Two Riders Recognized For August Play

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant and kicker Chris Milo have each been named CFL Gibson’s Finest Players of the Month for August.

Durant was named Offensive Player of the Month after registering three wins in four outings over the last month.

Through the four games, Durant completed 86 of 129 pass attempts for 1,172 yards and nine touchdowns.

The 31-year-old product of North Carolina has completed 160 of 236 passes (67.8%) on the season, while registering only one interception. He currently leads the league with 21 touchdown passes.

This is the second time in his career that Durant has been named CFL Offensive Player of the Month after being recognized for his play in September, 2010.

Milo was named Special Teams Player of the Month for the first time in his career after staying perfect through the month connecting on all 11 field goal attempts including a 47-yard long and all 13 convert attempts.

On the year, the 28-year-old product of Laval has made all 23 field goal attempts, the longest such streak in the CFL this season, as well as all 31 converts.

This is the second and third time this season that a Rider has been named CFL Player of the Month after Kory Sheets picked up the award for July.

Pats and Riders Enter Partnership

Regina Pats Senior VP and General Manager Chad Lang and Saskatchewan Roughrider President and CEO Jim Hopson announced today the two organizations have entered into a partnership for the upcoming Regina Pats WHL Regular Season and the remainder of the Saskatchewan Roughrider CFL campaign.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to partner with the Saskatchewan Roughriders,” said Lang. “Both the Regina Pats and the Saskatchewan Roughriders have proud histories in this city, and this partnership will allow us to provide benefits to all our loyal fans. I would like to thank Jim and the Roughrider organization for all their support and cooperation and am looking forward to the partnership as we continue to move forward.”

Fans of the Pats and Riders have the opportunity to join the “Sea of Green” at Pats home games in 2013-14 with a special green section in the Brandt Centre. Rider Season Ticket Holders will receive an offer to purchase Pats Season Tickets in the “Sea of Green” at a special price of $250 (tax included). Fans will also have the added bonus of joining Riders players and personnel in cheering on the Pats from the “Sea of Green”. The deadline for Rider Season Ticket Holders to purchase “Sea of Green” Season Tickets is September 18th.

“This is a tremendous partnership and opportunity for two of the oldest and proudest sporting franchises in the country,” stated Hopson. “While this is a great initiative for both the Roughriders and Pats, more importantly it gives fans of both teams great benefits to watch their team at home this season.”

Regina Pats Season Ticket Holders will also benefit from the Pats’ and Riders’ new partnership as they will be provided with a special Ticketmaster code for discounted ticket specials to the final five Rider home games at Mosaic Stadium. Pats Season Ticket Holders will receive their code via email in the near future.

Pats VP of Business Operations Cliff Mapes on the Pats and Riders partnering, “having been born and raised in Saskatchewan and as a long time Riders fan I am proud and excited our two organizations have come together. This partnership will allow fans the opportunity to experience Rider pride at a new level at both the Brandt Centre and Mosaic Stadium. I’m also looking forward to the future announcements this partnership will bring about.”

The Regina Pats begin their season September 19th against the Swift Current Broncos in the first game of the WHL’s Regular Season. For more information on the Regina Pats Regular Season Schedule, visit ReginaPats.com.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have five remaining home games including their next tilt at Mosaic Stadium against the Toronto Argonauts, Saturday, September 14th. For a full listing of the Riders’ remaining schedule, visit Riderville.com.

CFL PoTW For Week 9

Maurice Price, Charleston Hughes, Joe Burnett and Marc-Olivier Brouillette were named the Gibson’s Finest Players of the Week for Week 10 of the 2013 Canadian Football League season.
The four players were chosen by a panel of judges including: former Canadian Football League players Matt Dunigan and Duane Forde of TSN, and Pierre Vercheval of RDS.

Calgary Stampeders wide receiver Maurice Price was named the Offensive Player of the Week for Week 10. Price had five receptions for 165 yards and scored three touchdowns to help Calgary win the battle of Alberta over Edmonton, 37-34.

