By Jeff D'Andrea

Riders rise and shine at Power Breakfast

Apr 26, 2017 | 12:00 PM

Even after their 5-13 season last year, the Saskatchewan Roughriders remain optimistic and believe they have the tools and incentives to turn it around.

Two Sask-born Riders, centre Dan Clark from Regina and long snapper Jorgen Hus from Saskatoon, both echoed those sentiments at the 12^th Annual Power Breakfast Wednesday morning at the Ches Leach Lounge.

One of the first questions they fielded was about the new $278 million Mosaic Stadium, which the Riders will play in this year.

Clark, who’s been in the Riders organization since signing with the team in 2009, has witnessed the construction of the new stadium since Day One.

“I’ve toured it from them pouring concrete all the way to the finished product. It’s the Taj Mahal of stadiums,” Clark said. “I’ve talked to some of the Americans that have come in, like [Riders defensive end] Willie Jefferson who’s seen a lot of the stadiums in the NFL and he says ‘they don’t touch what we’ve got.’ There’s no bad seat in the house. A small little tidbit, the scoreboard is the size of an NBA court… For us, we’re spoiled rotten from a barber shop, to an underwater treadmill, to cold tubs.”

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Clark then handed the mic over to Hus, who quipped, “I think what he’s saying is that we have no excuses to lose this year,” drawing laughter from the crowd.

In his career, Hus has worn NFL jerseys for three different teams: the St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs. But returning to Saskatchewan soil and playing for the team he grew up watching and cheering for is something special to Hus.

“It means everything, it’s honestly the best feeling in the world,” Hus said. “I’ve played in other places, I’ve played in the States and stuff like that, and even though it was what it was playing in the NFL, but coming back home—there’s nothing like it.”

“Being in Saskatchewan and growing up, playing with the Hilltops and the Rams and then being on that field on Taylor Field, playing with the Roughriders team you grew up watching, it means everything. There’s no other feeling like it.”

The Rider guest speakers then fielded questions from the fans. Of course, Darian Durant’s departure was brought up. Clark, who spent the better part of five seasons snapping the ball to Durant, spoke candidly about Durant leaving to join the Montreal Alouettes.

“As a player that looks up to Darian as a big brother, I felt terrible. We lost a leader, we lost a guy that puts it all on the line every day, every game,” Clark said. “We lost a guy in the locker room that brings us together and makes sure he’s involved. He was also huge in the community, whether it be helping out with football programs or developing young guys in the locker room.”

“On a personal level, I thought it was stupid, but that’s my personal opinion.”

The Power Breakfast is put on every year to raise money for Special Olympics Prince Albert, as well as the Prince Albert Raider Education Fund.

The 2017 Special Olympics Saskatchewan Summer Games are on this June, with 10 athletes representing Prince Albert in the games.

Adrian Jones, Barb Wiebe, Brianna Bear, James Graham, Karina Mason, Sheldon Kun, Shirley Barber, Theresa Hardman will be competing in bowling. Dylan Dubois will be playing on the softball team, while Trevor Fendelet will be playing golf.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca 

On Twitter: him @jeff_paNOW