THE MONDAY MORNING GOALIE

Today in the MMG it’s our annual look back at the year that was and 2015 was certainly a wild one in our corner of the world.  Here’s a recap of headlines and stories over the past 12 months from RodPedersen.com:

JANUARY
2 – Regina Pats deal Morgan Klimchuk to Brandon for Jesse Gabrielle
5 – Pats acquire Connor Hobbs from Medicine Hat and Jake Leschyshyn from Red Deer
6 – Canada beats Russia 5-4 to claim World Junior gold in Toronto
6 – Former Rider C Dominic Picard signs with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
7 – TSN reports coaches George Cortez and Doug Malone will join the B.C. Lions
9 – Roughriders give new deals to DB Terrell Maze and WR Korey Williams
13 – Roughriders hire Greg Quick as Defensive Coordinator
16 – Alouettes acquire WR Fred Stamps from Eskimos for WR Kenny Stafford
19 – Alouettes hire Kavis Reed as Special Teams Coordinator
20 – Alouettes hire Turk Schonert as Offensive Coordinator
21 – Blue Bombers announce Richie Hall as their new Defensive Coordinator
22 – Calgary’s John Hufnagel wins the 2014 CFL Coach of the Year Award
23 – QCSEG unveils the CHL’s best video scoreboard at Evraz Place
24 – Roughriders acquire LB Shea Emry from Argonauts for DE Ricky Foley
27 – Roughriders sign S Tyron Brackenridge to a one-year deal
29 – Alouettes name Anthony Calvillo O.C. and give WR S.J. Green a new deal
29 – Roughriders acquire WR Cory Watson from Bombers for WR Kris Bastien
30 – U of R Rams announce longtime O.C. Bernie Schmidt won’t return

FEBRUARY
1 – Roughriders sign REC Weston Dressler to a 4-year extension
1 – Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, AZ: Patriots 28 Seahawks 24
3 – Roughriders release OT Ben Heenan in order to pursue the NFL
4 – Indianapolis Colts sign Heenan to a 3-year deal
10 – N.Y. Giants sign C Brett Jones, a Weyburn, SK product
11 – Riders sign S Keenan MacDougall, LB Joash Gesse and FB Scott McHenry re-signs
12 – Riders release REC Brett Swain, sign DE Alex Hall and C Dan Clark
12 – B.C. Lions announce legend Geroy Simon will join their front office
13 – CFL announces the 2015 schedule
18 – Riders sign DE John Chick to a 2-year extension
19 – Riders sign free agent QB Kevin Glenn
20 – Blue Bombers name former Rider Todd Howard Defensive Line coach
20 – Riders name Jeremaine Copeland Receivers coach and Justin Chapdelaine Offensive Assistant
24 – Minnesota Vikings sign former Rider LB Brian Peters
25 – SFU football program names Kelly Bates Head Coach
26 – Alouettes sign free agent REC Nik Lewis

MARCH
2 – Riders release LBs Shomari Williams and Marvin Burdette
7 – Indianapolis Colts re-sign former Rider LB Jerrell Freeman
14 – Riders sign RECs Greg Hardin and Naaman Roosevelt
18 – Riders sign former DB Chris McKenzie to a 1-year deal, he retires as a Roughrider
18 – CFL names Jeffrey Orridge Commissioner
18 – Regina Pats announce F Sam Steel’s season is over with an ankle injury
20 – Riders extend the contract of LB Macho Harris
25 – Edmonton Eskimos name Mike Scheper as Offensive Line coach
26 – CFL announces nine rule changes for 2015

APRIL
1 – Pats sweep Swift Current in Round 1 of the WHL Playoffs
4 – Montreal Canadiens great Elmer Lach of Nokomis, SK passes at age 97
10 – Roughriders open minicamp in Bradenton, FL
12 – Maple Leafs fire GM Dave Nonis and Interim Head Coach Peter Horacek
14 – B.C. Lions sign free agent QB Jon Jennings
16 – CFL announces Ticats are the only team to exceed salary cap ($8,939)
17 – Brandon Wheat Kings eliminate the Pats in Game 6 of Round 2 of the WHL Playoffs
18 – Edmonton Oilers win the NHL Draft Lottery, claiming the #1 pick
23 – Edmonton Eskimos sign GM Ed Hervey to a new deal
24 – Edmonton Oilers name Peter Chiarelli as GM
25 – Roughriders release QB Seth Doege
29 – U of R Rams name Mark McConkey as Offensive Coordinator on Mike Gibson’s staff
29 – Regina Pats name Marty Klyne as the club’s C.O.O.
29 – Riders add QB Noah Picton to camp roster, sign WR Alex Carroll

MAY
1 – Blue Bombers sign Drew Willy to a new deal, terms not disclosed
5 – Roughriders sign DBs Junior Mertile and Marrio Norman
6 – Pats coach John Paddock named WHL Coach of the Year
8 – Roughriders sign LBs Telvion Clark and Jeff Knox Jr.
11 – Roughriders trade REC Cory Watson to Eskimos for LS Jorgen Hus
12 – Roughriders select MB REC Nic Demski with the 6th overall pick in the CFL Draft
15 – Longtime GM Bruno Campese parts with the P.A. Raiders
16 – Roughriders sign RECs Devin Wilson and Eric Thomas
20 – Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment purchase the Toronto Argonauts
20 – Maple Leafs name Mike Babcock Head Coach
20 – RB Neal Hughes announces his retirement after 11 seasons with the Roughriders
22 – Alouettes sign free agent DE Michael Sam
26 – 620 CKRM signs a 17-year extension with Roughriders as radio rightsholder
27 – Plaza of Honor names Tim McCray and Scott Schultz as its 2015 induction class
27 – Roughriders open rookie camp at Mosaic Stadium
29 – Pats name Dave Struch as Assistant GM and Gord Pritchard as Assistant to the GM
31 – Riders sign P Ray Early and DE Cameron Sheffield
31 – Roughriders open training camp in Saskatoon

