The 2011 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. They finished the regular season with a 4-0 record before beating the Regina Riot 36-6 in the Prairie Conference Final. Julie Paetsch scored three touchdowns as the Valkyries beat the Edmonton Storm 35-7 in the final to win their first of four consecutive WWCFL crowns. The Valkyries dominated the final, even though Edmonton was an established team who had won seven consecutive Alberta titles. The Valkyries out-scored their opponents 303-27 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 2011 Saskatoon Valkyries include: Jana Spindler (back left), Janelle Olchowy, Angela Shultz, Melissa Kelsey, Natasha Janzen, Lori Smith; Tori Giles (fourth row left), Stephanie Thompson, Jaime Lammerding, Julie David, Megan Miller, Candace Clarke, Lanette Ehman; Beth Thomson (third row left), Marci Kiselyk. Karlie Jackson, Kelsi Christiansen, Arielle Popick, Jacquie Tatlow, Katie Miyazaki, Michelle Petrisor; Julie Bakke (second row left), Clayton Barnett, Bret McMann, Chris Hengen-Braun, Jeff Yausie, Rod Janzen, Cody Halseth, Tyler Baier, Scott Stevens, Terra Carriere; Jenny Holtsman (front left), Julie Paetsch, Darla Lee Walde, Candace Bloomquist, Alicia Wilson, Jessie Buydens, Heather Henderson, Carisa Polischuk, Michelle Duchene.
Not pictured: Gillian Allen, Kayla Mack, Brandy Sokoloski, Eve Upshall, Beth Thompson, Candice Nolin, Michelle Rogozinski, Ian Miller, Kit Hillis.
