Frank, Hundeby, Wiebe Named All-Canadians; Two Huskies Recognized as U SPORTS Major Award Winners – Huskie Athletics

KINGSTON, Ont. – The Saskatchewan Huskies football program was well-represented Thursday night (Nov. 21) as U SPORTS unveiled the All-Canadians and major award winners for the 2024 football season. In total, the Huskie football team produced three U SPORTS All-Canadians and two major award winners. Headlining to the list of Huskie standouts was running back Ryker Frank, who took home the the Russ Jackson Award, and Senior Advisor Jerry Friesen, who was named the Gino Fracas Award winner.
 

Huskie Football – 2024 All-Canadians and Major Award Winners

2024 U SPORTS Major Award Winners

Hec Creighton Award (Outstanding Player of the Year) – Taylor Elgersma, Laurier Golden Hawks

J.P. Metras Trophy (Outstanding Lineman) – Giordano Vaccaro, Manitoba Bisons

Presidents’ Trophy (Outstanding Defensive Player) – Nate Beauchemin, Calgary Dinos

Peter Gorman Trophy (Rookie of the Year) – Enrique Jaimes Leclair, Montreal Carabins

Russ Jackson Award (Student-Athlete Community Service) – Ryker Frank, Saskatchewan Huskies

Frank Tindall Trophy (Coach of the Year) – Michael Faulds, Laurier Golden Hawks

Gino Fracas Award (Assistant Coach of the Year) – Jerry Friesen, Saskatchewan Huskies

 

Ryker Frank – Russ Jackson Award Winner

Fourth-year running back Ryker Frank becomes the first student-athlete in program history to be honoured as the U SPORTS Russ Jackson Award Winner.

The Russ Jackson Award is presented to the player in Canadian University Football who best exemplifies the attributes of academic achievement, football skill and citizenship. The award is named in honour of Russell Stanley Jackson, a Canadian Football Hall of Famer, six-time CFL East Division All-Star, and former quarterback for the McMaster Marauders.

Ryker Frank is a model of excellence both on and off the field and certainly fits the criteria for this national award. 

The fourth-year engineering student and product of Regina has appeared in 41 career games and has proven to be one of the best backs the program has ever seen. In his fourth year of eligibility, Frank ascended into the Huskie record books, ranking in the top 10 in career rushing yards (3,064, 2nd), rushing attempts (476, 3rd), all-purpose yards (4,237, 3rd), total touchdowns (26, 2nd), points scored (156, 9th), and just this season set a new record for career rushing touchdowns with 21, before adding two more in the post season. He has been recognized twice at the conference level as one of Canada West’s top players, being honoured with All-Star status in both 2022 to 2024.

Off the field, he is a four-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian and has been awarded twice with the Canada West Student-Athlete Community Service Award (2022, 2024). In 2023-24 he was also among the Top-10 Huskie Student-Athletes to be named an Academic All-Canadian, having maintained an average of 93.5% in the College of Engineering during the last academic year.

He has consistently demonstrated leadership and a passion for giving back to his community during his time at USask. Ryker has served as a foster home provider with SOS Prairie Rescue for several years, caring for foster cats by handling feeding, medication, and hygiene. In addition to his volunteer work with animals, Ryker has dedicated time to coaching and mentoring young athletes. For the past four years, he has been a coach at Huskie Football’s high school camps, guiding and mentoring aspiring athletes through rigorous practices, supporting their growth both on and off the field. He has also served as a coach for Saskatoon Minor Football’s U16 Spring Academy, focusing on position-specific training for running backs and coordinating special teams.

Ryker also volunteers with KidSport’s annual Amazing Race event, where he runs a football skills station, offering guidance and encouragement to participants in activities such as kicking, throwing, and catching. His enthusiasm and mentorship contribute to a positive experience for the youth involved.

 

Jerry Friesen – Gino Fracas Award Winner

Huskie Football senior advisor Jerry Friesen becomes just the third member of the Huskie coaching staff to be recognized as the nation’s top assistant coach, joining Ed Carleton (2012) and Barry Radcliffe (2002). 

The Gino Fracas Award is presented by Football Canada annually and recognizes an assistant coach that goes above and beyond to improve the experience of student-athletes while providing support to a team’s coaching staff. The award recognizes the crucial role assistant coaches play in football, and how they are instrumental to the success of programs throughout the country. 

A member of the University of Saskatchewan Huskie Wall of Fame and the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame, Jerry Friesen has been an invaluable member of the Huskie coaching staff since his return to the program in 2017. 

