Nominated by Dive Sask

• In 2012, Dive Sask saw an opportunity to turn their annual training camp in Cuba into a humanitarian trip and before long, its impact began to reach far into both communities. Over the last 13 years, athletes have travelled with more than the simple intention of training, as the team has since brought focus to how sport can be used as a bridge to build connection. During their visits, the team discovered a lack of training equipment available to Cuban athletes and began bringing ‘Love Suitcases,’ brimming with necessities such as bathing suits, wrist guards, water bottles and even one year, a bungee training system. Attending these training camps with a humanitarian perspective has allowed athletes on the Dive Sask Provincial Team to realize it’s more than state of the art facilities that build a champion; it’s the community and integrity found through sport.

Nominated by family and supported by Saskatchewan Target Shooting Association

• First met with adversity, Anshul Malik’s path to success in Saskatchewan has proven his resilience to pursue his dream of representing Canada on the Olympic stage. Early in his sporting career, Malik was forced to step away from his success on the Indian Junior Shooting Team and immigrate to Canada due to circumstances beyond his control. Once in Saskatchewan, he displayed acts of perseverance, never letting go of his identity as an athlete. Malik did not let the struggle of restarting in a new country break his spirit, instead he let the hardship fuel his passion to reclaim his dream and pushed himself beyond his limits. In 2025, his efforts produced tangible success on the national stage as Malik represented the province at the Canadian National Pistol Championship, where he claimed five medals.

Nominated by Saskatchewan Team Handball

• For Melissa Lock, having a coaching toolbox full of various certificates and areas of knowledge has allowed her to guide with intention and awareness, concepts that help build a strong team on and off the court. With that, she also shares her knowledge with others, guiding former athletes through their transition into the realm of coaching. She helps ensure that the next generation of handball coaches have the experience necessary to successfully continue growing the sport in Saskatchewan. She sees the potential in every athlete and works to help them achieve it, which includes advocating for teams to attend development opportunities. Over her 19 years as a coach, Lock has helped multiple athletes earn the chance to wear the maple leaf and represent Canada on the international stage.

Nominated by Saskatoon Alliance U17 Girls, supported by Saskatchewan Soccer Association

• Guiding athletes to reach various levels of success, Mark Lord has coached teams to become league champions. He acts as a positive force for his team and remains an uplifting presence.  In the almost three decades of coaching, Lord has dedicated personal time to researching health and sport safety, which he implements with his team to avoid over training and injury. For Lord, protecting his athletes’ physical wellbeing allows him to ensure they can continue to chase their passion for soccer. His outstanding displays as a coach have not gone unnoticed, with Lord being honoured with four separate awards highlighting his abilities and dedication.

Nominated by volunteer coach, supported by Waterski Wakeboard Saskatchewan

• David Wassill is a distinguished Master Coach Developer in the sport of waterski, with a career marked by contributions to coaching education in Canada. He selflessly supports new and accomplished water skiers from across the country and caters to each of their individual needs. In his 50 years as a coach, Wassill has dedicated an innumerable amount of hours to growing the adaptive water ski program in Canada, guiding many athletes from beginners to high-performance.  In 2023, for the first time in history, Canada was able to take a full team of athletes to compete at the World Disabled Waterski Championship — with many of them medalling — thanks to Wassill’s commitment to developing the adaptive program on a provincial and national level.

Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

• Throughout Harvey Weber’s 40-year coaching career, he has been involved in guiding athletes to reach success on the national to international stages. As head coach, he oversaw Team Saskatchewan’s athletics team to claim 74 medals, 21 of which were gold, at the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games. Weber goes beyond the role of technical coach, treating each athlete with equal respect as he maintains an inclusive and supportive environment. Over the years, Weber has coached a variety of athletes, from teenagers to those in their seventies, with many crediting their results and long-standing interest in the sport to him.

Nominated by Ringette Saskatchewan

• Since beginning his volunteer journey with ringette in 2013, Darin Degenstein has become a vital member of the community. His work as marketing director in 2022 led to a record-breaking number of youth players registered with the Regina Ringette Association. Degenstein has expanded the reach of ringette in the province by revitalizing its presence in Moose Jaw, in addition to founding the University of Regina Cougars’ ringette team. Drawing from his personal passion for the sport, Degenstein invests countless hours to ensure that the sport continues to grow so every athlete has the opportunity to experience the joy of ringette.

Nominated by Athletics Saskatchewan

• Forty-five years ago, Dave Elder started his volunteer journey with athletics, dedicating time as a track and field official and coach. In that time, he has become a provincial evaluator, which allows him to mentor and evaluate other officials who are seeking to upgrade their own credentials. Whenever there is an opportunity to officiate, Elder is there to fill the role. His volunteerism reaches even outside the realm of athletics, as he selflessly dedicated decades to Saskatchewan’s wrestling community, as well as football. He leads with a passion to serve others and works to ensure sport is fair and available to all involved.

