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The Huskies pursued the storied trophy through frigid cold, icy fields, and temperate indoor conditions. They'll take their 12th crack at it Saturday.
Published Nov 19, 2025 • Last updated 7 minutes ago • 6 minute read
huskies
University of Saskatchewan Huskies' head football coach Brian Towriss, left, and Laval University Rouge et Or head football coach Glen Constantin, right, answer questions during the coaches news conference during Vanier Cup practice at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton on Thursday, November 25, 2004. (CP PHOTO/J.P. Moczulski) ORG XMIT: 615037 Photo by J.P. MOCZULSKI /Canadian Press
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Saskatchewan fingerprints have been liberally placed all over the Vanier Cup — from shiny top to bulky bottom — but not for many, many years.
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Dozens of fresh prairie hands are again eager to hold the storied trophy, and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies will get another chance Saturday, when they play the Montreal Carabins in the national-championship game at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium.
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Saturday’s contest marks a dozen such games for the Huskies, who made their Vanier Cup debut in 1989. They’ve won three, all of them in the 1990s, and lost eight more.
They’ve written fascinating stories along the way — from a minus-30 windchill, to a timely sack, to a slippery game on a frozen field, to an end zone fumble recovery for the ages.
The last win came in 1998, nearly three decades ago. Much has happened since then. Here’s a year-by-year look at the Huskies’ history in this often frustrating, always chase-worthy game.
1989
Western 35, Saskatchewan 10
The story: The Huskies, playing in their first Vanier Cup, tried a third-and-two gamble from their own 42 with a minute and a half to play in the second quarter. Running back Terry Eisler was stuffed for no gain, and the Mustangs turned the turnover into a quick touchdown, and a 21-10 lead.
Western head coach Larry Haylor called it the turning point.
Quotable: “It’s like no other feeling. I can’t describe it. You come back in here and there’s 40 or 50 guys around here all feeling like their hearts are ripped out. It’s an empty feeling.” — Receiver Dan Farthing
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Dan Farthing
Saskatchewan Huskies receiver Dan Farthing Vanier played in the team’s first two Vanier Cups – 1989, which they lost, and 1990, which they won. He went on to a decade-long career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. (SP File Photo)
1990
Saskatchewan 24 Saint Mary’s 21
The story: Saskatchewan defensive end Don Bristow sacked star Saint Mary’s quarterback Chris Flynn with 14 seconds on the clock, and the ensuing fumble was recovered by the western Huskies’ Rob Dutton at their own 36. That moment sealed Saskatchewan’s first Vanier Cup victory.
Quotable: “It felt so great. As soon as he went down I knew the ball was gone because I could feel his stomach. I just hoped we picked it up.” — Defensive lineman Don Bristow
1994
Western 50 Saskatchewan 40 (OT)
The story: Huskies’ quarterback Brent Schneider broke four Vanier Cup records — completing 36 of 67 passes for 528 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions — but Western’s Xavier Lafont picked off two end-zone passes, and Anthony Lane clinched the victory with a 77-yard touchdown punt return in OT. The Huskies trailed by 20 at one point in the fourth quarter, and it’s widely considered one of the greatest Vanier Cup games ever played.
Quotable: “I’m going to be sore for the next few days, but that’s the price to pay for playing this game. I’m going to remember the loss for a lot longer than it’ll take for the pain to go away.” — Quarterback Brent Schneider
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Saskatchewan Huskies football players work out prior to the 1996 Canada West final. They went on to win their second Vanier Cup. (SP File Photo)
1996
Saskatchewan 31 St. Francis Xavier 12
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The story: Saskatchewan trailed StFX 12-0 at halftime, but dominated the second half at SkyDome. Freshman David Murza scored on a 63-yard touchdown pass and returned a punt 44 yards, and quarterback Brent Schneider was named game MVP for the second time after throwing for 237 yards and three touchdowns.
Quotable: “I couldn’t have written a better script for myself. There could be nothing better than to walk away from the game with a championship. What a great place to win a championship; what a great place to play your last game. Could you ever imagine having it any better?” — Quarterback Brent Schneider
vanier cup
Saskatchewan Huskies Matt Kellett (left) and Warren Muzika hoist the Vanier Cup after defeating the Concordia Stingers in the 1998 Vanier Cup. PHOTO BY KEVIN FRAYER/ Canadian Press
1998
Saskatchewan 24 Concordia 17
The story: With the score tied 17-17 and Concordia scrimmaging from its own 18 yard line heading into the final two minutes of the game, a botched option play left a pitchout sailing over the head of running back Evan Davis Jr. He collected it in the end zone, Brent Dancey stripped the ball, and the Huskies’ Trevor Ludtke jumped on it for the game-winning touchdown.
