Be back soon!

I apologize for the lack of material here on the blog lately. Truth is I've been pretty busy and just haven't put in the time.

I'm working for the summer with Golf Saskatchewan but will continue to update the site. For now, I'm just taking a break to reassess where the site is going and what you can expect here on the blog. I am also looking at creating some kind of schedule for the podcast but for now it will be pretty sporadic. You can look for a new podcast coming down sometime next week.

Cheers!

dd

Saskatchewan golfer on Golf Channel

Kent Eger from Regina is a competitor on the Golf Channel's Big Break this season. Click on the following link to see his bio from the show and check your local listings for upcoming shows.

Kent Eger Bio

Thiel signs with Riders

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced they have signed non-import linebacker Peter Thiel. The financial details of the signing were not released.

Thiel (6’1 – 220 lbs) has played at the University of Saskatchewan. In 2010, the 22-year-old was outstanding for the Huskies on defence as he tallied 20 solo tackles, 22 shared tackles and one quarterback sack in six games. Last season, Thiel also took part in the East West Bowl and was named a Canada West All-Star.

The Regina native has two seasons of CIS eligibility remaining. He will take part in Rider Rookie Camp which will begin on June 1st at Mosaic Stadium.

The Riders also announced that Saskatoon Hilltop safety Graig Newman (6’1 – 195 lbs) has been invited to take part in this year’s Rider Training Camp. The Saskatoon native is heading into his fourth season with the Hilltops.

Off to the Queen City!

I've got a bithday party in Regina this weekend so I'm hitting the road.

Ill be back Sunday and heading to Griffiths Stadium for SasKota bowl tryouts.

Enjoy the weekend!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld

Podcast

Here is another edition of the podcast.

The show still does not have a name. Feel free to toss your ideas around in the comments section or on Twitter at Twitter.com/darrendupont.

This week on the show: CJVR's Darryl Skender, Huskies' WR Jade Etienne and music from Eldebrock.

Enjoy!

http://www.mediafire.com/?6l94iebd0fmt5de

Broncos get dynamic pair

(SJHL.ca)

To no one’s surprise , the acquisition of Jeremy Boyer and Justin Buzzeo at the January 10 trade deadline sees a hefty return going back to Humboldt.

The much awaited futures in that deal were released on Monday with the Terriers announcing that Clarke Breitkreuz and Robbie Ciolfi—arguably their top two players in this season’s Credit Union Cup playoffs were off to Humboldt as they begin to prepare a team that they think is good enough to compete for the RBC Cup seeing they will be the host team for the 2012 event.

Terriers GM Don Chesney told GX94’s Craig Stein that it’s a deal he doesn’t regret even though his team fell one game short of an SJHL title.

“I’d make that trade again in a heartbeat,” Chesney told Stein. “Those players were electrifying and got us right to the last game of our league. A bounce here or a bounce there and we could have beaten La Ronge. The task now is to do what we have to do to make Yorkton a team that we can get back to the finals and hopefully win.”

Breitkreuz had 68 points in the regular season and added 22 more in the playoffs while Ciolfi had 52 points with another 24 in the playoffs. Both will be counted on to provide that and more for the Broncos as they look to bring the RBC Cup back to the SJHL next May. The fact that both Breitkreuz and Ciolfi were so close to a league title this year will only make them hungry to taste a title and perhaps much more next year.

Mueller to Eskimos

(The Canadian Press)

EDMONTON - Accoring to The Canadian Press and CTV News, veteran Regina Rams pivot Marc Mueller has signed on with the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos.

Full story: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hZpF2Qw57zflKyYxET-2t1pV69Vw?docId=6802819

Podcast

Over the past little while I have been working on setting up a podcast and today it launches.

The podcast does not have a name yet, but hopefully with your help and a little creativity it won't take too long to name the show. The podcast will be mostly Saskatchewan sports talk with a little something else thrown in now and then.

I hope you enjoy.

In today's podcast I talk to Kevin Jesus of Global Saskatoon and Josh Lewis of the Estevan Mercury.

http://www.mediafire.com/?6u1saxmhzu20uxb

Blades Elliott, Molleken recognized at WHL awards

Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League announced the 2010-11 winners of the annual WHL Awards presented Wednesday, May 4^th at the WHL Awards Luncheon held in Calgary, Alberta.

