ROBSERVATIONS: Major MaxTron milestone … sweet memories of ’89 … the Glenn-Campbell connection!
The SaskTel MaxTron’s numbers have spiked.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 200th game with a video board was played on June 5th, when the Green and White defeated the Ottawa REDBLACKS 31-26 to open the 2025 CFL regular season.
The current count (201) also applies to Craig (Spike) Edwards, who has been part of the MaxTron crew for every game since the team’s visual breakthrough of June 25th, 2005.
“Every year before the season starts, we have a little get-together,” Edwards says. “Bill Wright said (jokingly), ‘You know what? I’m going to slash your tires or do something so you miss at least one game.’ ”
Wright — also one of the originals — is now the technical producer on game days for Kaleidoscope Productions, which is owned by Andrew Kaytor.
The crew for each game is chosen from a pool of nearly 50 people. A typical game will require 35 to 40 people.
Regardless of the tally, Edwards is always part of the equation in his capacity as a camera operator.
“The reason I do it is I’m scared that if they get someone else in, I’m going to lose my job, so I can’t miss a game,” he says with a laugh. “Fear motivates me.”
An element of fearlessness is required to be a TV news cameraperson — a role he enjoyed, and at which he excelled, with CTV Regina and CBC. While at the CBC, he also did freelance work, such as the MaxTron gig.
“I worked in news and whatever for years,” Edwards says. “Sports is something I’ve always loved and football was always the Number 1 thing I loved doing.
“I just love shooting football, so I’m going to keep doing this as long as I can.”
Edwards shoots from a booth in the press box, alongside a cameraperson from TSN. The working conditions at new Mosaic Stadium are first-rate — and much appreciated for someone who once had to navigate dear old Taylor Field.
“When the crowd is full, it’s probably louder in the new stadium, but it was loud in the old one, too,” Edwards says. “It’s pretty similar, but this facility is obviously a lot nicer. I don’t get leaned on and there’s no leaks. Other than that, shooting football is shooting football, pretty much.
“I like both stadiums, but this one is a little bit more comfortable for me now.”
Roughriders fans had to wait a long time for a video board — and then they had to wait a little bit longer.
The aforementioned 2005 home game versus the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was delayed an hour by a lightning storm.
A thunderous ovation followed when the Roughriders’ Corey Holmes returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.
“It was the first time the people in the stands could watch a replay, right there and then,” Edwards says. “The crowd went crazy. I remember thinking, ‘Wow. This is really cool.’ ”
Ditto for the events of Nov. 24th, 2013, when the Roughriders won a Grey Cup title on home turf.
“When they did the player introductions. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats came out and then the Riders were to come out,” Edwards says.
“In my headset, I could hear the TSN director say, ‘OK, now here’s the Rider introductions,’ and then Darian Durant led the whole team, en masse, on to the field. They were pumping up the crowd. The crowd went nuts. I could hear the director saying, ‘What is going on here?’
“Then it just turned electric. That game — the whole atmosphere, everything that happened — was just electrifying. It’s exactly what sports is supposed to be.”
Working alongside some great sports adds to the fun.
“It’s such a great crew,” Edwards says. “I just point a camera, but everybody else is just awesome. They’re talented and they’re all really nice guys, so it’s fun every time you go.
“It’s not even work. It’s like, ‘Let’s go play!’ ”
Edwards is among nine people who have been part of the MaxTron crew since the inaugural season of 2005.
The other originals, with their current positions noted, are: Kaytor (content and technical producer), Wright (technical producer/founder), Lyndon Bray (director), Jeff Nenson (technician), Brad Rapp (technician), Ken Ross (camera),
Doug Russell (script and assistant director) and Wayne Styles (technician).
The current crew also consists of: Liam Avison, Darrian Canfield, Matt Degenhardt, Chris Hodges, Brandon Jarocki, Jon Kennett, Myek O’Shea, Colter Rapp, Emery Wolfe and Steve Ziemer (cameras); Will Draper, Brennan Dyck, Lealynd Messer, Brendan Olenick, Mike Orthner and Patrick Palmer (replay); Pat Andrews, John Bidochka, Byron Chambers and Craig Martin (audio); Matt Duguid, Jake Lew, Paul MacDonald and Jeremy Zens (graphics and playback); Sabeen Ahmad and Mark Johnston (hosts); Jessica Colby and Mitchel Cook (production assistants); Darryl Filazek and Scott Burlock (technicians); Ashley Clayton and Angie Douville (spotters); Darryl Brace (public address announcer); Kirk Fraser (switcher); Jenna Leith (director); Shane Lumsden (music); Trent Peppler (replay director); and, Gord West (show caller).
