The next stage in Melville’s John Stolls football career is about to begin. The former Melville Cobras defensive player of the year will soon be attending training camp for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. In 2020 the Huskies did not play any games due to the pandemic; while Stoll had his final highschool season canceled, he was able to still play for the South Saskatchewan Selects. A program he credits for helping him become the player he is today.
Training for this year for the Huskies is a little bit different than most years. The team began practicing on May 31st and spread it out throughout the summer. The team is currently on a break until September 1st when training camp intensifies because games are right around the corner. The Huskies first game is September 25th in Calgary.
The leap from highschool to college is a struggle for most students, let alone people that have to juggle a sport and academics. The academics are still a few weeks away yet but Stoll is still learning about Husky football. “It’s been really good, everyone is really helpful and friendly, everyone is there to get better and it’s a really good looking team,” Stoll says “I’ve been learning lots, it’s a whole new level and I’m just really enjoying playing with everyone.”
Stoll is excited to begin the next chapter in his football career but understands that there is still a lot to learn. “The biggest thing as a new guy is just knowing what’s happening out there,” Stoll adds. “Everything is done to look like a well oiled machine and it’s my job to understand what’s happening, that’s how they have built a really successful team. The coaches are fantastic at making sure what’s done is done right.”
This season the Huskies will play six regular season games:
September 25 @ Calgary
October 1 @ UBC
October 16 vs Alberta
October 23 vs Regina
October 30 @ Manitoba
November 6 vs Calgary