'It’s a long time coming': Huskies excited to hit field in Saskatoon for first real gridiron test in nearly two years
The U of S Huskies football team, like other university teams, have not played a game against another opponent in nearly two years and players say that is jacking up excitement for this weekend's preseason game against Manitoba.
"Honestly it's a long time coming. All the boys are jacked just to hit somebody other than our own team so everyone's looking forward to it," said Quarterback Mason Nyhus.
Head coach Scott Flory says there have been plenty of battles for opportunities in training camp and with nearly 700 days between playing games, Saturday's tilt could show who excels where on the depth chart.
"It will be a good test for us and be able to put a lot of guys in different spots and stress them and see what comes of it. But from a training camp perspective, we're getting out of it what we want to get out of it," said Flory.
Several key players are back with the Huskies on offence, including 2019 Canada-West player of the year, running back Adam Machart, quarterback Mason Nyhus, and receiver Colten Klassen, who was a 2018 and 2019 Canada-West all star. The duo may be a potent connection this season.
"I really hope so, obviously I love C.K. He's a great route runner, great competitor and just getting that guy and the ball in space is fantastic. Same thing with 20 right, we have a lot of dynamic athletes," said Nyhus.
On defence, coach Flory says he expects their front six to cause problems for opposing offences.
"We're big and strong and athletic in the front six for sure and they've got to do their job. We've got to be gap sound, we got to stop the run, all those kind of things"
Players say the lost season in 2020 shouldn't have an impact, but one focus of training camp are the details.
"You know, we always stress the details. Just being sound. Knowing our job. Trusting the guy next to you. That kind of thing," said Adam Machart.
The Huskies clash with Manitoba in a preseason contest Saturday at 2 p.m at Griffiths Stadium.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.