Getting the off-ice edge

PSI program aims to help elite players reach their goals

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Kevin Korchinski lifts weights at a PSI training session.

The “who is who” of hockey players seemingly in Saskatoon and area are on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

If you pass through the second floor of the Indoor Training Centre at the Complex at the right time mainly in the morning hours between Monday to Thursday in the spring and summer months, you will encounter athletes hard at work taking part in the off-ice programs overseen by PSI Hockey Training. Some of the players who are putting in the strength and conditioning work to prepare for their upcoming seasons include NHLers Kevin Korchinski and Connor Zary.

Also taking part in PSI sessions are WHL players who have been either drafted or signed by NHL teams in Berkly Catton, Noah Chadwick, Riley Heidt, Caden Price, Tarin Smith and Brayden Yager.

The PSI Hockey Training program came into existence about two years ago when Pro Sport Rehab and Fitness partnered with Ignite Athletics due to the fact both have a lot of commonalities when it comes to training players. 

Ignite Athletics is based on the second floor of the Indoor Training Centre. The PSI program is overseen by Blaine Whyte, who is a founder of Pro Sport Rehab and Fitness and the strength and conditioning coach of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, and Josh Saulnier, who is a co-owner and strength and conditioning coach with Ignite Athletics.

It is run out of the Indoor Training Centre from about the middle of April through to about the end of August, and it is open to ringette players too. Saulnier said the joint venture between Pro Sport and Ignite has produced a great space for hockey players to get to the next level.

“I would say kind of like a big turning point for our program is when we partnered with Pro Sport,” said Saulnier. “We brought it together, and it’s all under one roof here.

Kevin Korchinski in action with the Thunderbirds in 2023.

“It’s making a big difference, because we have not only more athletes, but we have more coaches that are experienced and have knowledge in all of these training principles as well. It’s just a better atmosphere, a better vibe when you have a bigger group of WHL guys, and you’ve got the elite of the elite that are from Saskatoon. It just makes for a better training experience for all the athletes in the groups, but it is also more enjoyable for coaches.

“You’re dealing with athletes that they can see themselves getting to that next spot even if it’s a 16-year-old making a WHL team or a WHL player making it to the AHL. When you’re dealing with those kinds of athletes and you don’t have to really work hard to get a buy in from them, it just creates a really good atmosphere for training, for the coaches involved and for the athletes involved.”

The motivated and upbeat atmosphere was noticed by Korchinski, who rejoined the PSI sessions this summer after spending his rookie NHL season with the Chicago Blackhawks. Between playing with the Blackhawks and for three seasons with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds before making the NHL, Korchinski has played against a number of the players he trains with.

He also played with and against a number of those same players growing up in Saskatoon. Korchinski said training with PSI helps renew a built-in bond with all the athletes involved.

“It is kind of getting back with all your buddies,” said Korchinski. “It’s awesome.

Brayden Yager smiles during a PSI training session.

“Obviously, having guys that want to be here, want to get better, want to push each other and want the best for each other, that’s who you got to surround yourself with. Those are the people that you want to be hanging around with in the summer. Obviously, we push each other at the same time.

“We do have fun, and it’s never a job or never forcing yourself to have to come to the gym. You want to, and it’s fun. You get to spend time with your friends and push each other and kind of get most out of the day.”

PSI Hockey Training has sessions for players aged 15-and-under, 18-and-under, in junior, in college and professional, under-18 all-female and all-female college and junior. Sessions usually include anywhere between eight to 10 players.

“The program itself we just have a structure where we run sessions for two hours,” said Saulnier. “We have a kind of a bigger emphasis on a lot of the speed and power development.

“That takes up maybe 45 minutes to an hour. Then, we’ll obviously do some strength training in the weight room. We work on some mobility and recovery kind of strategies as well.”

Saulnier said the coaches in the PSI program will change things up for individual players who have a trimmed down off-season due to the fact they were playing on a team that went on a long playoff run. Players skating in a junior league like the WHL or professional circuits like the AHL or NHL could be playing post-season games in May or even into June.

