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| The starting Saskatoon Hilltops offensive line shares a laugh on the bench. |
Since 1947, the modern version of the Saskatoon Hilltops
junior football club has been part of the fabric of Saskatoon. Soon, they will
try to close their 69th season by claiming an 18th
Canadian Junior Football League championship.
The Toppers host the Kelowna, B.C., based Okanagan Sun on Saturday
at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, which for most of its history was
known as Gordie Howe Bowl. If you haven’t seen the Hilltops play in a while,
there is no better time than Saturday to go out and be part of another memory
associated with the Blue and Gold.
If you are a fan, a former player, a former director, volunteer
or even a former Bridge City media member, this will be a perfect time to
relive some old memories, while supporting a first class franchise that ages
extremely well.
Many things in life like work or personal situations can
pull one away from something they once had a deep rooted investment in. If it
has been a long time since you last saw the Hilltops play, you will discover
something familiar, if you venture to SMF Field on Saturday.
The Hilltops are still that good old neighbour that brings a
smile to your face. When they succeed, you feel extremely proud of them.
Many in the Saskatoon community can recall teaching or
coaching a Hilltops player, when they grew up. If your family had children,
your children might have grown up being best friends with a Hilltops player.
You likely take pride in seeing how outstanding that Hilltops player became as
he grew into adulthood.
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| Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant gives encouragement to QB Jared Andreychuk. |
It is fitting that the Hilltops clubhouse and practice
facility, Ron Atchinson Field, is located in a long existing residential
neighbourhood. Even SMF Field borders with a residential area. The Hilltops are
literally your neighbours.
When you go and visit them, you can feel the family atmosphere,
and it is very welcoming.
Their coaching staff led by head coach Tom Sargeant doesn’t
just help players succeed on the field but helps them become strong first rate
people, who are very community minded.
This Hilltops team is also on the verge of accomplishing a
special milestone. If they win the Canadian Bowl, it will mark the fifth time
in the last six years they have claimed the CJFL title. The only other team to
win five CJFL titles over a six-year span was the Regina Rams from 1993 to 1998
before they moved on to the Canadian university ranks.
You have to like Saskatoon’s chances of matching that
accomplishment. The Hilltops have a veteran team that includes 16 players in
their fifth and final year of junior eligibility. Overall, this is a squad that
has won numerous big games and keeps finding a way to raise its play to a
higher and higher level when everything is on the line.
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| The Hilltops are aiming to pull off one final victory celebration to close 2015. |
When the adversity comes, you almost know and expect the
Hilltops, who are 9-1 overall, to find a way to persevere. If you can witness
of those types of storylines play out again, it would only feel right and
familiar. For a resident of Saskatoon, you know that will be a moment that
makes you feel good.
NOTE - The Hilltops pre-selling tickets for the Canadian
Bowl on Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel. Tickets are $20
for adults, $10 for students and seniors, $5 for elementary school students and
free for pre-school age and under.
If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this blog post, feel free to email
them to stankssports@gmail.com.
