Catch up on everything going on and coming up around Huskie Athletics.

Football

The Huskies got off to a slow start to the eight-game season, with a 1-3 record in their first four games before going on a four-game winning streak to close out the season in second place with a 5-3 record. 

The Huskies advanced to face the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in the Canada West semifinals. The semifinal took place in Vancouver, where the Huskies stunned the Thunderbirds’ home crowd with a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback from a 13-point deficit, advancing the Huskies to the 87th Hardy Cup Final.

The 2024 Hardy Cup, hosted at Griffiths Stadium, was full of storylines. The Huskies faced provincial rival Regina Rams in the final for the first time in 22 years. The Rams were the first team in Canada West history to reach the final with a 3-5 record. Despite the Huskies’ best efforts, the Rams prevailed 19-14, becoming Canada West champions. The Huskies finished second in the conference.

Although the season didn’t end as the Huskies had hoped, there were many individual achievements to celebrate. Five players were named to the Canada West all-star team, including Daniel Wiebe, Seth Hundeby, Kody Gutek, Jack Warrack and Ryker Frank. 

Ryker Frank received both the Canada West Football Community Service Award and the Russ Jackson Student-Athlete Community Service Award, recognizing his work on a national level. Senior Advisor Jerry Friesen was honoured with the Gino Fracas Award, which recognizes the national Assistant Coach of the Year.

Men’s Soccer

Men’s Soccer finished sixth in the Canada West Prairie Division with a 3-10-1 record, failing to qualify for Canada West playoffs. Third-year midfielder Ethan Cabral led the team in points with four goals and was ranked fifth in Canada West for shots taken, with 38 in 14 games. With only one graduating senior, Mason Ogoke, the Huskies Men’s Soccer team is in a good position to start the 2025-2026 season.

Women’s Soccer

Women’s Soccer finished third in the Canada West Prairie Division with a 7-2-5 record, advancing them to the quarter-final round of Canada West playoffs in Victoria. The Huskies put up a good fight, but the Victoria Vikes, the eventual Canada West silver medalists, emerged victorious with a 1-0 win.

Third-year midfielder Nammi Nguyen and fourth-year forward Alyssa D’Agnone were both named Canada West second team all-stars, with D’Agnone finishing the season tied for third in the conference for goals scored, with 9 in 14 games. 

Fourth-year defender Anna Oliver won the Canada West Women’s Soccer Community Service Award and the USports Women’s Soccer Community Service Award, receiving recognition nationally for her work in the community. Oliver’s win marks the first time a Huskie Women’s Soccer athlete has won a major USport award.

Cross-Country 

The Cross-Country team had a strong showing this past season, culminating with the women finishing fourth in the conference and the men capturing third place at the 2024 Canada West Championships in Camrose, Alberta. The men’s bronze medal was historic as it represented the first time they had medalled in 22 years. Both teams went on to claim thirteenth place at the National Championships in Kelowna. 

The Huskies boasted four all-stars, with Kaitlyn Harrison’s impressive fourth-place finish at the Canada West Finals earning her a first-team all-star shout. Jenica Swartz, Alexander Webster, and Quincy Fast all received second-team all-star nods. The Huskies swept both the Men’s and Women’s Cross-Country Community Service Awards, with Kaiden Deck and Jaira Cross Child receiving the honours respectively.

Track and Field

Huskie Track and Field begins the road to the Canada West Championships with the PR First Chance Meet on November 30th at the Saskatoon Field House. The conference championships are being held close to home in Regina this year, and the dominant Huskie women’s team will look to repeat as champions for the seventh year in a row.

This team has many amazing athletes to watch, but keep your eye out for Michael Akintunde and Avery Pearson. Akintunde is the Huskie long jump all-time record holder and 2022-2023 USport long jump champion, and he is returning to competition this year after being injured. Pearson is the reigning 1000 m national champion, 600 m silver medalist, and second on the Huskie all-time 1000m top ten list. 