Yager, who is a skilled centre, didn’t start taking part in PSI sessions until early June due to the fact he was playing this past season with the Moose Jaw Warriors. He played a key role in helping the Warriors win their first WHL championship and advance to the semifinal game of the Memorial Cup tournament, which crowns a CHL champion.

Brayden Yager enjoys a WHL title win this past May.

The Warriors hit the ice for the final time on May 31 at the DOW Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan, falling to the host Spirit, who would advance on to win the Memorial Cup championship game two days later.

Saulnier said a player who is relatively young like Yager at age 19 might not need as much time to recover and might be able jump into higher intensity training in a quick time frame. When it comes to a professional player that just finished playing the Stanley Cup final and is over the age of 30, there will be more time spent on recovery in that case.

“A lot of these guys if they’re going that far in the playoffs, especially in the NHL now with the season being so long, then that off-season part becomes a little bit trickier, because you don’t really want to push them super hard, obviously,” said Saulnier. “There is a time and a place after you’ve allowed their bodies to recover and kind of work on some postural issues or whatever that they’re dealing with.

“There are a lot of these guys that have nagging little injuries or whatever coming from the season too. It just depends on where they’re at, how they’re feeling and if they’re ready to go. Then, we can go a bit more.

“We don’t want to push them too hard right off the bat.”

Korchinski has enjoyed the fact he has gotten high-level off-ice training in the off-season at home in Saskatoon. He said the Indoor Training Centre has been a first-class place where players have been able to get their off-ice training in. He added the coaches with PSI Hockey Training have been outstanding.

Connor Zary takes part in a PSI training session.

The skilled offensive-defenceman said the training he received with the PSI program played a big part in helping him make the Blackhawks last season as a 19-year-old rookie.

Korchinski was also dealing with a compressed off-season in 2023 leading up to making the Blackhawks after playing with the Thunderbirds when they won the WHL championship and appeared in the Memorial Cup.

“Obviously, you’re just getting your body ready and making sure it’s in the best shape it can be in,” said Korchinski, who turned 20-years-old in June. “It’s huge that once camp hits you feel in shape.

“You feel like you can go to fitness testing and do well, do your best, push yourself and just on the ice feel good, feel confident. At the end of the day, that’s what is most important is feeling confident on the ice. Being able to put in the work now and knowing that you had a good summer training and didn’t kind of waste the days heading into camp, it’s huge.”

Saulnier said experience plays a part when it came to developing the PSI program. He has now trained hockey players through about 10 to 12 off-seasons, and Whyte has been training hockey players for over 30 years. Saulnier said the staff with the PSI program has a pretty good pulse regarding what works and what doesn’t.

Overall, Saulnier said the most rewarding aspect of working with the players is getting to know them and seeing where their life journeys take them in and outside the game.

“They’re all motivated young kids that are excited about what they’re doing,” said Saulnier. “All the kids that I deal with all have great attitudes.

Riley Heidt does pull-ups at a PSI training session.

“They’re all positive. They all work hard. Getting to know them and getting to see them move forward with their hockey careers, but then also seeing what they end up doing after hockey if hockey doesn’t end up being the thing for them, I think that’s rewarding too.

“Getting to see these young men grow up a little bit in the program, I would say that’s probably the most rewarding thing.”

For more information about PSI Hockey Training, check out its page on the Ignite Athletics website at igniteathletics.com/psi-hockey-training. All photos of players training at Ignite Athletics come courtesy Matt Johnson and Ignite Athletics.

Nationals thrills and other fun packs photo roundup

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

The Fusion begin to celebrate a Canadian title on August 4.

Saskatoon’s softball community knocks it out of the park when it comes to hosting Softball Canada nationals, and the players seemingly deliver every time with stellar performances on the field.

Those two traditions carried on from this past July 31 to August 4 as the diamonds on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds hosted of Softball Canada’s Under-19 Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament. The tournament was outstanding, and it wrapped up with the Fraser Valley Fusion downing the Aurora Diggers 4-1 in the championship game on August 4 at Bob Van Impe Stadium.

