Latest news with #Dogs'Breakfast
Global News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Super Bowl champion Willson highlights USask Huskies' 23rd annual Dogs' Breakfast
In his travels through football which have taken him all across North America, Luke Willson had never stepped foot in Saskatchewan until landing in Saskatoon on Wednesday. It took less than 24 hours for the Super Bowl champion to see what the hype was about when it came to the province's football scene, following his appearance on Thursday at the 23rd annual Dogs' Breakfast fundraiser at Prairieland Park. 'It's electric,' said Willson. 'It's 7 a.m. right now, we got music blaring, the lights from top to bottom, the players even being here are pretty special. I've always heard that Saskatchewan is the football capital if you will of Canada. Everywhere I've gone it'll be like, 'Man you want to know where they're doing it right when it comes to football? Saskatchewan.'' One of just 17 Canadians to win the Super Bowl, Willson spent parts of eight seasons in the National Football League with the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens. Story continues below advertisement It's a story that began as a high school football star in LaSalle, Ontario, a path not too dissimilar to the 22 new recruits for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team who crossed the stage on Thursday morning. One of those being Holy Cross High School running back Aulain Penner, committing to his hometown Huskies and shaking the hand of head coach Scott Flory. 'I was here last year as a recruit watching guys,' said Penner. 'I was like, 'That could be me.' Here it is, so it's crazy that it's come true and I'm finally here now.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I was here last year as a recruit watching guys," said Penner. "I was like, 'That could be me.' Here it is, so it's crazy that it's come true and I'm finally here now." For Flory, it's a day he has circled on his calendar every year as a symbolic end to the recruiting process and one which turns the page to the development of their rookie talent. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It was heavily localized here within the city which is really good and which means the product here is strong,' said Flory. 'We feel we don't over-recruit. We want to bring the right people into our program and we feel like we got the right kids that are coming in.' In all, this year's Dogs' Breakfast was able to raise $110,000 on the day through donations and was capped off by a sizable $300,000 donation courtesy of the Saskatchewan Roughriders Foundation to provide scholarships for incoming and current student-athletes. Story continues below advertisement Two Huskies veterans were also honoured by Roughriders head coach Corey Mace and general manager Jeremy O'Day before the end of the event, in what's become a recent tradition. As linebacker Seth Hundeby and receiver Daniel Wiebe were given their official team hats after being selected by Saskatchewan two days prior in the 2025 CFL Draft. 'Trevor Harris reached out to me,' said Hundeby. 'I was like, 'Man you're the quarterback of the Roughriders.' Just to be a part of that foundation it really means a lot. I'm super excited to be a part of it.' 1:06 Saskatchewan Roughriders GM O'Day reflects on top picks in 2025 CFL Draft Hundeby was nabbed in the fourth round on Tuesday by the Roughriders, while Wiebe was taken with the team's final pick in the eight round. The pair, alongside Huskies teammate Lane Novak who was selected by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, all watched the draft together with friends and family and got to celebrate all three getting to advance their football careers. Story continues below advertisement 'It's still kicking in and it's crazy to think,' said Wiebe. 'Looking back I've dreamed of playing for the Riders for a long, long time. To have that opportunity means everything to me, so I'm feeling grateful.' Hundeby has been confirmed to return to the Huskies for the 2025 Canada West season, while both Wiebe and Novak are eligible but have not yet committed either way in regards to the remainder of their Canada West play. Spring camp for the Huskies will get underway on Thursday night at Griffiths Stadium with Willson delivering a key piece of advice for the recruits putting university pads on for the first time. 'You want to sit here to make your mark early and prove you belong here,' said Willson. 'So it's that kind of combination of excitement, but also you got to buckle the chin strap because the bullets will be flying a lot faster than they were in high school.' Touted as one of the top running back recruits in western Canada, Penner said he's excited for the challenge and is ready to make that leap up to the Huskies program. 'It's a big jump and it feels like opening a new book,' said Penner. 'It's a blank slate. I don't have a name anymore, I got to build myself up from the ground [floor] one and I'm ready to do that.' Story continues below advertisement Huskies spring camp runs through Sunday at Griffiths Stadium and will be capped off with a scrimmage on Sunday at 11 a.m.
CTV News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Dogs' Breakfast headlined by Super Bowl champion Luke Willson
The 23rd annual Dogs' Breakfast supporting Huskies football brought out some of the big names in the sport. One of the largest football fundraising events in Canada brought around 1,400 University of Saskatchewan Huskie football supporters together in the early hours of Thursday morning. While head coach Scott Flory says the event, hosted by the Huskie Football Foundation, is known by many as the unofficial start of football season. 'First off, it's a great morning kicking off spring here and football season,' said Flory. 'At the end of it, we're trying to raise money for scholarships first. And that is really what it's about. But it's also bigger than that. We get to have a guest speaker introduce all the recruits, and just the community support behind the football program is unbelievable to have this many people come support us at 6:30 in the morning. It's just awesome.' The event also serves as the introduction to the 22 new recruits walking across the stage for the first time as Huskies. For some, it's been a long time coming. 'It feels really good because I was here last year as a '25 recruit,' said Aulain Penner, running back. 'So, I got to watch guys from my high school, because I'm from Saskatoon. I got to watch them cross the stage, I came to the spring game, I went to the season games. I grew up here, so I always watched the Huskie football games, and now it's me crossing that stage. I'm really excited to experience that.' The new recruits will try to fill spots left by the graduating players such as Lane Novak, who was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, or by Seth Hundeby and Daniel Wiebe picked by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Riders coach Corey Mace says the two were no-brainer decisions after their careers with the Huskies. 'We're looking for them to do exactly the same for us with the Riders,' said Mace. 'So, it works out that it's a combination of keeping the local talent local. We certainly love that as a plus-one. But first and foremost those kids are outstanding football players and they deserve a shot.' The event was headlined by eight-year NFL player for the Seattle Seahawks and Super Bowl XLVIII champion Luke Willson. He is a football analyst for TSN and says he's always trying to grow the game in Canada. Willson says the enthusiasm for football experienced at his first Dogs' Breakfast serves as inspiration when he returns to his home province of Ontario. 'I've always heard, you know who's doing it right? Saskatchewan,' said Willson. 'When it comes to football, Saskatchewan. Whether it's CFL or university. And for me to be able to get out here and see it firsthand, it kind of inspires me to go back to Ontario and be like, listen. What they're doing in Saskatchewan with the football world, we've got to start pushing it in the province of Ontario.' The Huskies hit the field at Griffiths Stadium this weekend for Spring Camp with the Green and White game on Sunday morning. Then the Roughriders will take over for rookie camp beginning May 9, with main camp kicking off on the 11.
