquist was named the Valkyries game MVP having run the ball 22 times for 126 yards. The Valkyries as a team piled up 277 yards rushing.

Along with the pictures from the Valkyries WWCFL title win, this photo roundup is loaded with images from the continuing outdoor spring and summer season. The photo roundup has pictures from the Complex’s staple sports in baseball, football, softball and track and field.              

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 22 shots we hope you enjoy.

Bound for the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame

Dean Bertoia and Kent Kowalski, right, shake hands at a news conference to announce the 2026 class for the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame on June 11 at the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building. Bertoia is heading to the Hall as an athlete for his exploits in athletics. Kowalski is heading to the Hall as an athlete for his exploits in soccer. The induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 7 at 5:30 p.m. at Prairieland Park.

Out at second

Saskatoon Berries second baseman Gael Salinas, left, places a tag on Swift Current 57s base runner Adam Rowland at Cairns Field. The Berries claimed this WCBL regular season clash 9-5.

Making a plate block look easy

A Saskatoon Phantoms catcher comes up with a plate block during a game at the Murphy’s U11 Tournament on June 14 at Glenn Reeve Field #4. The Murphy’s tournament has become an annual season highlight for young softball squads.

Catch in traffic

While it is supposed to be non-contact, flag football can have its moments of physicality. During action at Football Saskatchewan’s Girls High School Flag Football Provincial Championships on June 14 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Holy Cross High School receiver Addison Frey gets hammered making a catch over the middle. Frey hung on to the ball, got up, shrugged off the contact and continued to play. Frey is also a defender with the Saskatoon Stars Female Under-18 AAA hockey team.

Slick escape

St. Joseph High School quarterback Adley Tomlenovich eludes pressure and fires a pass downfield during Football Saskatchewan’s Girls High School Flag Football Provincial Championships on June 14 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Tomlenovich’s squad would win the senior provincial title.

Taking flight

An athlete from the Running Wild Athletics Club takes to the air on June 14 at the Track and Field Track. On that day, the Track and Field Track was the site for Saskatchewan Athletics U12, U14 and Master Provincials along with the U16 and U18 trials for the Western Canada Team Challenge squads for that meet set for July 17 to 19 in Regina.

Hitting stride

A group of five runners rounds the corner during a U18 female 800-metre race at the Track and Field Track on June 14. The runners were taking part in Saskatchewan Athletics U12, U14 and Master Provincials along with the U16 and U18 trials for the Western Canada Team Challenge squads for that meet set for July 17 to 19 in Regina.

Sweet special teams TD

Saskatoon Valkyries defensive lineman Grace Farthing (#50) soaks in reaching the end zone for a special teams touchdown on June 20 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. In the fourth quarter facing the Winnipeg based Manitoba Fearless in the WWCFL Prairie Conference Final, Farthing blocked a punt and proceeded to scoop up the loose ball and run it in for a major. Farthing’s effort powered the Valkyries to a 17-7 victory.

Showtime

A dancer with the “Circle of 5ths Crew” from The Spot Arts Community puts on a move you need to see to believe on June 20 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. A total of six members from the “Circle of 5ths Crews” performed at halftime of the WWCFL Prairie Conference Final won by the Saskatoon Valkyries.

Obed for six

Saskatoon Valkyries receiver Ricki Obed, left, celebrates hauling in an eight-yard touchdown reception with fellow veteran receiver Rachelle Smith in the WWCFL Championship Game on June 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Obed’s score put the Valkyries up 14-7 in the second quarter, and they cruised to a 40-7 victory over the Edmonton Arctic Pride.

O’Neill boots four

Saskatoon Valkyries kicker Kaylin O’Neill had a memorable outing in her team’s 40-7 in the WWCFL Championship Game over the Edmonton Arctic Pride on June 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. O’Neill connected on four field goals coming from 32, 22, 22 and 30 yards to help power the Saskatoon side to victory.