The lead picture of our photo roundup comes from that title game and shows the Fusion players starting to celebrate after realizing a championship victory. 

Cadence Colborn drives a hit for the Prairie Dog Selects on August 3.

Most of the players on the Fusion were also members of their team that won Softball Canada’s Under-17 Girls’ Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament in August of last year on our grounds.

The host squad and Saskatchewan provincial champion Saskatoon Prairie Dog Selects had a good showing at the Under-19 Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament posting a 5-3 overall record. They were eliminated in the playoff round with a 7-5 loss to the Diggers and a 6-4 setback against the Fusion.

Prairie Dog Selects infielder Cadence Colborn, who mainly played first base, was named a tournament all-star. At the plate, Colborn posted a .474 batting average and nailed three home runs. The second picture of our photo roundup sees Colborn driving the ball deep in her team’s tournament ending loss to the Fusion on July 3 at Joe Gallagher Field.

The Fusion receive a Softball Canada championship trophy on August 4.

The Under-19 Women’s Canadians provided ample material for the photo roundup. The third photo shows the Fusion captains pictured with the tournament’s championship trophy after receiving it from Softball Canada director Jackie Dugger, who is on the right.

Along with images from the Under-19 Women’s Canadians, August’s photo roundup checks in with pictures 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.

Muggli will always be remembered

The Saskatoon Cubs held a tribute night to honour the memory of Heath Muggli on July 12 at Cairns Field against the East Central Red Sox, who are from Muggli’s hometown of Muenster. Muggli served the baseball community in numerous roles including umpire and broadcaster. As part of the festivities, the Cubs raised funds for the St. Paul’s Hospital Urology Centre. In this photo from that night, the Cubs captains presented Muggli’s family with a team jersey signed by all the members of their squad.

Prairie Dog Selects crowned provincial champs

The Saskatoon Prairie Dog Selects pose for the customary team picture after winning Softball Saskatchewan’s U19 A Women’s Provincial Championship on July 14 at Joe Gallagher Field. The Prairie Dog Selects downed the Moose Jaw Ice 11-4 in the championship contest.

Synergy sits at the top

The Saskatoon Synergy pose for the customary team photo after winning Softball Saskatchewan’s Women’s A Provincial Championship at Bob Van Impe Stadium on July 21. They downed the Carnduff Southeast Steelers 6-5 in a thrilling contest.

Eye on the ball

A Saskatoon Giants catcher tracks the ball into his glove during a Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League Under-18 AAA game on July 21 at Leakos Field. The Giants dropped a 10-0 decision to the Saskatoon Cubs in the final regular season game for both sides. The Giants rebounded from this setback and would win the circuit’s provincial title just seven days later in Regina.

All-out effort

After scrambling in the backfield, a BGees quarterback lets a pass fly down the field while on the run during Saskatoon Touch Football League action on July 23 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The BGees downed the Blitz in this outing 16-6.

Escape denied

A receiver from the Deadly Aunties squad was unable to evade a defender from the Honey Badgers during a Saskatoon Adult Flag Football League contest on July 24 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Honey Badgers took this game 26-8.

Jacks become provincial champs

The Saskatoon Jacks pose for the customary team photo after winning Softball Saskatchewan’s Men’s A Provincial Championship at Joe Gallagher Field on July 28. They downed the Bruno Merchants 7-0 in the title game.

Berries pack the park

Another big crowd turned out for the Saskatoon Berries 5-2 regular season victory over the Okotoks Dawgs on July 28 at Cairns Field. The Berries have been averaging around 1,900 fans per game during their inaugural WCBL campaign. Pictured here are the stands that run down the first base line for the July 28 victory, which saw 2,035 spectators turn out for a sunny Sunday afternoon encounter.

A Berry bash

Saskatoon Berries hitter Bailyn Sorensen drives a ball into the outfield during his team’s game on July 28 at Cairns Field. The Berries downed the traditional WCBL powerhouse Okotoks Dawgs on this day 5-2.