Women’s Hockey

Huskie Women’s Hockey is currently 0-10-0-4 on the season (10 regulation losses and 4 overtime losses). There is still a lot on the line with 14 games left in the season. Bronwyn Boucher leads the skaters in points with 6. They will be on the road facing Macewan this weekend.

Men’s Hockey

Men’s Hockey is having an impressive season so far with a record of 10-4-0 and 14 games left to play in the season. They have consistently been nationally ranked throughout the season, and were ranked seventh in the nation as of November 25th.

Fourth-year forward Dawson Holt leads Huskie skaters this season with 15 points. Goaltender Jordan Kooy is ranked amongst the top five in the conference in a variety of statistical categories, including goals-against average, win percentage, and save percentage, which he is first in. Roddy Ross is also ranked third in save percentage. Second-year defenseman Landon Kosior is fourth in the conference for assists with 11 assists in 11 games played.

They will look to pick up a pair of wins against the MacEwan Griffins this weekend at Merlis Belsher Place.

Men’s Basketball

The Huskies are currently 0-6 in regular season play. They have had a tough schedule early in the season but with 14 games left, the Men’s basketball team still has lots to play for.  

Second-years Dylan Miller and Easton Thimm are off to a strong start this season, with Miller leading the conference in 3-point percentage and Thimm being fourth in the conference in rebounds per game with an average of 9.2.

They look to get their first wins of the season as they head to Kamloops this weekend.

Women’s Basketball

Coming off of a Canada West championship and a second-place finish at Nationals last year, Women’s basketball is looking to go all the way this season. 

The Huskies faced adversity early in the season after the University of Calgary Dinos pulled off the upset and swept them on opening weekend. The Huskies bounced back from this setback, going on to sweep the University of Manitoba Bisons in their home openers the following weekend. The Huskies won both games by large margins, highlighted by Gage Grassick becoming the first player in program history and the 12th player in Canada West history to record a triple-double.

Next, Women’s basketball faced the fifth-ranked University of Alberta Pandas, pulling off two statement wins by margins of 25 and 27 points. 

Currently 4-2, the Huskies were ranked sixth in the nation in the most recent USport Rankings and look to secure a pair of wins against Thompson Rivers University this weekend to extend their winning streak.

Men’s Volleyball

Men’s Volleyball has been consistently ranked nationally and came in at number eight in the USport Rankings this week. Their current record is 4-4 in a highly competitive Canada West conference, with 12 games remaining. 

Second-year middle blocker Jacob Baird is off to a strong start to the season as he is currently ranked fourth in the conference in blocks per set with 1.03. Third-year setter Noah Opseth is ranked second in Canada West for assists per set, with 9.91.

The Huskies will take on Thompson Rivers at the PAC this weekend in a doubleheader with Women’s Volleyball.

Women’s Volleyball

Women’s Volleyball is currently ninth in the Canada West standings with a 3-5 record and 12 games left in the season. They will also face Thompson Rivers at the PAC this weekend.

Third-year outside hitter Taryn Hannah is amongst the top performers in Canada West, ranking third in kills per set with an average of 3.69. Third-year setter Tielle Hagel is second in the conference for assists per set, with 10.03.

Wrestling

Huskie Wrestling has had a lot of individual and team successes to celebrate and it’s still early in the season.

Both the men’s and women’s teams had successful showings at the Dino Invitational in Calgary this past October, with the men’s team taking first place and the women’s team taking second. Sierra Mullin, Cole Sanderson, Myah Phillips, and Owen McGillvray each took first in their respective weight class. Four more Huskies finished second, and two finished third,  bringing the total to ten medalists. The Huskies Wrestling team also had six medalists in the SFU Open in Burnaby, BC, early in November, and two medalists at the Haws/Elton rumble, including a first-place finish from Judah Arthurs.

The Huskies will compete at home this weekend with the Huskie Duals on Friday, November 29th and the Huskie Open on Saturday, November 30th.

Tickets to Huskie Athletics events hosted here on campus are free for USask students to attend, and can be obtained through their website. Go cheer on our University of Saskatchewan Huskies in their upcoming games!