THE MONDAY MORNING GOALIE: A LOOK BACK AT 2016

As it turns out, 2016 wasn’t a very good year for many in the 306 unless you’re the defending NLL champion Saskatchewan Rush!

Let’s take our annual look back at the stories which appeared on RodPedersen.com:

JANUARY
2 Canada loses a World Junior Quarterfinal 6-5 to host Finland
4 DT Zack Evans re-signs with Ottawa RedBlacks
4 Riders hire Markus Howell as Receivers Coach
5 Stampeders release Juwan Simpson, hire Cole Hufnagel as Dir. of Scouting
6 OL Ben Heenan signs with NFL’s Indianapolis Colts
11 Riders acquire WR Maurice Price from Ottawa for 2 draft picks
13 Former CFLer Lawrence Phillips is found dead in a California jail cell
14 Mike Benevides is hired as Defensive Coordinator of the Edmonton Eskimos
15 Roughriders release John Chick and Weston Dressler
16 Riders sign DE Shawn Lemon
17 Coach Mike Gibson resigns from the U of R Rams, joins Eskimos
19 Kent Austin signs extension through 2019 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
19 Alouettes sign former Rider centre Dominic Picard to a 1-year deal
21 Darian Durant restructures his contract for one year with Saskatchewan
22 FB Spencer Moore signs a contract extension with Saskatchewan
23 Miami Dolphins hire Danny Barrett as Running Backs Coach
25 Hamilton Tiger-Cats sign John Chick
26 Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign Weston Dressler
27 John Hufganel is named President of the Stampeders, Dave Dickenson takes over as Head Coach
28 Roughriders extend WR Rob Bagg through 2018

FEBRUARY
2 Blue Bombers sign Macho Harris
4 Rider LB Shea Emry announces his retirement.  He played a half for Saskatchewan
8 Alouettes name Jacques Chapdelaine WR Coach and Offensive Advisor
9 Riders sign OL Chris Best to an extension through 2017
9 Riders sign DL Dylan Ainsworth, avoiding free agency
9 RedBlacks sign QB Trevor Harris
9 Blue Bombers sign Justin Medlock, Keith Shologan, Andrew Harris and Ryan Smith
9 Riders sign LB/DB Graig Newman
10 Riders sign WR Shamawd Chambers
10 Sask acquires OL Bruce Campbell from Argos for a 4th and QB Baker Mayfield
10 Sask signs Ed Gainey, Kendial Lawrence, Greg Jones, Otha Foster and Curtis Steele
11 Sask signs Justin Capiciotti
18 CFL releases 2016 schedule
24 Riders sign WR Armanti Edwards
25 Eskimos sign Chris Getzlaf

MARCH
8 U of R Rams introduce Steve Bryce as Head Coach
8 Paul McCallum retires as a BC Lion
10 Assault charges against former Rider Taj Smith are stayed.  He’s a free man.
11 Eric Tillman named General Manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
12 Regina’s Jon Ryan signs a 4-year extension as punter for the Seattle Seahawks
22 Blue Bombers release Bryant Turner and Clarence Denmark
23 Riders sign non-import RB Matt Walter

APRIL
2 Jeff Keeping named President of the CFLPA
2 Regina Pats clinch 1st round with a Game 5 win at Lethbridge
8 Ben Heenan waived by Colts, announces his retirement
10 Riders open minicamp in Vero Beach, FL
11 Hamilton Offensive Coordinator Tommy Condell resigns his post
15 Eskimos sign QB Mike Reilly to an extension through 2018
19 Red Deer Rebels beat Pats in Game 7 of Round 2
21 Tyron Brackenridge announces his retirement
21 Rider WR Maurice Price retires, Riders won’t get compensation
25 CFL announces all teams were under the salary cap in 2015

