HUMBOLDT, TISDALE, MELFORT 鈥� A number of area athletes helped the Saskatoon Hilltops capture its seventh straight Prairie Football Conference championship.
Former Tisdale, Melfort, and Humboldt high school players played roles on a young Hilltops squad. The team shook off two straight early season losses to the Regina Thunder to capture yet another junior football conference titles. In the PFC finals the then 6-2 Hilltops triumphed over the 8-0 Thunder, 29-9. The championship came the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the 2020 season from being held. For 惭别濒蹿辞谤迟鈥檚 Konner Johnson, it was his third PFC championship.
鈥淭his one meant a lot after nearly two years of no football and getting to match up with Regina in Mosaic Stadium,鈥� the linebacker said. 鈥淚t was a great game and they, were a great opponent.鈥�
The Hilltops went on to play the Langley (B.C.) Rams in the national semifinals. The Rams avenged their 2018 and 2019 national championship game losses to Saskatoon with a 17-14 win. The 贬颈濒濒迟辞辫蝉鈥� run of six straight Canadian Bowl titles came to an end.
鈥淭he season obviously didn鈥檛 end the way we wanted it to, but there were still many great things about it,鈥� said Pavel Lalonde, a defensive lineman from Tisdale. 鈥淚f I had to pick something I enjoyed the most this season, it would definitely be winning the PFC on the road and also having such a close group of teammates.鈥�
In the PFC finals, Lalonde found himself competing against his former team to keep the 贬颈濒濒迟辞辫蝉鈥� PFC streak alive. He had previously played for the Thunder.
鈥淪witching from the Thunder to the Hilltops was definitely something you don鈥檛 see very much,鈥� Lalonde said. 鈥淏ut at the end of the day, I had to make a decision that was best for me and looking back it was the best decision I could have ever made. They鈥檙e both two great football programs, but coming to Saskatoon there was just something a little different and I have enjoyed the ride so much so far.鈥�
His brother, Andre, coached the 贬颈濒濒迟辞辫蝉鈥� running backs and special teams this past season. He played for the team in 2009-2013. Their older brother, Ben, was a Hilltop in 2002-2005.
鈥淚t has been good to share the Hilltops culture and community with Pavel,鈥� Andre Lalonde said. 鈥淚 definitely saw him grow as a player and as a person this past year after making the team. With two boys part of the team, it also meant our family came and watched the games more often, which was great too.鈥�
In addition to Pavel Lalonde and Johnson, other area players on the Saskatoon squad鈥檚 roster this season included: Humboldt 鈥� Jared Giddings, Ethan Paslowski, Teijon Abel-Douglas; and Melfort - Connor Rolland, Warner Solsten and Mitch Clarke. Their gridiron passion was sparked by or developed during their days playing for their local school squads.
鈥淧laying high school for the Tornados is when my love for football all started,鈥� Lalonde said. 鈥淲e never really had great teams when I was there, but it鈥檚 playing there when I knew I wanted to take my game to the next level. I still love to follow how the team is doing and, obviously, they had a great season this year and I think Coach [Keenan] Carrier will continue to have great teams there for a while.鈥�
Since 1953, the Hilltops have won 22 Canadian Bowl titles. Their recent streak of six ran between 2014 and 2019. Andre Lalonde said he thinks the success of the program comes from multiple things.
鈥淔irst and foremost, the community and family culture the team has had,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nother big reason is the commitment everyone puts forth from the top down in the organization to getting better each and every day.鈥�
Abel-Douglas, a first-year kicker, praised the competitive atmosphere at 贬颈濒濒迟辞辫蝉鈥� practices.
鈥淓veryone is working to improve and become better throughout the season from day one,鈥� he said. 鈥淓very day you come into practice to get that one per cent better each and every day and everyone embraces that responsibility. Our coaches always put us in spots to succeed, giving us chances to prove ourselves each and every day.鈥�
Johnson said the team has high expectations for next season. Abel-Douglas said:
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to getting back on the field with the guys I have created a brotherly bond with. After Langley, there was a different sort of energy. We鈥檙e hungry to get back at it and already preparing for next season. I鈥檓 looking forward to just simply getting back into the swing of things. This off season is going to be focused on just getting bigger, faster, stronger in preparation for the season ahead of us.鈥�
