SASKATOON — Osasere Odemwingie will feel right at home on the road.
A 21-year-old rookie linebacker with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Odemwingie is poised to visit his hometown of Calgary to play in his first game of professional football.
The Roughriders are to face the Calgary Stampeders in pre-season action on Monday at McMahon Stadium — Odemwingie’s home facility for the past four seasons with the University of Calgary Dinos.
“It’s going to feel different because I’m on the other side,” he said after Saturday’s walk-through at the University of Saskatchewan. “Going back home is going to be great, playing in front of my family. Everything that led me to here — being with the Roughriders — started in Calgary.”
Eight family members, including his parents, will be in the stands for the Roughriders’ first of two pre-season games.
“It’s the first time I’ll play in front of my family as a professional athlete, so that’s much cooler than anything I could even dream of,” said the 6-foot-0, 220-pounder, who was the Roughriders’ fourth-round selection (38th overall) in the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft.
“This is a big milestone. I knew I always wanted to play professionally. I knew if I kept working hard, I could get the opportunity. I seized that opportunity and now I’m a professional athlete with the Roughriders.”
The first step was to attend Coors Light Riders Training Camp. Now, what will it be like to emerge from the tunnel in advance of live combat?
“It’s going to be surreal,” Odemwingie said with a smile. “I’ve just got to get some contact and then I’m going to be chill after that.
“I’m going to be jittery before that, but I’m also going to be excited. Being a part of the Roughriders organization and playing for them brings me so much excitement.”
The excitement is shared by the Head Coach.
“Coming out of rookie camp, I thought that among the linebacker group he was really dialled in as far as job responsibilities,” Corey Mace said.
“I can tell that he’s a cerebral kid. Now, as we go from the practices to a game, we’re looking for him to go out there and prove that he can do it from a physical standpoint — which was something we liked about his film.
“We’re excited for him and for his opportunity.”
DALKES DESCEND ON CALGARY
Roughriders linebacker Jayden Dalke, who is from Leduc, Alta., expects about 40 family members to attend Monday’s game.
“They’re part of Rider Nation,” Dalke said. “They show up, even at away games — especially if it’s close.
“It’s in Alberta, so it’s a little day trip.”
Dalke will always have a bit of a soft spot for McMahon Stadium.
That was the site of his first CFL start — at safety for Saskatchewan against the Stampeders on Oct. 29, 2022. He registered five defensive tackles and four more stops on special teams. The latter total is a career high.
“I just made the plays when they came to me,” Dalke recalled. “I know special teams tackles are hard to come by, so it was a good game.”
A Roughrider has not registered more than four special teams tackles in a game since Nov. 24, 2013, when linebacker Brian Peters felled a Hamilton Tiger-Cats returner five times in the 101st Grey Cup Game.
There are nine instances of a Roughrider recording five special teams tackles in a game.
The team record of six was set by Derek Krete on Oct. 6, 2000 — at McMahon Stadium.
As for the pre-season, the Roughriders’ special teams tackles record is four:
• Bob Poley vs. Winnipeg, June 26, 1992.
• Dan Rashovich vs. Calgary, June 29, 1999.
• Antoine Brooks Jr. vs. Winnipeg, May 30, 2025.
HOOPS = WHOOPS!
Due to snow accumulation at Griffiths Stadium, the Roughriders held Saturday’s walk-through in the main gymnasium at the U of S.
Saturday’s session was followed by a three-point shooting competition — won for the offence when long snapper Reed Hughes nailed a trey. “We are really bad at basketball,” Mace said. “We can’t shoot, anyway. I assume we could foul or maybe play a little defence.
“Other than that, pass the ball.”
