Institute of Saskatchewan Football takes photo roundup spotlight

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

A group of offensive linemen set a block at an ISF session.

The Institute of Saskatchewan Football is one of the newest programs that calls the Gordie Howe Sports Complex home.

It was officially born on May 10, 2024, and it was created by Saskatoon Minor Football in partnership with the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre and Ignite Athletics. The Institute of Saskatchewan Football (ISF) is a fully accredited academic program that allows students to further develop their football skills during the winter semester through the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre.

It is open for high school students in Grades 10 to 12, and those who take part in the program get high school credits for playing football, training and the leadership component. The Institute focuses on academics, skill development, tactical understanding, physical conditioning, sportsmanship and character building, college and university opportunities, personal growth, competition and exposure, injury prevention and safety and enjoyment of the game.

Mikenzie McLane (#10) and Addison Zakowski compete in a drill.

The student-athletes who are part of the program, which is in its second season of operation, are often seen on the field turf field or at Ignite Athletics in mornings at the Indoor Training Centre during the current days. They take part in online classes and study periods in the afternoon. When the snow melts on Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the student-athletes take part in their football training there.

The lead photo of our photo roundup sees a group of offensive linemen go through a blocking scheme in a walk through. The second picture sees receiver Mikenzie McLane getting inside position on defensive back Addison Zakowski to make a catch in a one-on-one flag football drill.

The third shot shows defensive lineman Preston Epp exploding out of his stance during a defensive team scheme walk through.

Preston Epp launches into action during an ISF session.

All three of these Institute of Saskatchewan Football photos were taken during a training session on March 26.

Along with the pictures from the Institute of Saskatchewan Football, this photo roundup shows the close out of activity on the ski trails. Due to the consistent mix of melting followed by new snowfalls in recent weeks, action at the Indoor Training Centre continues to stay in high gear as winter itself seems intent to work overtime. The photo roundup has images from baseball, football and softball.

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

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

Eye on the ball

Catcher Aiden Kilshaw tracks a ball coming into his glove during a Saskatoon Berries Baseball Academy training session on March 11 at the Indoor Training Centre. Kilshaw is an elite-level player who was catching pitches off a pitching machine for an extra challenge. He played for the Saskatoon Cubs SPBL Under-18 AAA championship team last season and will return to the Cubs this coming season. Kilshaw will also be an affiliate player with the Berries WCBL team.

Ready, set, go

A group of young skiers take off on a short sprint on the trails that run across the Glenn Reeve Fields on March 15. Child and junior aged skiers were taking part in a host of fun activities organized by the Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club.

One last Sunday fun day for skiers

The members of the Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club came out in droves to enjoy the trails that run across the Glenn Reeve Fields for one last fun Sunday on March 15. The skiers embraced being out on the trails for what would be the last Sunday of the 2025-26 winter season.

Coming right at you

A hitter drives a ball into a net on March 18 at the Indoor Training Centre as part of a session from Keith Mackintosh’s Hitting Series offered via the 222’s Fastpitch program. The athletes in this session focused on perfecting various details in the skill of hitting working off tees.

Fun with fundamentals

A couple of young players work on some infielding fundamentals during a night time Going Yard Baseball Academy session on March 19 at the Indoor Training Centre. During these sessions, Going Yard usually has their child aged player cycling through a group of three or four stations to help build various skills.

Firing a relay to first

A second baseman from the Saskatoon Giants Under-18 AAA team fires a relay toss to first base during a training session on March 22 at the Indoor Training Centre. The Giants fell in a semifinal in last year’s 18U AAA Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League Provincial Championship tournament held at Cairns Field and Leakos Field. They will be looking to turn heads again in the upcoming 2026 campaign.

Bunt and run with a smile

A hitter with the Saskatoon Cubs Under-18 AAA team lays down a bunt before taking off on a run with a smile during a practice session on March 25 at the Indoor Training Centre. The Cubs are continuing to gear up for the upcoming Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League season in search of a second straight provincial title.

Getting those knees high

Running back Lucas Hawley works on getting his knees high running over a series of pads during a drill at an Institute of Saskatchewan Football practice session on March 26 at the Indoor Training Centre. Hawley is sharpening his skills with the development opportunities offered by the Institute.

Going long

Kacie Semkiw fires a pass deep downfield during a flag football scrimmage during an Institute of Saskatchewan Football practice session on March 26 at the Indoor Training Centre. While she is regularly a receiver, Semkiw got in repetitions to see what she could do from the quarterback position.

“Himey” coaches them up

Scott “Himey” Hundseth, right, instructs a group of players during an Institute of Saskatchewan Football practice session on March 26 at the Indoor Training Centre. Hundseth, who was the long-time head coach of the Holy Cross High School Crusaders Football Team and is still the squad’s defensive coordinator, is one of the many high-quality teachers/coaches with the Institute.