CLICK HERE to watch the full video archive of the 2011 WHL Awards Luncheon

WHL Player of the Year, Four Broncos Memorial Trophy
WINNER
Darcy Kuemper (Saskatoon, SK), Red Deer Rebels

RUNNER-UP
Tyler Johnson (Spokane, WA), Spokane Chiefs

WHL Rookie of the Year, Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy
WINNER
Matt Dumba (Calgary, AB), Red Deer Rebels

RUNNER-UP
Sven Bartschi (Langenthal, SUI), Portland Winterhawks

WHL Goaltender of the Year, Del Wilson Trophy
WINNER
Darcy Kuemper (Saskatoon, SK), Red Deer Rebels

RUNNER-UP
James Reid (Calgary, AB), Spokane Chiefs

WHL Defenceman of the Year, Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy
WINNER
Stefan Elliott (North Vancouver, BC), Saskatoon Blades

RUNNER-UP
Tyson Barrie (Victoria, BC), Kelowna Rockets

WHL Most Sportsmanlike Player, Brad Hornung Trophy
WINNER
Tyler Johnson (Spokane, WA), Spokane Chiefs

RUNNER-UP
Stefan Elliott (North Vancouver, BC), Saskatoon Blades

WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy
WINNER
Colin Smith (Edmonton, AB), Kamloops Blazers

RUNNER-UP
Adam Lowry (Calgary, AB), Swift Current Broncos

WHL Coach of the Year, Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy
WINNER
Don Nachbaur, Spokane Chiefs

RUNNER-UP
Jesse Wallin, Red Deer Rebels

WHL Executive of the Year, Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy
WINNER
Lorne Molleken, Saskatoon Blades

RUNNER-UP
Mike Johnston, Portland Winterhawks

WHL Humanitarian of the Year, Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy
WINNER
Spencer Edwards (Coquitlam, BC), Moose Jaw Warriors

RUNNER-UP
Jeff Einhorn (Red Deer, AB), Chilliwack Bruins

WHL Marketing / Communications Award
WINNER
Calgary Hitmen, Mike Moore

RUNNER-UP
Tri-City Americans, Brian Sandy

WHL Regular Season Champions, Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy
Saskatoon Blades: GP – 72 W – 56 L – 13 OTL – 1 SL – 2 Pts – 115

WHL Top Scorer – Bob Clarke Trophy
Linden Vey – (Wakaw, SK) Medicine Hat Tigers

GP – 69 G – 46 A – 70 Pts – 116 PIM – 36

Bruins board expects to decide on coach tonight

Estevan Mercury

If all goes according to plan, one of three men will be chosen as the 26th head coach in Estevan Bruins history tonight.

Executive members indicated that the group was leaning toward one of the three remaining candidates and did not anticipate any hurdles preventing a decision from being made at tonight's meeting.

"I don't see anything that would hold it back," said Bruins president Jeff Pierson on Monday.

While the three finalists have not been revealed, perhaps just as notable are the names not on the shortlist.
Veteran SJHL coaches Darrell Mann, Larry Wintoneak and Ed Zawatsky all applied for the position, but Pierson said the Bruins aren't looking for an old-school taskmaster, a label that can be applied to all three.

"We have to feel comfortable that they have the ability to work with a younger team and not come in and expect to have a ready-built team," said Pierson. "I have a lot of confidence in the team we're going to build next year, but they're going to have some growing pains along the way and they've got to have someone to lead them.

"All three of them represent, by their past, an ability to work with a younger team and build a team through the system," the president added.

"They have to be able to take that younger team and show them the way, and in a year or two, make that younger team an elite hockey team in this league."

Mann was recently relieved of his duties with the Melfort Mustangs after failing to get that team over the hump during the past few years.

Wintoneak's most recent gig was with the Kindersley Klippers, where he was let go in December after the team underachieved in the first half of the season.

Zawatsky had been the long-time bench boss of the Yorkton Terriers before being fired with eight games left in the 2009-10 season, opening the door for Trent Cassan to lead the club to back-to-back Credit Union Cup finals.

Pierson said the three remaining candidates each have "considerable experience" and while their résumes vary, they have all worked with junior players in the past.

The executive is aware of the Bruins' reputation for underachieving in recent years, particularly in 2010-11 when the club was expected to contend, and Pierson said the new man will be tasked with squeezing as much as possible out of a raw squad.

"Knowing that we are going to be a bit younger, we still expect to be a very competitive hockey team and that (will be) his job. Of the candidates we have remaining, I feel that we could pick any of them and be able to move this hockey club in the right direction and that's reassuring.

