GAME INFORMATION
Date: Friday, Sept. 2
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Opponent: Calgary Dinos
Location: Calgary, Alta.
Venue: McMahon Stadium
Watch: Sasktel 49, 349 / Canadawest.tv
Listen: HuskieFAN
SCHEDULE | WATCH LIVE | FULL TEAM PREVIEWS
It's time do it all again.
The 2022 Canada West football season is officially upon us — a season for the Huskies that kicks off at McMahon on Friday night.
Saskatchewan is set to do battle in Calgary against the Dinos in what serves as a rematch of two of the last three Hardy Cups.
The Huskies are looking for their first win in Calgary since the 2018 Hardy Cup — having lost five of their last six at McMahon, including the 2019 Hardy Cup and a 34-20 loss in the teams season opener last season. Saskatchewan is looking to shift that storyline come Friday night.
The Huskies showed off the 2022 edition of their roster on Thursday night at Griffiths. They emerged with a 10-9 preseason win over the visiting Manitoba Bisons.
While a new look roster emerges, continuity is the theme at quarterback — which is where it all starts for the Huskies. Back in the fold is fifth-year quarterback Mason Nyhus, who is entering his seventh year in the program. The Regina product enters the season as a frontrunner for the Canada West Player of the Year after what was a sensational 2021 season in which he threw for 16 passing touchdowns and just two interceptions in six regular-season games. Nyhus has the chance to build upon his Huskies legacy beginning this Friday night.
The fifth-year pivot will have a new starter lining up behind him in the backfield, as Josh Ewanchyna is set to take the reins from former Canada West Player of the Year and two-time U SPORTS All-Canadian Adam Machart. Ewanchyna, who has been a part of the program since 2019, will enter the season as the starter for the first-time in his Huskies career. Despite serving as a backup to Machart in 2021, he finished fifth in the conference in rushing yards with 404 — after averaging 8.6 yards-per-carry,
Meanwhile, the likes of Daniel Perry, Daniel Wiebe and Caleb Morin will look to replace the production of pass catchers Sam Baker and Colton Klassen, who each graduated the program after last season. Perry finished 2021 first amongst the Huskies in receiving yards with 444 — which trailed only the Philpot brothers in the Canada West.
Returning linebackers Nick Wiebe and Lane Novak will be counted upon to lead a defence which lost the likes of Nathan Cherry and Riley Pickett to the Canadian Football League, as well as former fellow starter Clovis Lumeka — who has transitioned into a coaching role with the team. In the secondary, Katley Joseph joins a secondary which returns all of its starters from last season, including Charlie Ringland, Tanner Reiber, Finn Marcotte-Cribb, Aidan Sommacal, Nixen Voll and Cam Skinner.
Calgary, who fell 28-7 to UBC last Wednesday in their lone preseason contest, is looking to return to the playoffs after missing out in 2021 for the first-time since 2006.
Like last year, these two programs will meet again in the season finale. Saskatchewan is set to host Calgary on Oct. 29 in Week 8 action. But first things first is Week 1.
The Huskies have the opportunity to set the tone for the season ahead. Despite the roster turnover, this is still a program that has won two of the last three Hardy Cups and is fresh off a Vanier Cup appearance. Expectations of national dominance still remain. That's the culture that Scott Flory has created.
Saskatchewan's first opportunity to show the nation the new-look Dogs are for real is this Friday night in Calgary.
Quotables:
Huskies linebacker Nick Wiebe on the meeting against the Dinos:
"They're no slouch. We're going into a stadium next weekend that we've struggled to win in — point blank."
Huskies defensive coordinator Warren Muzika on the matchup with Calgary and their new look roster:
"They'll be good. Calgary's good. They're always good. They always have lots of talent that comes through. The Philpot kids are gone but they'll have some new guys that'll step up. They'll always have good players there."
Huskies head coach Scott Flory on the matchup with Calgary and what he seen from his team in the preseason game:
"It's going to be a lot of fun. It is. This was really good. You could feel the nerves a little bit at the beginning. You could feel it in some of the young guys — not concern but they were apprehensive and eager to play. But also, we've got some new pieces in there too — starters that need to get that and feel that contact — so it was good. We're excited for next week — we're full speed ahead for Calgary."
Muzika on the Huskies debut of Katley Joseph, a spring transfer from the University of Maine, following the preseason game:
"Outstanding. He's doing what we expected him to do and what we saw him do during training camp. He's an outstanding player. We're excited to have him on our football team."
Flory following the preseason game on his evaluation on the performance and what the contest means for the program:
"I'm going to have to watch the film, but I think a big thing with this is we need to confirm what we're doing on practice translates to the field. Listen, I think we've got a pretty clear cut who our number-one's are. It's just about getting those next guys ready, just to make sure from a program standpoint, we're functioning at a high level. We're going to have injuries. We're going to have these kinds of things — so we need to make sure we're two, three, four deep."
5(ish) Things:
1. Saskatchewan earned the number-one billing, according to the conferences coaches. The Huskies were ranked number-one in the Canada West preseason coaches poll. The rankings were rounded out by Manitoba, UBC, Calgary, Alberta and Regina.
2. The Huskies were also the top-ranked Canada West team in the first edition of the U SPORTS Top Ten that was released on Tuesday. Saskatchewan slotted in at number-two, trailing only the defending Vanier Cup Champion Western Mustangs — who are set to host the national championship game in London on Nov. 26.
3. Of Saskatchewan's 10 Canada West All-Stars in 2021, seven have since graduated from the program.
4. The Huskies are looking to hand the Dinos their first home opener loss since 2007.
5. Calgary and Saskatchewan have won the last five Hardy Cups, dating back to 2016.
6. These two programs rank first and second in all-time conference wins, sting back to 1968. Saskatchewan's 227 wins ranks second only to Calgary's 262.
7.
Mason Nyhus enters the season seventh in Huskies all-time passing touchdowns with 35. Brent Schneider is the all-time leader with 56 from 1992-96.
Scouting the Dinos:
Saskatchewan isn't alone in dealing with departures. Gone from the Calgary program are the likes of Tyson and Jalen Philpot — who are each starring in the CFL — as well as quarterback Josiah Joseph.
Joseph turns the keys over to Matteo Spoletini, who will take over as the starter under centre for Calgary. Spoletini, who is set to be just one of two new starters at quarterback this season in the Canada West, competed eight of 15 passes along with a touchdown and interception last season.
The Philpot brothers will certainly be a loss for Spoletini. Tyson, who was the Canada West Player of the Year in 2021, and Jalen were each U SPORTS First-Team All-Canadians last season. The pair ranked one-two in receiving yards in the Canada West in 2021 — Jalen racked up 799 yards on 43 receptions, Tyson totalled 746 yards on 41 receptions. Fellow pass catcher Nathaniel Durkan, who registered 293 receiving yards on 27 receptions also is graduated from the program.
Jacob Biggs and Daniel Flanagan will be tasked with anchoring a Dinos defence that seen Jacob Plamondon make the Edmonton Elks of the CFL. Biggs is a versatile half back who is Calgary's lone returning Canada West All-Star, while Flanagan finished third in the conference in total tackles with 37 and second in sacks with three.
Leading the Dinos into battle is head coach Wayne Harris. Harris is entering his sixth year as the programs head coach, after taking over for Blake Nill following his departure to UBC. Harris holds an all-time coaching record of 46-37 in his six seasons at the helm.
Elsewhere in Canada West:
Regina at Manitoba, Friday, Sept. 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Alberta at UBC, Saturday, Sept. 3 at 7:00 p.m.
