Fischer, Schnitzler among Hilltops award winners
Running back Logan Fischer — a clutch performer for the Saskatoon Hilltops during his five-year junior football career — has been named the team’s most outstanding graduate for 2017.
Fischer, a Canadian Junior Football League all-Canadian who was named the Prairie Football Conference’s most outstanding running back, took home the Drs. Landa-Doig Award at the team’s annual awards banquet. He carried the ball 157 times for 1,015 yards and a team-leading 13 touchdown majors this season, to go along with 16 catches for 213 yards.
The Landa-Doig trophy is one of the original club awards donated by longtime team medic Dr. Sam Landa and his business partner, Dr. Noel Doig.
Graduating fifth-year player Tommy Schnitzler — a dominant defensive end, long snapper and part-time tight end — is a double winner for 2017.
Schnitzler is this year’s recipient of both the Jim Courtice Inspirational Award and Bill Trout Memorial Scholarship.
The PFC all-star defensive lineman did it all for the Toppers. In his final season, he recorded 24 tackles, five sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, two interceptions and two blocked kicks.
The Jim Courtice memorial award is given annually to the player who most exemplifies the spirit of the Hilltops. The Trout scholarship was established through a gift from Lorne Wright to honour his father-in-law Bill Trout, who was the running back for the first Canadian championship team in 1953.
The Ray Syrnyk trophy is presented annually in memory of the former captain of the 1953 Canadian championship team, who, along with three other Saskatchewan Roughrider players, was killed in a plane crash while returning home from the 1956 CFL All-Star game in Vancouver. This year it goes to graduating PFC outstanding offensive lineman and CJFL allCanadian Kirk Simonsen.
Fifth-year grad Cam Schnitzler, a PFC all-star and 2016 CJFL allCanadian, is the 2017 recipient of the Don and Jim Seaman Memorial Award. Schnitzler finished his final season with 62 tackles, a quarterback sack, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and two interceptions.
This Seaman award is presented annually to the most outstanding linebacker to honour the memory of the Seaman brothers, who were both selected all-stars at linebacker.
Fifth-year receiver Ryan Turple, who had 41 receptions for 635 yards and six touchdowns in his final year as a Hilltop, is the 2017 winner of the True Grit award and Ron Atchison trophy.
James Vause is the 2017 recipient of the Blue and Gold Commitment Award, given to the player who shows the most dedication to improving. Defensive back Brant Morrow is the Toppers rookie of the year and winner of the Past Presidents Trophy.