Hilltops start season with win over Rifles

The Saskatoon Hilltops’ quest for their sixthstraight Canadian Bowl got off to the right start on Sunday as they defeated the host Winnipeg Rifles 34-20 in their first game of the Canadian Junior Football League season.

Touchdowns by Rylan Kleiter and Carter Mclean, as well as a Winnipeg safety, gave Saskatoon a 16-7 lead at halftime.

The Hilltops added to their total in the second half with a pair of touchdowns from Connor Graham, a field goal from Kleiter and a punt single from John Brown.

On the defensive side of the ball, Colton Holmes, Evan Mantyka and Jared Giddings each recorded an interception for the Toppers.

Saskatoon’s next action is Aug. 25 when they head to Regina for a meeting with the Thunder.

SHIRLEY RECORDS GOAL, ASSIST IN SERIES AGAINST U.S.

The Canadian national women’s development hockey team, which included Saskatoon forward Sophie Shirley and Prince Albert defenceman Brooke Hobson, lost their best-ofthree series against the United States 2-1.

The red-and-white lost the opening game of the series 4-3 in overtime, but came back in Game 2 to win 4-2, before losing the series’ final game 2-1 on Saturday.

Shirley had a goal in Game 1 and an assist in the second game.

Meanwhile, Wilcox defenceman Ashley Messier and the Canadian women’s U18 team won their threegame series against the U.S. 2-1.

Canada got the 5-4 victory in the first game and shutout the U.S. 2-0 in their final game on Saturday, but lost 3-2 in overtime in the second game.

RUSH SIGN JONES-SMITH TO 2-YEAR DEAL

After playing in all but one game for the Saskatchewan Rush last season, Jordie Jones-smith has signed an agreement that will extend his time with the team for another two years.

Jones-smith, who signed with the Rush as a free agent in 2018, recorded one goal, 19 loose balls and five turnovers in the 2018-2019 National Lacrosse League season.

AKOPHJANOV JOINS HUSKIES MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM

The University of Saskatchewan men’s basketball team has added a sixfoot-six forward to their 2019-20 team in the form of Nikita Akophjanov.

Akophjanov comes to the Huskies from the Lloydminster Comprehensive High School Barons where he set the career-scoring record with 1,652 points, and was named the team’s MVP in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, as well as the team’s rookie of the year in 2016-17.