# Saskatchewan Huskies

The Saskatchewan Huskies are the athletics teams representing the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The university began their athletics program in 1907 and has competed with others since 1911. They currently compete in elite inter-university competition administered by U Sports and its members, both as regions and as individual institutions.
The University of Saskatchewan is a member of the Canada West Regional Association, one of four such associations within U Sports. The Huskie Athletics program is administered at the University of Saskatchewan by the college of Kinesiology. At various times in its history, Huskie Athletics has offered teams in 24 different sports. At present date, there are 15 teams in the following sports: men's Canadian football and both men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, ice hockey, soccer, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.
Both the football and soccer teams play their home games at Griffiths Stadium, while the men and women's hockey teams play at Merlis Belsher Place.

## Awards and standings

The Huskies are year after year one of the top sport schools in Canada. The football team is recognized as one of the best programs in U Sports. The football team has won the Vanier Cup as National Champions on 3 occasions (1990, 1996, and 1998) and have been runners up on 6 occasions since 1989.
The men's volleyball has been national champions on four occasions, in 1979, 1988, 1999, and 2004. They continue to have a strong team each year. The U of S Huskies have also recently achieved success in men's and women's basketball, and wrestling.
The most successful Huskie team is the Men's and Women's Track and Field teams. Combined they have won the Canada West conference championship 38 times and the national championships 12 times. Most of these championships were won under the leadership of Lyle Sanderson.

### Championships

| Sport | National Championships | National Appearances | Conference Championships |
| Men's Basketball | 1 (2009–10) | 7 (1981–82, 1985–86, 1987–88, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15) | 1 (2009–10) |
| Women's Basketball | 2 (2015–16), 2019–20 | 10 (1982–83, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17) | 5 (2005–06, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17) |
| Men's Cross-Country | 1 (1968) | 6 (1968, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) | 2 (1978 & 1979) |
| Women's Cross-Country | 0 | 8 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) | 0 |
| Men's Curling | 0 | 1 (2011-12) | N/A |
| Women's Curling | 0 | 1 (2011-12) | N/A |
| Field Hockey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Football | 3 (1990, 1996, 1998) | 9 (1989, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006) | 20 (1930, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938,1941, 1965, 1974, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006) |
| Men's Hockey | 1 (1982–83) | 19 (1966–67, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18) | 15 (1926–27, 1929–30, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1958–59, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2006–07, 2011–12, 2015–16) |
| Women's Hockey | 0 | 3 (2003–04, 2013–14, 2017–18) | 1 (2013–14) |
| Men's Soccer | 0 | 2 (2013, 2014) | 1 (2014) |
| Women's Soccer | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Men's Swimming and Diving | 0 | 8 (1956–57, 1957–58, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73) | 0 |
| Women's Swimming and Diving | 0 | 1 (1989–90) | 0 |
| Men's Track & Field | 5 (1969–70, 1970–71, 1986–87, 2001–02, 2004–05) | N/A | 19 (1967–68, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1980–81, 1986–87, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2012–13, 2015–16) |
| Women's Track & Field | 7 (1984–85 (tie), 1985–86, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05) | N/A | 22 (1969–70(tie), 1970–71, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1994-95(tie), 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2017–18) |
| Men's Volleyball | 4 (1978–79, 1987–88, 1998–99, 2003–04) | 18 (1978–79, 1979–80, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2015–16) | 11 (1978–79, 1979–80, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2003–04) |
| Women's Volleyball | 3 (1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81) | 16 (1971–72, 1974–75, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2004–05) | 7 (1974–75, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1990–91, 1991–92) |
| Men's Wrestling | 0 | N/A | 4 (2015–16, 1985–86, 1983–84, 1981–82) |
| Women's Wrestling | 0 | N/A | 1 (2016–17) |
Note: The Huskies no longer participate in Field Hockey or Swimming and Diving.

## Huskies football

The football program at the University of Saskatchewan is one of the more successful programs. They have captured 18 Canada West championships, appeared in 9 Vanier Cup games, winning 3 of them. They play their games at Griffiths Stadium and have hosted many playoff games, including the 2006 Vanier Cup.

## Ice hockey
### Huskies men's hockey

The University of Saskatchewan men's hockey team played their first season in 1909–1910. The current program consists of former major junior and junior A hockey players from across Canada. Since 2018, the Huskies play their home games at Merlis Belsher Place, which replaced Rutherford Arena. The Huskies won their ninth Canada West Championship during the 2015–16 season. In 2017, the Huskies lost the University Cup final by a score of 5–3 to the University of New Brunswick. In 1983, the Huskies won their only University Cup.
The Huskies have a list of alumni who have played or coached in the National Hockey League. Among those included are Mike Babcock, the former coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Todd McLellan, the current coach of the Los Angeles Kings. In 2017, Huskie's goaltender Jordan Cooke was the first active U Sports player to be named to Team Canada's Spengler Cup roster.

