as the Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the Calgary Stampeders in CFL action in Regina, SK, October 22, 2022. Photo Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards
Words by Daniella Ponticelli
Individual triumphs were thrust into the spotlight Wednesday with the announcement of team nominees for the 2022 CFL Awards.
Five Saskatchewan Roughriders are being recognized for their outstanding performances this season. These athletes now advance to the next stage of voting ahead of the awards ceremony in Regina on Nov. 17.
Kian Schaffer-Baker, Mario Alford, Frankie Hickson and Logan Ferland each received nominations, while Darnell Sankey was selected as Saskatchewan’s choice for both Most Outstanding Defensive Player and Most Outstanding Player.
“When I found out I was definitely proud,” Sankey said after practice, thanking his teammates and coaches for the opportunity to play.
“I’m a competitor, you know, and I want to win at everything I do so I want to win every award and every game and every stat, really.”
The 28-year-old middle linebacker has recorded 115 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, three sacks, one interception and one forced fumble through his 17 starts this season. Sankey also leads the CFL in defensive tackles for the second straight season, last year with the Calgary Stampeders, and has six games with 9+ tackles.
“The fact that he was nominated for really two awards is a real credit to him. It just shows you what kind of football player he is and what kind of respect he has,” said Riders head coach Craig Dickonsen.
“The other thing, it’s impressive that he’s able to stay healthy. A lot of these records, they have as much to do with durability as anything.”
With one game left on the schedule, Sankey needs just four more tackles to break the Rider single season record for defensive tackles (118) in a season set by David Albright in 1987. This is Sankey’s first career team award nomination.
No. 89 Kian Schaffer-Baker is the team’s unanimous selection for Most Outstanding Canadian.
The 24-year-old from Mississauga, Ont. has played every game in his second season with the Riders and leads Saskatchewan with 63 catches for 935 yards and five receiving touchdowns.
“I am so incredibly proud of him. I know he set goals for himself at the start of the season and MOC was one of them,” Kian’s mom, Lisa Schaffer, said Wednesday.
“Just seeing how he has progressed on and off the field in his sophomore year is amazing. His love of his fans and their love for him is so heartwarming to see.”
Reflecting on the team’s recognition, Schaffer-Baker gave credit to the Riders while also lamenting the failure to achieve his ultimate goal of hoisting a Grey Cup.
Still, the Canadian made it clear he wants to keep chasing his championship dreams in the land of living skies.
“Football don’t get better anywhere else—out east or further out west. I think the football atmosphere out here is incomparable,” said Schaffer-Baker, who has quickly become a fan favourite.
“Bring able to go out there and create friendships and lifetime memories … seeing a little kid all ectatic and smiling, that’s what makes my day going out there. I look forward to that almost more than playing sometimes.”
The former Guelph Gryphon is currently fifth in the CFL with a whopping 396-yards after the catch and has taken 13 handoffs for 74 yards this season.
“He’s had a fantastic year. A little beat up, on top of that, so the fact he just keeps playing, even though he’s not 100 per cent, shows you a lot about his character,” Dickenson said.
Schaffer-Baker is just 65 yards from reaching 1,000 receiving yards in a single season with one game left in 2022.
Mario Alford wasted no time making history with the Riders after being traded from Montreal for a Week 6 start.
Through just 12 games, Alford accounts for 33 per cent of the total return touchdowns in the CFL, leading the league with four — which is also a Saskatchewan Roughrider single season record.
No surprise, then, Alford is the Riders unanimous selection for Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
“Alford is a stud. He works hard, shows up everyday, isn’t a distraction, just everything you want,” said Riders kicker Brett Lauther. “He’s an awesome dude, awesome player. Hope he’s back next year.”
Alford, who will be a free agent this offseason, is only the fifth player in the CFL and first-ever Rider to complete the ‘Trifecta’: returning touchdowns on a kick, punt and missed field goal in a single season.
