Huskies looking for redemption in Vanier Cup showdown

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies wrapped up their final practice at Mosaic Stadium on Friday, determined, calm and fully aware of the stakes ahead of their Vanier Cup showdown against the University of Montreal Carabins.

For the veterans who lived through the heartbreak of 2021 and 2022, the meaning of returning to the national championship game was especially special.

First-year receiver Daniel Wiebe said the opportunity carried weight he felt more than ever.

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“Being here meant everything,” he said after practice. “Those first two years I was young, but now I know how it feels to lose those big games. There’s literally one more chance at it.”

Defensive lineman Charlie Parks, who grew up playing football in Regina, said the Huskies were leaning hard on the identity that carried them through the Canada West playoffs.

“We fell back on our core values — physical … having fun,” he said. “When times got tough, those were easy things to keep doing.”

Running back Ryker Frank, another Regina product, said returning to Mosaic Stadium for a national championship felt like a “full-circle” moment. He played much of his minor and high school football on the same field and expects a strong Saskatchewan crowd to bring a rare home-province atmosphere to the Vanier Cup.

Friday’s last practice lasted two hours and was a crisp, detailed walkthrough packed with reminders, last-minute adjustments, and final situational reps.

Head coach Scott Flory said the work was already done long before the team stepped on the turf.

“The hay is in the barn,” he said. “The game plan’s in, the prep works done, and the boys are ready.”

Flory said this week felt like the culmination of a process that began at the team’s first meeting back in January. Veterans established the tone early, new recruits were introduced, and the leadership group set expectations that carried through the season.

“It goes back a long way,” Flory said. “Years in the making for a lot of guys.”

The Huskies entered the game with one of the country’s strongest defensive units, a front-six, Flory said, that he’s built over several seasons. Saskatchewan rotated eight defensive linemen all year long, a group he describes as “big, mean and physical,” supported by linebackers who played fast and free.

“They wreaked havoc,” he said. “They fly around, it’s fun to watch.”

Offensively, the spotlight remained on second-year quarterback Jake Farrell.

“He just has to be himself,” Flory said. “He has the trust and faith of his teammates.”

The Huskies also emphasized the importance of establishing the run early, not only to set the physical tone but also to open play-action opportunities and relieve pressure on their young quarterback.

Frank and the offensive line have carried that responsibility throughout the season, and the team expects another physical battle at the line of scrimmage.

Across from them will stand a Montreal squad known for its length, speed and discipline, a Carabins team Flory calls “everything you expect a championship-style team to be.”

The Huskies expect a tough, back-and-forth battle between the two groups built on similar foundations.

Fans travelling to Regina or tuning in across the country should expect what Parks called “best-on-best football,” with two of the most physical teams in U Sports meeting in a national final.

Kickoff for the 60th Vanier Cup is scheduled for 1 pm at Mosaic Stadium.

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