Sander set to soak in season as Hilltops starting QB

Saskatoon guns for 25^th CJFL title in 2026

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Griffin Sander is set to be the Hilltops starting QB this season.

Griffin Sander found his tackle football life was in limbo until an unexpected opportunity came up.

In August of last year, Sander was engaged in training camp activities with University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team. He was going into his fourth season with the Huskies, but he didn’t know where he stood within a talented quarterback room.

Anton Amundrud was a lock as the starter, and the Huskies coaches were optimistic on Jake Farrell, who was in his second season with the team. Sander was wondering if it might be best for him to focus on his kinesiology studies.

One day after a Huskies practice, Sander was walking to his car, and he listened to a voicemail left by Tom Sargeant, who is the legendary head coach of the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops. 

The Hilltops were a week into their CJFL campaign and were dealing with a host of injuries at the quarterback position. Sargeant said the Hilltops needed to add a quarterback, and he wanted to talk to Sander.

“I was like this could be a really good opportunity for me,” said Sander. “Then, I thought about it for a couple of days and talked to my parents and everything.

“I gave Sarge a call back, and it ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve made so far in my life.”

Sander joined the Hilltops in Week 2 of their CJFL campaign. After getting used to the team’s system, he would find himself as the backup to fifth-year starter Brexton Elias, when Elias returned for the squad’s fourth regular season contest.

During the Hilltops fifth regular season contest, Sander saw his first game action with the team in a 51-3 romp over the Calgary Colts. As Elias would finish the post-season playing with an injury, Sander came off the bench and saw sizable action in a 30-27 comeback overtime victory over the Thunder at Mosaic Stadium in Regina in the PFC final on October 26, 2025.

He would come off the bench late in the first quarter again in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. Sander would play almost all of the rest of that contest as the Hilltops won a classic 21-18 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field over the Okanagan Sun from Kelowna, B.C., to claim a 24^th CJFL title.

Griffin Sander fires a pass downfield with authority.

When Sander played last season, he was definitive with his throws. He made quick reads and threw the ball with authority and on target. It was visible that he received good coaching with the Huskies.

Sander said Sargeant played a big role in helping him do well. The signal caller also said that Huskies head coach Scott Flory and the two Huskies offensive coordinators he worked with in Jeremy Long and Mason Nyhus were huge in his football story to becoming a quarterback that could make razor-sharp reads.

“I feel like football is really an important game between the ears,” said Sander, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 210 pounds. “I owe it all to “Sarge,” (Scott) Flory, my coaches Jeremy Long and Mason Nyhus.

“They’ve formed me into the player and the man I am today. I owe it all to them, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without those four men really leading me to where I am today.”

Playing for the Hilltops, Sander was able to reunite with Donnie Davidsen, who was his high school head coach with the Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints Football Team. Davidsen is the Hilltops longtime offensive line coach.

Sander and Davidsen reconnected and picked up right where they left off from their time together with the Saints. Davidsen is also a huge part in Sander’s biggest big-play memory with the Hilltops.

In the PFC final, the Thunder had the first drive of overtime played under shootout rules and came away with a field goal to go up 27-24. On the Hilltops ensuing possession, Sander hit receiver Isaiah Vallderruten with a 24-yard game-winning touchdown pass that resulted in the Saskatoon side prevailing 30-27. The score also allowed the Hilltops to complete a comeback in a contest where they trailed 24-9 with 10:51 remaining in the fourth quarter.

“That is probably one of the coolest moments I’ve ever had playing football,” said Sander about his winning touchdown pass in the PFC final. “I remember I threw the pass, and I couldn’t actually really see if “Zay” caught it or not.

“I just heard kind of the crowd erupt, and then, I looked at the sidelines. Speaking of Donnie (Davidsen), Donnie was running full speed at me, and he jumped into my arms. That was probably one of the best moments I’ve had in football.

“That was incredible.”

Griffin Sander came up clutch for the Hilltops in the 2025 post-season.

