10 observations from Saskatchewan's pre-season loss in Winnipeg
Article content
The Saskatchewan Roughriders opened their 2025 CFL pre-season schedule on Saturday in Winnipeg with a 15-9 loss against the Blue Bombers.
Article content
Article content
And while the game didn't feature many fireworks, with no touchdowns and eight field goals scored in the contest, there were a few notable performances from some members of the Green and White in the loss, which of course means nothing in the standings:
Article content
Top 10
Article content
A.J. Ouellette's 21-yard run in the first half was one of Saskatchewan's best offensive bursts as the running back looks to return to form after missing time last year with a hip injury. Ouellette and many of the other returning starters played much of the first quarter before the backups entered the game.
Fellow running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon also had a few nice rushes, including one for 18 yards, as part of a six-carry, 41-yard game. The Canadian, who is a valuable special teams player, has always been reliable when asked to carry the ball. Neither of Saskatchewan's American rookie running backs, Mario Anderson or Trent Pennix, were outstanding. Anderson had seven carries for 16 yards while Pennix ran the ball once for two yards.
Receiver KeeSean Johnson had catches for 14 yards and 16 yards in the first half to lead the team. After a strong rookie season with 746 yards in 12 games, the 28-year-old former NFLer is hoping to take his game even further in 2025 as a key receiver.
After 51-yard and 36-yard kickoff returns in the first half, rookie receiver Drae McCray looked like he could provide a spark on special teams. Was that performance enough to displace returning veteran Mario Alford? It's clear the Riders are taking a long look at McCray.
None of the quarterbacks looked outstanding. However that's no concern. Trevor Harris started the game and played the first three drives, going 3-of-8 for 38 yards. Jake Maier came in and went 8-of-13 for 80 yards and an interception while Jack Coan saw some time as well, going 3-of-6 for 58 yards. Tommy Stevens, the short-yardage specialist who carried the ball three times for 15 yards, came into the game on the final series where he went 2-of-3 for 21 yards. While none of those performances were anything to write home about, the Roughriders already know what they have in the room, especially with Harris, Maier and Stevens, who will likely be the top three on the depth chart no matter what.
With Nelson Lokombo not making the trip to Winnipeg, Jaxon Ford got the start at safety and made four nice tackles in the first half. Ford, who is now sporting No. 21, missed the first 12 games last year after recovering from a wrist injury.
Tevaughn Campbell made his debut at cornerback and had a knockdown to go along with a pair of tackles in the first half. Campbell, who was once a Rider in 2016, is expected to be the shutdown cornerback the Roughriders were seeking this off-season. His Canadian passport also gives the Riders some ratio flexibility.
Defensive lineman Benoit Marion had a nice forced fumble in the second half which was recovered by Alex Gubner. After coming in midway through the season last year, Marion was always around the ball any time he got a chance to be on the field in 2024. He may not be a starter in 2025 but he's proving to be a great depth player.
With Adam Korsak retiring and the Roughriders releasing Joe Couch, the starting punting job appears to be Bailey Flint's. In his pre-season debut, the former Hamilton Tiger-Cat averaged 40.6 yards on five punts. Flint will want to boost those numbers before the regular season gets underway.
The game featured a whole bunch of field goals with Winnipeg's Sergio Castillo making all five of his attempts to account for all 15 Blue Bombers points while Brett Lauther made two of his three kicks while rookie Brian Garrity was 1-for-2, with his 48-yard attempt falling way short. Despite the miss, Lauther isn't losing his job any time soon.
