FB: Manitoba's Jackson Tachinski named Player of the Year

Nov. 7, 2024 - Manitoba quarterback Jackson Tachinski has been named the 2024 Canada West Football Player of the Year, coming off a dynamic campaign where he led the Herd to a first place 7-1 record, their best regular season finish in 17 years.

The Bisons were well represented as the conference unveiled its major award winners on Thursday. Head coach Brian Dobie was named Coach of the Year in his 29th and final season, while Giordano Vaccaro was named Outstanding Lineman.

Calgary's Nate Beauchemin was recognized as the conference's Outstanding Defensive Player, while UBC defensive lineman Deacon Sterna was named Rookie of the Year. ​

The Hardy Cup bound Saskatchewan Huskies also had two representatives. Running back Ryker Frank was named the Student-Athlete Community Service recipient, while Senior Advisor Jerry Friesen was named the conference's Gino Fracas Award nominee for U SPORTS Assistant Coach of the Year.

All recipients will go on as Canada West's nominations for the U SPORTS national awards.

87th BioSteel Hardy Cup

The conference's football season is set for a dramatic conclusion this Saturday (Nov. 9) as the Regina Rams and Saskatchewan Huskies are set to clash in the 87th BioSteel Hardy Cup. The game is set for 1 p.m. CST at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.

The winner of the Hardy Cup will host the Mitchell Bowl on Nov. 16, pitting the Canada West champion against the RSEQ champion.

MAJOR AWARD WINNERS & ALL-STARS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jackson Tachinski (Manitoba Bisons)
​Position: Quarterback ​
​Year: Fourth
​Hometown: Winnipeg, Man. ​
​Program: Agriculture & Food Sciences

Also a unanimous all-star selection, Manitoba quarterback Jackson Tachinski becomes the first Bison since 2002 and third overall to be named Canada West Player of the Year.

Tachinski was second in efficiency in Canada West at 150.6, while setting career highs in passing yards (1,662), passing touchdowns (11) and rushing yards (570). In his career as starting quarterback, he’s won 15 games, leading the Bisons to a home playoff game in two of his three seasons as QB1. He has 4,553 career passing yards and 1,519 rushing yards as a Bison, with 28 passing scores and 21 rushing majors.

OUTSTANDING LINEMAN: Giordano Vaccaro (Manitoba Bisons)
​Position: Offensive Lineman
​Year: Third
​Hometown: Winnipeg, Man. ​
​Program: Agriculture & Food Sciences

Offensive guard Giordano Vaccaro has been named Lineman of the Year for the first time in his career, becoming the ninth Bison overall to earn the recognition, and first since 2016.

A 2023 All-Canadian and three-year starter who's played at left tackle and guard, Vaccaro – who was also named a unanimous Canada West All-Star selection this season – is the first Bisons offensive lineman since Chris Bochen in 2001 and 2002 to earn back-to-back Canada West All-Star selections.

Vaccaro, alongside fellow offensive line all-stars Sean Rowe and Mark Rauhaus, helped the Herd set a school record with 2,016 rushing yards in 2024, which also led the nation.

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Nate Beauchemin (Calgary Dinos)
​Position: Defensive Back ​
​Year: Fourth
​Hometown: Kelowna, B.C. ​
​Program: Kinesiology

It has been another outstanding season for Nate Beauchemin. After breaking onto the scene last year, the fourth-year safety continued to grab national headlines this season with a Canada West-leading four interceptions – double that of the next closest player and tied for second most in all of U SPORTS. The Kelowna, B.C., product returned two of those picks for touchdowns, which was the most by a defensive player in all of Canada this year. His 167 interception return yards are a new single-season program record for the Dinos. The 6-foot-2 safety also stuffed the stat sheet with 41 total tackles on the year, to go with one forced fumble and one blocked field goal.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Deacon Sterna (UBC Thunderbirds)
​Position: Defensive Lineman
​Year: First
​Hometown: Calgary, Alta. ​
​Program: Arts

Deacon Sterna showcased his special talent right from the get go in 2024, earning a playing spot in week one for the defending Hardy Cup and Mitchell Bowl Champion Thunderbirds. Earning three total tackles in his first appearance of the season, the defensive lineman from Calgary finished the regular season tied for the Canada West sacks lead with four.