Sargeant said Sander’s addition was massive for his storied CJFL team. The sideline boss said the veteran pivot allowed the Hilltops passing game to come to life in both the PFC final and the CJFL title game.

“Every opportunity that we gave him, he just took off and ran with it,” said Sargeant. “We certainly were very thankful that he made the decision to commit to the Saskatoon Hilltops.

“He has given the whole team and the coaching staff great optimism for this year. We’re excited to see where it takes us, because now we’ve got a full year. We’ve got a whole off-season.

“He has embraced every challenge that has come his way. He is a captain. As I said, big expectations on the blue and gold and big expectations on Griffin.”

Sargeant added that Sander came to the Hilltops having developed a solid base to play from his time as a reserve quarterback with the Huskies.

“Any time you come from the Huskie program, you know they’re going to be well coached, and they’re going to be a top recruit,” said Sargeant. “Griffin’s game, he has certainly got a good head on his shoulders.

“He has got arm talent, and it fits in perfectly with what we want to do this year. We’re excited to bring these receivers up. We love our receiver room, and we feel the combination of those two coming together is going to make a great passing package that is going to be tough to defend.

“All the training he has had in the past has certainly helped him to what his future is going to be.”

In the Canadian Bowl, the Hilltops were tied with the Sun 2-2 after the first quarter. Sander provided the steady hand in a surge that saw the Hilltops go up 16-2 and hold a 16-4 advantage at halftime.

The Sun ultimately would even the score at 18-18 with a touchdown with 1:33 remaining in the fourth quarter. Sander proceeded to guide the Hilltops on a drive that resulted in a 37-yard game-winning field goal from kicker Ryden Gratton with 28.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Okanagan’s final desperate drive was snuffed out with an interception by Hilltops strong side linebacker Zaden Taylor.

Griffin Sander dumps the ball off to Charles Sawi.

“We scored a touchdown I think either on my first or second drive that I went in,” said Sander. “Then, we just had quite a few two and outs and then just kind of stalled out.

“That gave Okanagan a lot of motivation. They had everything on their side, and they were just pounding. We couldn’t stop them.

“They ended up tying it up, and then, we put a good drive together. We had a lot of good runs by (running back) D.C. (David Collins). Gratz (Ryden Gratton) kicked the game winner, and then, that was it.”

Going into this season, Sander will be playing out his final campaign of CJFL eligibility. He will enter the season as the Hilltops starting quarterback. Sander has enjoyed having a whole off-season getting to train with the team’s offensive unit and receiving corps.

“Last season, I came in Week 2,” said Sander, who is 22-years-old. “I knew a couple of the guys through like academy and kind of spring ball and fall ball in high school.

“I knew a couple of guys, but I was never throwing to these guys. It was a little bit of a jump trying to get to know the playbook and get to know the guys and how they run their routes. It has been really, really amazing just to have a whole off-season with these guys and just throwing with them every week and just kind of see how they run their routes and what kind of depth they’re running.

“It is really helpful to be on the same page.”

The Hilltops opened their regular season on August 9 downing the Rifles in Winnipeg 38-13. Saskatoon’s home opener is slated for Sunday, August 16 at 1 p.m. at SMF Field against the Edmonton Wildcats.

Sander said the goal is to win a second straight CJFL title. With this being his final CJFL campaign, Sander said he wants to be in the moment as much as possible and soak in the journey the season will provide.

“I mean everybody wants to play in the game at the end of the year,” said Sander. “I feel like especially in your fifth year you don’t want to get there too quickly.

Griffin Sander wants to relish all parts of the 2026 season.

“I just take it day by day and don’t take anything for granted and just kind of just have lots of fun with my guys for my last year.”

For more information of the Saskatoon Hilltops including their tickets and game schedule, feel free to check out their website at www.saskatoonhilltops.com.

Solie very grateful for Gordie Howe Sports Complex support

Kicker’s football journey heads to CFL’s Roughriders

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

David Solie has signed with the CFL’s Roughriders.

After signing with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, David Solie was flooded with messages of congratulations and support from people he met at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.