Trapped

The Saskatoon Wolverine Selects catch a White Rock Renegades base runner in a run down during a game at Softball Canada’s Under-19 Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament on August 2 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Selects would ultimately get the base runner out, but fell 13-4 to strong squad from British Columbia.

Rallying for the hosts

The Saskatoon Prairie Dog Selects packed the fans into Joe Gallagher Field for a night playoff round game on August 3 at Joe Gallagher Field. The Selects faced the Fraser Valley Fusion in a winner moves on and loser is eliminated contest. In a stellar encounter, the Fusion prevailed 6-4 and would ultimately move on to win the tournament.

Reimer remains a gem

Fraser Valley Fusion pitcher Morgan Reimer continued to show why she is one of the best players in her age group in Canada. On August 4 at Bob Van Impe Stadium, Reimer was named the Top Player of the playoff portion of Softball Canada’s Under-19 Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament. She was presented with the Top Player honour following her squad’s 4-1 victory in the event’s championship game. Reimer is pictured here firing a pitch to home during that title contest.

Fusion go the distance for national title

The Fraser Valley Fusion pose for the customary team photo after winning the title game of Softball Canada’s Under-19 Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament on August 4 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Fusion posted a 10-2 overall record in capturing a national title, which included winning six straight single-elimination playoff contests.

Beauty moment for Beatty

Following the conclusion of Softball Canada’s Under-19 Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournament on August 4 at Bob Van Impe Stadium, Softball Canada presented Lawrence Beatty, right, with a gift for Saskatoon being an outstanding host. Softball Canada director Jackie Dugger made the presentation to Beatty for the national sports body. Beatty has held various roles with the sport of softball in Saskatoon.

Post-game rally

The Saskatoon Berries huddle up after falling 3-0 to the Medicine Hat Mavericks in Game 2 of a WCBL East Division semifinal series on August 8 at Cairns Field. The Berries loss evened the best-of-three series at 1-1. The Berries were aiming to regroup before heading on the road to play a series-deciding Game 3 the next day in Medicine Hat.

Forrest gets past surprise medical issues to play final Cubs season

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Ethan Forrest sets to throw a pitch for the Cubs.

Ethan Forrest wants to create one last set of good memories in his final season with the Saskatoon Cubs, but he never foresaw the campaign taking an unexpected turn before it began.

As the 17-year-old second baseman and relief pitcher was training at Inside Pitch Saskatoon over the winter months, he started to notice what he believed was regular pain in his right throwing arm. At first, Forrest thought it was something that was going to go away.

The pain never went away. At a Cubs practice shortly before the under-18 AAA baseball club began playing exhibition games, Forrest asked the team’s coaches about the pain he was experiencing and a pattern that had developed on his arm. The coaches told their veteran player to see a doctor.

“It got really bad in kind of my armpit area, kind of the lat area, and that is when I knew it wasn’t any normal pain,” said Forrest. “I could hardly lift my arm.

“That is when we went into the hospital, and then I was diagnosed with a blood clot. A couple of weeks later, it was removed, but they found I had thoracic outlet syndrome. It is usually a pitcher syndrome.

“Max Scherzer in the MLB is just suffering from it right now. He is just getting off rehab for it. It is just kind of where you get a little bit of kind of build up of scar tissue from overuse and right under your clavicle bone there in your neck, and then it pinches off and kind of just forms a clot or you’ll have nerve damage.”

Scherzer, who is an ace right-handed pitcher who helped the Texas Rangers win the World Series last year, started his MLB season with a lengthy stay on the injured list with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome in his throwing arm. He saw his first action with the Rangers on June 23.

When Forrest first got his diagnosis, he thought he might miss the Cubs season.

Ethan Forrest was diagnosed with a blood clot.

“When they told me I had a blood clot, it is a pretty scary thing,” said Forrest, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 170 pounds. “The pain went away really quickly with the blood thinners, and I was playing almost a week later in pre-season.

“I didn’t know if it was going to be months or a few days. I was scared to miss the season for sure.”

Forrest has been thankful that everything that has been done to treat his blood clot and manage his thoracic outlet syndrome has worked. It allowed him to return to action with the Cubs in quick order.

