The 2026 Canada West Football season is officially upon us, with a full slate of Week 1 games set for this weekend's conference schedule. The reigning Canada West champion Saskatchewan Huskies are set to take on the Manitoba Bisons, who finished fourth in the conference standings a year ago, in the third week one meeting in four years between the two prairie programs.Â
Both teams saw key departures following the 2025 season, and will be sport new looks across the roster. For Saskatchewan the most notable departures included receiver
Daniel Wiebe, linebacker
Seth Hundeby, and running backÂ
Ryker Frank while Manitoba saw quarterback Jackson Tachinski and running back Breydon Stubbs graduate the program.Â
A season ago, in two meetings the Huskies and Bisons split their season series. Manitoba proved to be the lone team to hand Saskatchewan a loss, earning a 21-20 week three win after a missed would-be game-winning field goal by the Huskies. The Dogs avenged that loss however in the final week of the regular season, earning a 31-12 home win to complete a 7-1 campaign.
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GAME NOTES
AAs BACK UNDER CENTER: In what is perhaps the story of the season before even playing a snap, fifth-year quarterback
Anton Amundrud is set to return under centre after a battle with cancer. Amundrud played five weeks of the 2025 season, averaging 328 yards without an interception, before being diagnosed with Lymphoma and beginning his return to the field.
THE COMEBACK KIDS?: In addition to the remarkable comeback of Amundrud, there are several comeback stories among the Huskie Football roster. On defence, both
Nathan Jule and
Taz Smith-Windsor will make their debut after being away from the field. Jule has missed both the 2024 and 2025 seasons while Smith-Windsor returns after missing 2025. On offence, receiver
Rhett Vavra will make his debut after suffering an injury in week one of the 2025 season.
A FAMILIAR WEEK 1 FOE: The Huskies and Bisons will face off in the opening week of the regular season for the 12th time this Saturday. Manitoba has come out on top seven times in season debuts while the Huskies have won four times. This will also mark the third time in the past four seasons the two prairie programs have faced off to open a new campaign. The Huskies previously won 30-27 on the road in 2023 before falling 24-27 in 2024.
VS BISONS ALL-TIME: The Huskies and Bisons first took the field in 1923, playing to a 2-2 stalemate. This Saturday will mark the 138th regular season meeting, with the programs having also met eight times in the postseason. The Bisons hold a narrow lead in the all time record with 70 wins while the Huskies have taken 66 meetings. Saskatchewan however, has the playoff advantage with 5 wins.Â
HERDING THE BISONS AS OF LATE: Since 2021, the Huskies have dropped just two games to Manitoba. In 2024 a 24-37 season-opening loss and last season a 20-21 defeat which saw the Huskies miss a would-be game-winning field goal as time expired.
TESTED AND RESTED: The Huskies enter the 2026 regular season coming off a 35-1 preseason victory over the Alberta Golden Bears, which took place Thursday (Aug. 27) last week. Manitoba meanwhile was one of two Canada West teams (UBC) to not suit up for an exhibition game.
NEW STC: While not new to the staff, Ben Whiting has taken over duties as Special Teams Coordinator for the 2026 season. A former Huskie linebacker and member of the 2018 Hardy Cup Champions, Whiting had previously served as a defensive assistant for the previous three seasons. He will continue to coach the Huskie linebackers in addition to his new role.
AMUNDRUD CHASES DOWN RECORDS: Despite missing three regular season games in 2025, the veteran pivot remains among the best statistical quarterbacks in Huskie history. Among career categories he ranks 1st in completion % (66.2), 5th in passing touchdowns (40), 6th in completions (473), and 8th in passing yards (6,042).
TITLE DEFENCE IS ON: After claiming the program's 22nd Hardy Cup title in 2025, the Huskies are officially the team to beat in Canada West this season. Saskatchewan also opens the season ranked third in the nation after U SPORTS released its preseason top 10 a week ago. Only the reigning Vanier Cup champion Montreal Carabins and 2025 RSEQ runner-up Laval Rouge et Or were ranked higher.
RECEIVERS LOOK: A position group with familiarity across the board, the Huskies feature a deep pool of pass catchers in 2026. Veterans
Rhett Vavra,
Dawson Lennea, and
Daniel Kubongo headline the group while third-year student-athletes
Thomas Jule and
Tyrus Flory add experienced depth. A plethora of young talent adds to the potential in
Liam Piccinin (2nd year),
Kyle Conteh (2nd year), and newcomer
Keaton Belsher (1st year).
IN THE BACKFIELD: Following the graduation of Huskie great
Ryker Frank, the Huskie backfield features a trio of talented runners set to fill the gap. Fifth-year
Kayden Miller brings a veteran presence while third-year
Javin Boynton and second-year
Aulain Penner add exciting depth.
IN THE TRENCHES PT. 1 — O-LINE: Headlining the offensive line is fifth-year left tackle and eighth round selection of the Calgary Stampeders
Jack Warrack who is back for his final season in green & white. Saskatchewan also returns 2025 starters
Lucas Seffern and
Braiden DeGroot.
IN THE TRENCHES PT. 2 — D-LINE: After earning 2023 All-Star status the Huskies will welcome
Nathan Jule back to the lineup after the local product missed both 2024 and 2025 with injuries. East-West Bowl participant
Riece Kack will look to provide a pass rush opposite Jule while a deep group of interior lineman will be featured alongside the pair.
BACKERS: Another key departure in the offseason was President's Trophy winner
Seth Hundeby who was the unquestioned leader of the Huskie defence in 2025. Canada West leading tackler
Jacob Goldstone,
Zach Zary,
Porter Hanson, and
Carlos Teklu will look to fill the gap alongside newcomer
Kenten Effa.
THE SECONDARY: The Huskies feature an experienced group of defensive backs this season led by
Taz Smith-Windsor, who returns after missing the 2025 season, and
Ethan Laing, a 2025 starter. Third-year
Sam Pratt, second-years
Aidan Low and
Connor Tyson, and newcomer
Nathan Casimir round out a talented group boasting plenty of depth.
KICKERS: Lucas Scott returns to the fold after an impressive 2025 season. With high hopes for 2026, Scott should provide a steady presence as a place kicker and an extra weapon for Coaching Whiting to utilize against opposing teams.Â
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