Friesen brings over 25 years of coaching experience to the Saskatchewan staff having spent time at both the U SPORTS level and in the Canadian Football League. Following a 14-year playing career with the Huskies and Montreal Alouettes, Friesen returned to Saskatoon for his first stint with the Huskie coaching staff in 1986. He stayed for 10 seasons and was a member of the 1990 Vanier Cup Championship-winning team. 

Friesen then went on to take multiple coaching positions with the Saskartchewan Roughriders, Calgary Dinos, and Alberta Golden Bears before returning to his alma mater in 2017.

Since then, he has served as a key member of the Dogs, serving as Special Teams Coordinator and Senior Advisor until the end of he 2023 season. For the 2024 campaign, Friesen transitioned into a single role as Senior Advisor. 

 

Huskie Football All-Canadians

Following the 2024 U SPORTS football season, three Huskie student-athletes are among the nation’s best players. This marks the sixth consecutive season in which Saskatchewan has had three or more athletes represented on the All-Canadian teams, the longest such streak in program history. 

Seth Hundeby, Linebacker – First Team All-Canadian

The only Huskie to be named a defensive All-Canadian, and earning the first national recognition of his career, is linebacker Seth Hundeby. Hundeby, a fourth-year engineering student, excelled in the middle of the Huskie defence this season. Not only did he appear in every game, but Hundeby was seemingly in on every play, finishing the regular season with 41.0 total tackles (29 solo, 24 assisted), the fifth-most in Canada West. The Huskie team-leader in tackles also found his way into the backfield on more than one occasion, earning 4.0 tackles for a loss (TFL) and two sacks. Hundeby also saved his best for when it mattered most, with arguably his most impressive game of the season coming in the Hardy Cup where he totaled 5.5 tackles, two TFLs, and a sack.

Following his All-Canadian season, Hundeby also climbed the Huskie record books, moving into the top 10 for total tackles (164.0, 7th), assisted tackles (80, 4th), and tackles for a loss (17.0, 8th).

Daniel Wiebe, Receiver – First Team All-Canadian

Receiver Daniel Wiebe was also named an All-Canadian for the first time in his career following a statement season. The veteran pass catcher was the go-to target all season long earning the ‘triple crown’ in Canada West with 52 receptions for 807 yards and seven touchdowns. His 2024 campaign was not only the best in the conference, but also one of the best in the nation with just a single receiver in U SPORTS closing out the year with more yards and catches than Wiebe. While the fourth-year kinesiology student gashed opposing defences for big gains all season, his most impressive performance came in Week 1 in Winnipeg, when he hauled in 11 catches for 202 yards and a major. His outing against the Bisons marked the eighth-most receiving yards in a single game by a Huskie receiver and tied the fourth-most receptions recorded in a single game. 

Similairly to his First Team All-Canadian teammate, Wiebe also solidified himself as a program great in the record books. Wiebe now has the 6th-most career receptions with 138 and is tied for the fourth-most receiving touchdowns with 14 through his four-year career in green and white. 

Ryker Frank, Running Back – Second Team All-Canadian

The third Huskie All-Canadian is none other than running back Ryker Frank. Frank established himself as one of the best backs the Huskie Football program has ever seen during the 2024 season. In the regular season, Frank carried the ball 153 times for an incredible 929 rushing yards while finding endzone on 10 occasions, all second-best in U SPORTS. The engineering student then continued his sensational play in the post season, running for 240 yards and two majors to surpass the 1,000 yard mark for the campaign. In Week 3 against Calgary, Frank brought a homecoming crowd to it’s feet time and time again with his best game of the season, going for 224 yards and a trio of touchdowns in a thrilling 44-40 Huskie win. 

The career season allowed Frank to ascend the record books, moving the running back into 3rd all-time in rushes (476), 2nd in rushing yards (3,064), and, in Week 7 against Regina with a 1-yard scamper, he set a new program rushing touchdown record with the 21st of his career. 