Zerr on the run

Noah Zerr takes off on a sprint during a workout session for a group of professional football players on March 26 at the Indoor Training Centre. An offensive linemen, Zerr was a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders 2025 Grey Cup championship winning team. He is also an alum of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team.

Gunning the ball to second

A catcher is all set before firing off a throw to second base on April 2 at the Indoor Training Centre. The catcher was taking part in the Erin Cumpstone Catching Series offered by the 222’s Fastpitch program. During this session, catchers were focused on making throws to second base looking to catch base stealers.

Slick toss

A young pitcher delivers an off-speed pitch to home plate during a training session on April 2 at the Indoor Training Centre. The pitcher was taking part in the Dean Holoien Pitching Series offered by the 222’s Fastpitch program. Pitchers were working on smoothing out mechanics on various throws.

Here comes the boom

A young player nails a tackling bag during the second day of the Playground To Pros camp, which is run by Saskatoon Minor Football, on April 8 at the Indoor Training Centre. The Easter time camp helps develop skills and fundamentals at the grassroots level.

Coach Ferland gives praise

Guest coach Logan Ferland gives a young player a “five” and praise after the player did well in a drill at the Playground To Pros camp, which is run by Saskatoon Minor Football, on April 8 at the Indoor Training Centre. Ferland is one of the star offensive linemen with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders and was one of the many guest coaches at the camp from the professional ranks. He can play every offensive line position and is best known for his work at the centre spot.

Tomlenovich bitten by football bug

16-year-old excels at quarterback, has taken up coaching too

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Adley Tomlenovich sets to make a pass for the Fever on Sept. 22. 

Adley Tomlenovich is embracing all the joys that come from football both as a player and a coach.

The 16-year-old Grade 11 student from St. Joseph High School has established herself as an elite talent at quarterback in the female flag game. On top of playing in Saskatoon Minor Football’s Toon Squad League, she has played for Team Saskatchewan twice at nationals and threw passes for Team Canada at USA Football’s Junior International Cup in July of 2024 in the under-15 age group.

On top of playing the sport, Tomlenovich took up being the head coach for a Grade 6 female squad that plays in the 5 on 5 NFL Youth Flag Football circuit overseen by Saskatoon Minor Football. While she enjoys the people in the sport, Tomlenovich has been captivated by the game planning and the strategy that goes with the sport.

“(I love the) mental aspect of the sport, because my position is quarterback,” said Tomlenovich. “That is definitely the biggest mental game I would say.

“I love being able to read plays and figure out where everybody works best and that aspect of the game I love the most.”

Tomlenovich got her start in flag football about eight years ago, and she hasn’t looked back since that initial beginning.

“I started flag football back in about Grade 3 for me,” said Tomlenovich, who stands 5-foot-6. “A couple of friends were playing in a league, and that was back when we had like Velcro flags.

“I’ve definitely seen it grow over the years, because now, it is gone so big from where I started with it. I just started trying out for every opportunity that started coming to Saskatoon, and that is where I got to where I am today.”

Adley Tomlenovich played flag football for Canada in July of 2024.

Besides playing flag football, Tomlenovich played hockey for a lot of years and also took part in basketball and baseball while growing up. She also participated in dance, but ultimately, flag football won out as her main pursuit.

“I decided on this just because it was like my biggest love, and I wanted to put all my time into it, and this is where all my friends are,” said Tomlenovich, who has spent a lot of time throwing passes at Saskatoon Minor Football Field and the Indoor Training Centre on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. “I decided that this would be the happiest route for me, so I decided to go to the Institute of Saskatchewan Football, so I could spend my days doing it.

“After school, I’m doing Toon Squad.”

Earlier this year while in her second semester of her Grade 10 school year, Tomlenovich was part of the inaugural group that took part in the Institute of Saskatchewan Football program offered by Saskatoon Minor Football. 

The program is an academy program that allows players to get high school credit for their football training. As part of that program, Tomlenovich gained some experience in tackle football.

On top of being part of the Institute of Saskatchewan Football, Tomlenovich has been a member of the Saskatoon Minor Football’s Toon Squad flag travel teams the past two years, where she has gone down to Florida to participate in game action. She is expecting to be back with the Toon Squad travel teams for a third straight year and with the Institute of Saskatchewan Football in the second consecutive year in early 2026.

To date, one of Tomlenovich’s biggest thrills has been playing for Team Canada at USA Football’s Junior International Cup in July of 2024 in the under-15 age group. She earned that opportunity after helping quarterback Saskatchewan’s provincial team to a gold medal at under-16 nationals in Kingston, Ont., in May of that year.

Adley Tomlenovich coaches an NFL 5-on-5 Youth Flag Football team.

