Photo roundup features fun from NFL Flag Football

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

A Steelers defender grabs the flag of a Cardinals ball carrier.

It was a much-needed welcome sight to see NFL Flag Football in action on Saturday, May 2 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

When it seemed winter would never end, Saskatoon Minor Football’s NFL 5-on-5 Flag Football leagues sprung into gear for the first set of spring Saturday games on May 2 at SMF Field. Playing under bright sunny skies, most couldn’t believe just seven days earlier the focus was on digging out from a heavy snowfall that fell in the city and across the province. During those dig outs, it felt like the city was still in February.

All of that was forgotten on May 2 at SMF Field as a tonne of fun was had at the NFL Flag games that were held there throughout the day. Actually, it seemed like the players were having more fun than usual having just escaped winter.

A coach for a Jaguars team gives instructions to his players.

The NFL Flag program has been a staple for Saskatoon Minor Football for some time now. It contains athletes from kindergarten to Grade 12, and it focuses on football fundamentals, skills, teamwork and sportsmanship. The teams wear jerseys that are styled after the 32 teams in the NFL.

The lead photo of our photo roundup comes from a game from one of the younger age groups. A defender from the Steelers grabs hold of the flag of a ball carrier from the Cardinals to bring an end to a play.

The second picture sees a coach giving instructions to a Jaguars team in a younger age group. The third shot sees a quarterback from a Seahawks team firing a pass downfield in a female division contest.

A Seahawks quarterback fires a pass downfield.

Along with the pictures from NFL Flag, this photo roundup is still flooded with action from the Indoor Training Centre. 

Due to winter working overtime, the Indoor Training Centre was busy all through April as teams worked on tuning up for their outdoor seasons whenever it came, which turned out to be throughout the first week of May. 

The photo roundup has images from baseball, cricket, 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 19 shots we hope you enjoy.

Moving on up

An outfielder makes what would be a simulated catch at the wall during a Saskatoon Berries Baseball Academy training session on April 17 at the Indoor Training Centre. The Berries were using a machine in this drill that sent a mix of different hits that could end up in the outfield for players to make plays on.

Incoming

A pitcher sets to unload an off-speed pitch during a live at bats segment of a Saskatoon Berries Baseball Academy training session on April 17 at the Indoor Training Centre. Players bring a good competitiveness during moments when live at bats segments are held.

Setting up for a catch

A member of the Bison Cricket Club Saskatoon sets up to make a catch during a training session at the Indoor Training Centre on April 17. The Bison players were practicing on the field turf field to be able to simulate plays that are made in the field during games.

Line drive

A hitter from the Bison Cricket Club Saskatoon drives a line drive hit into the outfield playing surface during a training session at the Indoor Training Centre on April 17. Hits like this are key in cricket, because they prevent a player from going out. A catcher is also positioned behind the batter looking to make a defensive play to create an out.

Cheers to a great hit

A couple of batters from the Bison Cricket Club Saskatoon give a congratulations and acknowledgement on one of them making a big hit during a training session at the Indoor Training Centre on April 17. Most of the time in cricket, batters are making sprints between the wickets to score runs. During a practice, there are more chances to pass on praise for a great play.

Coming right at you

A hitter drives a ball right at the camera during a Saskatoon Selects practice session in the softball batting cages on April 19 at the Indoor Training Centre. Hitters enjoy driving the ball inside the batting cages.

“Got it!”

A shortstop settles under an infield hit during a simulated game that was held during a Saskatoon Phantoms practice session on April 19 at the Indoor Training Centre. With softball teams closing in on opening outdoor season play with the approach of May, simulated game action becomes that much more important for players.

Making it look routine

A shortstop from the Saskatoon Royals female baseball program sets to fire off a throw to first base for an out during a practice session at the Indoor Training Centre on April 19. The Royals have been regulars at the Indoor Training Centre on Sundays since the facility opened in March of 2019.

Coaches sharpen their skills

The field turf field at the Indoor Training Centre isn’t always used for physical training, practices or competitions. On April 19, the north part of the field was used for the Competition Introduction Coaching Clinic run by Softball Saskatchewan. During this segment, one coach demonstrates points on what to do when it comes to coaching catchers.

Contact!

A member of the Saskatoon Sixers Cricket Club drives the ball during a practice session in the batting tunnels at the Indoor Training Centre on April 19. With their outdoor season closing in, the Sixers continued to work on getting their skills as close to perfection as possible.

Smash!