Running with purpose

Saskatoon Valkyries running back Teagan Craig jets her way upfield in her team’s WWCFL Championship Game victory over the Edmonton Arctic Pride on June 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Craig is part of the Valkyries running back foursome that made big plays for the squad all season.

Arctic Pride game MVP goes to McMillan

Edmonton Arctic Pride receiver and defensive back Emily McMillan had a huge outing in her team’s WWCFL Championship Game loss to the Saskatoon Valkyries on June 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. McMillan was named the Arctic Pride game MVP for her efforts on both offence and defence. On offence, McMillan caught five passes for 65 yards and one touchdown. On defence, she recorded four solo tackles, five tackle assists and a pass knockdown.

A championship forever memory

Saskatoon Valkyries defensive back Lexi Beuker is pictured holding the WWCFL championship trophy standing with a quartet of her biggest supporters on June 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Following their victory in the WWCFL Championship Game, the Valkyries players and coaches spent time post-game getting photos taken on the field with their family and friends.

Going to the house

A receiver from Seaman’s Squad jets to the end zone in a Saskatoon Touch Football League contest against Ocho Stinko on June 30 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Seaman’s Squad prevailed in a clash that was all about offence 40-34.

Special delivery

Saskatoon Berries pitcher Carter Kopp fires a throw to home plate during his team’s WCBL regular season clash against the Brooks Bombers on July 1 at Cairns Field. Kopp, who is an alum of the Saskatoon Giants 18U AAA team, keeps opposing batters off balance throwing a fastball, sinker, curveball and changeup. On this day, Kopp threw two innings coming out of the bullpen as the Berries fell 7-5.

Flip for an out

Saskatoon Berries shortstop Brock Laird flips a ball to second baseman Gael Salinas for an out during WCBL regular season contest against the Brooks Bombers on July 1 at Cairns Field. While the Berries made good defensive plays in the field, the Bombers prevailed on this night 7-5.

A five for Barry

A youngster gives a five to Saskatoon Berries mascot Barry the Bear on July 1 at Cairns Field. Following the Berries WCBL contest on that day, the young fans continued a team tradition by running the bases post-game, and Barry met the fans at home plate.

Here comes the heat

A Saskatoon Raiders Rebels pitcher sets to unload a toss in the Softball Saskatchewan U11 A North Girls Provincial Championship tournament title game on July 5 at Glenn Reeve Field #3. In an all-time classic, the Raiders Rebels edged the Saskatoon Phantoms 2-1.

Got it

A Saskatoon Selects McDonald infielder playing first base makes a stretch backward catch for an out in the title game of the Softball Saskatchewan U17 A Girls Provincial Championship tournament on July 5 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Selects McDonald outgunned the Regina Saints 12-11.

Fun in the stands

Members of a Twin City Angels team share some laughs while watching the title game of the Softball Saskatchewan U17 A Girls Provincial Championship tournament on July 5 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. Even if you are not playing, it is always better to see Softball Saskatchewan’s provincial championship tournaments from the stands. Eventually, the smiles will come out.

Jack brings the power

Saskatoon Jacks infielder Brant Wiebe drives a shot over the fence at Joe Gallagher Field for a home run in a Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association contest on July 7. Wiebe’s drive allowed the Jacks to down the Delisle Pride U23 squad 11-1.

Comeback greater than setback for Hawkins

Biggar product heads to spring training with MLB Padres

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Garrett Hawkins gets some throws in at the Indoor Training Centre.

Sitting on the cusp of a “big league” dream, Garrett Hawkins was just trying to revive his baseball career a year ago at this time.

In February of 2025, Hawkins was going into training camp activities with the San Diego Padres organization after having last pitched early in the 2023 campaign. He was well along the comeback trail after having Tommy John surgery in the elbow on his right throwing arm.

On April 5, 2025, Hawkins took the mound in his new role as a reliever for the Fort Wayne TinCaps, who are the Padres high-A affiliate in Indiana. From that beginning he would be promoted to the San Antonio Missions AA team on August 1, 2025. 

Hawkins performed so well that he was named the Padres’ organizational Minor League Pitcher of the Year on September 28, 2025.

