A.J. Ouellette was pleased to show off his pipes for Regina Plumbing & Heating.
Resplendent in viking’s garb and holding a sword, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ bruising running back raised a muscular right arm in the air as part a recently launched advertisement.
The signature line was uttered after Ouellette, at the doorstep of two Roughriders fans, bellowed: “Winter is coming!”
The celebrity endorser proved to be a natural.
“The first take was perfect,” Ouellette said, “except I had to do it another 20 times.”
A perfect storm — not a dreaded Saskatchewan winter storm — enabled the advertisement to become reality.
“Apparently I was wearing a Regina Plumbing & Heating sweatshirt during the Calgary game, so they knew they had to get me in the commercial,” said Ouellette, who was on the six-game injured list (but also on the sideline with the team) for a Sept. 20 road game against the Stampeders.
Julie Godbold — whose husband, Adrian, is a co-owner Regina Plumbing & Heating — also played a key role in the commercial shoot.
“One night after a game this season, she had a dream of the basic idea that started the ad,” co-owner Ryan Rennebohm says.
“It turned out pretty great.”
Thanks in part to the invaluable contributions of Cory Rennebohm.
“My older brother did all the producing and shooting,” Ryan says. “He is a wizard with special effects.”
The Rennebohm connection to the Roughriders extends far beyond the Ouellette-oriented ad.
Regina Plumbing & Heating, in its fourth year as an official corporate partner of the Roughriders, recently reached a new long-term agreement with the team.
Moreover, two generations of the Rennebohm family played for the team.
Tare Rennebohm Sr. (Ryan’s great-grandfather) entered the SaskTel Plaza of Honour in 1991.
He debuted with the Regina Rugby Club in 1916 and also suited up for the team from 1916 to 1926. During his tenure with the club, the Roughriders nickname was adopted.
Tare Jr. (Ryan’s grandfather) played for the Roughriders from 1945 to 1948 and subsequently performed yeoman service as the equipment manager.
Regina Plumbing & Heating has featured the Roughriders in an assortment of advertisements. One commercial showed Gainer getting his furnace fixed. Another ad featured the co-owners, Rennebohm and Godbold, emerging from the “Bring ’Em Out” tunnel.
And now, A.J. Ouellette!
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