87th BioSteel Hardy Cup Preview
Regina and Saskatchewan set to meet in Hardy Cup for first time since 2002, and only the second time in history
Article by Brian Swane, special to CW
Nov. 8, 2024 - One Province. Two Teams.
Two Finalists. One Game.
The champion of Canada West football will be determined Saturday (Nov. 9), when the Saskatchewan Huskies host the Regina Rams in the 87th BioSteel Hardy Cup. Kickoff from Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon is set for 1 p.m. CST.
The game will be broadcast on SaskTel (maxTV ch 49/349, maxTv Stream ch 49) and Telus as part of the CW Football Showcase. Fans can also catch all the action streaming live on Canada West TV - Powered by BioSteel.
VIEW TICKETS FOR 87th BIOSTEEL HARDY CUP
This is just the second time in the 87-year history of the Hardy Cup that both finalists are from the province of Saskatchewan, and it comes exactly 22 years to the day from the previous championship game featuring the Rams and Huskies.
An all-Saskatchewan final has electrified the entire province. Excitement in the Land of the Living Skies has been off the charts since the Huskies and Rams each punched their Hardy Cup ticket within an hour of each other last Saturday by authoring incredible comeback wins on the road in the semifinal round.
Saskatchewan ensured there will be a new king of Canada West football in 2024, knocking off the defending champion UBC Thunderbirds by a score of 38-33 at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver. The Huskies ended the game scoring 18 unanswered points, including two touchdowns in the final 60 seconds, capped by Ryker Frank one-yard rush into the end zone with just 29 seconds remaining.
Regina upset the first-place team in the regular season with a 28-25 victory over the Manitoba Bisons at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg. Trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter, the Rams went on an 11-play, 101-yard drive that culminated in Nicholas Sirleaf catching a 16-yard touchdown pass from Noah Pelletier with just 19 seconds remaining.
These teams met twice during the regular season, with each narrowly winning on their respective home turf. The Rams beat the Huskies 33-28 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Sept. 6, before the Huskies responded with a 22-20 victory over the Rams at Griffiths Stadium on Oct. 19.
The red-hot Huskies are on a five-game winning streak, and have won six of their last seven contests after opening the regular season with an 0-2 record. Regina got off to a 2-0 start, but then dropped five straight before rallying to clinch a playoff spot by beating the Alberta Golden Bears in its final regular season game.
Regina boasts the best defence in Canada West, allowing both the fewest points and least yards during the regular season. The Huskies counter with a potent offence which scored the second-most points, while totalling the second-most rushing yards and second-most passing yards in Canada West during the regular season.
Four Rams who play on the defensive side of the ball, lineman Tarick Polius along with cornerbacks Dolani Robinson, Jackson Sombach and Brandon Wong, were named 2024 Canada West All-Stars. Saskatchewan’s Canada West 2024 All-Star selections include running backs Frank and Kody Gutek and receiver Daniel Wiebe, as well as lineman Jack Warrack and linebacker Seth Hundeby.
In the first All-Saskatchewan Hardy Cup at Regina’s Taylor Field on Nov. 9, 2002, the Huskies topped the host Rams by a score of 44-28. Overall these teams have met five times in the postseason, most recently in 2012, with Regina holding a 3-2 edge over Saskatchewan in head-to-head playoff games.
Saskatchewan has won the Hardy Cup a record 21 times, while Regina has captured the championship once since joining Canada West in 1999. The winner of Saturday’s clash advances to host the Mitchell Bowl against the RSEQ champion.
BioSteel Hardy Cup Semifinals in 60
Relive the two incredible comebacks that led us to an all-Sask BioSteel Hardy Cup!