The best news following the end of the campaign came to Hawkins on November 18, 2025 when he was added to the Padres 40-man MLB roster. He is set to report along with the rest of the Padres pitchers and catchers for Spring Training on February 11 in Peoria, Arizona, which is a day after his 26^th birthday.

“I don’t think it has fully settled in kind of what it means,” said Hawkins, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 230 pounds. “I think once I get down to spring training it will kind of settle in.”

As he has for every off-season of his professional career, Hawkins has been training at the Indoor Training Centre with the Going Yard Baseball Academy. He has also helped out with coaching young pitchers too.

Garrett Hawkins returned to action after Tommy John surgery.

While Hawkins had been with the Padres since being selected by them in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB Draft in July of that year, he felt like he was going into the unknown going into spring training in 2025. One of the first changes he dealt with was being moved from being a starter to being a reliever.

“At the start of the year, I didn’t know what kind of role I’d have and kind of how the year would go,” said Hawkins. “I got settled in with a good group in Fort Wayne and kind of took it slow.

“I kind of learned along with some of the new guys that I didn’t know before. The year turned out all right.”

From April 27, 2025 until his promotion to San Antonio on Aug. 1, 2025, Hawkins did not allow a run for 34 consecutive innings over 26 appearances. It was the longest scoreless inning and appearances streak in Fort Wayne franchise history. 

Hawkins’ streak finished at 38 consecutive innings, which was the longest scoreless innings streak in Minor League Baseball since 2015.

“It definitely was a fun ride,” said Hawkins about the scoreless innings streak. “I didn’t really know where I was at as kind of the year went.

“I wasn’t thinking about it a whole lot. It definitely was nice to kind of be in that groove for a while and definitely there was some luck involved. It was a good run.”

With the TinCaps, Hawkins appeared in 32 games pitching in 44 innings posting an 8-1 record, a 1.43 earned run average, 60 strike outs and eight saves, while giving up 17 hits. With the Missions, Hawkins appeared in 13 games pitching in 16 innings posting a 1-0 record, a 1.69 earned run average, 20 strikeouts and two saves while giving up 11 hits.

Garrett Hawkins threw 38 consecutive scoreless innings in 2025.

Jordan Draeger, who is an owner operator and instructor at Going Yard, first got an opportunity to coach Hawkins in 2015, when the hurler was 15-years-old. Draeger has gotten to work with Hawkins on a fairly regular basis since that time including working with him to get him ready for the 2025 campaign and for the upcoming 2026 season. The longtime coach was impressed with how Hawkins performed last season coming back from injury.

“It was actually pretty remarkable like how he bounced back from the Tommy John surgery,” said Draeger. “I’ve seen athletes mentally get rocked by that a little bit, and it takes them a little bit while to trust their body and bring the violence back into their throwing progression.

“He really didn’t skip a beat honestly. He just kind of realized that it is a part of things that if you’re going to throw with that much intent all the time that it is just kind of part of it. Mentally, it didn’t set him back at all, so physically it didn’t set him back at all.

“He did a great job of recovering, putting in the hard work obviously in the gym working on his body to make sure that he was in a good position to bounce back. It honestly didn’t play too much into what we did out here from a training progression.”

Draeger added that everyone with Going Yard were keeping tabs on Hawkins’ scoreless inning streak when it was in progress.

“It was super cool to track his progression of the scoreless inning streak,” said Draeger. “That was a lot of fun for everyone to watch, (and) watching his numbers and the strikeout percentages go up.

Garrett Hawkins, right, gives pointers to a young pitcher.

“I think him moving into a closer role was something that was really healthy for him. There is a limited amount of pitches, and he could just go out there and throw with high intent and do his thing. I think the Padres have found a bit of a gold mine, and I think they’re just starting to realize that.

“With that, they put him in the right role. It fits him really well. It was super cool for us to watch as an organization and be able to like cheer him on at a distance.”

Hawkins has enjoyed being able to come back to work with Draeger and the rest of the Going Yard staff over the years.

