Jaime Lammerding
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
A dominant second quarter led the Saskatchewan Rush to a 14-8 victory over the host Calgary Roughnecks in National Lacrosse League action on the weekend.
The Rush entered the second quarter down 3-1, but four players scored six goals in the second quarter to give Saskatchewan the 7-3 lead at halftime.
When the final whistle blew 30 minutes later, Saskatchewan claimed the win, not only improving its league-leading record to 7-1 but increasing the team’s winning streak to six games.
Austin Shanks and Zach Manns both ended the game with four goals for the Rush, but Shanks won the points battle with five assists compared to Manns’ three.
Lazaruk receives special honorarium
Les Lazaruk, the play-by-play announcer for the Blades since the 1994-95 season, has only missed 25 games with team and is now being recognized for his dedication as the recipient of this year’s Bob Ridley Golden Microphone Honorarium.
The award recognizes a member of the print or broadcast profession for their service at the major junior level with an honorarium that can be donated to the charity or organization of the recipient’s choice.
Mixed results and weather for Huskie teams
As highways closed between Saskatoon and Regina on Saturday, Canada West match-ups between the Huskies and the Cougars were postponed for men’s and women’s basketball and hockey teams.
On the basketball front, the two teams did play Thursday night in Saskatoon as part one of their home-and-home series.
In women’s action, the Huskies maintained top spot in Canada West, as well as their undefeated 17-0 record, by defeating the Cougars 63-45.
Gage Grassick had a double-double in the game for the U of S, recording 10 rebounds, as well as 14 points, as did teammate Maya Flindall.
Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Saskatchewan fell in a close game 72-66, dropping its record to 5-12 and ninth in the Canada West Prairie Division.
Easton Thimm picked up the double-double in the loss with 17 rebounds and a Huskie-leading 15 points.
Both Regina-hosted games have been rescheduled to Tuesday night, with the women playing at 6 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 8 p.m.
Over on the ice, the women’s hockey team captured a 4-1 victory over the host Cougars on Friday night before a 3-2 overtime shootout loss Sunday night in Saskatoon, seeing its record go to 10-9-2-2-3-2 and third place in the Canada West’s East Division standings.
Jayde Cadieux had a pair of goals in Friday’s win, while teammates Sara Kendall and Kahleen Wisener each added singles and goaltender Colby Wilson made 15 saves on 16 shots. The Cougars prevailed in a shootout Sunday after earlier Huskie goals from Paris Oleksyn and Wisener.In men’s action, the Dogs hosted the Cougars Friday night and were down 5-2 after the second period. Despite scoring a pair of goals in the final period, and outshooting the visitors 50-24, they weren’t able to complete the comeback, eventually falling 5-4.
Jordan Kooy started in net for the Huskies, giving up three goals on 11 shots before being replaced by Nolan Maier, who stopped seven of nine shots.
On Sunday, Chase Bertholet, Liam Keeler, Carter Stebbings and Conner Roulette scored for the Huskies. Bryan Thomson made 28 saves for the shutout in a game that was rescheduled from Saturday due to poor travel conditions.
Saskatchewan is now 17-5-2 record and will host the Calgary Dinos in a crucial Canada West East Division series Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (5 p.m.) at Merlis Belsher Place.
Some Huskie teams were able to get in all their scheduled action on the weekend, including the volleyball and track and field teams.On the court, Saskatchewan hosted the Fraser Valley Cascades in both men’s and women’s action.
Back-to-back victories came on the men’s side in the form of a 3-0 (25-15, 25-17 and 25-19) sweep on Friday, as well as a 3-0 (29-27, 25-18 and 25-21) sweep on Saturday, improving the Huskies to a 9-9 record, placing them sixth in the Canada West standings with two games to go in the regular season.
Emmett Graham led the way with 12 kills for Saskatchewan in the first game, while Isaiah Mamer recorded a team-high 14 kills the following evening.
In women’s action, the Huskies split their games, winning 3-1 (19-25, 28-26, 25-18 and 25-20) Friday, but falling 2-3 (25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 21-25 and 19-17) Saturday.
Saskatchewan’s Taryn Hannah led her team in kills in both games, recording 17 and 26, respectively.
The mixed results left Saskatchewan with a 10-8 record and also sixth in the standings with two games left in the regular season.
In track and field action, the Huskies travelled to the University of Manitoba for to take part in the Jim Daly Bison Classic on the weekend, leaving with six gold medals.
Olamide Olaloku (triple jump), Hailee Woodhouse (300-metre race), Attleigh Maloney (600m race) and the 4x200m relay team all found the top of the podium for the women’s team, while Nathan Pinno (shot put) and Tiago Dimande (60m hurdles) did the same on the men’s side.
Saskatchewan Sport Awards names top athletes of 2025
The 41st Annual Saskatchewan Sport Awards took place on Thursday night in Regina, with six recipients receiving Excellence Awards for their achievements in 2025.
Borden’s Savannah Sutherland was named female athlete of the year after breaking NCAA track and field records and winning international medals, while Regina’s Taylor Barth was named male athlete of the year after capturing two gold medals at the Special Olympics World Winter Games.
The youth male and female Athlete of the year recipients were diver Kash Tarasoff, of Saskatoon, who claimed medals at multiple events across the globe, and Prince Albert’s Ali Diehl, whose accolades in the 2025 also led Swimming Canada to recently name her the Breakout Swimmer of the Year in the Paralympic program.
For the second year in a row, Saskatoon’s Mary Carroll was named coach of the year after guiding multiple athletes, including Tarasoff and female athlete of the year finalist Margo Erlam, to success.
Team of the year honours were given to Team Bryden, which went undefeated at and won the senior men’s world curling championship.
Recipients of the coach dedication, volunteer dedication and Inspire Through Sport awards were also formally recognized after being announced earlier in the month.