### Huskies women's hockey
## Notable alumni
### Basketball

* Sarah Crooks [it], CIS 4x All Canadian, CIS 2x Nann Copp Trophy Winner, Canadian National Team player
* Andrew Spagrud, 2003–04 CIS Dr. Peter Mullins Trophy winner

### Cross-Country

* Jamie Epp, 2xCIAU/CIS Champion and MVP (2000, 2002), 4xAll XC All Canadian, 5x Canadian National Team Member (1999 World Jr XC, 1999 Pan Am Jr Track, 2000 & 2002 FISU XC, 2003 World Sr. XC). Was also a 12x CIAU/CIS medallist in Track and Field

### Hockey
#### Men's

* Jon Barkman, forward, 2001–02 CIS Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Award winner, 2001–02 CIS R.W. Pugh Award winner
* Robin Bartel, former defense, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks
* Jason Becker, defense, 1995-96 CIS Clare Drake Award winner
* Dave Chambers, former head coach of the Huskies ice hockey team and the Quebec Nordiques.
* Gerry Couture, former forward, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks
* Willie Desjardins, forward, 1982-83 CIS Major W.J. "Danny" McLeod Award winner
* Dave Dunn, former defense, Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs
* Bill Hay, former forward, Chicago Blackhawks
* Dave King, former head coach, Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets, 1979-80 CIS Father George Kehoe Memorial Award winner
* Ed Litzenberger, former forward, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks
* Ken Lovsin, former defense, Washington Capitals, 1994 Olympic silver medal, Ice Hockey
* Charlie Mason, former forward, New York Rangers, New York Americans, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks
* Eddie McCalmon, former forward, Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Quakers
* Ross McKay, former goaltender, Hartford Whalers
* Earl Miller, former forward, Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs

### Soccer

* Kaylyn Kyle, midfielder, former Canadian National Team player, 2012 Olympic bronze medal
* Brett Levis, midfielder, FC Tulsa player

### Track and field

* Cyprian Enweani, 1988 Summer Olympian, 200 metres, 1988 Summer Olympian, 4 X 100 metre
* Kelsie Hendry, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05 CIS Women's Outstanding Track Athlete winner, 2008 Summer Olympian, Pole Vault, 2010 Commonwealth Games, Pole Vault, Bronze Medal
* Courtney Hufsmith, 2019 FISU bronze medallist in 1500m Athletics at the 2019 Summer Universiade – Women's 1500 metres

### Volleyball

* Levi Olson, 2018-2023, Canada West All-Star 2023, Czechia Extraliga Volleyball Professional Athlete, Germany Bundesliga Volleyball Professional Athlete, Sweden Volleyball Professional Athlete.
* Dylan Mortensen, 2016-2023, U Sports All Canadian 2023, Canada West All-Star 2018-2023, U Sports Rookie of the Year 2018, Canadian Men's National Volleyball Team
* Colin Fraser, 2014-2019 Canada West All Star 2014-2019, Switzerland Volleyball Professional Athlete
* Bryan Fraser, 2009-2014 Canada West Universities Athletic Association All Star Team 2012-2013 & 2013–2014. Canada men's national volleyball team 2015–present, United Volleys 2015–2016, Abiant Lycurgus 2016-2017
* Kris Brand, Outside Hitter VC Franken, Indios de Mayaguez, Knack Randstad Roeselare
* Tom Graham, 1986-87 CIS Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year winner

## Awards and honors

The Saskatchewan Huskies athletics awards are known as the Major 7. The Female Athlete of the Year is awarded the Mary Ethel Cartwright Trophy, while the Male Athlete of the Year is the recipient of the E. Kent Phillips Trophy. Given to the Men's Rookie of the Year is the Howard Nixon Trophy. The Huskies' Female Rookie of the Year is bestowed the Patricia Lawson Trophy.
In recognition of an All-Around Female Athlete that has demonstrated leadership, sportsmanship, academic ability and athletic prowess, the Valerie Girsberger Trophy is awarded. Recognizing a male athlete's highest qualities of sportsmanship and citizenship, the Rusty MacDonald Cup is awarded. The Huskies award for the Coach of the Year is known as the Colb McEwon Trophy. As a side note, the Huskies also recognize trainers with the Dr. Walter Hader Student Trainer of the Year award.