 

2024 U SPORTS First Team All-Canadians

QB – Taylor Elgersma, Laurier Golden Hawks (OUA)
RB – Lucas Bertet-Dembele, Montreal Carabins (RSEQ)
RB – Breydon Stubbs, Manitoba Bisons (CW)
FB/TE/H-Back – Émeric Boutin, Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ)
REC – Olivier Cool, Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ)
REC – Ethan Jordan, Laurier Golden Hawks (OUA)
REC – Daniel Wiebe, Saskatchewan Huskies (CW)
REC – Seth Robertson, Western Mustangs (OUA)
C – Anthony Horth, Sherbrooke Vert et Or (RSEQ)
G – Alassane Diouf, Montreal Carabins (RSEQ)
G – Giordano Vaccaro, Manitoba Bisons (CW)
T – Erik Andersen, Western Mustangs (OUA)
T – Sean Rowe, Manitoba Bisons (CW)

Defence

DT – Christopher Montas Fontenard, Montreal Carabins (RSEQ)

DT – Darien Newell, Queen’s Gaels (OUA)

DE – Jeremiah Ojo, Montreal Carabins (RSEQ)

DE – Liam Reid, Calgary Dinos (CW)

LB – Seth Hundeby, Saskatchewan Huskies (CW)

LB – Justin Cloutier, Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ)

LB – Justin Pace, Queen’s Gaels (OUA)

HB – Mendel Joseph, Concordia Stingers (RSEQ)

HB – Robert Springer, Windsor Lancers (OUA)

FS – Nate Beauchemin, Calgary Dinos (CW)

CB – Jordan Lessard, Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ)

CB – Jerrell Cummings, UBC Thunderbirds (CW)

Special Teams

K – Ben Hadley, StFX X-Men (AUS)

P – Michael Horvat, McMaster Marauders (OUA)

KR – Tayshaun Jackson, Laurier Golden Hawks (OUA)

RUSH – Ndéki Garant-Doumambila, Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ)

2024 U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadians

Offence

QB – Arnaud Dejardins, Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ)

RB – Ryker Frank, Saskatchewan Huskies (CW)

RB – Jared Chisari, Queen’s Gaels (OUA)

FB/TE/H-Back – Sebastian Parsalidis, Laurier Golden Hawks (OUA)

REC – Darius Simmons, McGill Redbirds (RSEQ)

REC – Enrique Jaimes Leclair, Montreal Carabins (RSEQ)

REC – Kaseem Ferdinand, Carleton Ravens (OUA)

REC – Sam Davenport, UBC Thunderbirds (CW)

C – Alex Berwick, Western Mustangs (OUA)

G – Josh Rietveld, Laurier Golden Hawks (OUA)

G – Mitchel Schechinger, Guelph Gryphons (OUA)

T – Alexandre Levac, Montreal Carabins (RSEQ)

T – Domenico Piazza, McGill Rebirds (RSEQ)

Defence

DT – Collin Kornelson, Manitoba Bisons (CW)

DT – Brandon-James Poulin-Marques, Bishop’s Gaiters (AUS)

DE – Kolade Amusan, Windsor Lancers (OUA)

DE – Ifenna Onyeka, Carleton Ravens (OUA)

LB – Harold Miessan, Montreal Carabins (RSEQ)

LB – Anthony Moretuzzo, Guelph Gryphons (OUA)

LB – Mitchell Townsend, UBC Thunderbirds (CW)

HB – Jackson Somback, Regina Rams (CW)

HB – Mack Bannatyne, Alberta Golden Bears (CW)

FS – Elijah Cramaix, Montreal Carabins (RSEQ)

CB – Richard Aduboffour, Western Mustangs (OUA)

CB – Istvan Assibo-Dadzie, Windsor Lancers (OUA)

Special Teams

K – Philippe Boyer, Montreal Carabins (RSEQ)

P – Eric Maximuik, Concordia Stingers (RSEQ)

KR – Alan Xiang, Alberta Golden Bears (CW)

RUSH – Chase Henning, UBC Thunderbirds (CW)

 

2024 U SPORTS All-Canadian Breakdown

– 20
OUA– 20
CW – 16
AUS – 2

By Team

Montreal Carabins – 9

Laval Rouge et Or – 6

Laurier Golden Hawks – 5

Western Mustangs – 4

UBC Thunderbirds – 4

Manitoba Bisons – 4

Saskatchewan Huskies – 3

Queen’s Gaels – 3

Windsor Lancers – 3

Alberta Golden Bears – 2

Calgary Dinos – 2

Guelph Gryphons – 2

Carleton Ravens – 2

McGill Rebirds – 2

Concordia Stingers – 2

Regina Rams – 1

Sherbrooke Vert et Or – 1

Bishop’s Gaiters – 1

StFX X-Men – 1

McMaster Marauders – 1

 

For more information on the 2024 U SPORTS All-Canadians or major award winners head to usports.ca.