The Charleston Southern product had touchdown receptions of 66, 42 and 33 yards. Price’s 165 yard and three touchdowns were both career-highs for the third-year CFL vet.

Currently, Price is third on the Stampeders in receiving (382 yards) and first in touchdown receptions (4).

Calgary Stampeders defensive lineman Charleston Hughes was named the Defensive Player of the Week for Week 10. Hughes led the Stampeders with three sacks and added four tackles to help Calgary defeat Edmonton.

After 10 weeks, Hughes is second in the CFL with eight sacks and has collected 22 tackles, two fumbles, and an interception on the season.

This is Hughes’ second CFL Defensive Player of the Week award this season, with the first one coming in Week 1.

Edmonton Eskimos kick returner Joe Burnett was named the Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 10. Burnett returned four punt returns for 91 yards including a 78-yard return which set up a Kerry Joseph touchdown run, in the Eskimos narrow loss to the Stampeders.

Burnett, the all-time leader in punt-return yards and interceptions at University of Central Florida, also returned a kick-off for 24 yards.

Burnett is second on the Eskimos in combined return yards with 380 yards and has 19 tackles on the season.

Montreal Alouettes linebacker Marc-Olivier Brouillette was named the Canadian Player of the Week for Week 10. Brouillette was a force for the Alouettes as he collected six tackles, two sacks and forced a fumble, which was recovered and returned 37 yards for a touchdown by Shea Emry in the Alouettes win over the Argonauts, 20-9.

Brouillette, a native of Montreal, QC and former University of Montreal player is tied for second on the team with four sacks this season.

Blades Sale Is Official

The Western Hockey League announced today that the WHL Board of Governors have approved the transfer of ownership of the Saskatoon Blades from the Brodsky family to Mr. Mike Priestner and the Priestner Sports Corp. The WHL Board of Governors voted unanimously in favour of the share purchase. It’s anticipated the sale will close later this week.

A former WHL goaltender, Mr. Priestner is the owner of Go Auto, an Edmonton based automotive company which owns over 30 dealerships in Western Canada.

 

“Given his highly successful career in the automotive industry, we are confident Mike Priestner is capable of meeting our expectations as the new owner of the Saskatoon Blades franchise,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “Mike is committed to doing whatever is necessary to maintain the storied tradition of the Blades in the Saskatoon community.”

 

The Brodsky family have owned the Saskatoon Blades franchise since 1976. The Blades are the longest standing WHL member club in the 48 year history of the League.

 

 

Riders Sign Running Back

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced they have signed import running back Chris Garrett. Financial details of the contract were not released. 

 

Garrett (5’8 – 195) joins the Green and White after spending the previous three seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. After playing four seasons at Ohio University, the New York native joined the Bombers in September of 2010 playing five regular season games, rushing for 113 yards on 19 carries. The 26-year-old returned to Winnipeg in August the next season playing in the final six regular season games while rushing for 576 yards and four touchdowns. He was named CFL Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 190 yards and one touchdown in the 2011 East Final.

 

Garrett missed the entire 2012 season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Winnipeg’s training camp.

Week 1 NFL Capsules

 

 

All the information you need for Week 1 of the NFL Season can be found right here!

Regina Red Sox Name New Manager

The Regina Red Sox announced today they have hired Moose Jaw native Scott Douglas to be Head Coach of the team for the 2014 season. Douglas was the Red Sox Head coach for the in 2006 and 2007, the 2nd and 3rd years the Red Sox were in the Western Major Baseball League.
The Red Sox won the Eastern Division pennant in 2006 and Coach Douglas was named Coach of the Year in the WMBL.
“We are happy that a coach with Scott Douglas’s abilities was available” said General Manager Bernie Eiswirth.

The Red Sox also announced former head coach Rob Cherepuschak will be back for a third year as the Director of Player Personnel and he will be in charge of Recruiting.