Right now, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies are placed on top of the Canada West Conference of the CIS.
There are two former Weyburn Red Wing players who currently playing with the Huskies, Jesse Ross and Tyler Borstmayer.
Jesse Ross was a scoring champ in 2011-2012. He is in his senior year with the Huskies.
As of the end of November, and Ross has four goals, four assists while playing in all 16 games.
“We are playing with a lot of confidence right now,” says Ross, in a media release by the SJHL. “Game in and game out, we keep playing the same way, which is forcing teams to try and match the level of our game. We just have to make sure we continue to work hard and the bounces will keep going our way.”
The Regina product spent most of his 18-year-old season in Junior ‘B’ with Pilot Butte of the Prairie Junior Hockey League. He wasn’t a full-time Red Wing until 19. As an SJHL rookie, Ross scored 27-goals, before nearly doubling that as a 20-year-old, leading the SJHL with 46-goals in 2011-2012.
“My time spent in Weyburn was some of the best hockey years in my career. My whole final year was a lot of fun, finishing first in the south, our playoff run, making the finals, winning the scoring race and being named SJHL Player of the Year, all created a ton of memories. The whole town came together to support us and it was great bringing them so much excitement.”
Ross added that his time in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League gave him the foundation and tools he needed to adjust to life in the CIS, playing against men. He says the educational side of any hockey scholarship is what most players will use even more than the on-ice development, and feels he’s set up well for the future, both on and off the ice.
“I am in my final year of getting a business degree, majoring in finance. After this season is over, my wife and I plan on moving back to Regina and starting our careers. I don’t plan on hanging up the skates completely, so I am hoping I can find a place to play senior and continue playing the game that I love.”
Defenceman Tyler Borstmayer spent parts of three season in the Western Hockey League before wrapping up his junior career with the Red Wings.
He has also played in all 16 games for the Huskies, and assists in three goals during his time on ice.
This is the second year for Borstmayer with the Huskies, as he played eight games with the University team in 2014-15.
Tyler was also featured in a recent Star Phoenix article, as a “project player” who is panning out for the Huskies team.
In that article, Borstmayer said that all the extra work learning skills with coach Scott Dutertre has been excellent for his development, especially when it comes to improving speed and shooting.
Tyler also credited his defenseman partner Dave Stumborg who has been on the D-line with him constantly throughout the season. The experience is helping build his confidence and his career.
Right now, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies are on their Christmas break. They will return to action in January, when they play Lethbridge on Friday, January 8 and Saturday, January 9.