"We owe it to the community to have an overachieving club, or at the very least to meet expectations."

After the decision is made, the hope is to have the new coach in Estevan by May 1 in order to familiarize him with the team's protected list and get a jump on recruiting.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld

Really?

I had an e-mail on my phone when I woke up this morning from Shayne Nieszner (father of former Klipper goalie Ryan Nieszner). It's definitely interesting. Read on.

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The Mount Royal Cougars have been stripped of the provincial championship title and the ACAC has ordered a rematch.
Photo Credit: Courtesy, Global Calgary

CALGARY- A stunning ruling in the world of college sports Tuesday night.

The Mount Royal Cougars will have to battle the SAIT Trojans once again, after being stripped of the provincial hockey title they won just three days ago.

On Sunday, the Cougars defeated the SAIT Trojans to win the provincial hockey championship for the first time in five years.

Now the ACAC has ruled that Mount Royal, in error, used a backup goalie ineligible to play for the championship. The goalie was brought in as a backup for Brett Bothwell, who stepped in after starting goalie Justin Cote was injured Saturday night.

The ACAC has ordered a rematch, which means the Trojans will have another shot at the championship title- and could become the first team to win the provincial hockey championship five times in row.

Meanwhile, head coach Ken Babey says he's "prepared" for the rematch and wouldn't want the team to be handed the title without playing for it. The Acting athletic director for Mount Royal says they are currently looking into their options and are consulting with ACAC officials.

The championship game will be replayed 6 p.m on Saturday at the SAIT Arena.


© Copyright (c) CW Media Inc.

Mann done in Melfort

The Melfort Mustangs and head coach Darryl Mann are parting ways after the Mustangs were eliminated from the SJHL playoffs by the La Ronge Ice Wolves.

Mann joins Larry Wintoneak in Kindersley and Kerry Biette in Estevan as coaches being fired in the SJHL this year.

No word on possible replacements at this time. In Estevan, I'm told they have a made contact with a few possible candidates but no names have been released at this time.

Josh Lewis of the Kindersley Clarion reports that talks have begun between the Klippers and interm coach Rockie Zinger. Word is the Klippers have some interest in bringing Zinger back and talks have begun.

Monday morning water cooler

It's been a while since our last water cooler chat but we're back in full force today and a few things to catch up on.

Let's start by ranting about my March Madness bracket and how it is, of course. broken. I didn't expect much but man it was brutal. I thought I could save it as I still had Ohio State and Kansas meeting in the final but that's not the case. Both teams were eliminated and missed out on the final four.

Better luck next year.

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The Saskatoon Blades are cruising in the first round of the WHL playoffs against the Prince Albert Raiders. The Blades won game one 8-1 and game two 5-2 to jump out to a 2-0 series lead. The Bridge City Bunch will be in PA for games three and four mid-week.

On 620 CKRM I picked the Brandon Wheat Kings as my sleeper pick out of the East and they got their split in Medicine Hat and head home with the series 1-1.

In the West I picked Portland to come out and Vancouver as my sleeper. The WinterHawks lead their series 2-0 while the Giants are in a 2-0 hole.

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It's hard to digest the way the Kindersley Klippers were bounced from the SJHL playoffs. This is a team that had high expectations and were one of the best in the SJHL down the stretch and through round one of the playoffs but ran into a Yorkton Terriers team that just ran roughshod en route to a four game sweep.

Now, the Terriers are a great team and heading into the playoffs were heavily considered to be the favorite to come out of the entire SJHL but this series surely was expected to be a battle.

The Terriers won in four straight games by scores of 7-2, 7-0, 7-0 and 3-2.

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One more note in the WHL. The Red Deer Rebels announced their intention to bid for the 2013 Memorial Cup. Will the Saskatoon Blades tender a bid? Or perhaps another Saskatchewan based team?

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This weekend the top graduating high school football players will put their skills on display as camps open for the 2011 Ed Henick Senior Bowl. Saturday, April 2nd, players trying out for Team North will take part in the first camp in Saskatoon while players in the South will head to Regina for their first camp.

The 2011 edition of the game will take place at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on the Monday of the long weekend in May. Stay tuned to SaskGridiron.com for coverage of the Senior Bowl from the 9-man perspective.