“I just turned 15 when I was playing for Team Canada, so that was definitely a big experience at a young age,” said Tomlenovich. “It was really cool to be able to play at that next level and play against other countries, because every country has their own type of way of playing flag and their own strategies.

“I think that was the most interesting part was seeing how other countries run their offence.”

Over her career as a player, Tomlenovich has been coached by numerous members of the storied Saskatoon Valkyries, who have won 10 Western Women’s Canadian Football League championships in the tackle game. As she has grown up playing flag football, Tomlenovich said the Valkyries have been great influences and role models.

“I’ve definitely gone to learn different things from each of the coaches,” said Tomlenovich. “I’ve had so many coaches over my time and every one of them has a unique style.

“You definitely learn what works for you throughout having different types of coaches.”

Tomlenovich took a big step on her own journey of being a coach this past September and October with Saskatoon Minor Football’s NFL 5-on-5 Youth Flag Football. At first, she wasn’t expecting to fulfill a head coach role.

“One of my friends was coaching his younger sister and asked if I’d start helping out,” said Tomlenovich. “Then, he ended up not being able to coach the team anymore.

“I was like I would do it, so I took over the team. I didn’t know any of the girls. They were in Grade 6, but I loved coaching them so much.

Adley Tomlenovich, left, gives instructions in the role of head coach.

“It is really awesome to be able to help that next generation and imply what I know to the younger kids. I really enjoy getting to do that kind of stuff. I hope in my future years once I’m done with my flag career I can continue coaching.”

Tomlenovich had helped out coaching in football camps, but her experience with the NFL 5-on-5 Youth Flag Football marked the first time she had ever coached her own team. 

She ended up being the only coach on her squad, which meant she was responsible for practice plans and calling plays on offence and defence.

The talented quarterback would find herself constantly coaching against adults and often fathers who had daughters playing on opposing teams.

While she took on way more than most her age would when it came to coaching, Tomlenovich was ready to rise to the challenge when it came to shouldering those new responsibilities.

“It was definitely a lot even figuring out who is supposed to be on the field,” said Tomlenovich. “They are in Grade 6.

“They don’t really know what they are doing either, so it was definitely a lot. I’m running around quite a bit, usually being the sweatiest person at the end of the game. I had a lot of fun doing it, and I’m planning on doing it again in the spring.”

While she has found her coaching experience to be a great one, Tomlenovich’s primary focus is going as far as she can as a player in the flag game. The sport in both men’s and women’s competition will be part of the 2028 Summer Olympics to be played in Los Angeles, Calif. Tomlenovich would love to play in an Olympics one day as part of continuing the sport after the conclusion of her high school days.

Adley Tomlenovich, centre, will be calling plays long into the future.

“I hope to definitely play when I graduate,” said Tomlenovich. “I definitely hope to do something like that.

“It is now trying to become a D1 (Division I) sport in the (United) States, so that would be my first goal. After that if I have the opportunity to represent my country again at the Olympic level, I would definitely hope to take any stepping stone I can to get there.”

For more information on the flag and other programs offered by Saskatoon Minor Football, feel free to check out their website at saskatoonminorfootball.com/smf.

Bond has strong football bonds at Bedford Road

Grade 12 athlete excels in multiple roles with Redhawks

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Parker Bond calls out signals from his middle linebacker position.

Parker Bond is finding out time really does fly when you are having fun.

The 17-year-old Grade 12 student is playing out his final campaign with the Bedford Road Collegiate Redhawks Football Team and has been a starter on the squad since his Grade 10 year. As the high school football season ventures into its final weeks, Bond said it didn’t seem that long ago when he started to suit up for the Bedford Road side.

“It feels like just yesterday I was getting ready for my first spring camp back in Grade 9,” said Bond. “It is weird now to be the oldest on the team and to be out there as one of the main leaders of the team.

“It is awesome. I’ve had a good senior season so far.”

Bond has been playing the sport for a lengthy stretch. At age six he started playing flag football out in Martensville after his mom got him registered with the program there. The Martensville teams participate in the leagues overseen by Saskatoon Minor Football.

As soon as Bond could start playing tackle football, he joined the Martenville squads that play out of the Kinsmen Football League. He remained in the KFL until he was able to join the Redhawks.

Bond has done his whole football journey while living out in Langham with his family helping him commute into Martensville and Saskatoon over the years.

Those past experiences have been valuable to Bond with the Redhawks. His natural position is at middle linebacker on defence.

In 2025, Bond has also played on every special teams unit, and at fullback, running back and receiver on offence. He also had to take on the role of starting quarterback, when Redhawks starter Gabriel Goyer went down with an injury.

Parker Bond (#44) makes lots of tackles as the Redhawks MLB.