### Athletes of the Year

This is an incomplete list
| Year | Female Athlete | Sport | Male Athlete | Sport |
| 1980 | Tracy Kelly | | Grant Gudmundson | Volleyball |
| 1981 | Rosalie Flynn | | Del Chapman Willie Desjardins | Hockey |
| 1982 | Tracy Kelly | | Murray & Mark Reddekopp | Basketball |
| 1983 | Gwen Wall | Track | Willie Desjardins | Hockey |
| 1984 | Gwen Wall | Track | Tim Leier | Hockey |
| 1985 | Gwen Wall | Track | Gerald Lashyn | Football |
| 1986 | Gwen Wall | Track | Darcey Busse Marshall Toner | Volleyball Football/Hockey/Track |
| 1987 | Sherry Miller | | Jerome Linnell | Volleyball |
| 1988 | Janet Scott | Track | Brian Gavlas Byron Tokarchuk | volleyball Basketball |
| 1989 | Shannon Kekula | Track | Sheldom Ryma | Basketball |
| 1990 | Vanessa Monar | Track | Scott Reeves | Wrestling |
| 1991 | Stacey Singler | Volleyball | Kim Pasloski | Hockey |
| 1992 | Janice Beland | Track | Imran Akhtar | Wrestling |
| 1993 | Seema Kamal | track | Dean Wiebe Wayde Bucsis | basketball hockey |
| 1994 | Samantha Simpson | Soccer | Dean Wiebe | Basketball |
| 1995 | Tanya Lypka | Track | Brent Schneider | Football |
| 1996 | Denise Meier | volleyball | Brian Purdy | Hockey |
| 1997 | Natalie Lukiw | volleyball | James Repesse | Football |
| 1998 | Seema Kamal | Track | Warren Muzika Scott Schutz | Football Volleyball |
| 1999 | Chelsea Grimson | volleyball | Warren Muzika | Football |
| 2000 | Kristin Hagel Jacqueline Lavallee | Soccer Basketball | Sheldon Moser | Hockey |
| 2001 | Karla Johnson | Track | Reid Bilben | Volleyball |
| 2002 | | | Jon Barkman | Hockey |
| 2003 | Kelsie Hendry | Track | Jamie Epp | Cross country |
| 2004 | Kelsie Hendry | Track | Adam Ens | Volleyball |
| 2005 | Kelsie Hendry | Track | Steve Bilan | Football |
| 2006 | Sarah Crooks | Basketball | David Stevens | Football |
| 2007 | Sarah Crooks | Basketball | Jeff Adamson | Wrestling |
| 2008 | Adrianne Vangool | Track | Andrew Spagrud | Basketball |
| 2009 | Jill Gallays | Wrestling | Steven DaSilva | Hockey |
| 2010 | Breanne George | Hockey | Showron Glover | Basketball |
| 2011 | Taryn Suttie | Track & Field | Daniel Olver | Wrestling |
| 2012 | Sharai Siemens | Track & Field | Jerson Barandica-Hamilton | Soccer |
| 2013 | Koren Pitkethly | Wrestling | Kit Hillis | Football |
| 2014 | Dalyce Emmerson | Basketball | Derek Hulak | Hockey |
| 2015 | Annie Monteith | Wrestling | Mark Ingram | Football |
| 2016 | Laura Dally | Basketball | Jordon Cooke | Hockey |
| 2017 | Astrid Nyame | Track & Field | Jordon Cooke | Hockey |
| 2018 | Julie Labach | Track & Field | Kieran Johnston | track & field |
| 2019 | Julie Labach | Track & Field | Taran Kozun | Ice Hockey |
| 2020 | Michelle Harrison | Track and Field | Taran Kozun | Hockey |

#### Canada West Hall of Fame

* Brent Schneider, Football: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Willie Desjardin, Men's Hockey: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Huskies, Men's Hockey, 1980-1983: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Darcey Busse, Men's Volleyball: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Adam Ens, Men's Volleyball: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Lyle Sanderson, Men's Track & Field: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Gordon Garvie, Men's Wrestling: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Jamie Epp, Men's Cross-Country/Track & Field: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Sarah Crooks, Women's Basketball: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Breanne George, Women's Hockey: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Mark Tennant, Women's Volleyball: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Huskiettes, Volleyball, 1978-81: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Kelsie Hendry, Women's Track & Field: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Ethel Mary Cartwright, Builder-General: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Dr. Sylvia Fedoruk, Builder- BB, VB, Track: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Pat Jackson, Builder: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Val Schneider, Builder: 2019-2020 inductee (inaugural class)
* Diane Jones-Konihowski: Women's Track and Field: 2020-2021 inductee