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Speaking of SaskGridiron, there are some MAJOR plans in the works that you should be really excited about. I can't divulge any details yet but as soon as it's official I'll pass along the info. It's going to be great news for the site and for high school football in the province.

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Congrats to UNB on winning the Cavendish Cup as CIS men's hockey champions beating McGill 4-0. It was a tough tournament for the Canada West representatives as Alberta and Calgary each went winless.

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SJHL president Laury Ryan announced his resignation this past week. The search for a new president has begun and applications are being accepted at the league office. Check out www.sjhl.ca for more continuing updates and how to submit an application.

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I really like the 1-up/1-down system used by Les Lazaruk and Cody Nickolet for the WHL playoff broadcasts on 92.9 The Bull. It's working well, keep up the good work guys!

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It appears as though the clock has struck midnight for my Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs continue to play good hockey but Buffalo is on fire and all but squashed any hopes that the Leafs had of making the playoffs.

Good news, if there is any, is that the Leafs have showed a lot of promise as a young team and only good things can come from this.

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Finally saw True Grit this past week and, although it didn't quite live up to the expectations that I had for it, I liked it and give it one and a half thumbs up.

I still want to see Sanctum and 127 hours, both playing at the Rainbow this week.

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Ok, that's all for today. I have a pretty busy week planned. SJHL final begins this week in La Ronge and WHL playoffs shift to PA. Enjoy the week!

SJHL President steps down

www.sjhl.ca

PRESIDENT RYAN RESIGNS HIS POST


After serving for eight years, SJHL President Laury Ryan is announcing he is stepping down at the end of this current term. In making this announcement, President Ryan wishes to acknowledge the many people in the present and in the past, involved with the member teams and their contributions to the league.

During Ryan’s term, the SJHL has prospered and is considered by many as one the top junior “A” hockey leagues in Canada. The league has seen many developments including the creation of the World Junior “A” challenge which allowed junior “A” players and coaches to represent Canada for the first time in history. The establishment of the SJHL Hall of Fame that in 2011 will see its third induction ceremony as the league recognizes its past heroes. The Saskatchewan Development Model, which coordinates elite hockey in Saskatchewan and the Junior A Supplement, that is a partnership with Hockey Canada and four other Junior A leagues are considered key achievements. The SJHL has had a successful run with league teams participating in six RBC championships finals collecting three national championships. The SJHL also became the first Junior “A” league in Canada to have live games broadcast across the province including the Credit Union Cup Championship series on cable television.

“It has been an honour to represent the league on behalf of so many great individuals who work tirelessly in their respective communities to make their franchises viable and successful. Any and all the good things that were achieved are a testament to their efforts” stated Ryan, “It has been an honour to serve as President of the SJHL”

On behalf of the SJHL board of Governors I would like to thank Laury for his many years of service and numerous innovations and contributions to the league and wish him the best in his future endeavors.” SJHL board of governors chair Rick Shultz said. “The SJHL management committee will be advertising and accepting applications for the position of SJHL president.”


**An audio interview with Laury Ryan done with SJHL Communications Director Mitchell Blair can be found on the league website at www.sjhl.ca. Any media outlet using clips or quotes from this interview is please asked to give sjhl.ca credit.

Globe and Mail article feat. Dave Adolph

Here's the article from Tuesday's Globe and Mail on concussions in hockey and featuring Huskies' head coach Dave Adolph. Great read.

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Dave Adolph was there the night his son Max was obliterated.

It happened in Portland, Ore., where Max’s Kelowna Rockets were playing the Winterhawks in a Western Hockey League game late last October. Adolph had the puck down low and was trying to protect it when all of a sudden he was rocked high and hard by an opposing player.

At that moment, both father and son were changed. Max Adolph has struggled with post-concussion syndrome all season, and Dave Adolph, a hockey coach by profession, has wrestled with his emotions while trying to help his son.

“It’s terrible,” Dave Adolph said. “He feels useless, worthless. As a parent, you offer support, but it’s frustrating because that’s all you can do. I don’t know how to comfort him.”

For two decades, Adolph has coached the University of Saskatchewan men’shockey team. Before that, he played for the Huskies and captained their 1983 national championship-winning team. He knows the game, studies it and has followed the recent rash of head injuries, not just because they’re in the news, but because it’s hit home.

His 18-year-old son Max has played just over 30 games this WHL season. The league’s weekly reports show he was out with a head injury on Nov. 2, 2010. He returned to action Dec. 7 but was out again with a head injury on Jan. 11, 2011. He returned Feb. 8, then was sidelined yet again, this time for good, on Feb. 22.