Nominated by Skate Canada – Saskatchewan

• For three decades, Allyson Senecal has taken on various roles within figure skating and has been guided by an athlete-first philosophy when making decisions. Whether she is volunteering as in official or leading the Skate Canda – Saskatchewan board as President, Senecal works to achieve what is best for the sport and those involved. In the diverse areas that she volunteers, Senecal has played essential roles in ensuring provincial and national events take place without error. As technical representative, she oversees every part of competition and acts as a liaison between local organizing committees, officials, athletes, coaches and Skate Canada. Senecal’s selfless attitude is the base on which she has built success for the figure skating community in Saskatchewan.

Margo Erlam – Saskatoon

Nominated by Dive Sask

• Two-time gold medallist at the World Aquatics Canada Cup, who also claimed silver in the mixed team event, before representing Canada at the World Championships in Singapore to finish 20^th overall.

Gage Grassick – Prince Albert

Nominated by University of Saskatchewan Huskies

• Gold medallist with the women’s 3X3 team at the Junior Pan American Games, after being named U SPORTS female athlete of the year while assisting the University of Saskatchewan women’s basketball team to a U SPORTS national title.

Savannah Sutherland – Borden

Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

• Finished first in the women’s 400-metre hurdle event at the NCAA Track and Field Championships and broke four records in the process, while medalling at other international and national events.

Taylor Barth – Regina

Nominated by Special Olympics Saskatchewan

• Claimed two gold medals in separate events and earned a fourth-place finish while donning the maple leaf at the Special Olympics World Winter Games.

Blake Lamontagne – Wawota

Nominated by Coach and supported by Waterski Wakeboard Saskatchewan

• Secured two silver medals and a bronze at the Disabled Worlds Waterskiing Championship, helping Canada to finish second overall.

Jonathan Podbielski – Regina

Nominated by Saskatchewan Athletics

• U SPORTS Track and Field Championships bronze medallist, who captured three golds at the Canada West Track and Field Championships and represented Canada for the first time internationally at the FISU World University Games.

Ali Diehl – Prince Albert
Nominated by Prince Albert Sharks Swimming Club and supported by Swim Sask

• World Para Swimming Championships gold medallist, also captured a silver and two bronze at the event in addition to securing multiple medals across a pair of national events.

Sasha Krakowka – Saskatoon
Nominated by Saskatchewan Target Shooting Association

• Claimed two silver medals at the First Americas Championship, while also earning a total of seven gold medals, two silver and multiple records across various categories at Canadian Nationals and Junior Nationals.

Clara Milleker Shyiak – Regina
Nominated by Family and supported by Water Polo Saskatchewan

• Competed with Team Canada at the 17U Pan American Championship and the 15U Pan American Championship, with both teams capturing silver, and medalled at multiple national events with Team Saskatchewan.

Brady Goldfinch-Bali – Saskatoon

Nominated by Saskatchewan Target Shooting Association

• A three-time gold medallist and a national record setter at the Canadian Junior National Championships, as well as added additional medals at other international, national and provincial events.

Kian Poitras – Regina

Nominated by Family and supported by Softball Saskatchewan

• Captured bronze with the Canadian softball team at the Pan American Championships, where he was the RBI leader and second in average.

Kash Tarasoff – Saskatoon
Nominated by Dive Sask

• Claimed bronze medals at three different international events and multiple medals at the Canada Summer Games, in addition to a gold-medal and record-breaking performance at Junior Nationals.

Mary Carroll – Saskatoon

Nominated by Dive Sask

• Guided multiple athletes between junior and senior divisions to podium finishes at national and international events, including the Canada Summer Games and Junior Pan American Championships.

Hazem Hussein – Prince Albert

Nominated by Prince Albert Sharks Swim Club and supported by Swim Sask

• Coached multiple athletes to claim medals at provincial and national competitions, as well as coached athlete Ali Diehl to top-five and medal finishes on the World Para Swimming Championship circuit.

Lisa Thomaidis – Saskatoon

Nominated by University of Saskatchewan Huskies

• Became the winningest coach in Canada West women’s basketball history while leading the University of Saskatchewan women’s basketball team to claim the U SPORTS national championship and the Canada West title.

Team Bryden – Regina

Nominated by CURLSASK

• Went undefeated at the Senior Men’s World Curling Championships to claim the title, after earning their spot by winning the national and provincial championships.

South Sask High Performance Baton Team – Regina

Nominated by Saskatchewan Baton Twirling Association

• Captured a gold and silver medal at the International Cup, as well as multiple gold medals at national competitions.

University of Saskatchewan Huskie Women’s Basketball Team – Saskatoon

Nominated by University of Saskatchewan Huskies

• After finishing the regular season atop the Canada West standings, claimed the 2025 U SPORTS and Canada West women’s basketball titles