SASKATOON — The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ minds will be on something other than football on Sunday.
Members of the CFL team are to travel to Humboldt for a practice, a barbecue and an autograph session with area residents. The goal is to try to support the community, which is still reeling from the April 6 bus crash involving the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos.
The Broncos were en route to Nipawin for a playoff game when their bus collided with a semi-trailer unit at a rural intersection. The accident claimed the lives of 16 people on the bus and injured 13 others.
“It’s going to be a tough day, a day of a lot of emotions — especially on the way there,” Roughriders guard Brendon LaBatte said after Friday’s practice at Griffiths Stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus.
“We’re going to be riding on a bus, so there’s no way you’re not going to get on there and think about the kids, the men and the women and the families of the people and the tragedy that happened.
“We don’t have a whole lot to offer them. All we can do is go there and support them and hopefully for a little bit take their minds off it and ease some of the pain.”
Defensive tackle Eddie Steele had been in Humboldt twice in the months before the crash. He met with the Broncos’ coaches and a few of the team’s players on Feb. 16 and spoke two weeks later at a Humboldt high school.
In the days after the accident, Steele said he wanted to visit Humboldt to offer his support. He wasn’t able to make the trip then, nor was he able to attend any of the funerals for those who were killed.
On Sunday, Steele finally will get back to the city.
“The cliché thing would be to say it’s going to be business as usual — we’re just going to practise football — but I’m sure there’s going to be a little bit more emotion to it than that,” said Steele, who travelled to Nipawin a few weeks ago to visit with the first responders who were on duty on the day of the crash.
“I’m not totally sure what that’s going to feel like it.”
The Roughriders have announced plans for a “Humboldt Strong” game day on June 30, when they’ll pay tribute to those affected by the crash prior to and during a home game against the Montreal Alouettes.
As well, the Roughriders’ helmets now feature the words “Humboldt Strong” on the back bumper as a way of honouring the Broncos, the community and those involved in the tragedy.
“It’s a province coming together and believing in each other,” centre Dan Clark said when asked what the strip on his helmet meant to him.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of a (bullying prevention) program with the Red Cross and they taught me a lot of things about life. This is about being there to support people who are in need.”
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Injuries took two Roughriders out of Friday’s practice.
Slotback Chad Owens appeared to injure a shoulder while diving for a pass late in the workout and he left the field in obvious discomfort. He was preceded to the locker room by offensive lineman Dalton Houghton, who had been working with the second-team offence.
Defensive back Ed Gainey and defensive tackle Zack Evans also weren’t on the field for the practice due to undisclosed ailments. Their status wasn’t immediately known.
Linebackers Brandyn Bennett, Kevin Francis and Micah Teitz, defensive backs Jeremy Cutrer, Tristan Doughlin and Denzel Radford, offensive linemen Dariusz Bladek and Josiah St. John, receiver Devon Bailey and defensive tackle Makana Henry also were absent.
At one point in the walkthrough portion of practice, the third-team defence had just eight players on the field, while the offensive line finished the day with eight members.
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The workout Friday was conducted in a light shower — the first time since camp opened that Mother Nature had rained on the Roughriders.
The quarterbacks and receivers struggled at times with wet footballs, but the offence still managed to win its daily battle with the defence for the first time in a few days.
Head coach-GM Chris Jones was pleased with the work his team did during the practice — and also that it had to battle through the elements.
“Now we’ve done it,” Jones said. “Regardless of whether it’s in season or pre-season, we’ve been through it. It’s an opportunity for us to go out and have to execute under the conditions.”
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Second-year linebacker Derrick Moncrief had to give up an important job to attend training camp.
Moncrief was to be the best man at the wedding of his brother Quaylan on May 26 in Prattville, Ala. Alas, Derrick had to be in Saskatoon, so he had to hand off his duties.
“It was very difficult (not to be able to participate), but I watched it so I feel like I was there,” Moncrief said. “Anytime you miss family time, it’s always tough, but there was business I had to take care of.”
Despite not being at the wedding in person, Moncrief was able to perform one important duty for his brother and sister-in-law.
“At least I got to make a toast to them and congratulate them on their marriage,” he said with a grin. “They saved that for me, so I feel like I was there.”
