The Saskatchewan Huskies aren't just looking to win the national championship on Saturday in Regina; they have a chance to make Canadian football history.
Never before have the Canadian Bowl, Vanier Cup and Gray Cup champions come from the same province, allowing for full coverage of the top three levels of football in the country. After two titles, the Huskies just need to take care of business to complete the trifecta.
“We know the circumstances. We know it's a big game for us. But at the same time, all the craziness of this week and all the chaos this week is going to bring is just another aspect of all this chaos,” fifth-year running back Ryker Frank told the media this week. “Don't get too worked up about it; it's just another opportunity to play the game we love. We'll just go out and play our game.”
The Saskatoon Hilltops became the first team from the land of the living sky to capture hardware this season, defeating the Okanagan Sun 21-18 on November 9th. win their 24th Canadian Junior Soccer League title.
A week later, the Saskatchewan Roughriders continued the magic. defeating the Montreal Alouettes 25–17 in the 112th Gray Cup.. It was just the fifth CFL championship in the franchise's 115-year history, sparking celebrations across the province.
Saturday's U Sports Championship was billed as a spiritual continuation of that game as the Montreal Carbines headed west to heal the wounds inflicted on Quebec fans. Even though they are determined to achieve their goal, Carabins head coach Marco Iadeluca admits there is a desire for revenge in the Carabins locker room.
“Obviously this moment is pretty big for us. We would definitely like to win this game for our football team and all the work we've put in. But on Monday after the Gray Cup game, some players came and said it was going to be a Gray Cup rematch and that's what happened,” he said. “It kind of adds a little bit of storyline, if I may.”
Only twice before have Vanier Cup and Gray Cup champions come from the same city: the Alberta Golden Bears and Edmonton soccer team in 1986, and the Montreal Alouettes and Carabins in 2023. That's out of the question this year, as the Huskies live down the road in Saskatoon and the Riders share a building with the rival Regina Rams in the capital.
However, this is the field at Mosaic Stadium where the 60th Vanier Cup will be played, and its proximity ensures the Huskies will feel like a home game. That could be a significant benefit for a program that has overcome adversity to reach its 12th national title game.
Starting defenseman Anton Amundrud was unable to finish the regular season due to illness. and was recently diagnosed with cancer. Reserve Jake Farrell has been at the helm since the end of the regular season, leading the team to victory. victory in the Hardy Cup And Mitchell Bowl victory. Although the team has rallied around Amundrud, it remains unclear whether he will be able to leave the hospital to witness the game in person.
Frank acknowledged that the personal aspects of the game matter more than the provincial ones.
“This is a special game for us. We've been through a lot this season, on and off the field, it's no secret,” the Regina native said. “We know there's a lot riding on it. It would be huge to just get that opportunity and play my heart out.”
If the Huskies can win another QB title in their fifth year, they will have achieved something no one has ever achieved before. In fact, for those willing to get technical, it will ensure Saskatchewan not just a third major soccer trophy in 2025, but a fourth. The Saskatoon Valkyries also finished first in the Canadian Women's Soccer League West in June.
Regardless of the outcome, the sarcastic labeling of Saskatchewan as a “drive through province” took on a different connotation on the football field – where they drive through, it's your defense.
