With six teams in action this weekend, here is a look at the week ahead in Huskie country...
FB:
Saturday, Oct. 16 vs. Alberta Golden Bears 2:00 p.m. Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park (Watch Live on 49/349 SaskTel Max & CanadaWest.TV)
Fresh off the conference-wide thanksgiving bye, the Huskies football team is back. And they're back at Griffiths for the first time this season, as their home-opener marks the first Canada West game on their own turf since Nov. 2, 2019, when they defeated the Alberta Golden Bears 28-23 to advance to the Hardy Cup. They'll host the Golden Bears once again on Saturday, as they look to win their second-consecutive game and improve their record to 2-1. Saskatchewan currently is ranked at number-eight in the nation, and are one of four Canada West teams inside the top-ten, while Alberta enters the matchup unranked. The Huskies have won their last nine home games against the Golden Bears dating back to 2011, a trend they will be looking to continue this Saturday.
WSOC:
Friday, Oct. 15 at Manitoba Bisons 5:00 p.m. Winnipeg, MB (Watch Live on CanadaWest.TV)
Saturday, Oct. 16 at Manitoba Bisons 5:00 p.m. Winnipeg, MB (Watch Live on CanadaWest.TV)
Needing just three-points to clinch a spot in the postseason, a golden opportunity awaits the Huskies women's soccer team. Saskatchewan sits in first-place in the central division with a six-point cushion on second-place Regina, as they look to lock-up top-spot in the division. Saskatchewan was dominant in their last pair of outings, recording 5-0 and 6-0 wins at home against Winnipeg back on Oct. 1 and 2. The Huskies will look to carry over their good form this weekend when they take on the Bisons, whom they recorded six of a possible six points against earlier this season, as they chase after their ninth-consecutive postseason appearance.
MSOC:
Saturday, Oct. 16 at Mount Royal Cougars 1:00 p.m. Calgary, AB. (Watch Live on CanadaWest.TV)
Sunday, Oct. 17 at Mount Royal Cougars 1:00 p.m. Calgary, AB. (Watch Live on CanadaWest.TV)
It's a big weekend for the Huskies men's soccer team as they chase after a spot in the postseason. Saskatchewan currently sits in fourth-place in the central division, six points up on fifth-place MacEwan. With four teams in the six-team division qualifying for the playoffs, the Huskies have themselves set-up well. But yet, seeding is critical. With a successful road swing, Saskatchewan could make a move in the standings with Alberta, Calgary and Mount Royal all in a dead-lock of 12 points.
Pre-season:
MHKY:
Friday, Oct. 15 at Red Deer Polytechnic Kings 7:30 p.m. Wainwright, AB
Saturday, Oct. 16 at Red Deer Polytechnic Kings 3:00 p.m. Wainwright, AB
Mike Babcock faces a familiar foe this weekend as he takes the Huskies men's hockey team back out west for a pair of exhibition games against the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings. Babcock spent three seasons as the head coach of Red Deer from 1988-90, before moving on to the Lethbridge Pronghorns program, where he won a national championship in 1994 - his last season coaching at the U SPORTS ranks. The pair of contests will serve as the Huskies final preseason contests, after splitting a pair of games against the rival Alberta Golden Bears this past weekend, before their season gets underway next weekend. Saskatchewan is set to begin conference play against the Regina Cougars on Friday, Oct. 22 at Merlis Belsher Place, concluding the weekend series on Saturday in the Queen City in the second-half of the home-and-home.
WBB:
Thursday, Oct. 14 at Victoria Vikes, 7:00 p.m. Victoria, B.C.
Friday, Oct. 15 at Fraser Valley Cascades 7:00 p.m. Victoria, B.C.
It's the first action since the 2019-20 U SPORTS National Championship for Lisa Thomaidis and company, as the defending national champions head out to the west coast for a pair of preseason contests. The matchups will serve as the first glance at a new-look Huskies squad, which despite returning prominent fifth-years in Libby Epoch and Summer Masikewich, gone are Megan Ahlstrom and Sabine Dukate, who each graduate the program with two Bronze Baby trophies to their name. Opportunities await a younger team that features eight first-year players, who will have the chance to showcase what they have this weekend in Victoria.
MBB:
Friday, Oct. 15 at UBCO Heat 4:00 p.m. Calgary, AB
Saturday, Oct. 16 at Calgary Dinos 8:00 p.m. Calgary, AB
Sunday, Oct. 17 at Mount Royal Cougars 4:00 p.m. Calgary, AB
The Huskies men's basketball team also kicks off their 2021-22 preseason schedule this weekend in Calgary, as they take part in the four-team Calgary Cup, which is held at the University of Calgary. Tyrese Potoma and Nervens Demosthene each join the Huskies program fresh off time with the Saskatchewan Rattlers this summer, and figure to each play big roles this season for a veteran team with championship aspirations. Back in the fold are a number of familiar faces, including Chan de Ciman, Emmanuel Akintunde and Alexander Dewar, who all will be relied on heavily by Barry Rawlyk as the Huskies look to make it back to the U SPORTS Final 8 for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
