Lake Korte-Moore can’t wait to get his feet wet with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Two landmark steps were taken on Monday. Not long after the Roughriders announced they had signed Korte-Moore and five other recent draftees, he headed to Vancouver International Airport to fly to Saskatoon — the site of his introductory training camp as a professional football player.
It should be noted, though, that he can hardly be categorized as a newcomer to the CFL once the entire family story is factored into the equation.
His grandfather, George Moore, spent time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers when they were coached by a football legend. Bud Grant was the Bombers’ field boss from 1957 to 1966 before adding to an already impressive resume while guiding the Minnesota Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances.
Moreover, Korte-Moore was a regular at Ottawa REDBLACKS home games before moving westward in 2018 to attend the University of British Columbia and play for the Thunderbirds.
In fact, Korte-Moore attended the first home game in REDBLACKS history (on July 18, 2014).
And one of his favourite players was — and still is — Trevor Harris, who was an Ottawa quarterback from 2016 to 2018.
It was an exciting full-circle moment, then, when Harris — who signed with Saskatchewan as a free agent on Feb. 14 — reached out to Korte-Moore shortly after he was selected third overall by the Roughriders in Tuesday’s CFL Draft.
“He texted me to congratulate me and welcome me to the team, so that was a true honour,” Korte-Moore, a 2022 Canada West all-star defensive end, said Monday from the airport in Richmond, B.C.
“I told him that I’m going to try to make his life difficult at camp, but I won’t go anywhere near him, that’s for sure. Maybe we won’t be full teammates for the first little bit, but near the end of camp, that’s going to be my guy.
“He’s going to be the leader of this team, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Looking back, Korte-Moore has a treasury of memories to savour and share.
Many of them pertain to his grandfather, who passed away early in 2020.
“We were very close,” the 23-year-old son of Nancy Korte and Chris Moore said.
“Our entire family is so close, but it starts from the top with my grandmother and grandfather. They were the rocks of our family and, when it came to football, my grandfather was definitely someone who got me into it and someone who would be at every game that he possibly could.
“It was awesome to be able to play in front of him before he passed away. One of the big reasons that I chose to come out to UBC was so that he could watch me play.
“They definitely were big factors in my life and big factors in football.”
Korte-Moore’s grandmother, Patricia Moore, now resides in Winnipeg — where the Roughriders’ 2023 pre-season finale is to be played on June 2.
The Roughriders also play in the Manitoba capital on Sept. 9 at IG Field, where Korte-Moore and his grandfather were able to share some bonding time while watching their favourite sport.
“When we went into Winnipeg’s new stadium, he saw the Bud Grant statue and said, ‘I used to get coached by that guy,’ ” a proud grandson said.
“He didn’t really tell me many other stories about football, but he would always be there, no matter what, and he loved to come watch it.
“I know he’s still watching me.”
Plenty of eyes will be on Korte-Moore at training camp, considering his status as a premium draft pick.
Rookie camp is to begin on Wednesday at Griffiths Stadium. Main training camp commences on Sunday.
Korte-Moore is counting down the minutes.
“Since the CFL Combine, I’ve been wanting to get back out there and put the pads back on again,” the 6-foot-5, 262-pounder said.
“It’s just back to business in a way. We’ve got a goal this year and we’ve got to achieve it. I just can’t wait to get out there and get the playbook and learn from some amazing teammates and amazing coaches and hopefully help this team be successful this year.”
Along the way, Korte-Moore can count on fielding some inquiries about the origin of his first name — which is formally his middle name.
The full name: Garnet Lake Korte-Moore.
“Our cottage is on Lake Ontario, so my parents were like, ‘Hey, let’s just name him Lake,’ ” the newly signed Roughriders rookie explained.
“My mother liked the name Lake a lot, so she would just call me that, and it stuck.
“As the years went on, it has become something that I’ve liked as well. It definitely is a unique name and it’s pretty easy to say, except that a lot of people think it is Blake.”
The cottage, by the way, is located in southeastern Ontario … in Prince Edward County … near the town of Picton.
Hence the insuppressible temptation to circle back to the full-circle theme — keeping in mind that one of Korte-Moore’s newest teammates is a well-named Roughriders receiver, Mitch Picton.