MAY
2 Riders acquire OL Thaddeus Coleman from Eskimos for two negotiation list players
3 Rider OL Bruce Campbell retires
3 Rider DT Tearrius George is charged with assault, announces his retirement
5 Regina’s Gary Drummond is named Pres. of Hockey Operations with the Arizona Coyotes
8 Riders sign DE Eric Norwood
10 Riders draft OL Josaih St. John with the #1 pick in the CFL Draft
10 Rider REC Jeremy Kelley retires due to a health concern
14 Riders sign WR Clarence Denmark
22 West Kelowna Warriors win the Royal Bank Cup in Lloydminster
26 Riders sign OT Xavier Fulton to a 1-year deal
29 London Knights win the Memorial Cup in Red Deer
29 Riders open training camp at University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon


JUNE
3 On Day 5 of camp, holdout draftee Josaih St. John reportedly requests a trade
3 Dominic Picard announces his retirement
3 Saskatchewan Rush wins the NLL championship, sweeping Buffalo at SaskTel Centre
5 Riders hold their mock game in Saskatoon. Chris Jones said it “made me want to puke”
7 Warriors coach Tim Hunter is named an Assistant Coach for Canada’s World Junior Team
10 Gordie Howe passes away at age 88
11 PRESEASON: BC 29 at SASK 16
12 Riders make first cuts, including vets Dan West and S.J. Haidara
13 Blue Bombers hire Craig Smith as fulltime scout
18 PRESEASON: SASK 11 at EDM 25. Joe McKnight has an 85-yard TD run for the Eskimos
19 Riders make final cuts, including veteran QB Brett Smith
21 Riders sign CB Buddy Jackson
23 Bob Woods steps down as HC/GM of Saskatoon Blades.  Dean Brockman takes over.
23 Riders announce a $4.3M loss in 2015
24 Anaheim Ducks draft Sam Steel in Round 1, 30th overall of NHL Draft
26 Riders add QBs G.J. Kinne and Bryant Moniz
27 Luca Congi signs a one day contract to retire as a Roughrider
30 Riders and Josaih St. John end their stalemate and agree to a contract
30 TORONTO 30 at SASK 17 (0-1)

JULY
1 Washington Capitals sign the Pats’ Connor Hobbs and Colby Williams
3 Riders trade Shawn Lemon to Argos for QB Mitchell Gale and OL Matt Sewell
8 SASK 36 at EDMONTON 39 OT (0-2)
10 Riders acquire QB Jake Waters from Ticats for a negotiation list player
16 BC 40 at SASK 27 (0-3) Darian Durant leaves the game in the 2nd half with an ankle injury
22 OTTAWA 29 at SASK 30 (1-3) QB Mitchell Gale wins his first pro start
29 SASK 3 at MONTREAL 41 (1-4)
31 Ottawa is announced as host city for the 2017 Grey Cup


AUGUST
2 Kelly McCrimmon is named Assistant GM of the NHL’s Las Vegas Golden Knights
3 Riders fined $15,000 for ratio violation
4 SASK 15 at CALGARY 35 (1-5)
10 Riders sign Canadian QB Brandon Bridge
12 Riders fined $60,000 for roster violations
13 CALGARY 19 at SASK 10 (1-6)
16 Weyburn Red Wings hire Wes Rudy as Head Coach and Tanner McCall as GM
20 SASK 7 at HAMILTON 53 (1-7) It’s the worst Rider loss since the 2000 season
26 SASK 25 at EDMONTON 33 (1-8)
30 Riders sign DT Khalif Mitchell
30 The City of Regina hosts the Substantial Completion Grand Opening of New Mosaic Stadium