Solie, who is the place kicker and punter for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team, has worked at the Complex during his off-seasons taking on various roles for a number of years. When he isn’t working at the Complex as a staff member, he is either training at the Complex grounds at Ignite Athletics or working on his kicking skills at Saskatoon Minor Football Field or the Indoor Training Centre.

With the Huskies this past season, Solie had an outstanding campaign being named a Canada West Conference all-star and a U Sports second team all-Canadian all-star at place kicker. He helped the Huskies finished first in the Canada West Conference with a 7-1 record and advance to the U Sports championship game – the Vanier Cup.

In the Vanier Cup played on November 26 at Western Alumni Stadium in London, Ont., the Huskies dropped a heartbreaker 30-24 to the always powerful Universite Laval Rouge et Or before 8,420 spectators. Just three days after the Vanier Cup on November 29, Solie signed with the Roughriders.

Naturally, Solie, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 200 pounds, received lots of supportive messages from family and friends and numerous persons he met in football. The 23-year-old was pleasantly surprised by the large number of supportive messages he received from people he met over the years at the Complex.

“The staff there at Gordie Howe are all so friendly,” said Solie. “It is like a mini family there.

“We’ve got the mom Janice Kozun there, and she is always taking care of everybody. You get to meet a lot of new people. I’ve gotten a lot of messages that I’m very grateful for from a lot of people that maybe you don’t always hear from, but you hear from them, and they are grateful for you.

“It is a special place that hits you when there are a lot of congratulatory texts and messages coming in. I’m grateful myself for all those messages. I’m grateful that the ’Riders are able to give me this opportunity to hopefully go make the team and show what I can do.”

Solie received lots of supportive messages from staffers he has worked alongside with at the Complex. He didn’t realize how many people he met at Ignite and from sports teams and groups he has interacted with at the various facilities on the Complex grounds would reach out too.

David Solie is pictured for Bell Let’s Talk social media posts in Jan. 2021.

The graduate of Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School believes he has heard from coaches, athletes and team staffers from every sporting group that has trained or competed on the Complex grounds. The Complex hosts events and training sessions for baseball, football, lacrosse, Nordic Skiing, rugby, softball, speed skating, track and field and ultimate disk.

Solie said Johnny Marciniuk, who is the Operations Manager of the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, has helped develop a culture at the Complex that is special and the crew at Ignite Athletics and co-owner Joel Lipinski have made a huge positive difference on the lives of the athletes they’ve trained.

“They’ve created an environment that bleeds sports,” said Solie, who was the Canada West all-star and U Sports first team all-Canadian all-star punter in 2021. “Being able to work there, I know Johnny (Marciniuk) has been able to give me those hours that work with my schedule.

“I know he has been able to do it with others as well. I’m just forever grateful for everything that he has been able to allow me to do. If I need time off for training, if I need time off for football or if I need time off even just to go visit, I know Johnny (Marciniuk) has always been really good with that.”

With the Huskies this past season, Solie said the team had big goals after advancing to the Vanier Cup in 2021 and falling to the University of Western Ontario Mustangs 27-21. The Huskies were looking to get back to the Vanier Cup in 2022 and win it.

“We expect that from ourselves,” said Solie. “Obviously, it is not going to happen every single year.

“I think we just had an expectation in our minds that we were going to be back on that stage, and we were hopefully lifting that Vanier Cup. Unfortunately, we came up a little bit short there the last couple of years. It is tough in itself, but I’m super proud of our guys.

“We definitely put our best foot forward. I think (Huskies head) coach (Scott) Flory has just instilled this expect to win mentality with the Huskies there. I think he has something going there that is going to be really great in the years to come.”

David Solie (#2) kicks a field goal for the Hilltops in 2018.

Solie had his share of highlights in the 2022 campaign. On September 17, he hit a 32-yard field goal with two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to allow the Huskies to slip past the University of Regina Rams 11-10 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

During the Huskies eight regular season games, Solie connected on 17-of-21 field goal attempts with a long from 44 yards and hit on 23-of-24 of his conversion attempts. He punted the ball 58 times for 2,276 yards for an average of 39.2 yards per kick.

