Former Saskatoon Hilltops Matt Kozun, Chad Braun and Quinn Pierce are taking part in their first training camp as members of the Saskatchewan Huskies. They’ve discovered it bears little resemblance to what they experienced in the junior ranks.
“It’s busy, it’s physical, it’s a lot different than a junior camp. I’m way more sore, that’s for sure,” said Kozun, a defensive lineman.
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There’s a big mental adjustment, too.
“The plays are all new concepts,” receiver Braun said.
The experience may be drastically different than what they’ve grown accustomed to, but the ex-Hilltops are quickly adjusting to life in the CIS.
“Honestly I was expecting it to be a huge transition from junior to the CIS, but after playing five years in the junior league it’s kind of made it an easy transition,” linebacker Pierce said.
“We’ve all played together for five years, so even just having guys that I know in the locker room, familiar faces and stuff like that, makes things a lot easier, makes it feel a lot more homey,” Braun added.
Along with receiver Evan Kopchynski, who is currently injured, the trio join the Dogs after stellar junior careers in which they won four national titles. That championship pedigree should come in handy on a Huskies squad looking to get back to the top. Saskatchewan’s last Hardy Cup title as Canada West champions came in 2006, and their last Vanier Cup win was in 1998.
“I think that championship mentality rubs off a little bit and I think that’s why (the Huskies) recruited a lot of Hilltops as a group, because we’ve been there before and we know what that long season is like and what it takes to get to the show, so we hope to bring some of that here, too,” Kozun said.
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They will have plenty of opportunity to do just that. Unlike many CIS rookies, all three players are expected to fill significant roles with the team this season.
“The coaches obviously have some trust in me so far so I’m glad I can come in and hopefully not miss a step,” said Braun, who is projected to be among the team’s starting receivers.
Kozun is also expected be a starter on a defensive line that led the Canada West conference with 18 sacks in 2015.
“They told me pretty much right off the hop that I’ll be competing and these (other) guys are good, too. Nothing’s guaranteed, that’s for sure, but it’s fun to compete knowing that there’s a chance that you’re not going to be standing on the sidelines the whole time.”
While it may be their first CIS training camp, the former Hilltops already seem like seasoned vets.
The Huskies open the season Friday, Sept. 2 when they host the Regina Rams.
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