“These guys have helped me a bunch throughout kind of the development of me all the way back to high school,” said Hawkins, who is a graduate of the Saskatoon Giants under18-AAA program. “It definitely means a lot to have them around.”

Draeger said it has been special to work with Hawkins over the long term and see how the relationship evolved with the experience the hurler has gained since becoming a professional in 2021.

“I think it is a really respectful relationship that we have in the sense that we can still offer him help and offer guidance here,” said Draeger. “It is more of a conversation now than it is about like firm coaching.

“We have really productive conversations on what he needs to do and what he needs to execute in order to get better. It has been awesome to just like have that insight as to where he came from and where he is going.”

Hawkins was grateful to be named the Padres’ organizational Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He is also thankful the Padres stuck with him during the recovery process and didn’t elect to release him.

Garrett Hawkins aims to take advantage of his MLB roster spot.

“It definitely means a lot,” said Hawkins. “They’ve invested a lot of time and energy into developing me into who I am.

“I am definitely grateful for that.”

Now going into the 2026 campaign, Hawkins focus is on taking advantage of the fact he is on the Padres 40-man MLB roster.

“I kind of just take it one day at a time and not make it as big of a deal as it maybe is,” said Hawkins. “I am just trying to do my thing and not worry about too much else.”

A Saskatoon football lifer

Game took Yausie from Nutana to CFL to Football Sask

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Jeff Yausie points out instructions on the Hilltops sideline on Aug. 24.

There was a time the current CEO of Football Saskatchewan and defensive coordinator of the Saskatoon Hilltops was not on the road to having a football life.

Way back when he was in elementary school, Jeff Yausie decided to give the sport a shot during a tryout camp for the Kinsmen Football League. At the time, he decided to continue with hockey, baseball, fastpitch softball and track and field as he liked those sports better.

It wasn’t until his Grade 9 year in high school that Yausie really started to be attracted to the game when he was attending Nutana Collegiate. He played for the Nutana Collegiate Blues junior team in Grade 9 and became the starting running back with the Blues senior team in Grade 10. He continued as the starting running back through Grades 11 and 12 on the way to graduating from Nutana in June of 1984.

With Yausie on the senior team, the Blues made it to the 3A provincial final in 1981 and 1983 falling to Regina Luther and Regina Central respectively. Now at age 59, Yausie still reflects on those years fondly and chuckles when today’s high school, junior and university aged players are surprised Nutana once had a team.

“They certainly don’t get it,” said Yausie. “They only see Nutana in the same vision as it is right now.

“It was a real small school when I went in the early 80s, and I had some super good friends. (We had incredible) sports people and incredible teachers at Nutana, so it was a great experience. It is so different in a small school, because you’re friends with everybody.

“It is not as clicky. We all hung out together and partied together and played together, and it didn’t matter if you were academic or if you were hanging out in the smokers’ lounge or whatever. Everybody was a part of the sports teams, and we were all friends.”

For a number of years now, Yausie’s Football Saskatchewan office has been located at the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. It is filled with all sorts of mementos from his football life. His position as the CEO of Football Saskatchewan, which governs the sport in the province, takes him all over the province and on various trips across Canada with work in the game.

When the Hilltops CJFL season is going, he can often be found at their evening practices at Ron Atchison Field or on the team’s sidelines during game days including home tilts at Saskatoon Minor Football Field serving as the club’s defensive coordinator. Over the decades, his football journey has been a long and winding one.

Jeff Yausie’s bio in the 1989 CFL Facts, Figures and Records book.

After graduating from high school, Yausie switched positions to defensive back to play four seasons with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team from 1984 to 1987 in what is now known as the U Sports ranks. His rookie season just happened to be the first year that saw Brian Towriss begin his journey as the Huskies legendary head coach. Yausie was joined on the Huskies by his twin brother, James.

In the 1988 CFL Draft, Jeff Yausie was selected in the fifth round and 36^th overall by the Calgary Stampeders. He was listed at standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 195 pounds in the 1989 CFL Facts, Figures and Records book.

