Latest news with #ReginaThunder
Global News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
Conference final loss still cuts deep for Saskatoon Hilltops entering 2025 season
Visions of watching the Regina Thunder celebrate a Prairie Football Conference title on his home turf of SMF Field still haunt Saskatoon Hilltops veteran defensive lineman Johnathon Stevens. Fast forward 10 months later after that devastating loss, it's a feeling that's motivating the two-time conference all-star heading into the 2025 season. 'To an extent it's good to have that taste in your mouth just to remember how it felt,' said Stevens. 'It's just figuring out what we did wrong and also expanding on the things that we did right.' The Hilltops are ready to kick off their 2025 Canadian Junior Football League season on Sunday, hitting the road to battle the Winnipeg Rifles. Saskatoon's defence will be led by Stevens once again, entering a brand new season as a key member of the Hilltops defensive line and being named a second-team All-Canadian at his position. Story continues below advertisement That dominance last season caught the attention of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders, who invited Stevens and Hilltops teammate Dalton Urban to the team's rookie and main training camps in May. That stint at Griffiths Stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus included several memorable moments, including a one-on-one matchup with Grey Cup champion and four-time CFL all-star Micah Johnson which became the focal point of practice. 'He's strong,' said Stevens. 'He's strong and he knows some tips there. I know for a fact when we went against each other he was probably licking his lips like, 'Oh I know I'm going to beat him.' Ultimately he did, but I still got something out of it even though I lost.' Stevens was able to parlay that experience towards joining the Roughriders' practice squad, competing on the field nearly every day at Mosaic Stadium over the past two months. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy It's an experience he said was a highlight of his football career, with lessons he's aiming to share with his teammates back on the Hilltops. 'I was blessed to have that opportunity,' said Stevens. 'It's only right that I try to at least share that with lots of my teammates, if I ever can.' Tom Sargeant has watched the Eatonia product develop into one of the top defensive linemen in western Canada, a fact which the Roughriders have also identified in their conversations with the Hilltops head coach. Story continues below advertisement 'Talking to the brass down in 'Riderville' he took full advantage of it,' said Sargeant. 'He's a great kid, a character guy, he shows up every day and just works hard. He's brought the same mentality back here. He's working hard, he's a playmaker and he just makes us better. He's educating and working with some of the younger players, providing that valuable experience.' While Stevens will help provide a veteran presence on the Saskatoon defence this season, it will be a much younger Hilltops team taking the field compared to their 2024 roster with nine graduates leaving the program. 2:05 Regina Thunder upset undefeated Saskatoon Hilltops to win 2024 PFC championship The most notable of which being Hilltops quarterback and PFC most valuable player Trey Reider, who threw for 1,685 yards and 17 touchdowns in eight regular season games and won a national championship with the organization in 2023. Reider's departure from the team has opened the door for backup quarterback Brexton Elias to take over behind centre after four seasons waiting for his opportunity to earn a starter's role. Story continues below advertisement 'We're excited for his opportunity because he's been very patient,' said Sargeant. 'He's waited and he's deserving of this chance, so now he's got to take advantage of it. In the blue and gold we're measured by wins and losses, it ain't more simple than that.' Game-planning for a new quarterback leading the offence, Sargeant added the coaching staff has developed new play calls for Elias which allow him to use his legs and put defences on their heels. 'He can run it at any time,' said Sargeant. 'We've given the green light that we're going to run some option, we're just going to change it up and get him moving a little differently. Trey was more of a gunslinger, he'd rip that ball all over the place. 'Brexton is just [playing] a different style of game.' Suffering their first loss in almost two years last October to the Thunder in the PFC final, the Hilltops have seen their streak of 21 consecutive victories come to an end. Unable to stop the run against Regina in the championship game, that has been a key part of training camp for the 'Toppers' according to Sargeant. 'I want to have the most physical team that blocks the best and tackles the best,' said Sargeant. 'If we do those things, then we should be able to run the ball real well and we should be able to stop the run. So that's the whole focus this year.' Story continues below advertisement The Hilltops will have plenty of work ahead towards getting back on track and claiming a 24th national title, however the memories of that game are dictating the lessons learned in defeat for the Hilltops. They're lessons which Stevens said will be displayed starting in their Week 1 contest against the Rifles. 'It's just about growing,' said Stevens. 'It's all we can do coming into this next season. Hopefully looking forward to another good year, but hopefully and ultimately completing the mission.' The Hilltops will kick off their 2025 CJFL season at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Winnipeg, before returning to SMF Field for their home opener on Aug. 17 against the Edmonton Huskies.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
‘Target on our backs': Regina Thunder ready for PFC title defense in 2025
The Regina Thunder hope to defend their 2024 PFC championship in 2025, something they never been able to do. The Regina Thunder are ready to defend their 2024 Prairie Football Conference (PFC) championship. 'We're super excited,' Thunder Head Coach Scott Macaulay told CTV News Wednesday. 'The offseason tends to be a very long time during to actually be preparing for live bullets and play against a true opponent this week is exciting for everyone.' Last season the Thunder defeated the rival Saskatoon Hilltops in the 2024 PFC title game but lost to the Okanagan Sun in the CJFL semi-finals. The PFC championship was their third all-time, previously winning in 2013 and 2022. Regina finished last season with one of the top offences in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL), finishing second in the PFC in points scored (276), touchdowns for (30) and passing yards (1940) while leading the conference in rushing yards per carry (6.65) and a 6-2 record. Macaulay says the goal is to return to their first Canadian Bowl championship since 2022 and lift the national title for the first time in more than a decade. 'We have individual and team goals we're also working towards,' he said. 'It's a bit of a process, though. You can't get to the national championship without taking that first step.' Over the offseason, the Thunder lost many top players – including their leading rusher – to graduation. The team also changed offensive coordinators and taking over the reigns of the offense is quarterback Adam Mosher, who had just 22 passing attempts in 2024. The returning Thunder pivot says the sting of losing in the national semi-finals has carried over. 'We're playing with a vengeance,' Mosher said. 'We're coming [this year].' Despite having aspirations to return to the national championship, Regina realizes a strong PFC stands in their way. 'We've never [repeated as PFC champions],' Macaulay was quick to point out. 'When I look across the league, there's a lot of parity. You never know really who's going to be the top guys.' 'It's definitely not going to be easy,' Mosher said about defending their title. 'We have a target on our backs. Everyone wants to take out the champ to be the champs. We'll just keep pushing.' Macaulay says Regina will be reliant on their experience to help them reach their end of season goals. 'The good thing about having a veteran group of guys who played last year is they're going to know how to handle themselves in the big-time games,' he said. 'We're not afraid to talk about [a national championship]. But if you want to get there, you've got to take each week by itself.' 'If you're not getting better each week, you might fall behind,' the coach added. Regina begins their 2025 season on the road in Edmonton for Week 1 against the Huskies.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Classic Sports Moments - We look back at 2002 with the Regina Thunder vs. the Saskatoon Hilltops
Watch Matt Young brings you a 2002 game featuring the first ever win for the Regina Thunder over the Saskatoon Hilltops at Gordie Howe Field.
