Ainsley Oliver
MClSc SEM, MPT, B.Sc (Physiology), Dip SPORT PT., International Sport PT, CSEP-CEP, BDN
Physiotherapy, Rostered Huskie Athletes
Ainsley graduated with a Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of Saskatchewan in 2015. During the program, she was the recipient of the Sally Purden Memorial Award for Neuroscience as well as the Saskatchewan Physiotherapy Association (SPA) prize for her professional involvement. Prior to her Master’s degree, Ainsley graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Physiology (2012) while competing as an NCAA Div.1 diver for the Arizona Wildcats. In 2022, Ainsley attained a Master of Clinical Science in Sport and Exercise Medicine from the University of Western. Upon completion, she attained her Sport Physiotherapy Canada Certificate and Diploma, and is a registered International Sport Physiotherapist. During this year, Ainsley was recognized by the SPA for her clinical expertise and contributions to the physiotherapy profession and received the Award of Merit for Clinical Excellence.
Clinically, Ainsley has worked primarily in private practice with experience in sports rehabilitation, orthopaedics, and working with individuals across the lifespan. She’s completed additional continuing education in sport therapies, orthopaedics, dry needling and much more. She has experience with contact and non-contact sports such as diving, swimming, artistic swimming, gymnastics, rugby, volleyball, football and much more!
At Huskie Health, Ainsley is the lead therapist for the Huskies men’s and women’s volleyball teams, and the men’s and women’s track and field teams. When she is not in the clinic or at a sporting event, you’ll find her teaching Acute Sport Injury Care and Prevention in the College of Kinesiology, as well as leading the Huskie Athletics Student Trainer Practicum.
Ainsley remains an active member of the diving community as a national and international judge. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, pilates, volleyball, strength training, crafting and training her dog Ellie.
Al Bodnarchuk
MTAS, CSMTA(SF)
Massage Therapy
Al has been a massage therapist for over 30 years. He has been selected to work at many major games such as the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and many World Athletics Championships. Al enjoys working with the general public and athletes from the grassroots weekend warrior up to high performance athletes. Al is a member of Massage Therapist Association of Saskatchewan (MTAS) and is a consultant with the Sports Medicine and Science Counsel of Saskatchewan. He is also a member of the Huskie Sports Medicine Coalition and has been an IST member with Athletics Canada for over 30 years. Educating clients how to look after themselves with Self Massage is something Al tries to encourage.
Trained In: Deep Tissue, Soft Tissue Release, Sports Massage, Rapid Specialist, Cupping, Swedish Massage and IASTM trained.
Alexandra Zaluski
Physiotherapy, Rostered Huskie Athletes
Dan Isaak
Physiotherapy
Dan earned his Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Alberta in 2022, following a Bachelor of Science in Biology from St. Mary’s University. Originally from Calgary, Dan has spent much of his spare time in the mountains, where he enjoys climbing and scrambling. His passion for movement and longevity in sports inspired his career in physiotherapy. Dan’s approach to physiotherapy focuses on customized treatment plans combining specific exercise therapy, injury education, and manual therapy. With experience rehabilitating athletes across various sports, he uses technology to help guide rehabilitation decisions and prepare individuals for the physical demands of their activities. He has advanced training in ACL rehabilitation and is expanding his expertise in finger and upper limb pathologies. Whether you’re aiming to return to daily activities or improve athletic performance, Dan provides the tools and guidance needed to achieve your goals. Outside the clinic, Dan enjoys connecting with the local climbing community, exploring Saskatoon’s coffee spots, and spending time at the lake.
Dr. Zach Richardson
Chiropractic
Dr. Richardson grew up in Melfort, Sask playing all sports which began a deep passion for football. This led to playing throughout high school and moving to play three years for the Regina Thunder and final year for the U of S Huskies. During his years playing football he studied Kinesiology at both the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan finishing his Doctor of Chiropractic in Minnesota. In his spare time you will find him golfing, triathlon training or playing with his dog Benny
Jessica Pawlik
Head Therapist, International Sport PT, BScPT, CSCS, TPI Certified, BDN
Physiotherapy, Rostered Huskie Athletes
Huskie Team Physiotherapist for Women’s Hockey, Men’s Soccer and Wrestling.
Jessica Pawlik is back with Huskie Athletics and is heading up Huskie Health. She joined Huskie Athletics as a student trainer in 2002 and held a team therapist position from 2005 – 2010. Relocating from Minneapolis, MN in 2018, brought Jessica back to her home province and alma mater.
While in Minnesota, Jessica worked alongside some of the world’s top health care providers at Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine and built her own sport physio practice in a hockey dryland facility. Jessica has also continued as a team therapist with Wrestling Canada, travelling to numerous international training camps and tournaments.
Jessica is a Registered International Sport Physical Therapist earning her Diploma in Sport Physiotherapy in 2009. She has continued on with her career development furthering her skills manual therapy, dry needling, KT taping, and earning accreditations with the Titleist Institute and National Strength and Conditioning Association. She has a biomechanical approach to treatment and utilizes manual therapy, dry needling, cupping, video analysis and functional exercises to reach each patient’s goals.
Nic Hallgrimson
MPT, MScKin, BScKin
Physiotherapy, Rostered Huskie Athletes
Nic earned his Master’s in Physical Therapy from the University of Saskatchewan in 2022. Prior to this, Nic completed a Master’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Saskatchewan in 2020, with a focus on sport biomechanics. Here he studied landing asymmetry in artistic gymnasts, exploring its implications on injury risk and performance. With his work in this field, he presented his findings at various national and international biomechanics conferences. Before his Master’s degrees, Nic completed his Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology in 2018 at the U of S and is also currently teaching as a sessional lecturer in the College of Kinesiology at the U of S.
