Saskatchewan Huskies QB Anton Amundrud ready for 2026 season after recovering from cancer

Photo: Electric Umbrella/Derek Elvin/Huskies Athletics

Saskatchewan Huskies quarterback Anton Amundrud is looking forward to battling opposing defences after spending most of the last year battling for his life.

The native of Lloydminster, Alta. was off to a strong start last season, throwing for 1,604 yards, 14 touchdowns, and zero interceptions to lead the Huskies to a 4-1 start. Despite the on-field success, he noticed his health starting to deteriorate near the midway point of the season.

“It all started around Week 4 during the regular-season. I started feeling ill, wasn’t getting the best sleeps, night sweats, things like that. We couldn’t really figure out what was going on,” Amundrud told 3DownNation on Tuesday.

“We were going for multiple tests. I had to miss our game against Alberta in Week 6, and then we went into the bye week. We still weren’t too sure what was going on. We ended up going to the doctor and they ended up running tests on me for months until we found out what it was.”

Amundrud was diagnosed with peripheral T cell lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer. Doctors told him the five-year survival rate was only 30 to 40 percent.

“(The diagnosis) was quite the shock — not what I was expecting going into the hospital,” said Amundrud. “I thought it would just be something quick — antibiotics, get me back on the field, we’re good to go — but it was a little more serious than that.”

The six-foot-two, 210-pound passer spent a couple of months at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, then underwent six rounds of chemotherapy, which took over four months. It was a long and winding road to get back to full health.

Amundrud credits his family members, teammates, and friends for helping him through the ordeal.

“My parents, first off, were very huge throughout it all. They were down here in Saskatoon, staying in dorms and living here every single day for months. They were by my side the whole way through it. Coaches as well, the support from them, anything I needed, they were there to help and it was just fantastic,” he said.

“Teammates visiting me in the hospital all the time as well, and even when I got out of the hospital. They were always looking to lend a hand anytime I needed it, and my roommates — a couple former teammates, Ryker Frank, Nathan Jule, Cam Skinner, Jordin Rusnack, all those guys — just super helpful, anything I needed.

“We kept it very light around the house. They’re very fun to be around. We joked around, we just acted like everything was normal and it helped a lot, so I couldn’t be more grateful for those guys.”

By April, Amundrud was in remission. From there, it didn’t take long for him to start envisioning a return to the field.

With the help of strength and conditioning coach Joel Lipinski and physiotherapist Stephanie Peppler, he’s primed to do just that.

“When I could start moving more and getting stronger and getting my muscle back and all that, it started to click with me that, ‘Hey, I still have three months here train. I can do this. I can get back on the field,’” said Amundrud.

“All I could think about was football. I just wanted to get back out there and take my mind off things. Football’s my love. I enjoy football so much, being out there with your best friends playing ball — there’s no better feeling, so right when I got out of the hospital, all I could think of was football.”

Amundrud was named a Canada West all-star in 2025 despite playing only five games. Jake Farrell, his replacement under centre, played well in his absence, throwing for 1,426 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

Farrell helped lead the Huskies to their third Hardy Cup championship and third Vanier Cup appearance in five years. However, as was the case in Saskatchewan’s two other recent Vanier Cup trips, the team fell short of capturing its first national title since 1998.

As Amundrud enters his final year of U Sports eligibility, he’d love to bring a title back home to Saskatoon.

“I think the big focus, and coach preaches this, is take it day by day. We know that, but at the same time, we know we have a special group and we know we’re a special team, so we know at the end of the year everyone wants to be in that Vanier and win that Vanier,” he said.

“That’s our goal at the end of the year. That’s everyone’s goal, but I think we’ve got a super special group and that’s what we’re gonna be pushing for, so we’re excited.”

For now, Amundrud is focused on Saskatchewan’s preseason game against the Alberta Golden Bears, which is scheduled for Thursday night at Griffiths Stadium. He’s not sure how much he’ll play, but he couldn’t be more excited to play after turning the page on his health scare.

“I’m just antsy to get back out there. It’s what I love to do, and I can’t wait to go out there with my best friends and go play some football,” said Amundrud. “I feel like a little kid at Christmas. I’m just counting down the days till we can start this regular season.”

John Hodge is a longtime Canadian football reporter, insider, and podcaster for 3DownNation. Based in Winnipeg, Hodge is also a freelance television and radio broadcaster.