SPORTING MOMENTS
A review of 2019 highlights
MOST MEMORABLE STORY
As a career-long sportswriter, I’d never had reason to step into a courtroom, until Jaskirat Singh Sidhu went in for victim impact statements and, a short time later, sentencing.
The grief and pain felt by those Humboldt Broncos’ families, made very evident through their statements, was searing. It’s the first time I’ve seen veteran reporters wiping tears from their eyes as a story played out.
“Our son isn’t coming back,” Marilyn Cross — whose son
Mark Cross, a Broncos assistant coach, died in the crash — said as Singh Sidhu made his trek to prison. “Nobody wins in this. It’s just a step we had to go through.”
So ... memorable? Oh, yes. I’ll never forget it. But it’s one of those stories you wish nobody had to write, or experience.
PLAY OF THE YEAR
Play? Let’s go with plays, all of them, from one end of a hockey career to the other, each of them building an overwhelming case for Hayley Wickenheiser’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
She’s one of 17 Saskatchewan-bred inductees, and the first woman in that distinguished provincial group. Carol and Lyle Brons, whose daughter Dayna died in the Broncos’ bus crash, talk compellingly about Wickenheiser’s impact on Saskatchewan girls.
What plays. What a player.
THE YEAR IN QUOTES
“There’s a lot of water, if you want to point out the obvious. There’s beaches.” — Former Saskatchewan Rush player Adrian Sorichetti, when asked about the differences in playing for the Rush vs. the San Diego Seals.
“I had it straightened one time, and second game back, it’s back where it is now. It’s my characteristic, I guess.” — Longtime NHL defenceman Jim Neilson, talking about the misshapen nose he acquired from decades as a hockey player.
“It was a great adventure, and it’s hard to step away.” — Greg Jockims, after resigning as the Saskatchewan Rattlers’ head coach following their inaugural season.
“It hasn’t really changed me too much, because I’m going to get home and have to unpack my bag and wash my dirty clothes. But it is nice to be able to call yourself a world champion. Not everybody gets to call themselves that.” — Sherry Anderson, after winning her second straight world senior women’s curling title.
“Resignations are a civilized non-confidence vote. They speak for themselves.” — David Dube, one of five people to resign from the Huskies board of trustees.
“I think if Patrick Chan or
I get out there, we’re literally just going to get manhandled by those guys. But let’s assume that one of our pairs guys puts on hockey skates and tries to play ... I think he’ll have a better chance than one of them putting on toe picks and trying to jump.” — Figure skater Kurt Browning, on who would make the easier transition — figure skater to hockey player, or hockey player to figure skater.
“It kind of gave me the shivers. It’s something I’ve wanted to play in ever since I came to this league.” — Blades captain Chase Wouters, after his team clinched their first playoff berth since
2013.
“You’ve got to be aggressive, and not be timid, just hanging out there. You’ve got to get yourself right in the trenches and get to it. There’s always some bumps and hits and roll-abounds out there, but it’s all part of the gig.” — PBR bullfighter Tanner Byrne, who throws his body in front of angry bulls to save fallen riders.
“Like any athlete, when you hear you can’t play, it hits you like a ton of bricks. It’s the thing you love the most, and when it’s taken away from you, when you can’t do it anymore, it’s heartbreaking. I don’t know how else to explain it — it gets sucked out of you. It’s like your identity, almost, and then you need to rebuild your perspective.” — Warman softball player Payton Allan, who was named Softball Saskatchewan’s female athlete of the year after recovering from major shoulder surgery.
“All the offensive line loves him, and we just love blocking for him. We do our job a little bit, then he goes and gets another four or five, 10 yards.” — U of S Huskies’ football offensive guard Mattland Riley, on tailback
Adam Machart, who enjoyed a record-smashing season.
“I was told by Walt, the Hockey Hall of Fame guy, don’t drop it. You have to grip ’er a little tight.” — Stanley Cup champion Brayden Schenn, after taking the Stanley Cup 50-some feet in the air in a Saskatoon Fire Department aerial ladder.
“I’ve had a bit of spiritual awakening. I look at everything differently. I look at how I interact with my family, how I interact with strangers, how I farm. Everything’s different. I’ve changed probably seven, eight times since then. It’s crazy. But it’s enjoyable.” — Former Humboldt Broncos’ assistant coach Christ Beaudry, on his path to mental healing since the team’s bus crash.
“It’s incredible how much can change in a year. Or in a month, or in a week, or a day. Or even, for that matter, an instant. Some changes are almost unrecognizable, they happen over so long a period of time, and some of it comes up and kicks us in the gut and we lose our breath. Change is just, by nature, that way.” — Broncos’ team chaplain Sean Brandow, speaking at the oneyear anniversary of the crash.
”Even in my sleep, I am constantly hounded by images and scenarios of never being able to help my sweet boy.” — Mckailyn Ives, the girlfriend of deceased Humboldt Broncos’ hockey player Logan Boulet, making her victim-impact statement during the sentencing hearing for Jaskirat Singh Sidhu.
”It’s those little things. Even the skate noise you make when you’re making a turn: It has that little Creech noise. Or when you’re shooting, you go bar-down and it’s the sound of the ping. It’s that little stuff that resonates with you, more than before.” — Broncos’ bus-crash survivor Kaleb Dahlgren, on how it feels to be back on the ice.
BEST COMEBACK
Saskatoon’s Kathy Ziglo wins her first Saskatchewan women’s golf title since 1995, edging defending champ Carla Odnokon with a birdie putt on 18 on the final day.
I WISH I HAD SEEN
The Saskatoon Blues, and not the St. Louis Blues, win the 2018-19 Stanley Cup. A man can dream, can’t he?
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Jim Neilson grows up in a Prince Albert orphanage, launches a long and successful NHL career, and now his kids are making a case for his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. My inbox was a busy place after this story ran, with people asking how they could help.
Olympian Bob Adams dies at age 94 after a colourful life, steeped in athletics.
Kelly Bowers’ death shakes up a city — his impact was deep and wide.
GREATEST COMPETITOR
Relentless Huskies football tailback Adam Machart dominates Canada West competition while setting the team’s single-season rushing record.
A season for the ages, and there may be more to come.
BEST NEWCOMER
Saskatoon’s Ja’shon Henry cracks the Bradley Braves’ basketball roster as a freshman, and plays in the NCAA’S March Madness tournament, two years after his hoops-loving father died of cancer.
LOOKING FORWARD TO
The November Grey Cup in Regina, and the storyline that will build all season as the Roughriders try to get there in front of hometown fans.