Globe and Mail
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Saskatchewan's Ferland a perfect fit anywhere on Roughriders' offensive line
Logan Ferland has built a reputation for versatility over his CFL career. The 28-year-old can play – and excel – at any position on the offensive line. His adaptability was apparent during the 2024 season, when injuries forced the Roughriders to use 13 different starters and 16 players total on the line. Ferland made 11 starts at right guard, two, including the West final, at right tackle and six, including the West semi-final, at centre. He performed so admirably he was named the outstanding offensive lineman for the West Division and a CFL all-star at guard. For Ferland, from Melfort, Sask., it hasn't been a problem shifting to multiple spots on the offensive line, because it has been something he has been doing since his junior days in the CJFL. He was often lined up against the best defensive lineman the opponents had. 'Where it started was really with the Regina Thunder,' said Ferland, who starred for the team from 2015 to 2019. 'My last couple of years they would move me around in different spots. 'I really got used to it there. I was playing in multiple positions. When I moved on to the 'Riders, I knew that would be a way I could make the team was showing my versatility even though I was undersized at the time.' It appears the Roughriders are going to have to lean on Ferland's versatility once again. The team has already lost a pair of big free agency pickups to long term injury at its training camp at Griffiths Stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus. Centre Sean McEwen, who played last season with the Calgary Stampeders, is out with an unspecified leg injury. Roughriders head coach Corey Mace confirmed Saturday that McEwen, who earned a Grey Cup ring with the Toronto Argonauts in 2017, would be out for a lengthy stretch. Guard Philippe Gagnon tore his biceps at practice on Monday. On Wednesday, Mace said Gagnon's injury might not be season ending, but he won't be available for a while. Gagnon played with the Montreal Alouettes last season and helped them win the Grey Cup in 2023. Those injuries caused the Roughriders to re-sign Saskatchewan Huskies grad Noah Zerr on Tuesday after releasing him on May 14. The Roughriders play the first of their two pre-season games on Saturday, when they travel to Winnipeg to take on the Blue Bombers at Princess Auto Stadium. Saskatchewan has a bit of time before cementing a starting offensive line. The Roughriders open their regular season June 5, hosting the Ottawa Redblacks at Mosaic Stadium. Mace said Ferland's versatility is a huge asset for the team. 'We think so highly of Logan as an offensive lineman, period, and that is at multiple positions,' said Mace. 'If something does happen, having him as somebody who can move into multiple spots allows us to keep him on the field always and affords us an opportunity to put the best linemen out there that we feel gives us the best shot to win. 'I am extremely happy with him. He takes reps at all spots still, so I can't say enough good things about Logan Ferland.' Once the injuries started to happen at training camp, it was business as usual for Ferland. He will play wherever the team needs him to play. 'I approach it like any other year, nothing changes,' said Ferland, who stands six-foot-four and weighs 300 pounds. '[The coaches] do reports for me every year, so I approach it like being ready for any spot. 'If they throw me in at centre, I will play centre. If they want to move me up to tackle, I will be ready for that. If they want to keep me at guard, I'll stay a guard.' Ferland, who says his favourite position is right guard, said a number of coaches with the Thunder and the Roughriders played a huge role in helping develop his versatility. He said he also learned a lot from now retired centre Dan Clark, who is also a Thunder alumnus, and retired guard Brandon LaBatte, a Regina Rams grad. Ferland still says it is special for him to play for the Roughriders after growing in small Saskatchewan towns. He lived in Kindersley until age 11 before moving to Melfort and later playing for the Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate Comets nine-man team in high school. He said the veterans he played with when he first joined the Roughriders reinforced that. 'It really is an honour to be able to play for this province being from here,' Ferland said. 'Growing up watching these guys and now being here, I have to pinch myself sometimes and just really realize where I am at. 'I have full-circle moments when I think back to where I initially started watching those guys and really looking up to those guys on TV.' He says he is now setting a goal for young players who want to play professionally. 'Especially the ones from Saskatchewan – from the small-town schools – that might not think they have the opportunity. 'They can make an opportunity for themselves.'
