REGINA - An emotional week for Rider Nation reaches a crescendo Saturday night as the Saskatchewan Roughriders host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Mosaic Stadium.
The game promises to cap a week of nostalgia and reflection for Rider fans who this week bade farewell to the legendary running back, number 34, George Reed.
On Friday afternoon, a public memorial service took place on the REAL grounds which was live-streamed on YouTube. That memorial saw tributes from Premier Scott Moe, former Premier Brad Wall, former Riders president Jim Hopson, teammate Cleveland Vann, and many others including his daughter Georgette Reed, who shared stories about George Reed from his time on the field and off.
This week, fans have been leaving flowers at the statue of Reed next to Mosaic Stadium, and there were many fans at the game Saturday who stopped at the statue for either a moment of reflection or to take photos. A tribute to Reed is planned for prior to kickoff and is set to happen around 4:50 p.m. this afternoon.
Saturday's game is dubbed Legends Night and will include a presentation at halftime honouring this year's inductees to the Plaza of Honour, including builder Wendy Kelly as well as the members of the 2013 Roughriders Grey Cup winning team. Players including Darian Durant and Kory Sheets as well as 2013 Riders head coach Corey Chamblin were due to be at the game Saturday.
Riders facing Bo Levi Mitchell
While past Riders legends are in the spotlight Saturday, there are modern-day CFL legends due to be on the field in the game and unfortunately for the Roughriders, they will be facing one of them.
Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell returns as the Hamilton starting quarterback after a leg injury earlier this season. Mitchell has been plagued by injuries this season but returns to the Ticats for the first time since July.
Meanwhile the Roughriders are seeing the much needed return of players to the defence including Anthony Lanier II and Deontae Williams. Running back Jamal Morrow is also back in the lineup. Starting again for the Riders at quarterback will be Jake Dolegala, with Mason Fine backing up.
The game is a key one for the Roughriders as they look to snap out of a four game losing streak. The Riders enter the game still in third place in the West with a 6-9 record.
While a win against Hamilton would move them closer to a playoff spot and would eliminate all remaining crossover hopes for the Ottawa Redblacks, the Riders' game next week in Calgary remains all-important to the Riders' postseason hopes. The Stampeders hold the bye in the CFL this week.