A member of a Saskatoon Selects team drives a ball during a training session inside the softball batting tunnels at the Indoor Training Centre on April 19. The batting cages are an area where players can come to sharpen their skills all year round

Special delivery

A pitcher from the Saskatoon Pelicans 13U AAA Baseball Team unloads a pitch during a practice session on April 22 at the Indoor Training Centre. The Pelicans were one of a number of younger age group teams that were flooding into the Indoor Training Centre in April as prolonged snow made outdoor facilities unplayable.

That one is out of here

A hitter from the Saskatoon Pelicans 13U AAA Baseball Team drives a ball deep during a practice session on April 22 at the Indoor Training Centre. The Pelicans got in work on hitting, pitching and fielding during this session.

Running to daylight

A ball carrier from a Chargers team charges upfield during an NFL 5-on-5 Flag Football female game on May 2 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The NFL Flag league is one of the many great programs offered by Saskatoon Minor Football.

Catch in traffic

A Saints receiver secures a catch against a Patriots defender during an NFL 5-on-5 Flag Football contest on May 2 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. After securing the ball, the receiver was looking for an opening to break upfield.

In the grasp

A defender from an Eagles team is about to get his hand on the flag of a ball carrier from a Chiefs team during an NFL 5-on-5 Flag Football contest on May 2 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. These game day situations create lots of stories for players to talk about when they head back to school.

Set to bring the heat

A pitcher from the Saskatoon Green Selects U19B squad is in the delivery to unload a pitch against the Saskatoon Riot in a Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association contest on May 7 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Riot prevailed 16-11 in the second night game played at BVI in 2026.

Firing a throw from short

A Saskatoon Riot shortstop fires a throw over to first base for an out in a game against the Saskatoon Green Selects U19B squad on May 7 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. Due to the longer than normal winter, this was the second night game played at BVI in 2026. The Riot pulled out a 16-11 victory.

Up to date

The sign in the north end zone of Saskatoon Minor Football Field has been updated to reflect the current total of WWCFL championships won by the Saskatoon Valkyries and total CJFL championships won by the Saskatoon Hilltops. The Valkyries started playing the majority of their home games at SMF Field in 2015, and they have won 10 WWCFL titles. The Hilltops have played the majority of their home games at SMF Field starting back in 1960 when the facility opened and was called the Holiday Park Bowl. They have won 24 CJFL titles in their history.

U of S Softball team cements place in sports scene

Club give locals place to play at home at a high level

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Thora Reynolds (#16) drives a ball into the outfield.

The University of Saskatchewan Women’s Softball Program aims to live out the cliché, “Be it ever so humble there is no place like home.”

While the club team has a relatively short history first hitting the field in 2008, it gives players in Saskatoon and the provincial softball community an avenue to combine academics and play at a high level in the post-secondary scene. The club also allows those players to stay home or close to home.

The U of S team has won the Western Collegiate Softball Association title on five occasions including 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2016. Along with the WCSA championships, U of S has won two Canadian Collegiate Softball Association titles including the team’s inaugural campaign in 2008 and 2016.

Growing up playing softball in Saskatoon or anywhere in Saskatchewan, players dream of playing the sport at the NCAA Division I level in the United States. For a lot of players as they get older, a desire develops to play at home or closer to home, and that is where the U of S Softball program fills an important role.

For utility infielder Thora Reynolds who grew up playing minor softball in Saskatoon, the pull to go play in the United States was there, but it ultimately made more sense for her situation to stay home.

“I think staying home was a big factor because I went through the 222’s (Fastpitch) program, and lots of girls that I knew they went to the States to play college,” said Reynolds, who is in her second season with the U of S Softball club. “That was definitely an option I was considering, but I think education was a big thing for me and also just being able to stay home not having to go to the States.

“The whole atmosphere of the team was great and you can have kind of shorter season but still have that competitive energy about the team. It brings the sport to life. I love it.”

Reynolds has played softball for 10 years and grew up playing in the Hustlers Zone of the Saskatoon Minor Softball League and suited up for the Saskatoon Selects under-19 AA team this past summer. She graduated in June of 2022 with the highest average of all Grade 12 students at Centennial Collegiate, which resulted in the Saskatoon Public School Division giving her a Proficiency Award.

At U of S, Reynolds, who is 19-years-old, studies in the biomedical sciences program. Reynolds said staying at home was a better fit for her educational goals. She added the level of play of the U of S Softball team and the league it plays out of is high, and it is important for local players to have that option to continue playing the sport.

Thora Reynolds is a high achiever academically.

