Legendary farewell

Four-time WWCFL champion Bloomquist walks away a winner

In the history of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL), there has not been a quarterback that has experienced success like Candace Bloomquist. Serving as the field general for the Saskatoon Valkyries, Bloomquist was the heartbeat on offense for one of the greatest female sports dynasties in Canadian history.

During four seasons, Bloomquist only lost one game as starting quarterback, a feat that may never be duplicated again in league history. After the Valkyries trounced the Lethbridge Steel by a 53-0 tally in the 2014 WWCFL championship game, Bloomquist was bestowed with Game MVP honors. After a performance that included over 340 yards passing and a pair of touchdown passes, she made the visceral decision to announce her retirement from the game.

While the women’s game continues to achieve unprecedented growth, Bloomquist was certainly one of the first among a great line of heroes, capturing the imagination of football fans, proving that women were more than worthy of gracing the gridiron. While her remarkable run is nothing short of an outstanding legacy in league history, Bloomquist remarks on other ways she would like her legacy to be seen,

“I hope that my legacy could include providing an example to young girls. I hope from my experience they see that there are many opportunities out there to be anything they want to be. I hope that young girls see our team as an inspiration to go out and try something that maybe no one has tried before.”

Prior to football, Bloomquist was already an established athlete. Of note, she was a track and field competitor in high school while she competed on the women’s basketball team at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. With the CU Blue Jays, she would establish ten career-high performances during their 1999-2000 campaign.

While Bloomquist is a role model and an inspiration, she also acknowledges that there were some special individuals who helped shape her career. Recognizing the Valkyries offensive coaches, their inspiration was part of the framework that enabled Bloomquist to emerge as an elite football player. Of note, the dynamic she had with head coach Jeff Yausie was akin to 1960s football legends Bart Starr and Vince Lombardi, leading to a winning formula.

“The Valkyries coaches have influenced me a great deal throughout my career. Jeff Yausie (Valkyries Head Coach), Chad Palmer (Quarterback Coach), and Dan Houle (Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Coach) have worked closely with me and provided great leadership throughout each season. They did a tremendous job of utilizing the strengths of all the players to set up our team to be successful.”

A highly educated and articulate individual, Bloomquist would earn a Masters Degree at Kansas State University while serving with the US Army as a medical laboratory specialist. This was followed by Bloomquist obtaining a PhD in Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan and is currently an Assistant Professor in Creighton University’s Interdisciplinary Ed. D. Program in Leadership.

Such accomplishments would set the framework for her strong leadership and exceptional accomplishments. She would participate in Football Saskatachewan’s first football camp for females. As a recipient of the WISE Fund in 2011 (given by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity), she would earn her coaching certification.

For football fans in the Prairies, Bloomquist was among a group of special and remarkable women who helped put women’s football on the map in Saskatchewan. As the football hotbed of Canada, the province has seen its share of remarkable football heroes. In such a storied career, there have been many moments that helped shape her legend.

“There are so many great moments; it is hard to think of one that stands out. I have had many great experiences. I think I will cherish so many moments all of them for different reasons. I have enjoyed many happy moments with teammates, I have enjoyed challenging moments physically and mentally on the field, and I have enjoyed watching the joy and accomplishment of my teammates and the coaches over the years. These are all favorites.”

Of note, Bloomquist has also shown great leadership off the field. In March 2013, she would also participate in a highly important event at the University of Saskatchewan, engaging in a discussion about removing homophobia from the locker room.

One year later, Bloomquist was recognized in the second annual Future 40 project, sponsored by Saskatchewan’s branch of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, it recognized forty outstanding people under the age of 40. As the first woman in pro football history to win four consecutive championships, Bloomquist, who currently works for Saskatoon Health Region was a most deserving recipient.

While Bloomquist moves on to the next chapter in her life, the memories made on the gridiron shall last a lifetime. Of all the special memories, the one aspect that is engraved on her heart is the camaraderie with her teammates. It is an aspect that Bloomquist states she shall miss the most about playing,

“The time with my teammates. Football is such a team game and over the years I have developed friendships with many of my teammates. I will miss the time I get to spend with them practicing and talking about football.”

“All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”

Photo credit: Louis Christ