Huskies set to face familiar rival Laval in 57th Vanier Cup
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies had one goal in mind when the season began in August: to win the Vanier Cup.
After falling to the Western Mustangs 27-21 in the national championship game a year ago, the Huskies met every goal they set for themselves this season and are now one sleep away from playing in the 57th Vanier Cup in London, Ont. on Saturday.
"This is kind of the final step that our program has to make -- that's winning a Vanier Cup" quarterback Mason Nyhus said Friday before the team's final practice.
"So I think our sole focus and goal is winning on Saturday this year."
The Huskies' laser-sharp focus has been on display all year. The team has a combined 10-1 this season, with their only loss being a 35-29 loss to British Columbia in the second-last game of the regular season.
However, standing in the Huskies' way is a familiar foe, the Laval Rouge Et Or.
Saskatchewan and Laval have faced each other four times in elimination playoff games. All games finished with close scores. After a loss in 1999, there was a string of three straight meetings between 2004 and 2006 with Saskatchewan winning a national semifinal in 2005.
The Huskies hosted the Vanier Cup in 2006 at Griffiths Stadium, and the game is more remembered for the bone-chilling temperatures than it is for compelling action.
With the temperature hovering near -30 C with the windchill, Laval ended up winning 13-8 for Saskatchewan's third consecutive loss at a Vanier Cup.
Laval has since gone on to win six more Vanier Cups.
Though none of the current Huskies players have faced Laval, the respect for the championship juggernaut runs deep.
"Just the fact that you get to play against another national powerhouse like Laval who's been one of the top programs in the country since the start, it's really exciting for you to say when you're done playing football, 'Yeah, I got to play against the University of Laval in the Vanier Cup,'" defensive back Charlie Ringland said.
Looking to tinker with the preparation routine from last year, head Scott Flory decided to fly home with the team after its 36-19 win over the St. FX X-Men in last weekend's Uteck Bowl.
This allowed the team additional practices, video sessions, and the comforts of home before chartering a plane to London Wednesday afternoon.
A year ago, Flory and the team decided to stay at a Montreal hotel for eight days instead of returning to the prairies between games.
"We felt it was incredibly productive actually being back in those first few days of practice back at Griffiths and then also from a coaching standpoint and game planning and all that stuff," Flory said.
With all that extra preparation being done at home, Flory isn't putting any extra pressure on his players. He wants them to go out and play like they always do.
"Don't think, just do. Just play. Sometimes the worst thing athletes can do is think -- and we're not here to think," he said. "That's why we train. That's what we prepare for. We just want them just to play. We get it's not just another game, it's a Vanier Cup."
The game will also feature the two finalists for the Hec Crighton Trophy as the MVP of Canadian university football: Nyhus and Laval receiver Kevin Mital.
Mital ended up winning the award Thursday after compiling 58 catches for 751 yards and 12 touchdowns.
With the hours running out on Nyhus' Huskies career, the fifth-year quarterback is doing his best to soak up the experience of gameday one final time.
"'I've got two more days here in my university career, so I'm just grateful for everything," Nyhus said. "Trying to focus on the football game and just trying to get ready to win a Vanier Cup, so yeah, I'm feeling good."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL has suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.