Hardy Cup Game Day Preview: Huskies vs Thunderbirds
Photo courtesy of Huskie Athletics
Time to defend the crown. The Huskies go for back-to-back Hardy Cup titles on home turf this weekend against the UBC Thunderbirds. It's the fourth straight season in which the Dogs are appearing in the conference championship game and the second year in a row that the contest is being played at Griffiths Stadium.
The Huskies are coming off a snowy semifinal win over the Manitoba Bisons and the elements could play a factor again on Saturday. They may even provide an extra bit of homefield advantage for the prairie squad against their west coast opponents. However the Tbirds have already proven they're capable of winning a road playoff game in Saskatchewan after knocking off the Regina Rams last weekend to book their spot in the final.
UBC is the only team to defeat the Huskies this year, notching a 35-29 victory in Vancouver on October 22. USask won the first meeting of the season, 29-10 at Griffiths back in Week 2, and now the teams square off in a rubber match for all the Canada West marbles.
Kick off is scheduled for 1 p.m. on November 12. Watch on SaskTel channels 49/349, Telus Optik channels 997/998 (Alberta & BC), stream on CanadaWest.tv or listen on the HuskieFAN app.
Head-to-head:
- All-time vs. UBC: Saskatchewan is 64-34
- Huskies 2022 record vs UBC: 1-1
- Last meeting: 35-29 Tbirds win on October 22, 2022 at Thunderbird Stadium
- Last playoff meeting: 39-17 Huskies win in Hardy Cup semifinal on November 13, 2021 at Griffiths Stadium
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Nyhus, Warrack, Frank claim Can West awards
Photo Courtesy of Huskie Athletics
The Canada West announced its major award winners this week and to no one's surprise, Huskies quarterback Mason Nyhus claimed the marquee honour. The fifth-year pivot was named the conference's Player of the Year after a stellar campaign in which he set a new program record with 2759 passing yards, the fifth-highest total in Canada West history. Nyhus also threw 18 touchdown passes with just three interceptions over the course of the regular season. He'll now look to join Dave Pickett as just the second Huskie ever to win the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in the nation.
Helping to protect the Huskies QB all season long -- and doing a standout job of it -- offensive lineman Jack Warrack earned Canada West Rookie of the Year honours. The Strathmore, AB native made a seemingly seamless transition from high school at one of the most difficult positions to do so, starting every game this season. That's practically unheard of, especially in a program known for boasting a wealth of talent on the offensive line year in and year out. Warrack is the first Huskies offensive lineman to win the award since Jordan Arkko in 2011.
Rounding out this year's award winners is running back Ryker Frank, who was given the conference's Student-Athlete Community Service Award. On the field, the Regina product kept the Huskies run game from skipping a beat after a Week 1 injury to Josh Ewanchyna, with Frank producing more than 750 combined yards. The mechanical engineering student did so while maintaining a 90+ GPA and giving back to the community through a variety of volunteer roles.
Congratulations to all three award winners, and good luck as they move on as national award finalists!
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Memory Bank: Warren Muzika
All season long, we've been asking an assortment of veteran Huskie players and coaches to share some of their football memories. This week, we're catching up with defensive coordinator Warren Muzika.
Who was the first player you remember watching at any level?
I was a big Dave Albright fan. He was a big middle linebacker for the Roughriders. I had a Dave Albright Roughrider jersey back in the day, right before they won the Grey Cup in '89. Then I also had a Bobby Jurasin bandanna, of course.
What's the first game you can remember attending?
When I was about six or seven years old we lived in BC. My dad was originally from Saskatchewan and we went to watch the Riders play at Empire Stadium (in Vancouver). It was pouring rain and it was cold and wet, and I was kind of embarrassed because my dad kept cheering for the Roughriders and everyone else around us was of course a BC Lions fan. We're sitting in the rain, my dad cheering for the Riders and we weren't liked by a lot of people in the stands.
Which coach or coaches were especially influential to you?
I had lots of really good coaches growing up. At Walter Murray, I had a really good linebacker coach in Scott Farmer. He went on to be a principal in the Saskatoon public system. He was a former Hilltops player and he coached with the Hilltops for a few years but he was a really good coach in high school for sure. He was a tough, old school linebacker but he was fun, he had a lot of integrity and he was good that way. But he taught us some fun mental stuff like how to read guards, where back then a lot of kids would just kind of see ball, get ball. He actually taught us some ways to get to the ball in a more effective manner.
When you first joined the Huskies, who showed you the ropes?
I don't know if anybody really took me under their wing when I came over because I'd already played three years with the Hilltops but I definitely had some really good friends. Steve Cornish and a couple of other rookies, Trevor Ludtke and James Repesse. We were all rookies together and linebackers so we had a lot of fun together, and then Steve Cornish was the more veteran guy. He'd played a couple years but he was a super good guy to hang out with and showed us the ropes.
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Congratulations to Huskie alumni Dexter Janke, who was named Head Coach and Assistant General Manager of the Westshore Rebels this week!
The former running back, who went on to play in the CFL and compete with the national men's bobsled team, has held a variety of positions with the Rebels since joining the organization in 2020. Good luck in your new roles with the team, Coach Janke!
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Be a part of the Starting 24!
Starting 24 is simple. By giving a little bit, either monthly or yearly, together we can make a huge difference to give the Huskies the ability to compete each year for the Vanier Cup!
Reoccurring pledges are the best way for you to help us support the team!
- The Starting 24 is the primary fundraiser for the Huskie football team. There are 24 starting positions on a football team and they each need to execute their job and work together for the team to be successful. The Starting 24 is the same, it requires that we all chip in a little bit to build a successful program.
- Funds are used to solely benefit the team, either through scholarships or toward operations.
- All donations are eligible for a tax receipt from the University of Saskatchewan.
- Starting in September, anyone who signs up for the Starting 24 All-Canadian Level - a $24 per month donation - will also receive a complimentary Huskie football Yeti mug.
- All-Canadian Level members who are football alumni will also receive their name on the name plate above your former number in the Huskies locker room.
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