Overall this season, WHL players suffered more concussions and head injuries than their celebrated counterparts in the National Hockey League. By the NHL’s own tally, there have been 80 incidents of players hurt by a shot to the head. According to the WHL’s updates for its 22 teams, there were at least 97 cases of concussions and head-related injuries.

WHL commissioner Ron Robison acknowledged that count, tabulated by the Kamloops Daily News, and agreed: “The number of concussions has risen at an alarming rate.”

Why, though, is the crux of the matter.

Robison sees it as many hockey people do: a batch of ingredients creating a dangerous mix; bigger, stronger players moving on an ice surface that hasn’t gotten any larger. Add to that the clampdown on hooking and holding that has allowed for more speed and more hits. Add, too, a generation of young players cursed by the advent of lighter yet more dangerous equipment. They feel invincible until that same piece of equipment on an opposing player hammers them into submission.

“More than half of the concussions occur next to the glass,” Robison said. “When we discuss it with the coaches and managers, it’s largely players who are positioned along the boards. Maybe we have to look at charging and the way the rules are called.”

The father believes his son’s recurring problems are related to the hit he took in Portland.

“He was in the corner, doing what he does, trying to cycle the puck,” Adolph recalled. “He exposed his head and he got ripped. [This past Saturday] he felt nauseous. He told the Kelowna trainer and that put him on another seven-day rest period. He’s worried if the coach thinks he’s not tough enough. That’s what kids do. As a parent, I’m thankful he’s not playing.”

Adolph’s twin vantage points as a father and coach have altered his way of thinking. He admitted his son’s plight affected the way he acted this past Canadian Interuniversity Sport season. For starters, he paid more attention to what the trainer was saying about the Huskies’ injured players. He also found himself “reaching out to those kids, 24/7. Those were things I never thought of before.”

Adolph has done his share of thinking over what’s happening in hockey. He wonders why modifications haven’t been made to deaden the dangerously hard-shell elbow pads and shoulder pads, something that’s been talked about for close to 10 years. He wonders why so many young hockey players go into the corners with their arms down, their heads exposed, face-first to the glass.

He wonders, too, why every hit now has to be so punishing, as if the intent is to hurt the opponent, especially if he’s in a vulnerable position.

“There’s no more angling [off a puck carrier], especially in junior hockey,” Adolph said. “They’re trying to put someone out of the game. Before, kids would get their sticks up [as protection] and you’d see more high-sticking penalties. Now you see them get crushed and their heads ricochet off the glass.”

Max Adolph recently returned home to Saskatoon to spend time with his parents. They wanted to see how he was doing, how he responded to their prompts. It was a chance for the hockey-coach dad to talk to his son and say the only thing he could.

“I saw him the time he was hit in Portland, that was not good. But at home, he was bright and positive. I wanted to reassure him there’s more to life and that he’ll find something he enjoys doing [beyond hockey]. We wanted to make sure he knows that.”

CHL top 10: Blades 2nd in final ranking

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the final BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings for week 27 of the 2010-11 season. The weekly rankings of the Canadian Hockey League’s Top 10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings – Week 26

1 Saint John Sea Dogs (58-7-1-2)
2 Saskatoon Blades (56-13-1-2)
3 Miss. St. Michael's Majors (53-13-0-2)
4 Montreal Juniors (46-12-5-5)
5 Red Deer Rebels (48-16-4-4)
6 Quebec Remparts (48-16-1-3)
7 Portland Winterhawks (50-19-0-3)
8 Owen Sound Attack (46-17-1-4)
9 Niagara IceDogs (45-17-2-4)
10 Drummondville Voltigeurs (45-15-5-3)

Honourable Mention:
Ottawa 67's (44-19-3-2)
Spokane Chiefs (48-18-4-2)
Medicine Hat Tigers (46-18-4-4)

Monday morning water cooler

The cooler has been postponed until Tuesday morning. Sorry for the inconvenience but just too busy today.

dd

Huskies fall short

WINDSOR, Ont. - Jessica Clemencon led the Lancers with 18 points Sunday as top-ranked Windsor defeated the No. 2 Saskatchewan Huskies 63-49 to win the Canadian university women's basketball championship.

With the victory, the Lancers became the first host team to capture the Bronze Bay Trophy in the championship's 40-year history.

