‘Watching over us’: Roughriders remember linebacker Jayden Dalke following fatal crash

Jeremy O’Day, the general manager and vice president of football operations for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, says the loss of team captain Jayden Dalke is a tragedy affecting the entire organization.

“We obviously would like to give our condolences on behalf of our organization to Jayden’s family, his friends, anyone that that has come in touch with Jayden. We’re deeply saddened by this tragic event,” O’Day told reporters Monday morning.

O’Day described Dalke as a leader and a constant source of positivity for the team.

“You couldn’t walk away from Jayden without smiling. He was just happy all the time,” O’Day recounted.

The team will honour Dalke with a tribute at its next outing against the Edmonton Elks on Thursday.

When asked what Dalke’s legacy with the team is, O’Day described a player who was selfless.

“Someone that gave everything he could to the team. He was never about himself ever. He was always about the team,” O’Day explained.

“He’s just a great human being, and it’s a sad day for sure.”

Dalke, who was 30 years old, was signed by the Riders in May 2022. The Leduc, Alta., athlete appeared in 68 career regular season games, registering 69 tackles, 31 special teams’ tackles, three forced fumbles, an interception and a sack.

Players spoke to the media on Monday on their first day back to practice since the tragic incident.

Those in the linebacker room who spent almost everyday in meetings and out on the field with Dalke said there was a void in the locker room.

“It was different. The last two years I sat next to him in all the meetings. It was tough, but I know he’s always watching over us, making sure that we are being held accountable for each other,” linebacker Jameer Thurman told CTV News.

Quarterback Trevor Harris picked up on the somber mood that fell over Mosaic Stadium as the Riders try to find a way to prepare for a home game against the Edmonton Elks on Thursday night.

“It’s a tough week, and you can kind of feel that. I can feel the energy from you guys. It’s palpable but if you weren’t hurt or you couldn’t feel it, that would mean he didn’t mean a lot to us.”

Another Riders’ linebacker, Nick Wiebe, told CTV News that he will always cherish the phone call that he had with Dalke as he was making his way back to Regina on Saturday.

“I think the one thing that I’ll always be able to look back on, and kind of smile is we told each other, we said we love each other when we signed off the phone. So, the last thing I ever said was that I loved him.”

Members of the Green and White are leaning on each other for support as they each grieve in their own separate ways.

“Some people like me, we’re emotional types at times and if you need somewhere to cry, you can do it right here,” explained head coach Corey Mace.

“For some people they might need to let out some aggression, whether that’s in the weight room or on gameday. How you approach it may be different but we need to just understand that and throw your arm around someone because everybody is going to need it.”

Alcohol, cannabis found at scene: RCMP

Dalke was one of two people killed in a head-on collision on the evening of July 18 on Highway 1 east of Lumsden.

Around an hour after O’Day’s news conference, Saskatchewan RCMP provided more details surrounding the crash, reporting that Dalke was in a silver SUV travelling into oncoming traffic when the crash occurred.

Bhishma Rajyaguru, 22, was driving the vehicle struck by the silver SUV. He was declared dead at the scene.

RCMP also reported that alcohol and cannabis were found inside the silver SUV by officers following the crash.

The Lumsden Fire Department had previously taken to social media on Sunday to provide some details surrounding the crash.

The fire department said its members had been involved in a “high profile incident” over the weekend, confirming it responded to a two-vehicle crash east of Lumsden on Highway 11 just after 9 p.m. Saturday.

One vehicle was found in the centre median while another was found in the southbound ditch.

The department reported a man was found trapped inside the vehicle in the centre median.

Bystanders had pulled one man from the vehicle in the ditch and began administering CPR before first responders arrived.

With files from Caitlin Brezinski and Blair Farthing