This weekend offers a thrilling lineup for football enthusiasts in Saskatchewan. The Saskatoon Hilltops are aiming for a national championship, while the University of Saskatchewan Huskies are set to host the University of Regina Rams in the Hardy Cup. Additionally, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will face off against the B.C. Lions in the CFL Western Division final, with a Grey Cup spot up for grabs.
The Huskies (7-1) and Rams (6-2) will kick off the action on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Saskatoon at Griffiths Stadium. This game is a rematch of last year’s Hardy Cup, which saw the Rams emerge victorious. Huskies’ coach Scott Flory praised both teams’ performance throughout the season, highlighting their physicality, discipline, and coaching expertise.
Rams’ head coach Mark McConkey emphasized the teams’ closely matched skills and predicted a tight contest that could be decided in the final moments. Both teams may be without key players, such as Huskie quarterback Anton Amunrud and Rams star running back Marshall Erichsen.
In the other matchup, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will take on the B.C. Lions at 5 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium. The Riders, who secured first place weeks ago, will need to shake off any rust quickly as they face a rejuvenated Lions team. The return of key players like Roland Milligan Jr. and a full roster of top receivers bodes well for the Riders.
On Sunday, the Saskatoon Hilltops will host the Okanagan Sun in the Canadian Junior Football League national championship. The Hilltops, with a storied history of 23 national titles, are eager to add another championship to their record. Head coach Tom Sargeant praised his team’s resilience and determination throughout the season, setting the stage for an exciting showdown on Sunday at SMF Field at 1 p.m.