After the Stampeders training camp wrapped up in 1988, Yausie elected to suit up for the Hilltops, because his younger brother Paul was still playing on the team. James had departed from the Huskies after graduating from U of S with his commerce degree.

With the rules that existed at the time, Jeff was called back to the Stampeders and would get into three regular season games with the CFL squad. When he didn’t suit up for the Stampeders, he was allowed to fly to wherever the Hilltops schedule took them and play for them on their game days.

Overall, Yausie is amazed by the memories he has collected in the game.

“I just feel so lucky to do something that I’m passionate about,” said Yausie. “My friends in the football community, it has just been so rewarding to work with.

“It is such a unique game in how much we practice and how hard it is. Those are the kind of people I want to be around.”

In 1989, Yausie was cut by the Stampeders. He was then contacted by fellow Saskatoon product Brendan Taman, who was at the time the manager of football operations for the Ottawa Rough Riders.

Jeff Yausie, left, on the sideline with Tom Sargeant.

Yausie proceeded to sign with Ottawa and played two games with the Rough Riders in the 1989 season. He was released by the Rough Riders before the start of the 1990 season and returned home to Saskatoon.

While taking classes at the U of Saskatchewan, Yausie was brought into Football Saskatchewan by a friend to do volunteer work. He was hired to a paid position with Football Saskatchewan in the early to mid 1990s as technical director at first on a part-time basis and was moved to full-time status a short time later.

About 1999, Yausie moved to become the executive director of Saskatchewan Blind Sports. While with Saskatchewan Blind Sports, Yausie was still on Football Saskatchewan’s board of directors.

He moved back to a full-time role with Football Saskatchewan about late 2000, early 2001 as the body’s executive director. The opening came after Bernie Schmidt left Football Saskatchewan due to the fact he wanted to focus full time on his offensive coordinator position with the University of Regina Rams Football Team.

Yausie worked continuously with Football Saskatchewan since that time ultimately becoming the sport body’s CEO.

“I’ve been super fortunate just to be involved in football in this province,” said Yausie. “People are so passionate about football.

“It is 99 per cent good, and there is always one per cent bad in whatever you do. It has just been a terrific experience. We’ve had super supportive people on the board of directors over the years and just very few problems.

“One of the things that I believe in as an organization is empowering your staff and the people around you. We’ve had a terrific staff at Football Sask., and we’ve certainly grown as we’ve grown as an organization. I think we had about 5,000 or 6,000 members in around 2001 with Football Sask., and we’ve grown to around 23,000 or 24,000 now.”

During Yausie’s time with Football Saskatchewan, the organization has grown to the point it has two main offices. The north office located at the Complex covers Saskatoon and the northern part of the province. The south office located at Mosaic Stadium in Regina covers Regina and the southern part of Saskatchewan.

He is also proud of how the female side of the sport has grown during his time with Football Saskatchewan. Yausie once coached a flag team that contained his daughter, Beau, and the team won a national title in 2012.

Jeff Yausie, left, works the Valkyries sideline in May 2016.

Jeff Yausie also helped the Saskatoon Valkyries of the WWCFL get going. He served as the club’s first head coach from 2011 to 2016 working with Valkyries general manager Michelle Duchene, who still holds that same role with the powerhouse squad that has won 10 WWCFL titles.

“Right from the get go, we had great coaching and a really good organization,” said Yausie. “All of a sudden, we had incredible athletes coming to play that had succeeded in other sports and had been very successful.

“They were open to coming and giving football a try.”

When it comes to Football Saskatchewan, Yausie said the organization has one overall main goal.

“In all of it, one of the messages we try to send is we want people to have a positive and fun experience in football,” said Yausie. “That doesn’t matter if it is tackle, it doesn’t matter if it is flag, it doesn’t matter if it is playing catch in the park, it doesn’t matter if it is a “learn to” program, it is just people enjoying the game and loving the game.

“That creates a football fan, and that builds into the next generation and helps us grow.”

