Game Information

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Date: Friday, Sept. 6
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Venue: Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
Watch: SaskTel Max / Canadawest.tv
Listen: CJWW 600
Get in the Action: Tickets
 
SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan Huskies will return home to Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park as defending Hardy Cup champions for the first time since 2007, as the Dogs are set to square off against the UBC Thunderbirds on Homecoming Night in the Bridge City.

The matchup will serve as a rematch of last season's Canada West semifinal, where the Huskies defeated the Thunderbirds 31-28 in overtime to advance Saskatchewan to the Hardy Cup.

Saskatchewan and UBC each entered the season inside the U SPORTS top ten, but both fell short in week one. The Huskies, who were slotted in as the number four team in the nation, lost 43-19 to the Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg. 

The Huskies weren't the only Canada West program to be upset in the opening weekend of the 2019 season. The Regina Rams, who were ranked sixth in the Canada West coaches poll, stormed onto the coast and walked away with a tremendous 46-16 road win over the tenth ranked Thunderbirds.

Saskatchewan, who will be looking to jump on the Thunderbirds in front of their home crowd, have not started a season 0-2 since the 2015 campaign.

The Huskies enter the matchup as losers of three-consecutive regular season games against the Thunderbirds, with their last victory taking place on Oct. 14, 2017 in Saskatoon, a game that saw the hosts take down the visitors 40-10.
 
5(ish) Things
 
1: Dating back to the 2003 season, the Huskies have won their last four home openers in seasons following a Hardy Cup Championship.

2: The Huskies will raise their 2018 Canada West banner pre-game, with the four other Canada West winning teams - women's basketbal, women's wrestling and men's and women's track & field - being recognized at halftime. The annual toga run for incoming students living in residence will also happen at halftime.

3: There is a new and improved Rally Alley in 2019. Now located in the south endzone and open throughout the game.

4: After Adam Machart went down with injury, Josh Ewanchyna took over as the lead back for the Huskies in his first career U SPORTS game. The former Saskatoon Hilltop rumbled for 66 yards on 8 carries, which included a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, which will go down as the first major of his Huskies career.

5: Yol Piok had a seamless return to the Canada West stage, as the Regina native snatched five receptions for 68 yards, including a three-yard touchdown grab, in his first game back with the Huskies after spending the 2018 season away from the program.

6. Nicholas Dheilly was a standout on the defensive side of the ball for Saskatchewan in his first game with the program. Dheilly tied his career high with the three tackles for a loss, a mark he had hit twice over his career with the Rams.

By the Numbers
 
1 – The 2019 installment of the Thunderbirds features only one fifth-year player in A.J. Blackwell, a linebacker from Calgary, Alta. In comparison, the Huskies roster is comprised of six fifth years.

10 – Ben Hladik surprised nobody by returning to his All-Canadian form in week one. Hladik had a game-high ten tackles against the Rams. The Huskies will surely be aware of whereabouts the Vernon, B.C. native is lined up on Friday night.

76 – Second-year receiver Daniel Perry made the most of his opportunities on last Friday night. The Calgary product appears to have quickly established a rapport with Nyhus, as he recorded a career-high 76 receiving yards on six receptions.

1.000 – Huskies head coach Scott Flory is batting 1.000 in home openers, as the third year bench boss is 2-0 in home openers since taking the helm prior to the 2017 season.

Scouting the Thunderbirds

Last Saturday night in Vancouver served as the official ending to the Michael O'Connor era for the Thunderbirds. The now Toronto Argonaut quarterback, started under centre for four seasons with UBC, before moving on to the CFL after last season.

Tommy Yanchuk got the start for the Thunderbirds against the Rams, where he totaled 248 yards on 21-32 passing, including a touchdown and an interception.

This is quite the different looking Thunderbirds team than fans may be used to. Three of the four 2018 Canada West All-Stars in Trivel Pinto, Connor Griffiths and Stavros Katsantonis, along with O'Connor and last season's starting running back Ben Cummings are all not a part of the 2019 Thunderbirds roster.

Ben Hladik is the lone returning CW All-Star from last season to return to the program. Hladik finished second in the conference with 49.5 total tackles, and will be the anchor of the UBC defense once again this season. Hladik will form a dynamic duo in the middle of the field with Nick Cross.

Cross, who had a fantastic rookie season with the Rams in his lone season with the program back in 2017, where he led the team in tackles. Cross made the decision to transfer to the Thunderbirds following a season away from U SPORTS, and the Regina native will be a player to watch on the defensive side of the ball for UBC.

Local products Tom Schnitzler and James Vause each spent time with the Saskatoon Hilltops prior to making the jump to the Canada West. Vause is a 6-0, 193lb second-year defensive back who had 19 total tackles in his first season with UBC last season, while Schnitzler is a 6-5 245lb defensive linemen who racked up 25 tackles and three sacks in 2018.