2025 Huskie Men's Hockey 'Off the Leash Luncheon' Award of Recognition Winner: Taylor Wildeman

Nov 25
5 min read

by Michael P.J. Kennedy. Ph.D.

Since 2009, the Huskie men’s hockey “Off the Leash luncheon” has recognized an individual or group which has made “contributions over a period of years to the betterment of Huskie men’s hockey or its alumni.”

The 2025 honouree is Taylor Wildeman, who was a speedy forward for the Green and White from 2001-2004. Far beyond his on-ice contributions as a tenacious playmaker accumulating 69 points during his tenure with the Dogs, “Willie” has given countless hours as an active alumnus serving on University Cup Hosting Committee, “Off The Leash Luncheon” (OTLL) Committee, Huskie Hockey Scholarship Foundation, and the Alumni Executive Committee.

As a player, he was not the biggest in stature on the ice, although he continually came up very big indeed with his playmaking ability, tenacity, and overall contributions to team success as Huskies finished in first place in the Great Plains Division of Canada West in each of his years playing at University of Saskatchewan.

Upon graduation, the Lanigan native has taken a giant leadership role with the Huskie men’s hockey alumni. The chartered professional accountant was one of the first former players to step up when the concept of “Off The Leash Luncheon” was initially proposed over fifteen years ago. When asked about the early years of what has become the most successful fund-raising event for the Huskie men’s team, he is proud of his involvement “…in creating the operational framework to manage the event; how to record ticket sales, setting up a bank account, doing the accounting and financial statements, paying vendors, etc.,” which have all been vital elements for the success of the Luncheon.

In addition to his financial prowess, his inspirational and practical talents contributed the “centre stage” and one-on-on presentation concept which have become key elements of the high profile gathering which attracts hundreds of alumni, supporters, and community members each year. He served as chairperson for OTLL for three years and past chair for an additional two years and now continues to assist in various ways.

Taylor’s hockey career started in earnest when he moved from Lanigan to Tisdale, where he played at the AAA level with the Trojans in 1995-96, continued at the junior level with Nipawin Hawks (1996-99), and developed further with Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Trojans in Calgary from 1999 to 2001 where he earned a Business Diploma with high honours. With SAIT, he was the team’s Rookie of the Year and also was an Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference All-Star.

Yet it was with Huskies that the son of Pound-Maker Agventures feedlot general manager father Brad and nurse mother Cheri seemed to find his hockey home. He chose to enrol at University of Saskatchewan for a commerce degree and play for the Dogs after his positive experiences at SAIT: “I caught the bug around what it means to be in a business school and I wanted more. Coming home to Saskatoon was very appealing. I wanted to be closer to friends and family. I decided accounting was the route for me” at U. of S.

When asked of what he was proudest during his playing days with the Dogs, the partner to Danika Greschuk and father to daughter Charlotte who excels at pole vault and hurdles at the provincial medal level, and son William who is an active freestyle downhill skier, he stated: “…finding a way to be successful and make my mark on the team and CIS [U Sports]. I was the smallest player on the team…. I wasn’t supposed to amount to much on the team… but with hard work, tenacity, and the right attitude, I was able to be successful.”

With his personal commitment and hard work, Wildeman has become a role model for current players as well as alumni. Since 2019, he has been director of the Huskie Hockey Scholarship Foundation, created to assist student-athletes on the team.

The very active alumnus is also a member of the newly formed Alumni Executive Committee and has taken on the task of developing the huskiehockeyalumni.com website as part of an endeavour to provide alumni and supporters with ongoing and future means of communications. The website is now a vital means of developing direct engagement among alumni and supporters. With assistance from fellow alumni Dan Leier and Carter Folk, the highly popular “Game Day Alert” and “Weekend Update” posts have also provided a regular in-season connection with the current team’s progress.

Why has Taylor Wildeman shown such keen interest in Huskie men’s hockey alumni? “I have a desire to give back to the alumni, “he states, “as well as pass along my knowledge and expertise to others. I think about what a strong alumni group we have and it excites me to think of the impact we’ll have by bringing the group closer together personally and professionally. I believe that by doing so we provide our current players, coaches, and support structure with an energetic, engaged alumni that will only fuel our opportunity for the team’s future success.”

Taylor Wildeman is the epitome of an active Huskie alumnus and a truly inspiring recipient of the “Off the Leash Luncheon” Award of Recognition. When asked what it means for him to be so honoured, the senior director of sales for WinField United Canada notes how many worthy candidates there are and yet feels justifiably proud of the honour: “There’s so many deserving candidates as I see so many alumni rolling up their sleeves and doing their part. I’m not sure I should have been at the top of the list, but I do feel a strong sense of pride in joining a list of Award of Recognition Committee members who have come before me. To think that the Committee felt my name should be at the top of the list is pretty special. Thank You!

HOCKEY CAREER:

Tisdale Trojans in U18 Saskatchewan AAAHL 1995-1996:

GP G A PTS PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG

1995-96 42 15 35 50 35 - - - -

(Source: eliteprospects.com)

Nipawin Hawks in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League 1996-1999:

GP G A PTS PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG

1996-97 54 7 10 17 38 - - - -

1997-98 63 11 12 23 52 - - - -

1998-99 66 26 36 62 56 - - - -

(Source: eliteprospects.com)

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Trojans in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) 1999-2001: