Some fans of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team are enjoying an extended road trip.
The Huskies played in the Uteck Bowl in Montreal on Saturday, defeating the Montreal Carabins 14-10 in a U Sports semifinal.
Now, with the 56th Vanier Cup being hosted in Quebec City this weekend, members of the Huskies’ fan base stayed out east to watch the biggest game of the year.
Denise Mildner-Ouellet, whose son Jean-Luc Ouellet plays for the Huskies, says it has been an incredible journey so far with the parents on this trip of a lifetime.
“(It has been amazing) to be able to share this moment and the excitement among the parents because, of course, this is the boys’ moment,” she said. “But the moments are also shared by all of the families and Saskatchewan. We’re known to be the best fans.”
Other fans are making plans to fly across the country to watch the Huskies play the Western Mustangs for the Vanier Cup title on Saturday.
Mildner-Ouellet and other Huskies supporters also are still revelling in the Huskies’ victory over Montreal.
With just seconds left, Adam Machart carried the ball into the end zone as the Huskies claimed their first lead of the game.
While it was an electric and historic finish for all of the players and coaching staff, the diehard parents and fans in the stands felt just the same.
Mildner-Ouellet said being in the stands with all of the parents was one of the greatest experiences of all time.
“It was unreal,” Mildner-Ouellet said. “I’ve watched football games when Jean-Luc was little so his whole life and never anything quite as exciting as this.”
Being on the road in Montreal, Mildner-Ouellet says it was a hostile environment right from the opening kickoff.
“The atmosphere from the very start was full of energy and excitement for both sides,” she said. “It was like you were sitting on the edge of your seat.
“When (the Huskies won), that final moment of euphoria, it was just like ‘Wow!’ “