Though his Grade 12 season, Bond is soaking in and enjoying every aspect of his final campaign with the Redhawks.

“I’ve been playing for a while,” said Bond. “This year is probably so far one of the most fun years of football I’ve had just playing and having fun and everything.”

Bond’s presence on the team has been big for Redhawks head coach Dylan Andreychuk. With the Redhawks program, Andreychuk usually ends up coaching a sizable number of players who are gaining their first experience with the sport. The sideline boss said that having players like Bond on the team who have had previous experience with the sport are a huge help.

“Coaching at Bedford Road, it is a grind sometimes,” said Andreychuk. “We’ve got to do a lot of like square one teaching.

“But a kid like Parker, he has right from day one in Grade 10 he joined us and he already had experience playing minor football. It is just a nice luxury for us at our school to have a guy with some knowledge of the game and experience to bring into the team as a youngster. To have him three years as a starter, it is just huge for us from a leadership standpoint and being able to mentor and lead some of the other players on our team.

“Just in his progression as a player and as a leader and all the work that he puts in during the off-season, he is just a great role model for the rest of the guys on the team.”

Both on and off the field, Andreychuk said Bond has been and continues to be a respectful young man, and he is a great student in the classroom.

“Everything that we hear from his teachers and everybody else in the building is very positive,” said Andreychuk. “We’re just very proud to have him as part of our team.

Due to injuries, Parker Bond took on the role of Redhawks starting QB.

“He is a leader on our football team, but also in the hallways and doing all the good things that we like to hear.”

Right from his start in the sport up to and including the current day, Bond enjoys the emotions and atmosphere of being out on the field with his teammates.

“I just love getting out there and getting hyped up with the teammates a lot and making big plays and getting tackles and getting turnovers,” said Bond. “Defence is always my favourite.”

Since Grade 8, Bond has also been playing with Saskatoon Minor Football’s North Sask Academy program in the spring. During his Grade 11 school year, Bond enrolled in the Institute of Saskatchewan Football for the inaugural year the program was operated by Saskatoon Minor Football. Bond said those experiences have been valuable in his journey through the sport.

“They’ve helped me so much,” said Bond. “I’ve played football year-round almost for the past few years.

“To get coaching from a bunch of different people for a bunch of different things, it is always really good, and I’ve had some really good coaches in the past few years that have really helped me get better.”

Bond said playing for the Redhawks has been one of the great joys he has had in the sport. He has enjoyed being on the field all of the time playing multiple roles.

Along with that, Bond has had a blast with his teammate over the years. He said some of his most special memories come from seeing all the school’s teachers and students turnout big with lots of school spirit during the team’s Welcome Week game. The team has a tradition of making the walk from Bedford Road Collegiate to Saskatoon Minor Football Field for that contest in a jaunt that is dubbed “The Red Mile.”

“It has been a lot of fun,” said Bond. “I got to start in Grade 10, and all since then, it felt like the team has really been behind me and rallying behind me.

Parker Bond has displayed great versatility with the Redhawks.

“I’ve been able to be a good leader on the team, and I’ve been able to develop a lot of leadership skills and football skills in the time I’ve been here. It is a really good experience.”

Bond has been thankful for all the coaches he has had over the years, but he credits one defensive coach for being his biggest influence in helping him out on that side of the ball and overall loving the game.

“I’ve had a lot of really good coaches throughout the years,” said Bond. “Probably the best coach I feel like I’ve had was when I was in Grade 8 through Grade 11 in Devon Gilkinson.

“He was my D-coordinator for a few teams that I played for in academy, and he was at Bedford Road for a couple of years, and he really helped me develop.”

While Bond’s high school football days are in their final weeks, Andreychuk believes his young star can have a longer future in the game due to his yes-coach attitude and his versatility.

“I think just because of his attitude and how he immerses himself in the game and the way he approaches practice and film study and nutrition, all the other things that it takes to get that edge and to make it at the next level, he is already doing,” said Andreychuk. “He has got those good habits.

“I’m very confident that he could find a football team that he can contribute to after high school.”

Bond said if all his football dreams could come true he would like to play in the CFL and NFL one day. With that noted, those are the dream goals.

For the moment, Bond would like to find a place to play next season in the CJFL or the U Sports ranks so he could continue to enjoy playing and being part of the sport of football.

Parker Bond (#44) aims to enjoy his final weeks with the Redhawks.

“That is the goal,” said Bond. “I think I can do it.

“I’ve been told I can do it. I’ll just go wherever I feel like I’m wanted. I’m going to be getting my film out there and sending some messages around throughout the season.

“Hopefully, I’ll get a spot somewhere, hopefully close to home.”

To see the 2025 schedule for high school football, check out the Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletics Directorate site at sssad.net/schedule/.