Another season has officially come to an end for Huskie Athletics, and it was truly a remarkable one. Highlighted by a second consecutive National championship for women’s basketball, a second straight Canada West title for men’s hockey, a Vanier Cup appearance for football, and Canada West titles and season-long domination from both wrestling and track & field squads, the 2025-26 season was not one to forget. Wednesday night at TCU Place was the annual Huskie Salute to not only say farewell to the season, but to honour and recognize the many accomplishments by the teams and individuals. Women’s Basketball Gage Grassick and Football’s Seth Hundeby were to two highlights of the event taking home the top female and top male Huskie Athletes awards, respectively. Both players were in the final year of their collegiate careers, and on top of a successful season for their squads, Grassick was also recognized as the Canada West Female Basketball Player of the Year, and Seth Hundeby took home Canada West Defensive Player of the Year. Following is the official media release from Huskie Athletics highlighting all of the major USask awards handed out…..
Gage Grassick and Seth Hundeby Highlight Major 7 Award Winners at 2025 Salute
SASKATOON, Sask. – The University of Saskatchewan (USask) Huskies celebrated a season of remarkable achievements both on and off the field of play Wednesday night (Apr.1) at the 2026 edition of Huskie Salute, presented by Wireless Age. Eight individuals were honoured with major awards at the year-end event, with countless more recognized for their athletic and academic achievements as well as the impact they made in the community.
2025 Major 7 Award Winners
Pat Lawson Trophy (Female Rookie of the Year) – Hailee Woodhouse, Track & Field
Howard Nixon Trophy (Male Rookie of the Year) – Conner Roulette, Hockey
Valerie Girsberger Trophy (All-Round Female Athlete) – Gage Grassick, Basketball
Rusty MacDonald Cup (All-Round Male Athlete) – Ryker Frank, Football
Mary Ethel Cartwright Trophy (Female Athlete of the Year) – Gage Grassick, Basketball
E. Kent Phillips Trophy (Male Athlete of the Year) – Seth Hundeby, Football
Colb McEown Trophy (Coach of the Year) – Lisa Thomaidis, Basketball
Dr. Walter Hader Trophy (Student Trainer of the Year) – Jared Wassil, Cross Country/Track & Field
Mary Ethel Cartwright Trophy (Most Outstanding Female Athlete) – Gage Grassick, Basketball
Putting together yet another remarkable campaign, Gage Grassick’s 2025-26 season was defined by excellence, consistency and poise. Leading her team to a perfect 20-0 regular season record and second consecutive national title, she once again cemented her place among the nation’s elite with an outstanding blend of playmaking, shooting, and defensive intensity. She ranked inside the conference’s top 10 in an extraordinary seven major statistical categories including assists, three-pointers made, steals, field goals made, assist-to turnover ratio, minutes played, points per game, and defensive rebounding. However, it was once again her playmaking which reached a historic level. Recording 108 assists, it marked the third-most in a single season in program history. On the national stage, she continued to elevate her game, averaging 15 points, six rebounds, 2.3 assists, and over 27 minutes per game in the Final 8 to help the Dogs repeat
as U SPORTS champions. Taking home the Mary Ethel Cartwright Tophy for the second consecutive year, she becomes the ninth USask student-athlete to be named the Most Female Athlete of the Year twice and first since Sarah Crooks in 2006 and 2007.
Other Nominees: Nicole Ostertag (Track & Field), Taryn Hannah (Volleyball), Myah Phillips (Wrestling)
E. Kent Phillips Trophy (Most Outstanding Male Athlete) – Seth Hundeby, Football
In a season marked by leadership, physicality and determination, Seth Hundeby secured himself as one of the nation’s premier football talents in 2025. As a defensive captain, the local Saskatoon product anchored a unit that helped power the Huskies to a 7-1 regular
season, Canada West Championship, and Mitchell Bowl title. The recipient of several conference and national recognitions, Hundeby’s accolades matched the magnitude of his impact. After being named the Canada West Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Canadian he was awarded the prestigious President’s Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player. Across the conference, he finished eighth in total tackles, first in tackles for a loss, and stood as the lone player with five turnovers, showcasing his unmatched ability as a defensive game changer. As the stakes rose, so did his performance. In the playoffs he delivered 16 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble, helping to lead the program to an 11th Vanier Cup appearance. He becomes the 21st member of the Huskie Football team to be named USask’s Male Athlete of the Year and sixth defensive player to take home the E. Kent Phillips Trophy.
