For three consecutive seasons, the Saskatoon Hilltops dominated Junior Football in Canada. From 2001-2003 the Hilltops captured three Conference Championships and three Canadian Bowl titles.
The 2002 version of the Saskatoon Hilltops continued their on field success finishing the season with a 6-2 record. A playoff victory over the Regina Thunder placed the Hilltops and Edmonton Huskies in the final again. Saskatoon won 19-18 making it the second straight year they’d beaten Edmonton by a single point in a come from behind victory in the final.
With the Hilltops offence gaining 534 yards and using six different players to score touchdowns, Saskatoon beat the Okanagan Sun 55-9 in the Intergold playoff game.
The Hilltops then needed a big second half performance to overcome a 14-8 deficit to beat St. Leonard Cougars 20-18 for their second Canadian final in two years. For his on-field efforts, Gabe Mackasey was chosen as Canada’s outstanding defensive player for the season.
2002 Saskatoon Hilltops Football Club:
Head coach: Tom Sargeant, Assistant Coaches: Jeff Yausie, Shane Reider, Jack Nepjuk, Brent Turkington, Marc Olson, Dave Fisher. Trainers: Chris Facca, Michelle Wandler, Paul Litzenberger, Team managers: Ron Woodley, Team Physician: Dr. Bill Haver, Equipment: Amanda Lloyd, Beth Nepjuk, Video Tech: Bob Stucky.
Players: Mike Stone, Thom Bell, Braden Suchan, Bret Thompson, Matt Yausie, Justin Kelly, Tyler Knudsen, Matt Chartier, Paul Adisi, Jason Biehn, Rick Vandenameele, Nathan Morris, Ian Walker, Tyler Dueck, Adam Sandbeck, Mike Sydoruk, Cam Cooke, Tyler Baier, Jeremy Taylor, Nathan Allen, Bailery Folkerson, Chad Nunweiler, Ryan Michalenko, Benoit Lalonde, Derin Carter, Gabe Mackesey, Dustin Orosz, Chris Eckert, Mike Zinkowski, Kyle Thrun, Brian Guebert, Jon Foster, Hubert Buydens, Jeremy Sears, Trevor LeFrancois, Jason Siemens, Marco Brandsema, Ryan Peardon, Matt Shumka, Chris Masich, Martin Skiffington, Dave Barrett, Paul Thompson, Jerad Davis, Wade Holowaty, Ryan Grieve, Dan Nagy, Jon Campbell, Eric Gartner, Garrett Houle, Dustin Jackson, Mickey Jutrus, Brent Keeler, Allan Knights, Sebastian Sosnowski,Matt Sochaski, Kurt Wallace, Travis Weiss, Aaron Wignes, Lee Wolfater