Article content
Article content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
17 minutes ago
- CTV News
X's and O's Previews CFL Week 2
Regina Watch The Riders will head out East to face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats this weekend. Wes Cates shares his preview in X's and O's
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Jeremaine Copeland to join former teammate Lewis in Canadian Football Hall of Fame
TORONTO – Jeremaine Copeland and Nik Lewis will soon be together again. Copeland was named Thursday to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2025, which also includes offensive linemen Bryan Chiu and Jovan Olafioye, defensive back Scott Flagel and linebacker Darryl Hall, along with former official Glen Johnson and longtime Regina Rams coach Frank McCrystal as builders. All will be enshrined Sept. 19 in Hamilton. Winnipeg Sun columnist Paul Friesen and Judy Owen, of The Canadian Press, will also be added to the Hall's media wing. Copeland and Lewis were teammates in Calgary from 2005 to 2009, helping the Stampeders win the 2008 Grey Cup. But they were also close off the field, often talking about wanting to lead the club to CFL greatness. So it was only fitting that Lewis, a 2021 Hall of Fame inductee, delivered the news to Copeland via video call. 'We got really emotional but it was really worth it,' Copeland said. 'It was a great time and it couldn't have come any better, tell you the truth.' But Lewis's job wasn't easy. These days, Copeland, 48, works in construction and is often difficult to reach. So Lewis contacted Copeland's older brother, who was able to connect with Copeland but remained coy regarding why. 'He's my big brother and so I'm like, are there, you know, physical issues, is his health acting up?' Copeland said. 'He asked me again, 'When can we meet?' and so I was like, 'Let's meet next week and get this thing done.'' When Copeland and his brother finally met at their mother's residence, Lewis and Stampeders president John Hufnagel were also participating in the video call, which Copeland noticed immediately. 'When I saw Nik and Huff, I asked if they (Stampeders) were looking for a new offensive co-ordinator,' Copeland said. 'Once Nik started talking about my career, me being his big brother, how tight we are and what we've been through, well, I knew. 'All of a sudden, we just both broke down crying like little kids, just happy with the situation of both of us being in (Hall of Fame). Nik was a big reason why I decided to come (to Calgary) because I knew I had another Ben Cahoon with me. That made it easier.' Copeland spent his CFL career with Montreal (2001-2004), Calgary (2005-2009) and Toronto (2010-2011) before serving as a receivers coach with Hamilton (2012) and Saskatchewan (2015). He registered 622 catches for 10,037 yards and 75 TDs, becoming just the 15th player in league history to surpass 10,000 career yards. Copeland also spent time with the NFL's Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys, and won a 2001 XFL championship with the Los Angeles Xtreme. Chiu, 50, of Vancouver, spent his entire 13-year career with Montreal (1997-2009). A seven-time CFL all-star, Chiu was named the league's top lineman in 2002. Montreal amassed a stellar 152-81-1 record during Chiu's tenure. The Als never missed the playoffs and won two Grey Cups in 2002 and 2009. Chiu is currently the head football coach at Vancouver College, his alma mater. 'It has been so many years since I retired, and my life and path have taken me to a point where I get to coach high school kids,' Chiu said. 'That's really become my passion. 'So when I got the call, it was quite a surprise, but it was really fitting that it happened at Vancouver College, where I started my football career, and getting to share it with my team, my mom, my sisters, my family, it was heartwarming. I'm rarely speechless but definitely was that day.' Olafioye was a model of consistency with B.C. (2010-2016, 2018) and Montreal (2017), playing a full 18-game schedule in eight seasons. The Detroit native was a six-time league all-star and a three-time nominee as top lineman, winning in 2012. Olafioye, 37, won a Grey Cup in 2011 with B.C. Flagel, 63, of Winnipeg, played 10 CFL seasons with the Bombers (1982-1987), Calgary (1988), Hamilton (1988-1989) and Ottawa (1989-1991). He registered 60 defensive take-aways (40 interceptions, 20 fumble recoveries) to sit 12th all-time and also blocked seven kicks. A three-time CFL all-star, Flagel helped Winnipeg win the 1984 Grey Cup and was the league's top Canadian in 1987. 'I just enjoyed playing the game and never really thought outside of that,' Flagel said. 'I did think I wanted to be in Bombers Hall of Fame, which happened (2008,) and that was where I thought it would end. 'Big surprise … you could say it was the surprise of my life.' Hall, 58, of Oscoda, Mich., revolutionized the linebacker spot during his time with Calgary (1990-1992, 1996-2000), possessing the ability to blitz but also drop back into coverage. In 143 career games, Hall recorded 546 total tackles (36 for loss), 23 sacks and 16 interceptions. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Twice a CFL all-star, Hall appeared in four Grey Cups, winning twice (1992, 1998). He also spent time in the NFL with Seattle (1989), Denver (1993-94) and San Francisco (1995). Johnson, of Winnipeg, spent 24 years as a CFL official, working 416 games and 11 Grey Cups (five as head referee). He became the league's vice-president of officiating in 2013 before being promoted to senior vice-president of football three years later, retiring in 2017. McCrystal led the Rams to seven Canadian junior titles. He remained when the program transitioned to the collegiate ranks with the University of Regina in 1999, retiring after the 2014 season. McCrystal was named top coach in both the CJFL (1993, 1998) and university ranks (2007). He's also a member of the Regina Sports Hall of Fame. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Oilers likely making a change for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Who starts in goal is a mystery
