What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
42m ago
Previously, WHL players were declared ineligible to play NCAA hockey in the U.S.
The winter weather arriving isn’t affecting the determination of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team.
If anything, it’s improving it.
The top-seeded Huskies begin the Canada West playoffs Saturday at Griffiths Stadium, and head coach Scott Flory isn’t taking the opposing UBC Thunderbirds lightly after an unpredictable six-game regular season.
“They’re a really good football team. After going out there in Week 2, they’ve come back with three of the four wins here in the back half of the season,” Flory said. “They rightfully deserve to be in the playoffs.
“They’re going to give us our best shot and we just have to give them ours.”
It has been 11 years since the Huskies hosted a Hardy Cup, and the absence of the Calgary Dinos is adding another layer of intrigue to the playoffs this year.
The Dinos failed to qualify this year with a 2-4 record after hosting 10 straight Hardy Cups, winning seven in that span.
The Huskies defence can be thanked for the playoff denial after racking up eight sacks against the Dinos in the regular season finale a week ago — tying a single-game Huskies program record.
“You’ve got to win the line of scrimmage and you’ve got to have great quarterback play. If you get those two things, you have a great chance for success,” Flory said.
“We need that each and every week.”
Defensive lineman Nathan Cherry registered 2.5 of those sacks last week and is hoping a cold-weather game featuring opposing quarterback Garrett Rooker, a Texas native, will help produce a repeat performance.
“He has gotten a lot better since then. The biggest thing is containing him and making sure he has no big plays,” Cherry said.
“Those UBC guys, I don’t think they’re a big fan of the snow or the cold, so we want it as cold and harsh as possible when they get off the plane.”
Cherry was one of 10 Huskies to be named a Canada West all-star.
Joining him was quarterback Mason Nyhus, who is quietly garnering Hec Crighton nomination talk after throwing 16 touchdowns and two interceptions this season.
He’ll also get some reinforcements joining the lineup Saturday with top weapons Adam Machart, Sam Baker and Colton Klassen all returning from injury, but Nyhus is focused on a winning result no matter who he’s playing with.
“We played hard all season but we know home field gives you nothing. Each game is going to be a battle,” Nyhus said.