Having just graduated Grade 12 from Holy Cross High School, Forrest has committed to joining the Miles Community College Pioneers Baseball Team in Miles City, Montana. He will play second base and third base for the Pioneers, who are part of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II ranks.

At the moment, Forrest is still taking blood thinners every day, and that has allowed him to play for the Cubs. He is considering options to further deal with his thoracic outlet syndrome after the Cubs season comes to an end.

“I just kind of have to be careful now,” said Forrest, who will turn 18-years-old on July 29. “Now, I play and lift weights with no pain anymore.

“The next step we are doing is just deciding with surgery and stuff before I head to college and what that is going to look like. We have to decide if we’re going to go with surgery now or not. We don’t really know yet.”

Once Forrest’s medical diagnosis was clear, Cubs co-head coach Jordan Frey said the team’s focus was to help the veteran standout get healed up.

“Obviously, it wasn’t something we wanted to deal with or foresaw coming, but it was something we did have to deal with,” said Frey. “We talked with him lots and wanted to make sure that he had our support as a coaching staff and as a team.

Ethan Forrest is dealing with thoracic outlet syndrome.

“Whatever decision he wanted to go down whether it was getting surgery or not being able to finish the rest of the year, we supported that decision. His health came first and foremost. Just to see him back on the field just shows how much he cares about the game and wants to be on our team and be a leader.”

Frey said the Cubs coaches weren’t worried if Forrest had to miss a few games or a lengthy amount of time to possibly the whole season. The team’s coaches were pumped, when Forrest made a quick return.

With that noted, Forrest’s workload on the pitching mound has been managed as he comes back from his medical challenges. When Forrest has come in to play relief, the Cubs coaches at first tried to limit him to an inning or two.

On June 30 at Cairns Field, the Cubs brain trust allowed Forrest to go a little longer. Forrest pitched an efficient three scoreless innings with one strikeout leaving the mound with the Cubs holding a 4-1 lead over the Saskatoon Diamondbacks after six innings. The Diamondbacks rallied scoring four runs in the top of the seventh to pull out a 5-4 victory after Forrest left the game.

Frey said the Cubs coaches were pretty inspired to get the superb three innings from Forrest.

“We know what we are getting with him on the mound,” said Frey. “He is going to be consistent.

“He is going to throw strikes. Thirty-three pitches in three innings is nothing we’re ever going to complain about. It is just one of those things we have to get him ramped back up again to a higher pitch count.”

Forrest has been a regular when it comes to playing second base, and Frey said his graduating veteran has been outstanding at that position.

Ethan Forrest has played regularly for the Cubs this season.

“Infielding wasn’t something he needed to take a step back on,” said Frey. “The throwing part he did a little bit.

“Obviously playing second base, it helps with a little bit of a shorter throw. Just being able to have him out there and being a third-year kid, it helps our team. You can see when he is in the lineup.

“The boys absolutely love having him around. Even when he was hurt, he was just on the bench trying to help out anyway he could.”

On offence, Forrest has gone 19-for-67 at the plate for a .284 average with 16 runs batted in as the Cubs have built a 18-8 record to battle for first place in the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League. Looking at everything he has dealt with, Forrest is pleased with his season so far.

“I feel like it is going pretty good,” said Forrest. “We’re first in the league team wise, and we’re all having a good time this year.

“The team is performing really well. Personally, I think I am having a decent year. I always have stuff to improve on obviously on the offensive side.

“I’m happy with how my pitching is going right now for sure. It has been a fun year overall for sure.”

In 2022, Forrest took part in as many Cubs practices as he could as an affiliate player. He played that campaign full time with the Saskatoon Cardinal Sluggers Under-18 AA team, and he was around Cubs when they won their Saskatchewan title in that campaign.

He moved up to the Cubs on a full-time basis in 2023 as they had another stellar year but were unable to make it to the provincial final. Forrest believes the Cubs have all the pieces to win another provincial title and qualify for nationals, or make the provincial final and earn a spot to Westerns.

Ethan Forrest believes his Cubs can win a provincial title.