Edmonton Oilers' Stuart Skinner (74) and Calvin Pickard (30) celebrate their team's win against the Dallas Stars in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Friday, May 31, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — Kris Knoblauch said Wednesday the Edmonton Oilers are likely making a change in their lineup for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, though the second-year coach would not reveal what it would be or who he plans to start in goal on Thursday night. Stuart Skinner was replaced by Calvin Pickard late in Game 3 after allowing five goals on 23 shots on the way to a 6-1 defeat. Pickard allowed one more in mop-up duty. Knoblauch, captain Connor McDavid and others defended Skinner's play, insisting the team needed to be better in front of him. 'We've got to help him, for sure, and I think that he's been playing unbelievable in the last, what, three, four, five weeks,' defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. 'I don't know how long it's been now, but it feels like a long time and he hasn't had a bad game. Maybe last night was one of those when it was good to get it out of the system. Hopefully it's one of those, a night off.' Skinner has allowed 13 goals on 97 shots in the final, an .866 save percentage. Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed nine on 125, a .928 save percentage. 'He gives us a chance every night,' Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues said. 'That's all you can ask for, right? Some big saves, key saves at key moments and we're not taking him for granted, that's for sure.' Edmonton started the playoffs with Skinner, went to Pickard after two losses to open the first round against Los Angeles and won six in a row. Pickard was injured in the second round against Vegas, so Skinner got the net back and has been the starter since. He allowed 10 goals on 132 shots in five games against Dallas in the West final, a .924 save percentage. 'Calvin was playing really well but I think, also, we've always felt confident in Calvin,' Knoblauch said. 'Calvin's always been a guy who (has) been able to come in and give us good, quality starts.' The play in front of the crease is a bigger concern for the Oilers. Veteran defenseman John Klingberg is a team-worst minus-4 through three games. 'John's been great through the playoffs: He's gotten us through a lot of rounds,' Knoblauch said. 'At this time of the year, you want depth. You know there's going to be injuries and things you have to change up to your lineup.' Troy Stecher, who played a handful of games earlier in the playoffs when Ekholm was out, figures to take Klingberg's place if that is the move. 'Troy's been very valuable to our team, through regular season, playoffs and probably one thing we as a coaching staff appreciate a lot from Troy is just how dependable he is,' Knoblauch said. 'No matter if he's playing big minutes regularly, hasn't played for a long period of time, any time we've needed him he's given us really good minutes and usually not making mistakes.' Top-line forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is again going to be considered a game-time decision with an undisclosed injury. Nugent-Hopkins did not skate Tuesday. The Oilers had a (well-attended) optional practice Wednesday that included McDavid and Leon Draisaitl among the more than half-dozen players on the ice. Ekblad's hit One of the most noticeable moments of Game 3 was Aaron Ekblad connecting with McDavid on a clean, hard open-ice hit. McDavid almost helicoptered down to the ice as Panthers fans cheered. McDavid went to the locker room not long after but with an equipment manager, not a member of the training staff. Ekblad did not think much of it. 'I didn't think it was that big hit, no,' Ekblad said. 'I don't even think I got him that good, realistically. So, I don't know, I'm just trying to get in his way and separate man from puck and that's all you can ask for against a guy like that.' The body checks are piling up. Ekblad had three of the five on McDavid in Game 3, and the reigning playoff MVP has been hit nine times in the series. Florida has outhit the Oilers, but not by much: 137-124. Maurice's memory Only nine-time Stanley Cup champion Scotty Bowman — father of Oilers general manager Stan Bowman — has coached more games in the NHL than Florida's Paul Maurice. With that comes some full-circle moments. On the other bench in the final this year and last is Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey, an assistant on Knoblauch's staff. Maurice when asked about older players delivering in the playoffs in light of Brad Marchand and Corey Perry starring in the final told a story about making Coffey a healthy scratch for the first game of the first round in 1999 against Carolina in his 'foolish youth.' 'He handled it great,' Maurice said. 'He said, 'I don't agree with it, but I understand it.' He went back and I think he rode the bike for about three hours. ... And then he went into Game 2 and he was maybe our best player (and) one of the best players on the ice. And I always remembered that as these older players view the playoffs differently.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
