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The University of Saskatchewan Huskies logo.1912-2000
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The Saskatchewan Huskies started playing university football in 1913, but they were officially a team in 1912, when the school committee decided to form a rugby club with the students. In 1913, their first official season took place and this Saskatchewan team consisted of students that were enrolled in the Arts and Sciences department of the university. During the 1913 season, Saskatchewan went 0-3. Two of those losses came against the Saskatoon Quakers, and the other loss came against the College of Law also from the university. The following season in 1914, Saskatchewan rebounded from the season before and compiled a 2-1 record. The two wins came against the Saskatoon Quakers, and their only loss came in the provincial final in which they lost to Regina 31-0. In the rest of the decade, Saskatchewan compiled a 2-9 record (there was no team in 1916 and 1918 due to the war effort).In the 1920s, Saskatchewan's first full decade as a varsity rugby team, they had their ups and downs. Saskatchewan's first collegiate game happened in 1922, when they faced the University of Alberta. In that game, Saskatchewan defeated the Golden Bears 23-0. Saskatchewan's best season in the 1920s was during the 1929 season, when Saskatchewan compiled a 5-3 record. During that season, Saskatchewan went to their first ever Hardy Cup to determine the best collegiate team in Western Canada. In the two game series against the University of British Columbia (UBC), Saskatchewan lost the series by a combined score of 28-4.
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The 1930s were the best decade so far for the Huskies. Combined Saskatchewan went 33-25-1 with five Hardy Cup victories in the decade. Saskatchewan's first Hardy Cup came in 1930, when Saskatchewan compiled a 5-1 record. Their first Hardy Cup victory came against UBC when they defeated UBC by the score of 18-3. Saskatchewan's second Hardy Cup was in the 1934 season, when they had a 1-5-1 record. The only reason that the Huskies only won the Hardy Cup that season was because of the challenge system (the challenge system was a way of playing a season in which the champions would accept challenges from anyone, and if the challenger won, they will be known as champions until someone else bested them).Saskatchewan's third Hardy Cup came in 1935, when they finished the season with a 3-1 record. With no challenge series this year, Saskatchewan finished in first place with a decisive victory over the University of Alberta by the score of 27-1. The following season in 1936, Saskatchewan won their fourth Hardy Cup of the 1930s. They finished the 1936 season with a 5-1 record. In 1937, the huskies won their last Hardy cup of the decade by finishing the season with a 4-1 record. Also in the same season, Saskatchewan also captured the Northwestern Rugby League championship by defeating the Edmonton Athletic Club 8-5.
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Saskatchewan's next significant season was during the 1941 season, in which the Huskies compiled a 4-2 record and returned to the Hardy Cup finals, (which was on a hiatus in the season previous). In the game, the Huskies won the Western championship over the University of Alberta. This Hardy Cup was the last one in which head Coach Kent Phillips coached the Huskies towards the Hardy Cup. During the seasons 1942-1947, Saskatchewan was only playing military teams due to the war efforts of World War II. For the next two seasons (1948-1949), Saskatchewan only won one game, and their combined was 1-7. After the 1949 season, the University of Saskatchewan, along with the University of Manitoba and the University of Alberta decided to cease operations.Before the 1959 season opened, Saskatchewan and Alberta finally decided to return to collegiate football. In the season itself, Saskatchewan did not win any games when they finished the season with a 0-6 record. The next time Saskatchewan would actually win a game was during the 1962 season where they finished the season with a 1-4 record. The next significant season for Saskatchewan was during the 1973 season in which they were a part of the Canada West Conference in which they are still a part of. During that season, Saskatchewan finished with a 6-2 record and was tied for first place with the University of Manitoba. With Saskatchewan and Manitoba tied for first, they played for the Hardy Cup and unfortunately for Saskatchewan, they outmatched and lost the game 21-8. Even with that loss in the Hardy Cup, Saskatchewan considered that season a success. Also during the 1973 season, Saskatchewan quarterback, Dave Pickett won the Hec Crighton award for being the best player in collegiate football in Canada.
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Game action between the Saskatchewan Huskies and the Alberta Golden Bears.Circa 1973
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The following season, Saskatchewan once again finished in first place with a 5-2 record, and captured their seventh Hardy Cup in school history. With their Hardy Cup victory, Saskatchewan went to their first ever Churchill Bowl against the Western Mustangs. In this national semi-final game, Saskatchewan wound up losing the game 41-17 and was denied the chance to play for the Canadian College Bowl. From 1975-1987, Saskatchewan did not win any championships, in fact their best record during that time was during the 1976 season in which Saskatchewan finished with a 4-3-1 record, good enough for a second place finish.Saskatchewan's next significant season was during the 1989 season in which, they went to their second national championship (since 1982, the Canadian College Bowl was now named the Vanier Cup) that was held in Toronto. In the 1989 season, Saskatchewan finished with a 6-2 record. In the Hardy Cup final against UBC, Saskatchewan won the game 22-18, and went to another Churchill Bowl in which they played against Queen's University. In this national semi-final game, Saskatchewan went on to win their first ever Churchill Bowl 40-11 and went to another Vanier Cup, in which they played against Western University in the national championship. Saskatchewan put up a fight but ended up losing 35-10.
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Depth chart for Saskatchewan during the 1989 Vanier Cup.18 November 1989
Skydome, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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In the 1990 season, Saskatchewan returned to the Vanier Cup by defeating UBC 24-9 to claim their 10th Hardy Cup in school history. With that win, Saskatchewan returned to the Churchill Bowl and played Bishop's University. In the Churchill Bowl, Saskatchewan won their second straight Churchill Bowl by the score of 41-13, and returned to the Vanier Cup where they played the Saint Mary's Huskies. In the championship game, Saskatchewan won their first national championship as they defeated Saint Mary's in a close game by the score of 24-20.9
The 1990 Vanier Cup champions.Circa 1990
Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Before the end of the 20th century, Saskatchewan would have three more significant seasons in which the Huskies would appear in the Vanier Cup. The first season in which they appeared in the Vanier Cup was during the 1994 season in which the Huskies would play and ended up losing the national championship game to the Western Mustangs 50-40 in overtime.11
Inside the huddle with Saskatchewan.Circa 1994
Skydome, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Credits:A. Martin
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Vanier Cup jersey worn by #19 Brent Schneider.19 November 1994
Skydome, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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The next significant season was during the 1996 season in which, Saskatchewan won their 13th Hardy Cup when they defeated UBC. Saskatchewan returned to the Churchill Bowl to play the Guelph Gryphons, in which Saskatchewan won 33-9, and returned to the Vanier Cup in which the Huskies would play the St. Francis Xavier X-Men. In this championship game, the Huskies would capture their second Hardy Cup when they defeated the X-Men 31-12 and captured their second Vanier Cup in history.14
Players hoisting the Vanier Cup.30 November 1996
Skydome, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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