Nic grew up in Saskatoon with a love for sport and movement and as a former national-level gymnast, he experienced firsthand the impact of injuries and the support of skilled physiotherapists. Motivated by this, Nic entered the physical therapy profession to offer similar aid to others in their rehab journey. In clinic, Nic uses a multimodal approach emphasizing manual therapy and functional exercise training to help his clients reach their rehab goals and feel their best. Nic has a passion for orthopedics, strength and conditioning, and sports rehabilitation, and is pursuing additional training in sports physiotherapy and concussion management.
Outside of the clinic, Nic is still involved in the gymnastics community as a judge, a chair member of the Mens Technical Committee for Gymnastics Saskatchewan, and occasionally pops into the gym to train. He also enjoys rec sports, Spikeball, strength training, and all things music.
Ryan Bilanski
BA, BSW, MSW, RSW
Athlete Wellness, Support and Outreach
I am a registered Social Worker with the Student Affairs & Outreach team providing support and outreach to USASK athletes. I provide practical support, education, coaching, mentorship, brief counselling, crisis intervention & management, problem-solving, resource navigation, referrals to on and off-campus resources, and ongoing follow-up care. The work that I do is not limited to Mental Health. I also connect with athletes who are experiencing complex problems including; academic difficulties, significant risk of academic failure and / or require support with processes, are in financial distress, loss of housing, and other situations that are causing distress. My goal in providing support for athletes and students is to participate in a collaborative approach ensuring they are connected to the right resources at the right time. This includes rapid assessment, planning, facilitation, care coordination and follow up. I am able to be flexible, meaning I prioritize athletes/students in crisis for same day service and support and mobile on and off campus.
Shayne Hayward
BScKin, MPT, CEP
Physiotherapy, Rostered Huskie Athletes
Shayne is the head therapist for Huskie Athletics’ men’s hockey, women’s and men’s basketball, and women’s soccer varsity teams. With extensive experience in sports performance and rehabilitation, Shayne brings a unique perspective to recovery by blending strength and rehabilitation principles.
Shayne graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2021 with a Master of Physical Therapy degree. Prior to that, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with Honours and Great Distinction from the same institution in 2017 and became a CSEP Certified Exercise Physiologist in 2018. During this time, Shayne gained invaluable experience as a strength and conditioning coach for high-performance athletes. He assumed the role of head strength and conditioning coach for the University of Saskatchewan Men’s Soccer team and was responsible for leading a comprehensive off-season hockey training program for athletes ranging from youth to professionals. Having worked with athletes across multiple sports including hockey, soccer, baseball, football, volleyball, basketball, and tennis, Shayne has developed an in-depth understanding of the movement pattern requirements for each sport. Such exposure continues to benefit Shayne’s practice as a physical therapist, allowing him to provide optimal support to athletes from various sporting backgrounds.
Shayne is passionate about finding creative solutions to rehabilitation. He enjoys utilizing technology in his practice and remains committed to staying up-to-date on the latest advancements in rehabilitation. Currently, Shayne is pursuing dry needling certification to further his skills and expertise in sports therapy.
Stephanie Peppler
B.Sc(Kin), B.Sc(PT), CAFCI, Dip. Manip, FCAMPT, Cert. SportPT, BDN
Physiotherapy, Rostered Huskie Athletes
Huskie Team Physiotherapist for Football.
Stephanie is excited to be back at her alma mater to assist with the upcoming Huskies sport seasons. She was born and raised in Regina, developed a keen interest in sport and rehabilitation at an early age through her involvement in competitive gymnastics, as both an athlete and coach. She started to pursue this interest further as a student trainer for the basketball and football teams while completing her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology (2005) and Physical Therapy (2007) at the University of Saskatchewan. Stephanie still enjoys working closely with athletes. She was part of the medical team for the Regina Thunder Junior Football organization from 2007-2017. She has also been involved in the executive committee for Saskatchewan’s Division of Sport Physiotherapy Canada.
Stephanie has spent her career working in the private sector. Throughout her career she has continued to advance her clinical skills by obtaining post-graduate certifications in acupuncture and dry needling, myofascial mobilization and recently completed a diploma in manipulative therapy. Her interests have focused on restoring functional movement patterns. She completed the Selective Functional Movement Assessment and is certified in the Functional Movement Screen. Her life away from the clinic involves world travel, relaxing at the lake, kiteboarding, yoga and spending time with friends and family.
Tim Rutley
MTAS, CSMTA
Massage Therapy
Hello, My name is Tim Rutley, I’ve lived in Saskatoon since 2003. I graduated from McKay Massage and Hydrotherapy program with honours in 2006. I have been practicing full times ever since and love my job! Since then I have been an active member of MTAS (Massage Therapist Association of Saskatchewan). In 2017 I became a member of the CSMTA (Canadian Sports Massage Therapist Association). I have training in advanced sports massage, myofascial cupping, LAST (Ligamentous Articular Strain Technique).
Trevor Nerdahl
Massage Therapy
I’m Trevor Nerdahl, a former Huskie basketball player turned Registered Massage Therapist. My journey through sports injuries and recovery inspired me to help others move better, feel better, and thrive. With a Bachelor of Human Kinetics, a Master’s in Education, and a Diploma in Registered Massage Therapy, I bring a unique blend of knowledge, and experience to every session. My approach combines advanced sports massage techniques, Shiatsu, and movement-based therapies to release tension, restore energy flow, and enhance overall well-being. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, looking to optimize performance, or simply seeking relief from chronic tension, each session is personalized to address your specific goals. Let’s work together to help you feel lighter, more mobile, and ready for life’s next challenge.