In the Canada West title game – the Hardy Cup – played on November 12 at Griffiths Stadium, Solie hit three first half field goals to allow the Huskies to hold a 9-7 halftime lead before jetting out to a 23-8 victory over the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.

In the Uteck Bowl U Sports semifinal game playing in Antigonish, N.S., Solie hit two first half field goals to allow the Huskies to be in a 6-6 tie at halftime before surging to a 36-19 victory over the St. Francis Xavier University X-Men.

“In the Hardy Cup, I don’t know if we played the best game that we played, but we expected to win,” said Solie, who is set to complete his academic studies at the U of S at the end of the school year. “We came out in that second half, and we were able to come out with the win.

“The same thing with the Uteck (Bowl). I don’t think we came out very strong in the first half. I think we only had six points in the first half, and it was tied 6-6 at halftime.

“When it mattered the most, our team was able to find a way to win. That is just what good teams do.”

During his football career, Solie has made many memories at SMF Field playing for the Crusaders football team in high school, Saskatchewan’s provincial team program and helping the Saskatoon Hilltops win a CJFL championship in his one season with the storied club in 2018.

Solie was a place kicker, punter and receiver for the Hilltops when they downed the Langley Rams 58-21 in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – played at SMF Field on November 18, 2018.

David Solie (#15) kicks a field for the Huskies this past season.

Looking towards preparing for the Roughriders training camp in 2023, Solie expects to be seen frequently at the Complex both training and working. He wants to make a good impression when he tries to crack the roster of the CFL club.

“It is a big motivation aspect,” said Solie. “I know (Roughriders long snapper) Jorgen Hus is working out at Ignite.

“There are a lot of those pro CFL players that work out at Ignite. Just being able to work with those guys, it is an extra motivation that it is something to look forward to.”

Crusaders’ Smith-Windsor makes lasting memories in high school football

DB/RB pumped for future in game with Huskies

Taz Smith-Windsor jets downfield for the Carlton Crusaders.

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Before turning his attention to his future in the game of football, Taz Smith-Windsor had to reflect and appreciate how special a part of his journey in the game was.

On October 28 playing under the “Friday Night Lights” of Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Smith-Windsor suited up for his final high school football game as his Carlton Comprehensive High School Crusaders from Prince Albert fell 38-23 to the Holy Cross High School Crusaders in a hard fought 6A SSSAD semifinal contest. Smith-Windsor had been a star running back and defensive back with Carlton’s senior football squad since his Grade 9 season in 2019.

Viewed as one of the best graduating high school players in Saskatchewan, the 17-year-old Grade 12 student has committed to joining the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team for the 2023 season.

With that noted, Smith-Windsor viewed his time in high school football as one of the best times in his life. For the past two seasons, he took the field with his younger brother, Sullivan Smith-Windsor, with the Carlton senior team. Sullivan was Carlton’s star quarterback this past season in just his Grade 10 year.

Taz Smith-Windsor said Carlton head coach Lindsay Strachan was one of the biggest influences in helping him in football along with his parents in mother, Jaimie Smith-Windsor, and father, Al Osaduik. The now graduated high school star said the relationships he made with the Carlton squad will always be close to his heart.

“Obviously playing with my brother is a great experience,” said Smith-Windsor. “I’ve just made so many friends here.

“I have 40 or 50 brothers in the dressing room. It is great. My coaches, I’ve built great relationships with them.

“All those guys, they are just great guys that I’ve learned to look up to. I’ve made so many great relationships with these guys. I hope I get to stay in contact with them after high school.”

Smith-Windsor said his grandfather in Gren Smith-Windsor was the initial influence that got him interested in playing football. Gren used to be a frequent visitor at SMF Field. He played on the offensive line and linebacker for the Saskatoon Hilltops in the 1960s and was an assistant coach on the Hilltops 1969 CJFL championship team.