Forrest said a lot of the best memories he has have been made with the Cubs. Due to the challenges he has faced on the medical front this season, Forrest believes he is cherishing his final campaign with the team in a good new way, because he hasn’t had to spend large portions of the season out of the lineup.

“As a third year especially, it is my last kind of summer season here in Saskatoon,” said Forrest. “It is going to be tough one.

“With the clot as well, I’m fortunate enough to be healthy right now and playing with no pain. Definitely, I am very appreciative to be playing right now.”

Softball Super Series leads outdoor photo roundup fun

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Luchi Bondi (#34) jets to home for the Chiefs.

Softball has a storied history in Saskatoon, so it was only fitting Bob Van Impe Stadium played host to the Super 8 Men’s International Softball Super Series.

The Super Series was a six-team tournament that include the Saskatoon Angels, Saskatoon Jacks, Softball Canada’s National Men’s Team, New York Gremlins, New Zealand Black Sox and Hill United Chiefs from Brantford, Ont. It ran from July 4 to 7 at BVI and was warmly received by the sizable number of spectators that turned out.

In the championship final played on the afternoon on July 7, the Chiefs downed the Black Sox 7-1 after getting off to a rocket start scoring four runs in the top of the first on a grand slam by Lenny Villalvazo. 

Devon McCullough sets to fire a pitch to home plate for the Angels.

Chiefs pitcher Marco Diaz went the distance in the pitching circle striking out 10 batters.

With that tournament going on, it only made sense that the lead items for this latest Howe Happenings photo roundup came from this event.

Our lead photo sees Chiefs utility player Luchi Bondi being waved home to score a run in the final inning of the championship contest. Both the Chiefs and the Black Sox finished the event with 5-1 overall records with the Black Sox having prevailed over the Chiefs earlier in the tournament.

The second photo of the roundup sees Angels pitcher Devon McCullough in the action of delivering a pitch in the tournament’s opening game on July 4 against the Jacks. McCullough, who has thrown his share of memorable contests at BVI, showed he is still at the top of his game as the Angels blanked the Jacks 4-0 after eight innings.

Cole Evans fires a throw to first base for an out for the Black Sox.

The third photo is also from the championship game, and it shows Black Sox shortstop Cole Evans making a big defensive throw for an out at first. Throughout the Super Series, the Black Sox played incredible infield defence.

Along with images from the Super Series, July’s photo roundup is packed with pictures 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 13 shots we hope you enjoy.

Heading to the Hall of Fame

On the right, members of the Lee Morrison Curling Rink from 2009 that won the Canadian masters 60 and older national championship shake hands with other members of the announced 2024 class to enter the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame. The announcement press conference to reveal the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame’s latest class was held on June 13 at the main hall in the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building. The official induction dinner for the Hall of Fame class will be held November 2 at Prairieland Park.

Perfectly placed drive

A hitter from a Twin City Angels team nails a smart drive into the outfield at Glenn Reeve Field #5 during a game at the Murphy’s U11 Softball Super Series Tournament on June 15. The Murphy’s tourney allowed young players to gain confidence making plays.

Off to the races

Saskatoon Valkyries star receiver Haley Girolami jets to the end zone making a 14-yard touchdown catch early in the second quarter of a WWCFL semifinal contest held on June 16 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Girolami caught seven passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns as the Valkyries downed the Manitoba Fearless 48-14.

Final Valkyries home cheer for 2024

The Saskatoon Valkyries do a post-game cheer on June 16 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field after downing the Manitoba Fearless 48-14 in a WWCFL semifinal contest. That win would be the last home outing for the Valkyries in the 2024 campaign. The Valkyries traveled to Regina on June 23 and beat the host Riot 36-21 in the WWCFL Championship Game.

“Air Lumeka”

Clovis Lumeka fires a perfect Warren Moon type pass during Saskatoon Adult Flag Football League action on June 19 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Lumeka was once a star defensive back with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team having played his final season of eligibility in 2021. On this day, he showed off his offensive skill.