“It’s a blessing, man. I worked hard to get to this point and I just want to say thank you to the teammates and the guys who helped me out there on the field. You know, it’s not possible without them,” Alford said.
The special teams hattrick hopes began with Alford returning a missed field goal by the Argonauts 112 yards to the house in his second game with Saskatchewan. Then came a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown in Week 10 against the Elks, doubled up on with a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown versus the Blue Bombers in Week 14.
Finally, in Week 20 against the Stampeders, Alford took a punt return 104-yards to the endzone. The 30-year-old said that return touchdown was his favourite of the four.
“Even though we were down to what, the last 50 seconds or something like that, I just never quit and I just showed what I was about and the type of player I am,” he said.
Dickenson said Alford’s addition to the roster brought energy and “a lot of excitement” to the returning group.
“He’s been not only an outstanding football player on the field, he’s been great in the locker room,” Dickenson said. “He comes up and visits with the coaches, has input on what we’re doing on a week to week basis in the return game. He’s a real pro. It’s been a pleasure coaching Mario.”
With one game remaining in 2022, Alford has 43 punt returns for 524 yards (12.2 avg) and one touchdown, 37 kickoff returns for 937 yards (25.3 avg) and two touchdowns, and three missed field goal returns for 129 yards (43 avg) and another major.
Frankie Hickson’s rookie run with the Saskatchewan Roughriders has shown flashes of brilliance and optimism for things to come.
Hickson currently ranks sixth in the CFL with 533 rushing yards on 85 carries, averaging 6.3 yards per carry, and added a rushing touchdown. It’s even more impressive considering Hickson only started four games and has not played since week 15 due to a fractured wrist.
“I like to play in the cold and I even get better playing in the cold. So definitely missed out this year, but definitely something to aspire to next year,” he said.
“The biggest thing, just having a year under my belt, is now I can come in with confidence. You know, there’s definitely things I still need to work on, but everyone has to go on the offseason and work on their game.”
The 25-year-old ran for 129 yards on 15 carries (8.6 avg) in his first career start in Week 12 for a Riders win over the B.C. Lions. Through 15 games played, Hickson returned seven kickoffs for 168 yards, averaging 24 yards per return, and added 17 receptions for 109 yards.
Hickson signed a two-year deal with Saskatchewan prior to rookie camp in April.
“I’ll be back in Saskatchewan for sure,” he said. “I want to bring the city a championship.”
Despite missing a few regular season games due to injury, Melfort’s own Logan Ferland is the Saskatchewan Roughriders nominee for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
This is Ferland’s first career team award nomination and while it’s in his name, the 25-year-old said credit goes to the entire o-line.
“The hardest working group on the team and I don’t care what anybody else says — that’s a fact,” Ferland said Wednesday. “When you get as much negativity as we’ve gotten, you know, you still have guys showing up three and a half hours early to work every day … it really brings our unit closer together.”
It was a difficult year for the green and white o-line. However, the left guard, who started in 15 games, has helped create holes for a strong running game with two Rider running backs placing in the top-6 in the CFL in rushing yards. Additionally, Ferland — who rose through the ranks of Saskatchewan minor and junior football — has remained a steadfast role model for other homegrown athletes.
“That’s my whole goal, continuing with football, is being that inspiration and it just shows what hard work can do,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter, you know, how genetically gifted you are. I’m no specimen, right? … I hope it gives inspiration to some young guy that might think he’s not good enough, that just needs to put the work in and he can do the same things.”
In this first ballot, Football Reporters of Canada representatives from each CFL city, plus the respective head coach, submitted votes for the six categories.
The East and West Division finalists for the 2022 CFL Awards will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 3. The CFL ON TSN’s Kate Beirness returns to host the flagship event on Thursday, Nov. 17, at Conexus Arts Centre in Regina.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-11) visit the Calgary Stampeders (11-6) to close out the 2022 regular season on Saturday, Oct. 29. Kickoff is 6 p.m. CST.