In 2002, Yausie rejoined the Hilltops as linebackers coach and held that position when they won CJFL titles in 2002, 2003 and 2007. He became the club’s defensive coordinator in 2010 and 10 more CJFL championships followed with the last coming in 2023. Over those years, Yausie has built an outstanding relationship with legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant.

“(Hilltops head coach) Tom (Sargeant) is an amazing leader, and he is so competitive that he has a knack to solve problems,” said Yausie. “He is a cool personality that attacks problems and doesn’t avoid them.

“I think that serves you so well in football, because if you avoid little mistakes, they turn into big ones. We all bought into that, and that is how we coach. We’re all such good friends that we’re like brothers, us coaches.

“We’re just having a good time. It is stressful when you lose or when you don’t play well, but we just embrace it and embrace the grind.”

When he looks back on his football life, Yausie said one of the things he cherishes the most is friendships and relationships he has made. With the Hilltops, Yausie admitted he never expected he would be one of the team’s coaches still at age 59. He said the great people in all parts of the game are a main reason he has remained in the sport.

Jeff Yausie, centre, cherishes the football life he has created.

“Especially for me, it is not just Hilltops,” said Yausie. “It is Valkyries and women’s football.

“It is the girls with flag football. It is coaching development. It is officials development.

“It is relationships. If you can reach out and we can get away from texting and emailing and we can just talk, we can solve a lot of problems and get along really well, which is kind of what we’ve done in Saskatchewan football.”

Hilltops memories made at SMF Field, HS football rocks photo roundup

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Justin Adamko, middle, walks to the field with his parents.

Saskatoon Hilltops football games are one of the greatest annual traditions at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Since SMF Field first opened way back on September 30, 1960 originally as the Holiday Park Bowl, the Hilltops have played the majority of their home games at that facility. Football Sundays with the Hilltops have become a staple at that park along with traditional Saturday night clashes with rival clubs from Regina in the Rams up to 1998 and with the Thunder from 2000 to the present day.

This season, the Hilltops have been striving to make game days more of an event. They attracted 3,534 spectators to their 45-19 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats on Sunday, September 22, which was the best regular season attendance for a Hilltops game in over a decade.

That contest was the team’s Kinsmen Family Day/Young Hilltops Day and the plaza area was filled with inflatable play structures for youngsters. Halftime included a World’s Strongest Man exhibition from Hilltops alum Tristain Hoath and a mascots/superheroes football game.

Dan Clark speaks at the Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner.

Saturday, September 28 was another busy home date for the Hilltops as they downed the Regina Thunder before 2,266 spectators. As it was the final Hilltops home regular season game for 2024, they held their traditional pre-game ceremony where the graduating players made a walk out to the field with their parents. Our lead photo of this photo roundup shows cornerback Justin Adamko, middle, making his walk to the field with mother Josie, on left, and father Doug, on right.

Before that clash with the Thunder, the ’Toppers held their Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner in the main hall at the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building. Dan Clark, who is one of the all-time greats with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, was the guest speaker, and the second photo shows Clark holding court with that role.

The third photo comes from that night’s game, and it shows Hilltops second-year receiver Datiel Fountaine catching a 26-yard touchdown pass at the start of the second half.

Datiel Fountaine hauls in a 26-yard TD catch.

The tradition of Hilltops playoff action continues at SMF Field and could potentially run the next three weekends. On Sunday, October 13, the Hilltops host a PFC semifinal at 1 p.m. against the Edmonton Huskies. If the defending CJFL champion Hilltops keep winning, a PFC final could follow on Sunday, October 20 and a CJFL semifinal might materialize on Sunday, October 27.

Along with Hilltops photos, we have pictures from high school football, University of Saskatchewan Huskies Track and Field and the YXE First Responders Fitness Festival.

The pictures in this photo roundup capture some of the memories that are made on our grounds. In this photo roundup, the majority of these pictures were taken by our Communications Coordinator in Darren Steinke along with a check in from another sweet source.

Without further ado, here is a selection of 15 shots we hope you enjoy.

