Saskatchewan Huskies’ new ‘Pickmaster’?

SASKATOON – Global News’ Jack Haskins goes one-on-one in an interview with Saskatchewan Huskies cornerback Chris Friesen. When the word “pickmaster” is said, the first name to pop into Friesen’s head is Mark Ingram.

To uncover the origins of how former Huskies safety, Mark Ingram became known as the “pickmaster”, we have to turn our clocks back a year to the start of Huskies training camp.

In an interview with Kevin Mitchell of the Star Phoenix, Ingram claimed he was “no pickmaster.” Not only was Ingram wrong (he led the CIS with six interceptions) but the name “pickmaster” stuck for the rest of the 2014 season.

This year, there’s another ball-hawking Huskies defender who’s picking up where Ingram left off. Through the first three games of the season, Chris Friesen already has four picks and is leading the CIS in that particular stat category.

So Jack had to ask …

Is Friesen the new pickmaster?

“I don’t know. We’re going to have to see how it goes. Our defence is playing good all-round, we’re getting great pressure and they’re making it easy for me,” said Friesen.

Since we were on the subject of interceptions, I wanted to ask Chris what it feels like to snatch the ball out of the air and start burning it down the field the other way.

“It’s one of the best feelings there is. It’s never expected so when it does happen you just got to enjoy it,” said Friesen.

Friesen is a product of the Saskatoon Hilltops of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL). In 2013, he was named the PFC’s defensive player of the year.

READ MORE: Saskatchewan Huskies pick up first win of the regular season

The Huskies are still in good spirits this week after defeating their provincial rival, the University of Regina Rams, on Sept. 18 at Saskatoon’s Griffiths Stadium. With the win Saskatchewan improved to 1-2 this season, while Regina remains winless.

“It feels great, all the guys are excited and we’re still riding that high. We just got to make sure we keep that going,” said Friesen.

The Huskies head to B.C. next to take on the Thunderbirds Friday.