Photo courtesy of Louis Christ Photography

The defending CJFL Canadian Bowl champion Saskatoon Hilltops captured their 24th national crown last season and have begun preparations for defending their title here in 2026. 

They will have big cleats to fill in some important positions with the graduation of 16 players from the 2025 roster, who each made a significant impact in last year's championship run.

DL Ryan Adamko has been outstanding for the Hilltops in the trenches and will be sorely missed.  In 2025 he collected 16 solo tackles, 17 assisted stops, half a sack, and recovered a fumble.

OL Victoire Bikulo was given the team’s “True Grit” award at the end of the season.  He returned in 2025 following a “horrific leg injury” for his final season, only to get injured again this year, but continuously showed up and battled for the Toppers.

REC David Boyd Jr played one season in Saskatoon, but it was an important one with perhaps his biggest reception coming on a two-point conversion in the Prairie Conference final to tie the game and force overtime.  During the regular season he was targeted 41 times, made 23 receptions for 278 yards and caught two majors.

RB David Collins was simply outstanding for the Hilltops last year and was named the Conference Offensive Player of the Year after he gobbled up 1028 yards on 126 carries and scored a Conference high 13 touchdowns. He was also named the Canadian Bowl Offensive Player of the Game with a pair of majors and 143 yards on the ground leading his club to the national championship.

REC Hayden Day was used sparingly during last season, targeted nine times, made five receptions gathering 61 yards, averaging 12.2 yards with each reception.

DB Jackson Dean was a big part of the Hilltops secondary and a key contributor during the Canadian Bowl.  In the regular season he finished with 10 solo tackles, assisted on five others and had a knockdown.

QB Brexton Elias worked his way into the starting quarterback role once the season was underway, then took the final kneel down as time expired in the Canadian Bowl to cap off his junior football career.  During the 2025 regular season he completed 57% of his passes for 809 yards and threw five touchdowns.  He added a rushing touchdown as well.

REC Khyler Kok didn’t have a major role in the Hilltops offence, who focussed on the run game in 2025.  He did make six receptions, averaging over 10 yards a catch and hauled in a touchdown pass.

DL Nahom Menghestab was named the Hilltops Ray Syrnyk Memorial Trophy as the top lineman.  Head coach Tom Sargeant said he’s “a big-time nose guard, year in and year out. Does all the dirty work, but the evolution of him when he came to us as an 18-year-old to a finished product, as a 22-year-old, is just outstanding.”  He finished with nine solo tackles last year, 11 assists and had a sack.

LB Isaac Michayluk is arguably the Hilltops most important grad for what he does on the field and in the locker room as one of the leaders on the defensive side. He was named the team’s Jim Courtice Inspiration Award winner and the Defensive Player of the Canadian Bowl this past year.  During the regular season he made 33 solo tackles, 26 assists, had three interceptions, two forced fumbles, recovered one and had three knockdowns.

DB Jace Mowles (pictured) was one of the best in the business in the Hilltops secondary and will be missed next season.  He was named a Conference All-Star making three interceptions last year, along with 16 tackles and four assisted tackles.  Following the season he was named the team’s “Blue and Gold Commitment Award” winner for his outstanding work over the course of his junior career.

DL Johnathon Stevens was named a CJFL All-Canadian for the third straight season and became a three-time Conference All-Star.  He led the Prairies with three sacks, had 11 tackles, 18 assisted stops, had a knockdown, forced and recovered a fumble.  Before the CJFL season he spent time at the Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp, played in an exhibition game and stayed on their practice roster until the start of the CFL season.  Following the junior season was named the Hilltops’ Most Outstanding Graduate.

DB Dalton Urban missed his final CJFL season due to a season ending injury suffered while attending the Roughriders training camp prior to the Hilltops schedule kicking off.  He finishes his junior career as a two-time CJFL All-Canadian winning a national championship in 2023.

REC Isaiah Vallderruten was named a CJFL Second Team All-Canadian in his only season in Saskatoon and left his mark in a big way.  His biggest catch of the season was a game winning touchdown coming in overtime during the Prairie Conference final which propelled his team to the Canadian Bowl. During the campaign he led the Conference averaging 24.5 yards a reception, making 16 catches for 392 yards and had 4 touchdowns.

DB Nathan Young had two interceptions in his graduating year and was an important part of their secondary.  In addition to the picks, he made 12 solo tackles, assisted on nine others and collected three knockdowns.

LS Colton Zimmer played on the Hilltops special teams making nine tackles, assisting five others and recovered a fumble.

The CJFL wishes these Hilltops all the best in the next chapter of their lives.