“It is great to have the opportunity to play here,” said Reynolds. “I don’t think it is recognized enough.

“We don’t get as much recognition as we should I think. Just having the opportunity to play ball especially in Saskatchewan it is super awesome. It is definitely worth it.”

While Reynolds is a Saskatoon product who joined the U of S Softball team, first year outfielder Rachel Siwak came to the club via Melfort, Sask. She began playing softball with the Prince Albert Aces under-12 program before joining her hometown Melfort Spirit under-14 team.

This past summer, Siwak was one of Reynolds teammates on the Selects under-19 AA team. Siwak elected to join the U of S Softball club due to the fact Stacey Thomson, who has a very decorated softball resume, was the team’s head coach.

“Basically, I played with the 222’s growing up, and Stacey is the outfield coach of the 222’s,” said Siwak. “I became really fond of her, and I loved playing for her.

“When the opportunity presented itself for me to come to school at the University of Saskatchewan, I thought there would be no better team for me to play on than this team. I reached out to Stacey and here I am.”

A graduate of Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate, Siwak, who is 18-years-old, is studying business at the U of S and hopes to get into the College of Law. Along with the fact her educational plans line up with what U of S offers academically, Siwak wanted to play at a place where it was close enough for her family to come to games.

When the U of S hosted a number of regular season games at Bob Van Impe Stadium, Joe Gallagher Field and Glenn Reeve Field #3 from August 25 to 27, Siwak had a sizable group of family members in the stands that came out to support her. She also had a great first impression of the environment on the team.

“From the first practices, all the girls are like really inclusive,” said Siwak. “With me being (one of) the youngest, I thought it would be more challenging, but they are really great at just like bringing everybody together.

“The older girls they are really supportive of the younger girls. Even after the first game, I just feel like they made me feel apart of the team and not just like a new rookie.”

Rachel Siwak wants to get into the College of Law in the future.

Thomson has a close identification to what her players have gone through when it comes to deciding where their softball careers go after high school. Before getting into coaching, Thomson grew up playing softball in Saskatoon and played intermittently with Canada’s National Women’s Softball Team from 1994 to 1999.

With U of S having strong academic programs, Thomson said it was important to have the U of S Softball program in Saskatoon to give players from Saskatoon and across Saskatchewan an extra reason to stay home or close to home to pursue academics and athletics. While she focuses on attracting players from in province, Thomson is open to adding players from out of province, if the situation lines up for it.

She said the U of S Softball team has one out of province player in Amanda Paquette, who joined the club as a walk-on. Paquette was originally going to go to the United States to play hockey but elected to pursue her educational goals at the U of S. Once at U of S, she decided to join the U of S Softball team.

“I think that it allows girls that maybe would have gone down south to stay here for a really great university,” said Thomson. “There are so many colleges and opportunities at the U of S.

“It is top rate education rather than going down south and not having the academic side of it as much. I used to be the academic advisor in kinesiology and in psychology, so I got perspective from seeing student athletes trying to get transfer credit. Often times, they’ll go down to school (in the United States) and spend so much money and then come back here, and they won’t have a lot of transfer credit to show for it.”

Thomson said she has heard from parents and other coaches that the U of S Softball team is comparable to programs in the United States. She said she has a pretty strong coaching staff from Saskatoon and area that becomes another factor in athletes deciding to play at U of S.

One of those assistant coaches is Karmen Twordik, who played for the Carnduff Southeast Steelers to took part in Softball Canada’s U23 Women’s and Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament in L’Ile-Perrot, Quebec, this past August 16 to 20. Twordik was a named a tournament all-star in the outfield and helped the Steelers down Ontario’s Oakville Angels under-23 team 1-0 in the event’s gold medal game.

The U of S Softball team celebrates a home run.

While U of S Softball team might not play a season schedule that is as long as post-secondary programs in the United States do, Thomson her program is still a great option to accomplish academic and athletic goals while still getting to represent a team from Saskatchewan.

“I think that it is a little bit more laid back, but it is still competitive,” said Thomson. “There is some pride in playing for Saskatoon and for your home province.”

Spring season happenings finally hit high speed

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Haley Girolami makes a catch for the Valkyries on May 7.

When spring arrived, it arrived quickly, and the outdoor facilities sprung into action on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

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

A defender from Bishop James Mahoney High School get the flag of a quarterback for a sack in a Rush High School Female Flag Football game on April 24 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The players from the Rush league jumped into the season with lots of energy and enthusiasm.

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.