The 2012 Saskatoon Valkyries are one of four championship Valkyries teams that were inducted together into the Hall of Fame.
Saskatoon hosted an identification camp for players from the prairie provinces before the first International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Women’s World Championship in 2010. Future Valkyries Julie Paetsch and Jessie Buydens represented Canada at the tournament in Sweden, with future Valkyries general manager Michelle Duchene serving as a trainer. After that tournament, Football Saskatchewan held a women’s tackle football clinic to gauge the interest of women in the sport, with the Valkyries and Riot forming following the strong turnout.
The Valkyries played their first Western Women’s Canadian Football League season in 2011 and were an immediate success, winning four straight titles.
The 2012 Valkyries picked up where they left off, posting their second consecutive undefeated season. They won six games – including a 35-21 win over the Regina Riot in the Prairie Conference Final to advance to another WWCFL final. There they beat the Lethbridge Steel 64-21. Julie David had six touchdowns in the final, with Gillian Allen, Natasha Miller and Amber Buchholz also finding the end zone. The Valkyries out-scored their opponents 367-76 over the course of the season.
Many of the early Valkyries were new to football but had been elite athletes in other sports. The first Valkyries dynasty featured 14 players who had played varsity sports at the U Sports or NCAA level. These dedicated athletes ensured success from the start as they set a high standard of excellence for the WWCFL. These women’s football pioneers have left a legacy for the next generation of young women in the province.
Installed in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame on September 26, 2026.
The 2012 Saskatoon Valkyries include: Michelle Keene (back left), Kim Buell, Lori Smith, Diane Tanner, Amber Buchholz, Natasha Janzen, Joelle Scriven, Jenny Holtsman, Terra Carriere; Megan Miller (fifth row left), Kendra Wilson, Haley Erbach, Karlie Jackson, Beth Thompson, Alisha Paproski, Candice Nolin, Denise Kolosky, Taylor Zerr, Janelle Olchowy; Holly Kelleher (fourth row left), Elena Kube, Jacquie Tatlow, Steph Thompson, Jaime Lammerding, Michelle Petrisor, Mel Harris, Shalane Sharples, Natasha Miller, Kelsi Christiansen; Angie Lang (third row left), Beth Thomson, Tori Giles, Carla Lednow, Rienna Rueve, Jen Penner, Serene Smyth, Gillian Allen, Julie David; Dan Houle (second row left), Kit Hillis, Cody Halseth, Rod Jenzen, Michelle Duchene, Jeff Yausie, Chad Palmer, Chris Hengen-Braun, Bret McMann, Tyler Baier; Jessie Buydens (front left), Candace Bloomquist, Heather Henderson, Carisa Polischuk, Marci Kiselyk, Katie Miyazaki, Julie Paetsch, Jana Spindler, Darla Lee Wade.