Oh … and there’s also Gainer!
1989 REWIND, PART 1
Edwards also has a story to share from 1989.
While working at CTV, he was on the sidelines at SkyDome (now the Rogers Centre) when the Roughriders faced the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 77th Grey Cup game.
“The first thing I said when I walked into the SkyDome was, ‘Where did Canseco hit that home run?’ ” Edwards said.
On Oct. 7th, 1989, the Oakland Athletics’ Jose Canseco hit a towering home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series. The moonshot landed in the fifth deck.
Seven weeks later, on the eve of the 1989 Grey Cup Game, Edwards attended an NHL game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers.
“During the second period, a chant went through the Gardens: ‘Go Riders Go! Go Riders Go!’ ” Edwards said. “It was so amazing.”
Then came game day, when Edwards was part of a CTV coverage team that also included Dale Isaac and Don Hewitt. They witnessed an All-Time Classic — a 43-40 Roughriders victory.
A personal aside: I sat in the 500 level, in the SkyDome’s upper extremities.
My seat was directly across from what was, at that time in my life, the largest video board I had ever seen.
It all fits together so nicely.
1989 REWIND, PART 2
Here’s a priceless scene from last Saturday, when the Roughriders defeated the B.C. Lions 37-18.
One of the TVs in the press box showed highlights of the 1989 Grey Cup. Marlene Hoffman, an amazing lady and dedicated Roughriders volunteer, was attentively watching every second of the 35½-year-old game.
The footage is something to savour for any Roughriders fan, but it was — and always will be — extra special for Marlene.
Her son, John, was a defensive back with the Roughriders from 1989 to 1992.
As I chatted with Marlene, the telecast showed an image of John running on to the field as part of the 1989 victory celebration.
A happy coincidence.
A very happy day.
GLENN-CAMPBELL!
Cornerback Tevaughn Campbell went nearly nine years between touchdowns with the Roughriders.
His 89-yard interception return during a 37-18 victory over the visiting B.C. Lions on June 28th was his first major in green and white since July 22nd, 2016, when he scored on a 14-yard blocked punt return against Ottawa at historic Mosaic Stadium.
Number of days between touchdowns as a Roughrider: 3,263.
That is the second-highest total in franchise history.
Kevin Glenn approached 15 years between majors as a Roughrider — a presumably unbreakable record.
After scoring on a five-yard run against the host Calgary Stampeders on July 25th, 2002, Glenn next reached the end zone as a member of the Roughriders on July 8th, 2017 when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats paid a visit.
Glenn ended the drought in fine style, running for two touchdowns 5,462 days after he had previously scored six points for Saskatchewan.
Kerry Joseph is third on the list, behind Glenn and Campbell.
Joseph went just over seven years — 2,575 days, to be precise — between registering one-yard touchdown runs for Saskatchewan (Oct. 21st, 2007-Nov. 8th, 2014).
HONOUR ROLL
The Roughriders’ offensive line made the CFL’s Honour Roll for June, receiving a league-high unit grade of 68.9 from Pro Football Focus.
The top three performers were right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick (80.9), centre Logan Ferland (69.2) and right guard Jacob Brammer (61.3).
Hardrick also made the All-June Honour Roll as the highest-rated offensive lineman. Other top marks went to receiver Samuel Emilus (83.2) and running back A.J. Ouellette (80.9).
One more Honour Roll note: Saskatchewan’s offensive line earned top grades for Week 4 (74.2). The top three performers up front were Hardrick (73.7), Ferland (70.2) and left guard Zack Fry (70.1).
Campbell (85.9) and returner Mario Alford (72.5) registered the highest point totals at their positions.
MAXTRON TRIVIA
The Roughriders had a Max-Tron history long before the MaxTron became a thing.
Max Druen was an offensive lineman with Saskatchewan in 1950.
Tron Armstrong was a receiver with the Roughriders of 1986 and 1987.
German-born receiver Max Zimmerman joined the Roughriders’ “Max” fraternity in 2019.
ROLL CREDITS …
• Nice people who deserve a plug: Dr. Lois Herperger, Bob McKenzie, Donna Ryhorchuk, Ralph Ryhorchuk, Murray Mandryk, Craig Campbell, Irene Deck, Frank Kovacs, Maddy Thiele, Rich Preston, Bill Preston, Heather Stark, Dale Isaac, Don Hewitt, Michelle Duchene, Bill Wright, Sarah Wright, Craig (Spike) Edwards, Barb Pacholik, Jack Coan, Marlene Hoffman, John Hoffman Sr., John Hoffman Jr., Rob Temsland and Zach Oberg.
