RIDERS ENJOY PARLIAMENT HILL
It was a match made in heaven. Canada’s Team met up with Canada’s Prime Minister on Tuesday at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
It was Day 1 of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ work week, as they held a walk-through practice on the lawn in front of Centre Block over the noon hour. The Riders stayed in Eastern Canada between their Week 16 and Week 17 games in Ottawa and Toronto.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took time out of his day to come out and visit the Riders, and pose for pictures.
“We’d planned on going to Carleton (University), but when we visited up here the other day, one of our Football Operations guys, Scotty Annand, knew somebody and they said we could practice right out on the lawn here,” Riders Head Coach & GM Chris Jones told 620 CKRM’s Carm Carteri. “It’s a five-minute walk from our hotel and it’s a unique opportunity for our players.”
Jones said it was a great experience for all of his players, both Canadian and American alike.
“We talked about it this morning; being respectful, knowing where we’re at and doing the right things,” Jones said. “Again, we’re just very appreciative of them letting us practice out here today.”
Trudeau tried his hand at passing and receiving, but Jones said he should stick to politics.
“Haha. I believe we have a little bit of work to do!” Jones laughed. “Maybe have to go on the practice roster and maybe we can move him up from there. We were very appreciative of him coming out, seeing us practice, and very appreciative of the government allowing us to come out and practice in the yard.”
Regarding football, Jones addressed Monday’s multi-player trade with Hamilton saying the Ticats approached Saskatchewan about making the deal and it’s a trade that worked for both sides.
Jones also said the club was hit with a rash of injuries during Friday’s 32-30 overtime win at Ottawa and that it’ll force them to play some players out of position this Saturday at Toronto.
Offensive lineman Brendon Labatte participated in Tuesday’s walk-through but there is no timetable for his return. Labatte has been out since early in the season with a head/neck injury.
The Roughriders were officially eliminated from post-season contention on Monday with Edmonton’s 40-20 win at Montreal but still have four games left in the season. Jones said their goal the rest of the way is to win them all, and that he’s paid to win football games.
Currently on a three-game winning streak, Jones said they’ll play any team in the CFL right now.
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| Rider Radio’s Carm Carteri with Justin Trudeau |
RP
@rodpedersen
20th year in a row that BC has qualified for the playoffs since qualifying in 2016
Not a surprise that poser Trudeau would take out time to participate in yet another photo op, especially with Canada's Team. Not a fan of Trudeau at all and can't wait for the next election after which I hope he is kicking rocks down the road.
Cool!
Only in Canada could Canada's Team – Saskatchewan Roughriders practice on the front lawn of Parliament Hill, that is real COOL
The pictures of PM Justin Trudeau must make the Cons & skparty supporters double over in pain
Yes, yes it does. Also makes me want to vomit.
Is that Carm's fist doubled up and ready to cancel the carbon tax?
The Saskatchewan Roughriders on the hill is a very special moment!
Be careful not to instigate the Liberal Government taxing "WINS"!
GO RIDERS!
GpS
Canada's Team? I don't see the Blue Jays of the winner's of the World Cup of Hockey in this photo?
That's right. You don't. You do however see Canada's team.
As usual, PM Selfie finds his way to picture center. Too bad Jefferson or Norwood or somebody couldn't have slammed the pos into the turf.
That is pretty cool.
Has any other CFL team done this in the past?
Newt from YQR
SaskParty recruited Gene Makowsky…he's still waiting for something to do. Oh and your play by play guy was riding around in Harper's bus. Could not be more proud to have J.T as our PM. The next time the SaskParty advertises on a Riders broadcast I suggest the IBEW who also advertises pay very close attention to that.
Yikes, after that comment….up came the thanksgiving turkey!
THIS is how you market the CFL. You find ways to make yourselves physically accessible to the public instead of hiding away in your own little private practice field and hope they just show up to games. It's called Public Engagement and it's not rocket science.
Next thing you see on here will be "Regina Patsies" as Canada's Team. You just can't win.
It's the NDP that are the enemy, not Liberals
I talked my with @xavierfulton after Friday's win. He looked so happy – from MM
of course he is happy. All of the players that had a chance to leave Jones and his circus are extremely happy to leave and know that they are going to a better team, any team than one with Jones as HC/GM
Nice to see the Riders supporting a Prime Minister who is hell bent in hurting Saskatchewan. We've just been embarrassed, OMG.
I always respected Carm. Not any more though.
And as usual the comments on this blog make me weep for humanity.
FYI Trudeau is not a Canadian…he is a globalist and that is where his allegiance lies.
To those of you shovelling crap on this story, can't you take a feel good story and just feel good?
I do not like the fact that Brad Wall is our Premier, "but" (as Carm would say) he was elected Premier in the last election and that is that. Just like I don't get my knickers in a knot when Premier Wall wears a Rider shirt or greets Riders at the Legislature with the Grey Cup, I don't see why any sane person could be concerned when our Prime Minister has a fine moment with a CFL team at Parliament Hill. I, like many others, did not like Mr. Harper as Prime Minister either, but such is our democratic system… Read more »