Other Nominees: Landon Kosior (Hockey), Emmett Graham (Volleyball), Donovan Neudorf (Wrestling)
Pat Lawson Trophy (Female Rookie of the Year) – Hailee Woodhouse, Track & Field
In one of the most spectacular debut seasons in program history, Hailee Woodhouse made an immediate impact on the track. Her freshman campaign was nothing short of extraordinary, collecting honours rarely achieved by even season veterans. Named both the U SPORTS and Canada West Rookie of the Year, she also secured two All-Canadian honours and a pair of Canada West First Team All-Star nods across her events. Her performances on track were even more impressive than her accolades. At the U SPORTS Championships, she helped the 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams capture gold and silver before finishing 6th in the 300m. At the conference level, she claimed gold in the
300m before helping the 4x200m relay to the top spot on the podium, solidifying herself as one of the fastest rising stars in the country.
Her season also included historic achievements: as a member of the 4x200m relay team, she helped set new Canadian, U SPORTS, Canada West, and program records and personally broke a 45-year-old Canadian U20 record in the 300m, which was previously
held by Olympian Angela Bailey. Exceeding already lofty expectations, her rookie season sets the stage for a bright future with the Huskie Track & Field team.
Other Nominees: Peppi Virtanen (Hockey), Isabelle Lachance (Soccer)
Howard Nixon Trophy (Male Rookie of the Year) – Conner Roulette, Hockey
In a breakout season that immediately placed him among the nation’s elite new talents, Conner Roulette delivered one of the most dominant first-year campaigns in recent Huskie history. A former ECHLer who brought pro-level pace and poise to the lineup, he made an instant impact, earning both U SPORTS Rookie of the Year and Canada West Rookie of the Year honours. Leading all U SPORTS rookies with 15 goals and 35 points while averaging an impressive 1.25 points per game, he contributed 25 points at 5-on-5 and finished the regular season with more multi-point games than games without a point, a rare feat for any player, let alone a newcomer. When the playoffs arrived, he elevated his game even further. In Canada West postseason action, he registered 5 goals and 12 points in just six games. Of his five tallies none were bigger than a Canada West Championship-clinching goal against the Mount Royal Cougars in game two of the conference finals, helping the Huskies to secure a 13th Canada West banner. Dynamic and consistently productive, Roulette delivered a rookie season to remember in green and white.
Other Nominees: Tao Hein (Soccer), Niklos Irwin (Track & Field), Yuel Kebrom (Wrestling)
Valerie Girsberger Trophy (All-Round Female Athlete) – Gage Grassick,Basketball
Few athletes leave a legacy of excellence like the one Gage Grassick leaves with the Huskie Women’s Basketball team. Over a remarkable five years, Grassick established herself as not just one the greatest student-athletes in program history, but one of the greatest in USask history with a resume defined by championships, national recognition, and record-setting talent. A two-time U SPORTS National Champion and three-time Canada West Champion, she led her team to consistent dominance on the biggest stages. This historic run featured one of the most dominant individual seasons ever in 2024-25 where she became just the second player in U SPORTS women’s basketball history to win a national and Canada West title, the Nan Copp Trophy as Player of the Year, Final 8 MVP, and conference player of the Year honours in the same season. She was then awarded the 2024-25 Mary Ethel Cartwright Trophy and the Lois & Doug Mitchell U SPORTS Athlete of the Year, award becoming the first Huskie to be named the top female athlete across the country. Her resume also features three All-Canadian nods, two Final 8 All-Star recognitions, four All-Star selections and two U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian honours. If that was not impressive enough, her career numbers confirm her impact. One of the most productive athletes to don green & white she ranks top-10 in program history in points, rebounds, three-pointers, assists, steals, and minutes played in addition to owning the second-, sixth-, and seventh-highest scoring playoff games ever recorded—two of which came in national title contests. Her legacy is one of sustained greatness, championship leadership, and all-round excellence that will be remembered for years to come.
