The Creighton Kodiaks football team held their annual awards banquet, celebrating the best moments and shining efforts of the squad after a historic season.
Players, coaches, family and friends met at the Creighton Community Centre Nov. 26 for the ceremony, which honoured all members of the club’s successful foray into southern Saskatchewan play. The Kodiaks, who played their second season in the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association six-man conference four, improved on their debut year, going from one win their first year to a 4-3 record, a second-place finish and a provincial playoff game.
The Kodiaks opened their season with a 34-32 win on the road against Shellbrook, then losing their home opener 32-8 to Wakaw Sept. 12. From there, Creighton won on the road against Hague, at home against Shellbrook and again against Hague at home, only losing on the road to a powerhouse Wakaw team. That qualified the Kodiaks for a playoff game against a juggernaut Rosetown squad, which knocked the Kodiaks out of the provincial bracket and ended their season. Rosetown ended the season ranked third in the province, while Wakaw reached the provincial final, losing to Clavet.
Along the way, the club battled through injuries and setbacks. Several key players, including starting quarterback Josh Trumbley and starting defensive back and running back Payton Pelletier, were sidelined with season-ending injuries, forcing younger players into key roles.
Awards
The team handed out silverware for its best players.
The offensive player of the year for the Kodiaks was Trumbley, who led the team in rushing yards, passing yards and passing and rushing touchdowns. Trumbley threw six touchdowns this season, setting a new record for most passing touchdowns by a Kodiak quarterback in one season.
On the defensive side, Pelletier received the player of the year award on the D side. Pelletier was a big part of both the Kodiaks’ rush and pass defence, including snagging some key interceptions during the regular season.
Matthew Lavis was named the Kodiaks’ rookie of the year, eking out a big role for himself on the offence and on special teams, leading the club in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Kaleb Lycan and Ashton Burden were both received team warrior awards for their never-say-die attitude and determination. Lycan, a jack-of-all-trades who played in four different positions through the season, won his on the offensive side of the ball - Burden picked up his award for his work on the defence.
Rogan Hlady, the team’s kicker and tight end, was named special teams player of the year for the second straight season, while Jordan Donaghy was awarded as the team’s most improved player. Trumbley and Hlady both shared the team’s most dedicated player award and Trumbley also earned the team’s leadership award.
The Caleb Janzen Memorial Award, named in honour of the former Kodiak player who passed away in 2022 after a battle with brain cancer, was awarded to a pair of players who best demonstrated courage and kindness to others. The two honourees were starters Ethan Lavis and Bodyn Simon - “both of these guys had courage, heart and desire to conquer their fears and become important players for us,” said Karakochuk.
Seniors
The team’s large graduating class, 11 players in total, were also honoured for their time with the program. Evan Davis, a linebacker, was one of the coaches’ favourite players because of his dedication to the game and the team, often filling in whenever a hole needed filling on defence. Zach Merasty, the team’s centre, started the game late, playing his first game in Grade 11, but brought a raw yet natural talent and sheer strength to his role.
Cory Lane played wherever a spot opened up, usually as a running back or fullback and was the team’s go-to back in their provincial playoff game against Rosetown. Simon, the team’s longest-standing offensive lineman, overcame breaking his arm last season on a 30-yard- pass play to become indispensable on the field this year.
Brayden Ayres was a four-year defensive back, a two-year starter who also shifted down to play linebacker when needed. Ayres finished his time on-field with many tackles, knockdowns and interceptions, despite having his final year cut short due to injury.
Burden, a defensive lineman who also filled in at centre occasionally, started for each of the last two years, even playing on special teams this season. Coaches said they never needed to worry about Burden being out of position or doing the wrong thing, playing consistently well no matter where he was.
Donaghy, who played on the D line with Burden, did so well at blocking in practice that he upset his teammates, even blocking out Karakochuk when the coach ran plays with the offence in practice. Donaghy fought through a hurt knee in the provincial playoffs to play the full game on D, racking up sacks and tackles along the way.
Rogan Hlady was the team’s kicker and gradually a key part of the passing game, hauling in touchdowns as a tight end and then booting in converts immediately after. Hlady scored a pair of touchdowns against Wakaw and started in two very different positions.
Lycan played practically everywhere a player could play in his time as a Kodiak, an emotional leader and high-effort player who coaches ran out of compliments to pay. Ethan Lavis, a defensive captain, became a ball hawk defensive back over time, ending many opposing long bombs before they could ever drop into the endzone. Lavis had two interceptions against Wakaw early in the season and triumphed in several tough matchups.
Trumbley, the team’s starting quarterback until a hand injury ended his season, set a long list of records for the team this year, pushing the team to over 30 points per game on average and setting new team highs in scoring.
Trumbley spoke to the crowd and presented gifts to the offensive linemen and to the team’s coaches - Lycan also spoke, sharing some stories of his time with the team and what playing football meant to him.
“This has been the most fun four years of my life so far and being able to play football with this program has meant a lot to me. It has given me plenty of great memories,” said Trumbley.
“I think the best aspect of being a Kodiak is the bonds you make along the way. Most of my friends, I made through football. I know without football, I wouldn’t be the man I am today,” said Lycan.
Next steps
The Kodiaks will return to the southern conference next season with a new-look team and a few small changes.
The team oversaw some improvements to team facilities this year, including upgrades to the Oval of Dreams, the team’s home field, along with an on-site storage trailer. Lights have been erected around the field by the Town of Creighton - while the Kodiaks did not get to play any home games under the lights this season, the team may do so in the future. Foran Mining also donated a new team score clock, which will be painted and mounted for next season.
For next season, the club plans to create a small media centre where players and coaches can review game film, as well as getting better audio equipment for public announcements and music during stoppages. Karakochuk also wants to move forward on starting a junior football program with training and coaching for students interested in the game but too young to play, both to raise awareness of the sport and to improve skill development for players entering the program.
“Truly, we are grateful,” said Karakochuk, thanking volunteers and donors for their efforts this season.
“It takes a village to get these things accomplished.”
