This past weekend, several members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders were in La Ronge helping out with the Northern Football Jamboree.
Around 100 students from across northern Saskatchewan came to La Ronge for the event, which is intended to introduce them to the game.
“It was just unbelievable,” said Gabe Andrews, the head coach of the La Ronge Churchill Chargers. “You couldn’t have dreamt up a better situation with the Riders coming up and helping out with this camp.”
Defensive back Ed Gainey was one of the Riders in attendance. He says this takes him back to his days learning the game.
“Anytime guys like this came around, I would always try to — you know, absorb everything in and soak as much in as I could,” said Gainey. “I was just one of those guys who loved the game and was very passionate about it.”
Defensive lineman Zack Evans says despite only working with the young athletes for only a day, he saw signs of improvement.
“Just from the morning — like we worked on simple skills, and that kind of translated into the afternoon, where we did an Oklahoma drill and we did some one-on-ones,” said Evans.
Evans and the rest of the Riders are slated to open up training camp on May 20 in Saskatoon. Saskatchewan will kick off the season on June 15 at home against Toronto.
(TOP PHOTO: Roughriders quarterback Brandon Bridge looks on at camp. Photo by Braden Malsbury.)