Other Nominees: Anna Oliver (Soccer), Olamide Olalolku (Track & Field), Caitlin Clatney (Wrestling)
Rusty MacDonald Cup (All-Round Male Athlete) – Ryker Frank, Football
Across an extraordinary fifth-year career defined by championship pedigree, academicexcellence, and record-setting production, Ryker Frank leaves behind one of the most complete legacies in Huskie history. A cornerstone of the program’s sustained success, he was instrumental in helping the team to three Canada West Championships, two Uteck Bowl titles, and a Mitchell Bowl Championship, consistently elevating his play in the biggest moments. Individually he was recognized as a 2024 All-Canadian and three times as a conference All-Star. Statistically, his career stands among the program’s greatest. He graduates as the program record holder for career rushing touchdowns and ranks top-five all-time in rushing yards, yards per game, and carries. His 2024 season alone produced the second-most rushing touchdowns and fourth-most rushing yards in a single season. Off the field, his resume speaks for itself. A four-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian in Engineering, his academic commitment was equally impressive to his athletic,
demonstrating true dedication to excellence. Emphasizing his exceptional blend of athletic performance, academic achievement, and community service he was recognized twice as the Canada West Community Service Winner and in 2024 was the recipient of the prestigious Russ Jackson Award as the U SPORTS player who best exemplifies the core pillars of academic excellence, athletic achievement, and outstanding community leadership. A champion, leader, and model student-athlete, he leaves behind a legacy that will serve
as a benchmark for future Huskies.
Other Nominees: Alexander Webster (Cross Country), Dawson Holt (Hockey), Donovan Neudorf (Wrestling)
Colb McEown Trophy (Coach of the Year) – Lisa Thomaidis, Basketball
Few seasons in program history have matched the dominance, consistency, and historic achievement delivered under Lisa Thomaidis in 2025-26. Guiding the team to a perfect 20-0 regular season, for just the second flawless season in program history and first since 1971-72, Thomaidis led the group to one of the most impressive campaigns recorded in Canada West. The unblemished run in her 27th season as head coach marked only the 16th undefeated regular season in conference history, underscoring the team’s remarkable consistency from opening night. Under Thomaidis’ leadership the Huskies extended a winning streak dating back to last season to 51 games, the fourth longest in U SPORTS history, while remaining the No. 1 ranked team in the nation all season long. On their way to back-to-back national titles, the season’s playoff success also saw Thomaidis record a milestone 60th Canada West playoff win and 28th U SPORTS Final 8 victory, further cementing a legacy built on preparation, culture, and commitment to excellence. With this year’s triumph as U SPORTS Championships, she became just the sixth head coach in women’s basketball history to win at least four national titles, solidifying a truly
historic career and an unforgettable season.
Other Nominees: Scott Flory (Football), Jason Reindl (Track & Field), Daniel OIver (Wrestling)
Dr. Walter Hader Award (Student Trainer of the Year) – Jared Wassil, Cross Country/Track & Field
Over the past two seasons, Jared’s exceptional personal and professional growth, combined with his dedication and reliability, have made him an indispensable member of the Track and Field/cross country team. A proud native of Zenon Park, Saskatchewan, Jared made the courageous leap to the big city to pursue his degree in Kinesiology—bringing with him a work ethic and spirit that quickly set him apart. As Coach Reindl reflects, “Jared has been a valued team member from day one, stepping up to every challenge that the track environment demands.” His presence will be deeply missed—whether it is his legendary shake‑ins and shake‑outs, his meticulous taping skills, or his creative problem‑solving that elevated those around him. We look forward to watching his continued growth as he pursues his dream of attending Physiotherapy school.
Other Nominees: Ava Radics (Women’s Basketball), Tia Miller (Women’s Hockey)