Alert throw

Saskatoon Diamondbacks catcher Carter Simms got to take part in a rare double-play in Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League Under-18 AAA action against the Saskatoon Cubs on June 30 at Cairns Field. With the bases loaded, a Cubs hitter hit a grounder to the Diamondbacks pitcher. Simms received a throw back to the plate from the pitcher to get the out at home. This picture shows Simms making a throw to first to get the second out of the double-play.

How low can you go?

One of the fans at Cairns Field for the Saskatoon Berries WCBL doubleheader on July 1 got to take part in a limbo contest during the club’s second game of the day. The promo contest was part of the fun of Berries games on Canada Day.

Team Canada group gathering

Players and coaches from Softball Canada’s Men’s National Team gather outside the team’s dugout after giving up four runs in the top of the seventh inning to the New Zealand Black Sox during play at the Super 8 Men’s International Softball Super Series on July 5 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. After the team chat, Team Canada wasn’t able to pull off a rally in the bottom of the seventh falling 7-3 in the round robin contest.

Superb toss from short

Saskatoon Berries shortstop Bryce Campbell slings the ball to first base for an out during a WCBL game against the Weyburn Beavers on July 6 at Cairns Field. Thanks to some strong defence the Berries pulled out a 6-3 victory on this night.

Plate block

United Hill Chiefs catcher Josh McGovern makes a plate block on a rare slightly off pitch during the championship game of the Super 8 Men’s International Softball Super Series on July 7 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Chiefs would down the New Zealand Black Sox 7-1 in the title game.

Black Sox pose for farewell photo

The New Zealand Black Sox pose with the runner-up trophy after falling in the final of the Super 8 Men’s International Softball Super Series on July 7 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Black Sox were fan favourites during the four days the tournament ran.

Chiefs on top of the hill

The United Hill Chiefs pose with the championship trophy after winning the final of the Super 8 Men’s International Softball Super Series on July 7 at Bob Van Impe Stadium. The Chiefs played at an elite level in all six of their tournament games.

Championship finish for Lasers

The Saskatoon Lasers pose for the traditional team picture after they won Softball Saskatchewan’s Under-11 A Girls’ North Provincials. They downed the Prince Albert Aces 10-5 in the championship final to take the title on July 7 at Joe Gallagher Field.

Gieni’s happy place is track and field track

Masters athlete has set Canadian records at least 60 times

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Muriel Gieni is an all-time great masters athlete in track and field.

Muriel Gieni discovered a whole new life when she followed her son into a sport.

About 23 years ago, Gieni’s son, Morgan, joined the Riversdale Athletics Club. At first, Gieni would drive Morgan to practice and watch him take part in the sport.

One day, Morgan’s coach, Doug Boyd, invited the parents to come out and take part in training. That led to Gieni at the time in her early 40s becoming a regular participant in practice sessions and eventually to taking part in masters athletics competitions.

In over two decades, Gieni is now 66-years-old and still going strong in the sport. Over her career, she has traveled all over and broken Canadian masters records in track and field on at least 60 occasions.

That included earning 3,852 points in the pentathlon at the Alberta Indoor Games on Edmonton this past February 4. Gieni’s point total set a new Canadian masters women’s indoor record for those aged 65 to 69.

“Your life has a journey, and you are rolling along here,” said Gieni. “What I learned is find what you love to do and do it.

“The second I walk on to a track I’m in my happy place. This is where I belong. This is where I should be.”

Before joining the Riversdale Athletics Club, Gieri had an athletic background. She grew up in a small town and in high school she took part in basketball, volleyball, badminton and track and field. Like small town athletes in the current day, Gieri moved from one sport to another as the year went along.

She remembers back then taking a liking to track and field.

“Our track season was four or five weeks long whatever it was,” said Gieni, who stands 5-foot-6. “I loved it.

“I loved track and field. It just was very limited to the time. I didn’t really get proper counselling to further my pursuit in track and field.

Muriel Gieni has set a number of records in triple jump.

“I was married with children for 20 years after that and then joined track again.”

Following high school, Gieni played volleyball in her post-secondary years as a student. After her post-secondary school was complete, Gieni continued to stay in shape doing workouts in the gym.