A victory with Soul

The Evan Hardy Collegiate Souls celebrate a 55-14 “Welcome Week” win over the E.D. Feehan Catholic High School Trojans on September 12 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The victory was a welcome one for the Souls.

Crusaders fans get fired up

Fans of the Holy Cross High School Crusaders start to bring the energy in getting excited for their team’s “Welcome Week” game on September 12 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. They cheered their Crusaders to a 42-0 triumph over the Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears.

Guardians meet their faithful

The St. Joseph High School Guardians meet their supporters after their “Welcome Week” game on September 12 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Guardians faithful had to live through a heart stopping clash as their team had to get past a ready Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints side 22-17.

“Get that out of here”

Tommy Douglas Collegiate Tigers defensive back Ariston Klemmer knocks away a deep throw during his team’s “Welcome Week” game on September 13 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Klemmer’s efforts helped the Tigers down the Bethlehem Catholic High School Stars 23-7.

Perfect artistic stroke

Veteran Saskatoon Hilltop Cheerleading Team member Angelica Bandet focuses on making the perfect stroke creating a face painting design for a youngster before the Hilltops CJFL contest on September 22 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The face painting was part of the activities that went along with the team’s Kinsmen Family Day/Young Hilltops Day.

Hilltops alums’ Strongest Man

Tristain Hoath, who is an alumnus of the Saskatoon Hilltops, made a home return at the club’s CJFL regular season game on September 22 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The 32-year-old Hoath now competes in World’s Strongest Man competitions. He put on a display of one of the disciplines of those competitions pulling a truck during halftime of the Hilltops 45-19 win over the Edmonton Wildcats.

Deadpool with the sneak

Deadpool sets to go through a crease to score on a sneak play during action at a mascots/superheroes football game held at halftime of the Saskatoon Hilltops CJFL regular season contest on September 22 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The mascot/superheroes clash was part of the festivities that ran in conjunction with the Hilltops’ Kinsmen Family Day/Young Hilltop Day.

Let it fly

A member of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Track and Field Team works on his form in the hammer throw on September 24 at the Track and Field Track. The Huskies were getting outdoor sessions in through September and early October before moving their training indoors.

Up and away

A member of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Track and Field Team does a conditioning exercise jumping over hurdles that are close together during a training session on September 24 at the Track and Field Track. Along with perfecting skills in their track disciplines, Huskies team members do drills that work on strength and conditioning too.

Milestone win for Mustangs

It was a memorable day for the Mount Royal Collegiate Mustangs on September 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Mustangs downed the E.D. Feehan Catholic High School Trojans 26-18 for their first high school football win in a number of years possibly dating back to 2018.

Big block

Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints defensive back Mason Schreffler blocks a field goal attempt by the Marion M. Graham Collegiate Falcons on October 4 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Saints ran off a 42-1 victory in this contest.

Running to daylight

Holy Cross High School Crusaders star running back Aulain Penner runs home for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter of a game against the St. Joseph High School Guardians on October 4 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Penner’s score cut the Guardians lead to 28-27. The Crusaders won the contest 29-28 executing a two-point conversion on the following play.

Two for the win

Holy Cross High School Crusaders defensive back Traven Wiggins, left, gets excited after scoring a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter against the St. Joseph High School Guardians on October 4 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Wiggins’ score came on a fake one-point conversion play, and it delivered the Crusaders to a 29-28 victory.

Showing off the power

Two members of Team Fire show off their strength using sandbags at the YXE First Responders Fitness Festival held on October 5 to 6 at the Indoor Training Centre. The YXE First Responders Fitness Festival has been held for three straight years at the Indoor Training Centre. A big thanks goes to the YXE First Responders Fitness Festival for this photo.

Team Fire claims championship

Team Fire celebrates taking top spot at the YXE First Responders Fitness Festival, which concluded on October 6 at the Indoor Training Centre. That event has been held at the Indoor Training Centre for three straight years. A big thanks goes to the YXE First Responders Fitness Festival for this photo graphic.