ROBSERVATIONS: Mosaic Stadium is fit for fitness … Odds ’n ends from Ottawa … and the Riders’ fastest offensive/defensive TDs
Mosaic Stadium is about to be Petrafied.
But there is nothing to fear — and everything to gain … except weight.
Petra Mace, whose husband Corey is the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Head Coach, is hosting this morning’s strength and fitness event on the CFL team’s home turf.
The 50-minute workout, scheduled to begin at 9 o’clock, will be followed by a 15-minute yoga and stretching session that Sabeen Ahmad will conduct.
“I just want to give back to this organization, this community,” said Petra, a women’s fitness coach.
“I just want to be able to do what I do and share my love language and help others be inspired to move and live their best life and be their best.”
The concept of “Build It: A Foundational Movement and Fitness Event” was in the works from the time the Maces were welcomed to Saskatchewan at a Nov. 30 media conference.
“It was something I kind of mentioned when we first got here,” Petra said. “I said I would love to use this amazing facility and atmosphere for a workout.”
The benefits will be evident inside and outside the confines of the stadium. Proceeds will go to the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation, which enhances the lives of our province’s young people in the areas of health, education and amateur football.
“We’ve always had that community component,” Petra said. “That’s something that Corey instilled in me as soon as we got together. We always wanted to give back.
“My background is actually in social work, so I’ve always had that humanitarian side as well, and that just translates into fitness.”
The Maces arrived in Regina with a reputation for selflessness and immersion in the community.
Corey Mace’s teammates took note when he was a defensive lineman with the Calgary Stampeders. In 2014, he received the team’s Presidents’ Ring for his contributions on and off the field.
While in Calgary, the Maces led an annual turkey and ham drive to assist families. That event was held over the holiday season for nine consecutive years.
After playing for the Stampeders (from 2010 to 2015) and serving as Calgary’s defensive line coach (2016 to 2021), Corey Mace moved to Toronto to become the Argonauts’ defensive co-ordinator.
Corey, Petra and their two children (Maleena and Micah) became full-time residents of Regina after the head-coaching announcement was made in late November.
“Everyone sees what Corey is doing and how he’s changing the culture and how he’s coaching up the guys,” Petra said. “That’s amazing and I’m so happy and proud of him.
“I love that for him, but I also do a little bit on the side, too, that I would love to showcase and, above all, give that right back to the Roughrider Foundation and to the community so that we can have an uplifting, empowering, great morning with a good vibe, good people and good energy.”
One feels energized simply by talking to Petra about “Build It,” which has received an enthusiastic endorsement from her proud husband.
“I should probably be out there doing something myself,” he said with a smile during a recent session with the media. “I’m sweating standing here. That’s bad.
“I’m just really excited and proud of everything that she does. It’s just a cool combination for the household for her to come out and do what she does best in the place where I spend most of the time.
“I know everybody’s really excited about it. I’m uber-excited for them.”
THURSDAY TIDBITS
Here is a flurry of factoids, emanating from Thursday’s game in Ottawa, where the Roughriders and Redblacks played to a 22-22 tie:
• Dohnte Meyers, who caught eight passes, registered the sixth-highest receiving-yardage total (101) of any Roughrider in his CFL debut. The first five: Mike Saunders (214 versus B.C. Lions, Oct. 25, 1992), Freeman Johns III (191 vs. Edmonton, Sept. 17, 1978), Tron Armstrong (144 at Edmonton, Nov. 9, 1986), Adarius Bowman (112 vs. Edmonton, June 28, 2008) and Rodney Parker (112 versus Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Sept. 4, 1978). Parker and Johns III launched their CFL careers in back-to-back home games.
• Rolan Milligan Jr. has the most interceptions by a Roughrider since 2017, when Ed Gainey had 10. Milligan Jr. is at six, with half of the 2024 regular schedule remaining.
• Shea Patterson, who went 30-for-49, became the 13th quarterback in Roughriders history to complete at least 30 passes in one game. Kent Austin is the All-Time leader, with 15 such games. Darian Durant is next in line with seven. See also: Kevin Glenn (4), Joe Adams (2), Jake Dolegala (2), Joe Paopao (2), Marcus Crandell (1), Cody Fajardo (1), Mason Fine (1), Nealon Greene (1), Trevor Harris (1) and Reggie Slack (1). Oddity: Ron Lancaster never reached 30 completions in a game.
• All four of Shawn Bane Jr.’s touchdown catches this season have been on the road.
QUICK SIXES
When the Roughriders last appeared at home — on Aug. 3 against the Edmonton Elks — Mario Alford returned the opening kickoff 101 yards for the fourth-fastest touchdown in franchise history (14 seconds). All four of those rapid-fire majors have been on kickoff returns.
That got me thinking: Who scored the Roughriders’ fastest offensive or defensive touchdown? Ready, set …
30 seconds: Joe Barnes to Joey Walters, 72-yard pass at Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Sept. 12, 1981.
0:33: Ron Lancaster to Gord Barwell, 102 yards at B.C. Lions, Oct. 24, 1965.
0:43: Kerry Joseph to D.J. Flick, 62 yards versus Calgary Stampeders, Nov. 11, 2007 (West Division semi-final).
0:44: Tom Burgess to Jeff Fairholm, 79 yards versus Winnipeg, July 29, 1988.
0:48: Jackie Mitchell, 47-yard interception return, at Calgary, Aug. 17, 2001.
0:56: Jack Gotta, 34-yard interception return versus Calgary, Aug. 23, 1963.
0:57: Kerry Joseph to D.J. Flick, 16 yards versus Edmonton, Aug. 18, 2007.
1:05: Trevor Harris to Samuel Emilus, 14 yards versus Hamilton Tiger-Cats, June 23, 2024.
1:06: Kerry Joseph to Andy Fantuz, 36 yards at Hamilton, Oct. 14, 2007.
1:10: Paul Williams, 51-yard interception return versus Hamilton, Sept. 18, 1977.
ROLL CREDITS …
• Nice people who deserve a plug: Corey Mace, Petra Mace, Dr. Alline Laurentino, C.J. Avery, Stephen Smith, Brett Lauther, Albert Awachie, Mario Alford, Zack Fry, Anthony Lanier II, Pete Paczko, Andre De Grasse, Brendon Rodney, Jerome Blake, Aaron Brown, Jordan Halkyard, Jessica Frotten and Rye Pothakos.
