Winter Classic returns to Saskatoon featuring the Grey Cup

The fourth Winter Classic was particularly special this year as the reigning Grey Cup champions brought the trophy to Saskatoon. Hallee Mandryk reports.

The fourth Winter Classic was particularly special this year as the reigning Grey Cup champions brought the trophy to Saskatoon.

“Being from the States, I didn’t know how big of a deal the Grey Cup was. And then after the clock finally hit zero, you got to see all the emotion kind of run down on everyone’s face that was born and raised here. It meant just that much more to me to see how much it meant to everyone, like players and fans, so this is pretty cool,” Roughriders offensive lineman Jacob Brammer said.

Fans had the opportunity to take photos with the Grey Cup at the annual hockey game fundraiser. The game itself is something different for Rider Nation. Many players trade in their cleats for a pair of skates to face off against one another alongside a number of Rider alumni and special guests.

“It comes back to that feeling in my heart of wanting to come back to Saskatchewan, be among fans and friends and old teammates and, and just be able to put on the green and just like kind of reflect back on those times and sort of make myself whole again,” Riders alumnus and 2007 Grey Cup champion, Andy Fantuz said.

The event raises funds for the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation’s Win With Wellness and Rider Reading programs which bring Riders players into schools across Saskatchewan to promote literacy and mental health.

“I said last night, [Saskatchewan has the] lowest literacy rates in Canada and high suicide rates are in Saskatchewan, so trying to do our best in our part to help fix those. And then for this weekend in this game, it’s a lot of fun on the ice, a lot of fun off the ice. Something to look forward to for me personally over winter,” Riders kicker Brett Lauther said.

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Brammer shared that the school programs highlight support for Rider Nation across the province, adding that the sessions can be quite impactful for those on the team as well as the kids.

“It means a lot. I mean, doing our Win With Wellness and our Rider Readings all around the province, you get to see just how much it means to the kids, the teachers, everyone. Everyone shows up. Everyone’s in the Rider gear. So it means a lot to me. It’s kind of just really heartwarming to go to all these schools and see how much it means,” Brammer said.

Cindy Fuchs, the executive director of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation shared that this annual hockey game is a crucial step in keeping those programs active in the province.

“It’s growing every year. So we usually raise about $75,000 somewhere around that for the program, which is really good. It’s a really fun family event,” Fuchs said.

Fuchs added that it never hurts to have a little fun while also supporting a good cause.

“Our players go all over the province, you know, from north, south, east, west and in the north as well, like far north. So that’s a really important fundraiser for us. But on the other hand, we want the players and our sponsors to have the time of their lives,” Fuchs said.