"I'm so glad we won this first national title in front of our fans," Windsor coach Chantal Vallee said. "Their support is phenomenal. We'll cherish this win in our own building forever."

Clemencon, the CIS player of the year, was named the game's MVP. The native of St. Rambert, France, won CIS rookie of the year honours last season.

Windsor native Bojana Kovacevic was a catalyst for the Lancers, scoring 14 points and knocking down half of her three-point shots.

"I had the confidence in myself, in my ability, to make the big shots right from the start of the game today," said Kovacevic. "We play as a team and everyone knows their role and we all were able to get the job done today."

Second-year guard Miah Langlois was named tournament MVP for the Lancers.

"We have a lot of great players and everyone contributes, maybe this was my time," she said. "If we were to play next week, it would be someone else winning that award."

Langlois was thrilled that Vallee kept a promise she made during recruiting.

"She told me that the program was going to win a national championship before too long," Langlois said. "I just didn't think we were going to be able to get it done so quickly."

The three-time OUA champs from Windsor went on a 23-9 run to overcome a 16-11 deficit early in the second quarter and led 34-25 at the half.

It was Windsor's roster depth that propelled the Lancers to the national title. In addition to Clemencon, Kovacevic and Langlois, Korissa Williams reached double figures in points, with 10.
The Lancers kept Saskatchewan on their heels defensively for much of the game.

Jill Humbert lead the Huskies with 15 points, while Katie Miyazaki and Kim Tulloch chipped in with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Windsor shot just under 43 per cent in the paint, compared to Saskatchewan's 30 per cent. The Lancers knocked down 40 per cent of their three-point attempts. The Huskies managed just over 11 per cent of their shots from beyond the arc.

Langlois and Kovacevic were both named to the tournament all-star team, along with Miyazaki, Saskatchewan teammate Jana Spindler and Cape Breton's Kari Everett. Ashley Stephen of St.

Francis Xavier won the R.H. Pugh Fair Play Award.

Earlier Sunday, Cape Breton parlayed a 12-2 run early in the fourth quarter to defeat the St. Francis Xavier 67-53 in the bronze-medal game.

(1) Windsor vs (2) Saskatchewan on TSN

The Huskies are in the CIS gold medal game in Windsor against the hosts and you can watch live on TSN starting at 2:30pm (SK time). This is the first time that SK has played in the gold medal game and regardless of the result this will be the best finish in team history.

Huskies advance in Windsor

Quarter-final: Saskatchewan 58 Laurier 51
(Saskatchewan advances to semifinals)

WINDSOR, Ont. (CIS) – The second-seeded Saskatchewan Huskies got all they could handle from the No. 7 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in the second quarter-final matchup of the CIS women’s basketball Final 8 but still managed a 58-51 win on Friday at the University of Windsor’s St. Denis Centre.

Championship website

With the victory, Canada West champion Saskatchewan extended its overall winning streak to 28 games dating back to a 72-65 conference loss to Victoria on Oct. 30.

The Huskies, who reached the CIS podium for the first time in program history a year ago in Hamilton with a third-place finish, hope to keep the Bronze Baby Trophy out West for the 20th consecutive season. They are the only Canada West representatives in Windsor.

Saskatchewan will face sixth-ranked St. Francis Xavier in Saturday’s early semifinal at 6:00 p.m. EDT (6:00 p.m. MDT).

The Huskies opened the game with an 11-0 run and were leading 23-12 after the first quarter, 39-27 at the half and 47-40 after 30 minutes but the Hawks hung in there and cut the deficit to two points (51-49) with 2:40 remaining in the contest thanks to a bucket by freshman Felicia Mazerolle.

“It was a tough game. We knew Laurier had a very good team and were confident coming off their big win over Regina in the Regionals,” said Saskatchewan sideline boss Lisa Thomaidis, who was named CIS coach of the year prior to the tournament. “It was a battle total. I thought we didn’t play our best basketball but we’re off to the semis.”

A foursome of fifth-year seniors paced the winners. Forward Marci Kiselyk of Athabasca, Alta., led the way with 15 points, while player of the game Jill Humbert of Saskatoon had 13. Humbert played a well-rounded game adding seven assists, three blocks and two steals.

Canada West MVP Kim Tulloch of Regina, with 12, and Jana Spindler of Port Williams, N.S., with 10, also scored in double figures for Saskatchewan.

huskies.usask.ca