Quotable: “What a great way to finish my career.” — Linebacker Trevor Ludtke
2002
Saint Mary’s 33 Saskatchewan 21
The story: The Huskies went 4-4 during the regular season before launching a world-beating run through the playoffs. Midway through the third quarter of the Vanier, Saskatchewan quarterback Sheldon Ball was intercepted in the end zone by Joe Bonaventura. The western Huskies trailed 23-21 after three, and Saint Mary’s clinched when Gabe Harvey scored from two yards out with 2:44 left in the game.
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Quotable: “I definitely won’t forget this. There’s a bad taste in my mouth. I have to come back to get rid of it.” — Linebacker Tyson Craiggs
2004
Laval 7 Saskatchewan 1
The story: The Huskies committed eight turnovers, including five interceptions thrown by quarterback Steve Bilan, the nation’s leading passer who was playing with a torn oblique. Both defences dominated, and neither side scored a touchdown during the lowest-scoring game in Vanier Cup history.
Quotable: “I’m pretty beat up. Fatigued, is the word. A lot of pain-killers and stuff like that. You can’t use that as an excuse, though — we’re still 12 guys working as one. There’s no reason why we should have been shut out today.” — Quarterback Steve Bilan
2005
Wilfrid Laurier 24 Saskatchewan 23
The story: The unbeaten Huskies led by eight with 6:46 to play when David Stevens scored on an 85-yard touchdown run, but Laurier’s Byron Hickey closed the gap by scoring a major with 2:53 left. Brian Devlin booted a 32-yard field goal with 19 seconds on the clock to lift Laurier — also unbeaten — to the title.
Quotable: “There’s only so many opportunities you get at this level, and we haven’t capitalized on any of them. For me personally, it might be the last time I put on football pads. It’s sad. I’m lost for words. We came into this game expecting to win and didn’t get the job done.” — Tailback David Stevens
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huskies vanier
Huskies players Scott Stevens (left), David Stevens and Curt Hundeby ponder a tough loss after a 24-23 setback against Wilfrid Laurier in the 2005 Vanier Cup. Photo by Greg Pender /Saskatoon StarPhoenix
2006
Laval 13 Saskatchewan 8
The story: Saskatoon hosted the Vanier for the first and only time, and a freak cold snap dropped the windchill temperature to -30 C on game day. A day earlier, at least two footballs burst during practice because of the cold. But a capacity crowd of 12,567, draped in sleeping bags and quilts, filled Griffiths Stadium, only to watch the Huskies lose their fourth Vanier Cup in five years.
Quotable: “When you get here three times in a row, you’re obviously proud and everything, but it just rips you up inside.” — Safety Dylan Barker
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vanier cup
The Saskatchewan Huskies and Laval Rouge et Or compete in the 2006 Vanier Cup in Saskatoon — one of the coldest-weather football games ever, with windchills hitting minus-30 C. PHOTO BY RICHARD MARJAN/ Saskatoon StarPhoenix
2021
Western 27 Saskatchewan 21
The story: Heavy rain, followed by freezing temperatures, turned the field at Laval’s Telus Stadium into an ice sheet. Both teams scrambled to find suitable footwear the day before the game, and Western handled it six points better than their prairie opponents. Saskatchewan led 12-10 at halftime, but two third-quarter touchdowns sealed their fate.
Quotable: “One of the craziest games I’ve ever played. You take two steps, and it felt like you were falling on your butt every other play. Both teams were playing on it, so no excuses either way. They had to deal with it just as much as we did.” — Defensive lineman Nathan Cherry
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huskies nyhus
Huskies quarterback Mason Nyhus throws a ball during the team’s 27-21 Vanier Cup loss to Western in 2021. PHOTO BY JACQUES BOISSINOT/ Canadian Press
2022
Laval 30 Saskatchewan 24
The Story: After Laval went up 30-24 on a field goal with 1:56 on the clock, the Huskies got two drives to try for the win. The first ended with a third-down gamble that came up one yard short, and the other was a three-and-out in the last 30 seconds.
Quotable: “It’s hard to lose. Especially when you get to the Vanier Cup. You put in so much time over all these years, and in the off-season, just to come up one possession short. But I’m so tremendously proud of the group. — Quarterback Mason Nyhus
2025
Saskatchewan vs. Montreal
The Story: Waiting to be written.
kemitchell@postmedia.com
(Editors’ note: A version of this story originally ran prior to the 2021 Vanier Cup, and has been updated for 2025)
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huskies
Huskies receiver Jeff Schieman came up with a large catch to set up Saskatchewan’s first touchdown against the Laurier Golden Hawks during the 2005 Vanier Cup. The Huskies lost 24-23. PHOTO BY GREG PENDER/ Saskatoon StarPhoenix
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