The 2013 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 2013 team, however, did face a little adversity.
The Valkyries lost for the first time in 2013 as their provincial rivals, the Regina Riot, beat them 15-7. That Valkyries still had a 3-1 regular season record and went into Regina and beat the Riot 55-27 in the Prairie Conference Final.
Once again, the Valkyries beat the Lethbridge Steel in the WWCFL final by a score of 27-13. Candace Bloomquist threw two touchdown passes to Marci Kiselyk, Julene Friesen ran in for a touchdown and Rienna Rueve kicked a pair of field goals for the Valkyries. The Valkyries out-scored their opponents 233-112 over the course of the season.
In 2013, the Valkyries were only in their third season, and still nine of their players and two alternates were selected to represent Canada at the second IFAF Women’s World Championship. The Canadian team finished second and was coached by Valkyries head coach Jeff Yausie.
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 2013 Saskatoon Valkyries include: Lauren Bourdon (back left), Elena Kube, Chantal Gabrush, Amanda Stalwick, Steph Thompson, Brandy Sokoloski, Joelle Scriven, Kristen Berscheid, Amery Deren, Kayla Giles, Rienna Rueve, Julie David, Shalane Sharples, Barb Schindelka, Stacey Boldt, Jessie Buydens; Kathleen Kent (fourth row left), Angie Lang, Beth Thomson, Kendra Wilson, Jaime Lammerding, Janelle Olchowy, Melanie Harris, Elan Ballantyne, Mallory McGrath, Heather Henderson, Kelsi Christiansen; Kendria Symak (third row left), Candice Nolin, Arielle Popick, Julene Friesen, Amber Buchholz, Jacquie Tatlow, Shaylyn DeJong, Karlie Jackson, Lori Smith, Alex Wojcichowsky, Tori Giles; Martina Hillstrom (second row left), Terra Carriere, Kit Hillis, Chad Palmer, Chris Hengen-Braun, Dan Houle, Jeff Yausie, Cody Halseth, Brett McMann, Tommy Lynch, Chris Kulbida, Rod Janzen, Michelle Duchene; Denise Kolosky (front left), Beth Thompson, Marci Kiselyk, Darla Lee Walde, Carisa Polischuk, Candace Bloomquist.
