Albert Awachie, the longest-tenured current Saskatchewan Roughriders player, still has plenty in the tank.
It hasn’t always been that way.
We take you back to the pandemic year of 2020, when Awachie made what turned out to be a permanent move to Saskatchewan from his home province.
“I used to work out at GoodLife in Ontario,” the 33-year-old fullback recalls. “Once everything shut down due to COVID, I figured that Mosaic Stadium would probably be open, so I took a quick 24-hour drive across the country.
“I’ve done that several times now, but that was my first road trip. I was a little bit green — a little bit of a novice — and I didn’t know that many gas stations were closed after midnight.
“I tried to leave at sunset and get to Regina by the next sunset, but obviously there was a little bit of a hiccup when the gas stations closed.”
The hiccup turned into acute indigestion near Wawa, Ont.
“I had run out of gas and all the stations were closed,” Awachie continues. “I saw some black bears come across and thought, ‘Oh, man, I’ve got to find a spot!’
“I found some trailers. There was a double door in this big yard. I reluctantly knocked on the door. The person who answered had a jerry can, so he led me to the nearest gas station so I could at least get there. I stayed there until 5 or 6 o’clock, when the gas station opened, and then I was able to continue my drive.
“I even saw the same dude who helped me get to the gas station, so I gave him a nice thank you.”
Six-plus years later, Awachie is still thankful.
This is someone who has enjoyed a long, successful professional football career without even being drafted.
The former University of Toronto Varsity Blues standout signed with Saskatchewan on May 16, 2007 and, save for a stint with the Toronto Argonauts in 2024, he has been a Roughrider ever since.
“I think it’s a tribute to the OUA and even all of U Sports in general,” Awachie says. “There are a lot of great athletes who may not have even made it to the CFL. I’m just grateful that I was able to be scouted and looked at and to have an opportunity at camp.
“I definitely try to represent for everyone who didn’t make it here, because I don’t take this for granted. My teammates here have the same passion and I just try to be one with them.”
Awachie’s passion was evident on June 10, 2017, during the Roughriders’ first game of any description at new Mosaic Stadium.
On the opening play of his introductory CFL pre-season game, he registered his first tackle — felling Winnipeg Blue Bombers kickoff returner Matt Smalley after a 14-yard advance.
“I was hyped up,” Awachie says. “I remember it was a nice sunny day. I ran down the numbers and it was a nice hip tackle. I gatored him down to the ground and crawled off to the sideline.
“It was a good intro to Mosaic Stadium for me.”
Wearing No. 76 — instead of his now-familiar No. 41 — Awachie demonstrated how to make a first impression. Making the first tackle before the offence has stepped on the field will open eyes.
“I was just being a tone-setter and trying to be aggressive,” he says. “It was a long time coming for me. It was a long road just to get to that point.
“There was a lot on the table for me, so I was just exerting as much energy as I could and trying to do the best I could for the team.”
The mindset has carried him through 98 career regular-season games — 91 with the Roughriders and seven with Toronto — and six post-season appearances.
Most notably, he helped the Roughriders register a 25-17 Grey Cup victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Nov. 16 in Winnipeg.
His focus has turned, however, to Saturday’s regular-season opener against the B.C. Lions (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium). Leading up to the opening kickoff, the Roughriders’ 2025 championship banner will be unveiled at the north end of a stadium Awachie helped to introduce to CFL fans nine years ago this past Wednesday.
“I try to approach it like I’m grinding in my first year,” he says. “I guess you have a little more wisdom or awareness about the Roughriders’ history and the significance of each season.
“But the standard is the standard. We’re not going to approach anything differently. We still want to be 1-and-0 every single week. We’re focused on B.C. and everyone’s having that 1-and-0 approach.
“Whether you’re a veteran or a rookie, everyone is stepping up in their own way. I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
So happy, in fact, that he has been a year-round Saskatchewan — again, save for the blip of time in Toronto — since that eventful westward highway trek in 2020.
“I love it here,” Awachie says with his trademark smile. “This is a great franchise — a beautiful franchise. This franchise has given me an opportunity to fulfil and continue my dreams.
“I wake up every morning with a purpose. I’m able to go into the facilities with a great set-up, a great staff, great teammates and everything like that.
“I’m very grateful — very appreciative — and I’m trying to take things one day at a time.”
Experience gained along the way serves as fuel.
“Now I get PTSD anytime when my gas gauge goes near a quarter,” Awachie concludes. “So at half a tank, I’m definitely filling that up. I’m not risking that again.”
