The season has unfortunately come to an end for the Huskies football team. The University of Calgary Dinos spoiled the Huskies’ 2019 season, avenging their heartbreaking loss last season to the Huskies in the conference championship.

The defensive Dinos effort proved to be too much for Saskatchewan to handle in the 2019 Hardy Cup. Calgary held the Huskies to their lowest point total in a single game since 2012, handily defeating them 29-4.

However, Huskies fans should not worry too much about the future of this team. Starting quarterback Mason Nyhus is expected to return next season for his fourth year of eligibility. 

Nyhus will have star running back Adam Machart back with him next season for his fourth year as well. Machart led the entire country in rushing yards by game with an astounding 39.3-yard margin. He accumulated 1330 rushing yards on the season, finishing 12th on the all-time U Sports single-season rushing list. 

The offensive line of big bodies who pave the lane for Machart will look a bit different next season. Fifth-years Andrew Serke and Tanner Secord have played their last game as a Huskie, a significant loss for the team considering Machart’s praise of their performance throughout this season.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Huskies will be without Canadian Football League draftee Evan Machibroda for next season as his U Sports eligibility has expired. Additionally, linebackers Eric Thakurdeen and Ben Whiting, along with defensive back Payton Hall, have also seen their playing eligibility expire.

Basketball

For Huskies basketball, the men’s team is fresh out of the reading week break with a perfect 4-0 record. That is their best start to a season since 2013-14. 

Head coach Barry Rawlyk is getting some solid contributions from his top four scorers, each averaging at least 10 points per game. JT Robinson leads the team with 20.6 points per game.

Although Saskatchewan is undefeated, they stand at third place in the conference with the two teams ahead of them having played more games. The Huskies are back in action on Nov. 22 and 23, hosting the provincial rival University of Regina Cougars.

On the women’s side of Huskies basketball, head coach Lisa Thomaidis also has her team in tip-top shape at 4-0. 

Six Huskies players are averaging at least eight points per game, led by Sabine Dukate’s 17 points per game. Dukate has been very successful from three-point range, shooting 52.8 per cent on 36 attempts thus far.

Just like the men’s team, the women’s will host the Regina Cougars on Nov. 22 and 23 at the Physical Activity Complex. 

Hockey

Huskies men’s hockey earned their sixth and seventh win of the season after their weekend sweep at home against the University of Manitoba Bisons. These Huskies have now won four games in a row and eight of their last nine. 

Saskatchewan sits in third place after a rocky start to the season that saw them losing their first four games.

Women’s hockey is now tied for third place in the Canada West with a 6-6 record after their road trip to Manitoba. 

In game one against the Bisons, Jessica Vance recorded her 17th career shutout, which is third all-time in Canada West history. With a full season of playing eligibility left after this season, Vance has a chance to climb even further in the historical ranks.

On tap for both hockey teams is a home-and-home series with the University of Regina Cougars. The women will host Regina on Nov. 22 while the men will host the Cougars on Nov. 23.

Volleyball

Huskies men’s volleyball is 5-3 after their weekend series with the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat. They are now tied for fourth with two other teams.

For women’s volleyball, they are in great shape at 6-2 following their weekend split on the road at UBC’s Okanagan campus. Saskatchewan sits in fourth place in a jam-packed conference. 

Both men’s and women’s volleyball will be back on the road on Nov. 22 and 23 to take on the Trinity Western University Spartans. Historically, the Huskies have not had much success against the prestigious TWU volleyball program. 

The Spartans have won 31 of their last 43 matchups against the men’s Huskies team, and 26 out of the last 36 against the women’s Huskies team. 

Cross Country

Lastly, the Huskies cross country team captured their best team finish since 2011. The team finished second inside the Canada West conference. 

First-year runner Kaitlyn Harrison earned a 13th place finish in the country. Harrison was rewarded with a second­-team all-Canadian honour.

Head coach Jason Reindl set a team goal of a top 10 finish in the country and they accomplished that, finishing seventh among all of the U Sports teams.

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Tanner Michalenko/Sports & Health Editor

Photos: Yasmine El-Gayed, GetMyPhoto.ca/Huskie Athletics