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.

Varsity teams

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.

Men's ice hockey

The University of Saskatchewan men's hockey team played their first season in 1909–10. 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.

Women's ice hockey

Women have been playing hockey at the University as early as 1912. During the 2009–10 season, Breanne George scored a conference-high 28 goals and 18 assists for a league-leading 46 points in 24 games. Fifth-year Huskies forward Julie Paetsch was named the 2011–12 Canada West women’s hockey Player of the Year. The Huskies alternate captain, Paetsch finished the season as the Canada West leader in scoring with 34 points. Her 14 goals and 20 assists were accumulated in 24 games as the Huskies enjoyed a won-loss record of 16–6–2.

Women's Soccer

The University of Saskatchewan women's soccer program played for the first time in an official league in the 1984–85 season. The Huskies play their home games at Griffiths Stadium. The Huskies made their first appearance in the U Sports women's soccer Championship in 2016.
Notable alumni from the program include Kaylyn Kyle, a former Canadian international, as well as Jadyn Steinhauer, Jade Houmphanh, and Erica Hindmarsh, who were part of the Canadian women's national futsal team which won the inaugural CONCACAF W Futsal Championship in May 2025 alongside Huskies head coach Jerson Barandica-Hamilton, who served as assistant coach on the national futsal team.

Women's Basketball

Originally playing as 'the Huskiettes', the University of Saskatchewan women's basketball program first won major honours in 1949, winning the Canadian Western University Championship with a team that featured Sylvia Fedoruk as co-captain. The Huskies play their home games at the Physical Activity Complex. The first national tournament win came in the 2015–16 season, where the Huskies defeated the Ryerson Rams 85–71 to win the CIS Women's Basketball Championship">Canadian Interuniversity Sport">CIS Women's Basketball Championship. In the U Sports women's basketball championship, the Huskies have won 3 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and one bronze. In all three national wins for the Huskies the team has been coached by Lisa Thomaidas. Both Sarah Crooks and Gage Grassick have won the national Player of the Year award.

Women's Volleyball

Founded in 1949, the Huskies have won three U Sports women's [volleyball championship|national championships], all of which were consecutive. In doing so, the team became the first across all sports in Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union to win three successive championships. The teams from this championship-winning three-year run were inducted into the Canada West Hall of Fame. The team plays its home games at the Physical Activity Complex.

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 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

Note: The Huskies no longer participate in field hockey and swimming.

Notable alumni

Basketball

Men's

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
YearFemale athleteSportMale athleteSport
1980Tracy KellyGrant GudmundsonVolleyball
1981Rosalie FlynnDel Chapman
Willie Desjardins		Hockey
1982Tracy KellyMurray & Mark ReddekoppBasketball
1983Gwen WallTrackWillie DesjardinsHockey
1984Gwen WallTrackTim LeierHockey
1985Gwen WallTrackGerald LashynFootball
1986Gwen WallTrackDarcey Busse
Marshall Toner		Volleyball
Football/Hockey/Track
1987Sherry MillerJerome LinnellVolleyball
1988Janet ScottTrackBrian Gavlas
Byron Tokarchuk		volleyball
Basketball
1989Shannon KekulaTrackSheldom RymaBasketball
1990Vanessa MonarTrackScott ReevesWrestling
1991Stacey SinglerVolleyballKim PasloskiHockey
1992Janice BelandTrackImran AkhtarWrestling
1993Seema KamaltrackDean Wiebe
Wayde Bucsis		basketball
hockey
1994Samantha SimpsonSoccerDean WiebeBasketball
1995Tanya LypkaTrackBrent SchneiderFootball
1996Denise MeiervolleyballBrian PurdyHockey
1997Natalie LukiwvolleyballJames RepesseFootball
1998Seema KamalTrackWarren Muzika
Scott Schutz		Football
Volleyball
1999Chelsea GrimsonvolleyballWarren MuzikaFootball
2000Kristin Hagel
Jacqueline Lavallee		Soccer
Basketball		Sheldon MoserHockey
2001Karla JohnsonTrackReid BilbenVolleyball
2002Jon BarkmanHockey
2003Kelsie HendryTrackJamie EppCross country
2004Kelsie HendryTrackAdam EnsVolleyball
2005Kelsie HendryTrackSteve BilanFootball
2006Sarah CrooksBasketballDavid StevensFootball
2007Sarah CrooksBasketballJeff AdamsonWrestling
2008Adrianne VangoolTrackAndrew SpagrudBasketball
2009Jill GallaysWrestlingSteven DaSilvaHockey
2010Breanne GeorgeHockeyShowron GloverBasketball
2011Taryn SuttieTrack & FieldDaniel OlverWrestling
2012Sharai SiemensTrack & FieldJerson Barandica-HamiltonSoccer
2013Koren PitkethlyWrestlingKit HillisFootball
2014Dalyce EmmersonBasketballDerek HulakHockey
2015Annie MonteithWrestlingMark IngramFootball
2016Laura DallyBasketballJordon CookeHockey
2017Astrid NyameTrack & FieldJordon CookeHockey
2018Julie LabachTrack & FieldKieran Johnstontrack & field
2019Julie LabachTrack & FieldTaran KozunIce Hockey
2020Michelle HarrisonTrack and FieldTaran KozunHockey

Canada West Hall of Fame

Source:
  • Brent Schneider, Football: 2019–20 inductee
  • Willie Desjardin, Men's Hockey: 2019–20 inductee
  • Huskies, Men's Hockey, 1980–1983: 2019–20 inductee
  • Darcey Busse, Men's Volleyball: 2019–20 inductee
  • Adam Ens, Men's Volleyball: 2019–20 inductee
  • Lyle Sanderson, Men's Track & Field: 2019–20 inductee
  • Gordon Garvie, Men's Wrestling: 2019–20 inductee
  • Jamie Epp, Men's Cross-Country/Track & Field: 2019–20 inductee
  • Sarah Crooks, Women's Basketball: 2019–20 inductee
  • Breanne George, Women's Hockey: 2019–20 inductee
  • Mark Tennant, Women's Volleyball: 2019–20 inductee
  • Huskiettes, Volleyball, 1978–81: 2019–20 inductee
  • Kelsie Hendry, Women's Track & Field: 2019–20 inductee
  • Ethel Mary Cartwright, Builder-General: 2019–20 inductee
  • Dr. Sylvia Fedoruk, Builder- BB, VB, Track: 2019–20 inductee
  • Pat Jackson, Builder: 2019–20 inductee
  • Val Schneider, Builder: 2019–20 inductee
  • Diane Jones-Konihowski: Women's Track and Field: 2019–20 inductee