Upon getting back into track and field with the Riversdale Athletics Club, Gieni felt a new motivation in her pursuit to stay fit forming friendships with the athletes at the club. She enjoyed the youthful energy of the young members who were in junior high school or high school.

At first, Gieni saw herself being in the background as the person that was working to stay in shape and offer words of encouragement to the young athletes in the club. To her surprise, she received coaching, and she loved it.

“Right away, every single coach I’ve ever had has treated me like an athlete, and they talk to me like they would anybody in the group coaching specific technique, coaching specific to me what I need to do,” said Gieni. “It has been, ‘OK. I’ll ride this wave.’”

Gieni said the coaching she has received over the years from the Riversdale Athletic Club and the track and field community as a whole in Saskatoon has been outstanding. She added the track and field coaches in Saskatoon genuinely want to see the athletes they work with do well.

As for track events themselves, Gieni’s favourite is hurdles. Her main disciplines are hurdles, triple jump and long jump. Over the years, Gieni has picked up shot put, high jump, the 200-metre race, 800-metre race and javelin in order compete in pentathlons and heptathlons.

The pentathlon in masters women’s competitions includes 60-metre hurdles, 800-metre race, high jump, long jump and shot put. The heptathlon for masters women’s competitions is made up of the 80-metre hurdles, 200-metre race, 800-metre race, high jump, long jump, shot put and javelin.

When Gieni picked up new track disciplines over the years, she usually encounters a local coach who is an expert in that discipline, and the instruction she receives helps her performance immensely.

“I’ve always believed a champion is made by the athlete who buys into the coach,” said Gieni. “If you can coordinate that where your believing what he or she is saying you have magic.

Muriel Gieni takes part in Saskatchewan provincial in July of 2023.

“Sometimes I have a regular coach say just in high jump or some other coach and it could be from another club. It could be a senior coach that has come back to visit. I’ll just hear one thing, and I’ll say, ‘OK,’ because you hear it different. Then that works.”

As a bonus, the Canadian records started to come. Gieni’s first Canadian record was set in Calgary in the women’s 80-metre hurdles at age 45 in the 45-49 masters age class.

“I was absolutely over the moon, because it means I’m the first Canadian woman at this age that has ever run this fast,” said Gieni, who also sometimes has to chuckle when she sets a record. “Then I got into jumping, and I found out I could set Canadian records in the triple jump and long jump.

“I’ve been very successful in shotput as well. I’ve been very successful in high jump lately for some reason in my 60s. I’ve over 65.

“I’m jumping higher than I ever did in my 40s. What’s with that? The things that coaches challenge me with then I ask my body to try it, and I have actually no idea where this is going to go but sometimes it has been extremely successful and kind of laughable.”

Over the years, Gieni has cherished the friendships she has made through track and field. Last year, she did regular training sessions in the morning with the elite group on the Track and Field Track on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds that includes Michelle Harrison, Nicole Ostertag, Savannah Sutherland and Madisson Lawrence.

For one morning session last year, Gieni brought a camera to get photos of herself going through her events. She decided to get a photo of herself together with Harrison, Ostertag, Sutherland and Lawrence for a keepsake.

“My relationship with the other athletes is just the joy I carry around with me,” said Gieni. “I’m taking a picture, because this is who I am out here training with.

“They like me, but I like them way more. I love these kids. They treat me really, really well.”

Muriel Gieni picked up shot put to enter pentathlons and heptathlons.

With the track and field track being her happy place, Gieni plans to competing in the sport for as long as possible. Due to the fact masters records are classified via five year age groups, Gieni has a new set of records to go after the older she gets. At the moment, she his just at the beginning of going after the records in the women’s 65-69 age group.

While she enjoys pursuing Canadian records, Gieni stays in track and field, because she flat out loves it.

“It is absolutely my thing,” said Gieni.“I don’t do it to inspire others, but I do it to charge myself up, and my family loves it.

“They get a big kick out of it. It brings happiness all around. Fitness brings happiness. You got this where you are feeling good everyday.”