Sterna forced two fumbles and blocked a field goal attempt against the Rams, proving to be a massive piece of UBC’s week three win over Regina, a game which turned the T-Birds’ fortunes around after an 0-2 start to the season.

The graduate of E.P. Scarlett High School finished the regular season with 15 solo tackles and 20 total, his seven tackles for a loss leading all Thunderbirds and just 0.5 off the conference lead.

Sterna made himself well-known to the Saskatchewan Huskies in his first career Canada West playoff game with 3.5 tackles, another forced fumble, and 1.5 sacks.

The 6-foot-2, 220 pound Sterna is UBC’s first Canada West Rookie of the Year winner since quarterback Garrett Rooker earned the honour in 2021. He’s also the first defensive lineman to become the Peter Gorman nominee as U SPORTS Rookie of the Year since Regina’s Nicholas Dheilly in 2016.

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Ryker Frank (Saskatchewan Huskies)
​Position: Running Back
​Year: Fourth
​Hometown: Regina, Sask. ​
​Program: Mechanical Engineering

While the fourth year running back is well known for his prowess on the gridiron, including being named a Canada West All-Star this season and leading his team back to the BioSteel Hardy Cup this Saturday, his extensive list of contributions to Huskie Athletics extends well beyond the field of competition.

During his time at USask, he has consistently demonstrated leadership and a passion for giving back to his community. Ryker has served as a foster home provider with SOS Prairie Rescue for several years, caring for foster cats by handling feeding, medication, and hygiene.

In addition to his volunteer work with animals, Ryker has dedicated his time to coaching and mentoring young athletes. For the past four years, he has been a coach at Huskie Football’s high school camps, guiding and mentoring aspiring athletes through rigorous practices, supporting their growth both on and off the field. He has also served as a coach for Saskatoon Minor Football’s U16 Spring Academy, focusing on position-specific training for running backs and coordinating special teams.

Ryker also volunteers with KidSport’s annual Amazing Race event, where he runs a football skills station, offering guidance and encouragement to participants in activities such as kicking, throwing, and catching. His enthusiasm and mentorship contribute to a positive experience for the youth involved.

He has also thrived academically during his time at USask, earning Academic All-Canadian status every season while maintaining a 93.5% overall average in the College of Engineering during the last academic year.

"Ryker is the dream student-athlete all coaches love to have on their team. He is humble, hard working, and a 'low maintenance' athlete who does everything right on and off the field. He is a team leader and captain, he excels on the field of play as an elite running back, and further inspires his teammates off the field through his commitment to training and academics. Ryker is the most deserving athlete I've coached to receive this award." - Scott Flory, Saskatchewan Huskies Head Coach

Coach of the Year: Brian Dobie (Manitoba Bisons)

In his final year as bench boss after 29 seasons, Bisons football head coach Brian Dobie has been named Canada West Coach of the Year. It’s his sixth time earning the honour in his career, the second-most in conference history.

It’s his first Coach of the Year nod since 2006, after leading the Bisons to their best regular season record (7-1) in 17 years.

GINO FRACAS AWARD NOMINEE: Jerry Friesen (Saskatchewan Huskies)

A member of the University of Saskatchewan Athletic Wall of Fame and the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame, Jerry Friesen has been an invaluable member of the Huskies coaching staff since his return to the program in 2017.

Friesen brings over 25 years of coaching experience in both U SPORTS and the Canadian Football League. Friesen first joined the Huskies’ coaching staff in 1986, staying for 10 seasons and winning the 1990 Vanier Cup. He then had multiple coaching stops with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Calgary Dinos, and Alberta Golden Bears, before returning to his alma mater in 2017.

As a player, Friesen spent five seasons with the Huskies before being drafted by the Montreal Alouettes in 1978. He played nine seasons in the CFL with the Alouettes and Roughriders. As a Huskie, the linebacker was a conference all-star for three straight seasons and an All-Canadian twice.