The 2014 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 Valkyries capped their dynasty run with another unbeaten season in 2014.
They finished with a 4-0 record and won a pair of playoff games to advance to the WWCFL final. They beat the Regina Riot 44-15 in the Prairie Conference Final before beating the Lethbridge Steel 53-0. Candace Bloomquist ended her tenure as the Valkyries’ quarterback by completing 21 of 30 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns in the final. The Valkyries out-scored their opponents 339-28 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 2014 Saskatoon Valkyries include: Ehjae Chan (back left), Rienna Rueve, Amanda Stalwick, Nicole Richards, Angela Schultz, Kandace Williams, Nicole Carlos, Danielle Haughian, Kayla Fraser, Erica Bronkhosrt, Kendra Wilson, Melanie Harris, Natasha Miller, Stacey Boldt, Joelle Scriven, Sharon Hankey, Alexandria Werenka; Alex Wojcichowsky (third row left), Tori Giles, Lori Smith, Lauren Rahier, Natalie Laing, Alexandra Markova, Kelsey Dyck, Alana Nelson, Elena Kube, Eden Rakochy, Amber Buchholz, Lauren Bourdon, Kelsey Murphy, Shaylyn DeJong, Megan Bourdon, Joy Slemming, Stephanie Hughes, Samantha Matheson; Krystin Therens (second row left), Sarah Butler, Michelle Keene, Beth Thompson, Dan Houle, Lyle Evanisky, Chad Palmer, Chris Kulbida, Jeff Yausie, Cody Halseth, Chris Hengen-Braun, Pat Barry, Bret McMann, Steve Kovach, Michelle Duchene, John Murphy; Julie David (front left), Gillian Allen, Beth Thomson, Carisa Polischuk, Denise Kolosky, Marci Kiselyk, Candace Bloomquist, Jaime Lammerding.
Not pictured: Karmin Pain, Andrea Book, Melanie Deneiko, Calla Belyk.
