QUICKLY
• The Rams and Huskies will meet in the Canada West playoffs for the third consecutive season, with all three postseason meetings taking place in Saskatoon. Regina defeated Saskatchewan 19-14 in the 2024 BioSteel Hardy Cup before the Huskies answered with a 25-24 victory in last year's conference championship game.
• Each of the last six meetings between the Rams and Huskies has been decided by seven points or fewer, with Saskatchewan holding a 4-2 record over that span. Saskatchewan is also Regina's most frequent postseason opponent, with the Rams holding a 4-3 all-time playoff record against the Huskies.
THREE STRAIGHT? The Rams are looking to advance to the BioSteel Hardy Cup for the third consecutive season, a feat they have accomplished just once before in program history. Regina made three straight appearances from 2000 to 2002, winning the conference championship in 2000 before falling in the 2001 and 2002 title games. The Rams' semifinal victories in 2024 and 2025 both came against Manitoba.
ON THE LINE: Saturday's winner will advance to the 89th BioSteel Hardy Cup on Nov. 14 against the winner of the other Canada West semifinal between UBC and Manitoba. If UBC defeats Manitoba, the Thunderbirds will host the conference championship game. If Manitoba defeats UBC, the winner of the Regina-Saskatchewan semifinal will host. A Rams victory in that scenario would bring the Hardy Cup to Leibel Field, which would mark the first time the U of R has hosted a postseason game at Regina Minor Football's Douglas Park facility.
DEFENCE MAKES HISTORY: The Rams allowed just 146 points during the regular season, breaking the school single-season record of 153 set in 2002. Regina's average of 18.3 points allowed per game was the lowest in Canada West this season, while its total of 146 points allowed ranked fourth among all U SPORTS teams.
GORNIAK SETS PAIR OF RECORDS: K
Ty Gorniak set two University of Regina single-season records during the 2026 regular season, finishing with 23 field goals made and 89 points scored. His 23 field goals broke Perri Scarcelli's previous school record of 20 set in 2009, while his 89 points surpassed the previous mark of 84 set by Jason Clermont in 2001. Gorniak ranked second in U SPORTS in both field goals made and points scored, and led Canada West with an 82.1% field goal percentage after connecting on 23 of his 28 attempts. He also set a U of R single-game record with six field goals in Regina's season-opening victory over Alberta.
ASHMAN MAKES HISTORY: RB
Carter Ashman finished the regular season with 776 rushing yards, setting a U of R record for rushing yards by a first-year player and recording the seventh-highest single-season total in program history. His seven rushing touchdowns tied for fourth on the school's single-season list, ranked second in Canada West, and tied for third in U SPORTS. Ashman ranked second in Canada West and third in U SPORTS in rushing yards, while his 132 rushing attempts led the nation. Ashman closed the regular season with 174 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Manitoba, finishing that game with 258 all-purpose yards.
WONG ON THE SPOT: LB
Brandon Wong finished the regular season with four fumble recoveries, tying the U of R single-season record previously established by
Bruce Anderson in 2010 and matched by Steve Famulak in 2011. Wong led all U SPORTS players in fumble recoveries this season and now has seven in his career, also tied for the most in program history. Two of his recoveries came against Alberta on Oct. 15, including one that he returned for a touchdown following a blocked punt.
BLOCK PARTY: The Rams blocked all three of Manitoba's field goal attempts in their 26-15 victory over the Bisons last Saturday. DL
Brad Rodin was responsible for two of those blocks, becoming just the second player in U of R history to block two kicks in a single game and the first since Craig Zimmer in 2005. Rodin was named the Canada West Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance, while DL
Apete Tuiloma was credited with the other block. The Rams finished the regular season with seven blocked kicks, the most of any team in U SPORTS. Acadia was second with three, while only two other teams in the country recorded more than one blocked kick.
SOMBACH SHUTS IT DOWN: DB
Carson Sombach finished the regular season with eight passes defended, recording seven pass breakups and one interception. His eight passes defended led Canada West and tied him for sixth in U SPORTS. Sombach was also responsible for a key third-down tackle for loss late in Regina's playoff-clinching victory over Manitoba, stopping a Bisons drive with the Rams holding a five-point lead.
EVOLVING BACKFIELD: Regina's rushing attack has undergone several changes this season, with RB
Carter Ashman emerging as the team's featured back heading into the playoffs. RB
Christian Katende opened the year with 130 rushing yards in Week 1 before Ashman broke out for 136 yards in Week 2. RB
Marshall Erichsen returned from injury in Week 4 to give the Rams a three-man rotation, but suffered another injury in Week 5 and hasn't played since. Katende was also injured early in Week 6, leaving Ashman and RB
Kaiden Banfield to carry the load against Alberta. The two continued to share carries against UBC in Week 7, but Ashman took over as the primary ball carrier against Manitoba last Saturday, rushing 29 times for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Banfield dressed as the No. 2 running back but did not record a carry, while RB
Damien Cherry dressed for the second consecutive game as the team's third running back.