SEPTEMBER
3 CFL legend Normie Kwong passes at age 86
4 LABOUR DAY CLASSIC: WINNIPEG 28 at SASK 25 (1-9)
10 BANJO BOWL: SASK 10 at WINNIPEG 17 (1-10)
11 Blue Bombers trade Drew Willy to Toronto, acquires Kevin Glenn from Montreal
12 Riders release DT Khalif Mitchell
16 Matt Dominguez and Ivan Gutfriend are inducted into the Plaza of Honor
17 Justin Dunk and Rod Pedersen are fired from CFL.ca
18 EDMONTON 23 at SASK 26 (2-10)
19 Jacques Chapdelaine is named interim Head Coach of the Alouettes, replacing Jim Popp
23 Durant and Jones open contract talks.  Jones says, “He knows that we want him here.”
24 HAMILTON 18 at SASK 20 (3-10)
27 Saskatchewan Rush drafts Ryan Keenan with the #1 overall pick in the NLL Draft
28 Riders sign free agent DE Willie Jefferson
‘
OCTOBER
2 Riders sign WR Jeff Fuller, release KR/RB Kendial Lawrence
5 Riders sign LB Henoc Muamba
7 SASK 32 at OTTAWA 30 (4-10)
9 Blue Jays sweep Texas in Game 3 of the ALDS at Roger Centre
10 Riders trade Capiciotti and Fulton to Hamilton for DT Linden Gaydosh and WR Tommy Streeter
11 Riders practice on Parliament Hill, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates
12 CFL fines Eskimos $20K and Jason Maas $15K for their Mic’d Up boycott
15 SASK 29 at TORONTO 11 (5-10)
19 Hamilton’s Brandon Banks is suspended 2 games for CFL drug violation
18 Argonauts slash prices for the 2016 Grey Cup
21 Riders sign long-snapper Randy Chevrier
22 MONTREAL 19 at SASK 14 (5-11)
22 Saskatoon Hilltops beat Regina Thunder 25-24 in a PFC semifinal
25 Pinball Clemons and Pete Martin are named CFL Alumi Men of the Year
27 Montreal’s Winston Venable is fined for the head hit on the Riders Joe McKnight
29 Regina Rams beat Manitoba 55-21 to clinch 1st place for the first time in franchise history
29 BC 24 at SASK 6 in the last-ever game at Taylor Field

NOVEMBER
1 Paul McCallum rejoins the BC Lions for the playoffs
2 Regina Pats achieve a #1 ranking in the CHL for the first time ever
3 Riders sign WR Naaman Roosevelt to a contract extension
5 UBC upsets Regina 40-34 in a Canada West semifinal at Taylor Field
5 SASK 18 at BC 41 (5-13) Roughriders’ season miserably concludes at BC Place
7 Alouettes and GM Jim Popp go their separate ways
13 Former Stampeders coach Larry Kuharik passes away
16 CFL announces the inaugural CFL Week will be in Regina in March
21 Former Rider Jerrell Freeman of the CHI Bears is suspended 4 games for PED violation
22 Regina Pats formally announce their intention to bid on the 2018 Memorial Cup
24 Bo Levi Mitchell is named CFL Most Outstanding Player
27 104th Grey Cup in Toronto: OTTAWA 39 CALGARY 33

DECEMBER
1 Rider RB Joe McKnight is shot and killed in New Orleans, LA
1 Riders release three including Matt Walter and Buddy Jackson
2 Regina Pats/R.E.A.L. announce a new multi-year lease agreement
5 City of Regina announces Guns N’ Roses will play New Mosaic Stadium on August 27
6 Rider DE Eric Norwood retires
7 Riders extend DB Justin Cox
9 Blue Bombers award GM Kyle Walters and HC Mike O’Shea new 3-year deals
9 BC Lions release LB Adam Bighill so he can explore the NFL
10 Former Rider FB, GM and Board member Henry Dorsch passes at age 76
14 Alouettes name Kavis Reed as General Manager
15 Ticats announce the resignation of Defensive Coordinator Orlondo Steinauer
19 Brian Towriss steps down as U of S Huskies football coach after 33 seasons
20 Rider LB Marvin Golding is suspended 2 games for PED violation
20 RedBlacks sign free agent REC Riley Wilson of the Regina Rams
20 Anaheim Ducks sign Sam Steel
21 BC Lions sign LB Solomon Elimimian, avoiding free agency
26 YOU are reading this blog.

——

Thanks for reading in 2016 … Here’s to a MUCH better year in 2017!


HAPPY NEW YEAR
RP
@rodpedersen