The Saskatoon Hilltops, coached by Dave
Hardy, ruled as Canadian junior football champions during 1996.
The Hilltops ran up an imposing record in
the Prairie junior Football League, winning eight games, losing once and
tying one game. One of their wins was 45-0 over the Regina Rams. Their
tie was 14-14 also against the Rams. They beat the Edmonton Wildcats,
35-25, in the league semifinal. They defeated the Regina Rams, 27-23, in
the league final. And they beat Kelowna, 28-21 in the western final.
That brought them up against Windsor AKO in
the Canadian final at Oshawa, where scored a convincing victory, 39-7.
Kelly McNairn, Sheldon Ball and Kurt Albers
were voted All-Canadian players.
Top row: Ron Zerr, Darryl Balzer,
Ryan Cadieux, Colin Belsher, Bo Blackmon, Kevin Johnston, Curtis Hill,
Dean Kabaroff, Steve Prokopchuk, Sandy Martin, Ryan David, Ross Arthurs,
Fifth row: Shane Reider (Assistant Coach), Kelly Bowers (Assistant
Coach), Kim Pasloski (Assistant Coach), Doug
Humbert (Assistant Coach). Tom Sargeant (Assistant Coach), Guy Fuller (Assistant Coach), Dave
Hardy (Head Coach), Dale Newman (President), Wayne Nogler (Team
Manager), Stacey Ostertag (Equipment Manager), Alistair Wilson Trainer), Cole Beavis (Assistant Trainer),
Fourth row Matt Lambe, Neale Sendecki, Jason Sulz, Jason Kostiuk, Kelly
Bates, Rod Janzen, Chris Mossing, Ryan Gay, Jamie Beherns, Troy
Semenchuk, Pat Morley, Kent Sangster, Third row: Curtis Bulych, Bobby
Gibson, Garrett Wiebe, Steve Bilan, Curtis Albert, Todd Dobmeier, Chad
Park, Rhett Lundgren, Pat Clarke, Rhett McLane, Kyle Stroeder, Justin
Powlowski, Second row: Shaun Geisel, Kelly McNairn, Sean Morton, Blair
Curry, Mike Lang, Leo Grosjean, Glen Cey, Chris Harden, Trevor Bates,
Mike Humenny, Kris Sembalerus, Sheldon Ball, Bottom row: Sheldon Duval, Tye Mountney, Chad Bankowski, Chris Wandzura, Mike Cox, James Trimble,
Charles McLennan, Brad Williamson, Jason Barlow, Kevin Tysowksi,
Missing: Dr. Bill Haver (Team Physician).