The Flyin’ Hawaiian can’t wait to land in Saskatchewan.
Slotback Chad Owens signed a free-agent contract Wednesday with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The 34-year-old product of Honolulu spent the 2016 season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats following six standout campaigns with the Toronto Argonauts.
He fully expected to return to Hamilton this season, but instead is heading to a West Division team for the first time in his CFL career.
“If there is a place that I want to play football and finish my career, it’s in Saskatchewan,” the 5-foot-7, 180-pounder said from his home in Mississauga, Ont. “I’ve heard nothing but amazing things.
“I already know what Saskatchewan’s about. I know what the green wave is about. The support there is unmatched and I’m really looking forward to everything — new facility, new beginning. It’s a new era in Riderville and, for me to be a part of it, I’m honestly extremely excited.”
Owens was one of four signings announced by the Roughriders on Wednesday, the second day of CFL free agency. The other three players — safety Marc-Olivier Brouillette, running back Aaron Milton and offensive lineman Ryan White — are Canadians.
During his time in Toronto, Owens was named the CFL’s most outstanding player (2012, after he set a league record with 3,863 combined yards) and the league’s most outstanding special-teams player (2010).
He caught 445 passes for 5,174 yards and 20 touchdowns with the Argos, exceeded 1,000 yards in kickoff returns three times and surpassed 750 yards in punt returns three times.
In his lone season with the Tiger-Cats, Owens caught 58 passes for 808 yards and five touchdowns before his season ended after 12 games due to a broken foot. He was used sparingly on special teams in Hamilton, returning two punts for 10 yards and one kickoff for 23 yards.
Roughriders head coach-general manager Chris Jones was on the Argos’ coaching staff when Owens played for Toronto, so Jones knows the player’s abilities as a receiver. However, Owens’ main role in Saskatchewan will be on special teams.
“We wanted to target finding a solid performer at returner so that we’re not worried about whether he’s going to catch the ball or that type of thing,” Jones said. “That was one of the top priorities for Craig (Dickenson, the Roughriders’ special-teams co-ordinator).”
Owens said he would “embrace” whatever role the Roughriders gave him. While he noted he still believes in his abilities as a player, he’s equally eager to experience what he called “the Saskatchewan culture.”
“They are the top market when it comes to the CFL,” Owens said. “To say that I’m going to be able to experience that is going to be unbelievable.
“This will likely be my last stop — take that with a grain of salt; it very well could be — but it’s exciting to know that I’m going to be with them in this new chapter.”
He’ll have to remain healthy, though; he hasn’t played 18 games in a regular season since 2012.
“Injuries happen, but it’s about how you bounce back from them,” Owens said. “It’s about your mindset and your mentality of what you’re going to do when you get back. Trust me, I don’t put any added pressure or expectations on myself by saying that. I expect to be ready and to be at the top of my game.
“I’m training extremely hard right now. My foot is right there where it needs to be at this point of the off-season. Once it comes around … All I’m going to say is: Don’t be surprised, because I won’t be.”
Brouillette, 31, spent the previous seven seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, who selected him in the third round (23rd overall) of the 2010 draft.
In 18 games for Montreal last season, Brouillette had 34 defensive tackles, three special-teams stops and one interception. After the season, he was named an East Division all-star.
He has 202 defensive tackles, 30 special-teams tackles, eight sacks, six forced fumbles and five interceptions in 103 career regular-season games.
Milton, 24, was selected by Edmonton in the second round (15th overall) of the 2014 CFL draft out of the University of Toronto. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound product of Whitby, Ont., had one rush for four yards in 14 career games with the Eskimos.
White, a 6-foot-4, 290-pounder, was a sixth-round pick (44th overall) by the Als in the 2012 CFL draft out of Bishop’s University. The 30-year-old from Montreal dressed for 25 games over two seasons with the Als, primarily as a backup offensive lineman.