“My grandpa was always someone I looked up to,” said Taz Smith-Windsor, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 170 pounds. “I just kind of got into it because of him, and never really looked back from there.”

Taz Smith-Windsor drops into pass coverage as a defensive back.

Smith-Windsor first started playing flag football around age seven and took up tackle football around age nine. While he played and enjoyed other sports like basketball and golf, football was always his number one sporting love.

“It is the ultimate team game,” said Smith-Windsor. “There is no other game that depends on reliance on your teammates as much as this one, and you just get so close with the guys you are playing with no matter what team it is.

“I think it is like one of the best character building sport there is.”

Smith-Windsor’s skills with the game progressed to the point that he joined Carlton’s senior team sooner than he thought he would.

“I started in Grade 9 in 2019,” said Smith-Windsor. “I wasn’t expecting to.

“I was expecting to play my last year of KFL like minor with the (Prince Albert) River Riders. I signed up for the Carlton high school camp and that is where I met coach Lindsay Strachan. I made it through the week, and he said that he would really like me to play high school on the senior team.

“I took the opportunity, and I am super grateful that he gave it to me, because it was definitely the right decision to make.”

Smith-Windsor said playing alongside Sullivan for the past two seasons have been the most fun he has ever had in the sport. He enjoyed Carlton’s playoff run this past campaign.

In a SSSAD 6A quarter-final played at SMF Field on October 20, Carlton downed the Walter Murray Collegiate Marauders 20-15. The semifinal that followed against Holy Cross was up in the air until Holy Cross sealed the contest with a late fourth quarter touchdown that came off a big play score.

“Playoff football is always that much more fun, because it is that much more intense like win or go home,” said Smith-Windsor. “The level of competition is just super high.

“It is super fun. You get really close with these guys in those last two weeks. It is exciting.

Taz Smith-Windsor breaks past a defender in the open field.

“The last two games we played were the two closest games we’ve played in the entire season. It is nice to play those games.”

Following his Grade 9 season, Smith-Windsor started to think that playing football at the post-secondary level was a reality. The Huskies were a team he had his heart set on playing for one day as he grew up.

“I knew I wanted to play football for as long as I could,” said Smith-Windsor. “I didn’t know where that was going to happen.

“It started to kind of become a reality to play university football in Grade 10, and then it became my goal. My dream was to play for the Huskies. They were always my number one team that I wanted to play for, so I’m super stoked to be part of the team now.”

Huskies head coach Scott Flory said he liked what Smith-Windsor showed on the field and believes the youngster has good character.

“Taz is a really smart and athletic football player that has a lot of talent,” said Flory. “He is just a really good young man who has so much potential.

“I’m excited to see him in a Huskie uniform next year.”

Flory said the coaches and staffers with the Huskies were pumped to have Smith-Windsor join the program.

“It means a lot to us and our program that the best young men in our province want to be a part of what we’re doing,” said Flory. “We strive for excellence on and off the field, and I know Taz does too.

“He’s a great fit for us in our program.”

Smith-Windsor said he would like to play football at the professional level one day, but those thoughts are in the back of his head. He wants to embrace the experience he is going to have with the Huskies.

The Huskies have enjoyed success in recent years winning Canada West Conference titles in 2018 and 2021 and appearing in the U Sports championship game – the Vanier Cup – in 2021. The Huskies dropped a 27-21 decision in the 2021 Vanier Cup to the University of Western Ontario Mustangs in Quebec City, Quebec.

Taz Smith-Windsor is pumped to play for the Huskies in 2023.

On Saturday, November 12, the Huskies (8-1) host the Canada West title game – the Hardy Cup – at 1 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (5-4).

Smith-Windsor said the Huskies recent success was a bonus when it came on his decision to join that team.

“Their recent success is obviously a big plus,” said Smith-Windsor. “They have a great group of guys this year.

“Even last year, you saw they were super successful. I want to play for a competitive football team, and these guys are them. If you go watch their practices, they are a team that is going to win a championship, and I want to be part of it.”