JUNE
6 – Roughriders hold first-ever practice in Prince Albert, SK
6 – B.C. Lions grant K Paul McCallum his release
8 – P.A. Raiders name Curtis Hunt as General Manager
11 – Pats hire Brad Herauf as Assistant Coach
13 – CFL PRESEASON: Edmonton 31 Saskatchewan 24
14 – Roughriders cut 11 players including QB Tino Sunseri
15 – Chicago Blackhawks win Stanley Cup, 2-0 over Tampa Bay in Game 6
19 – CFL PRESEASON: Calgary 37 Saskatchewan 29
20 – Roughriders announce a $2.2-million profit at their AGM
21 – Roughriders cut 26 players including veteran DB Paul Woldu
23 – Roughriders sign free agent WR S.J. Haidara
27 – CFL: Winnipeg 30 Saskatchewan 26 (0-1) Riders lose QB Darian Durant for the season
29 – Roughriders de-activate kicker Chris Milo after going 1/2 in Week 1
30 – Vancouver Giants name Lorne Molleken Head Coach

JULY
1 – Roughriders sign QB Tino Sunseri and K Paul McCallum
5 – CFL: Toronto 42 Riders 40 2 OT (0-2)
8 – Roughriders add QB Keith Price to the practice roster
11 – CFL: BC 35 Saskatchewan 32 OT (0-3)
14 – Asked about heat from the fans, Rider coach Corey Chamblin tells the media, “I don’t give a damn about that”
14 – Roughriders sign DB Geoff Tisdale, add Paul Woldu to the practice roster
15 – Riders announce LB Weldon Brown is done for the season with a torn pec, sign DB Dan West
17 – CFL: BC 27 Saskatchewan 24 (0-4)
21 – NLL’s Edmonton Rush relocate to Saskatoon
22 – Roughriders sign DB Alex Suber
26 – CFL: Hamilton 31 Saskatchewan 21 (0-5) QB Kevin Glenn tears pectoral muscle
31 – CFL: Edmonton 30 Saskatchewan 5 (0-6) QB Brett Smith makes his pro debut

AUGUST
4 – Riders add QB Blake Sims to practice roster, release FB Scott McHenry and LB Telvion Clark
7 – Indianapolis Colts waive OL Ben Heenan (torn meniscus)
8 – CFL: Toronto 30 Saskatchewan 26 (0-7)
10 – Regina Pats trade Jesse Gabrielle to Prince George for Lane Zablocki
11 – Blue Bombers announce QB Drew Willy will miss two months (knee)
15 – DE Michael Sam leave Alouettes for a second time, never to return again
16 – Roughriders release DBs Michael Carter and Geoff Tisdale
16 – Lethbridge Bulls sweep Regina Red Sox to claim WMBL championship
21 – 3-5 Alouettes fire Head Coach Tom Higgins
22 – CFL: Calgary 34 Saskatchewan 31 (0-8)
29 – Regina Pats open training camp at the Cooperators Centre
30 – CFL: Ottawa 35 Saskatchewan 13 (0-9) Corey Chamblin’s last game as Rider coach
31 – Riders fire Brendan Taman and Corey Chamblin.  Interim replacements are Jeremy O’Day and Bob Dyce

SEPTEMBER
1 – Roughriders release QB Tino Sunseri
2 – Eskimos trade QB Matt Nichols to Blue Bombers for a 7th round pick
5 – Alouettes fire Offensive Coordinator Turk Schonert, replace him with Anthony Calvillo
6 – CFL: Saskatchewan 37 Winnipeg 19 (1-9)
8 – Blue Bombers fire Special Teams Coordinator Pat Tracy
9 – Riders sign four including QB Hutson Mason, release WR Korey Williams
10 – Stampeders HC/GM John Hufnagel issues statement he’s staying in Calgary, not joining Sask
13 – CFL: Winnipeg 22 Saskatchewan 7 (1-10)
15 – Riders sign three including LB Denicos Allen, release DB Mark Legree and QB Blake Sims
20 – CFL: Ottawa 30 Sasktachewan 27 (1-11)
22 – Tiger-Cats announce QB Zach Collaros is done for the season with a knee injury
22 – Roughriders sign C Dan Dlark to a new deal
27 – CFL: Saskatchewan 33 Montreal 21 (2-11)

OCTOBER
3 – CFL: BC 46 Saskatchewan 20 (2-12) Jon Jenning throws 4 TDs and catches another
9 – Philadelphia Flyers announce prospect Logan Pyett (former Pats captain) is battling cancer
9 – CFL: Hamilton 30 Saskatchewan 15 (2-13) Riders eliminated from playoff contention
14 – Roughriders trade RB Jerome Messam to Calgary for K Tyler Crapigna and a swap of picks
18 – PFC Semifinal: Calgary 17 Regina 3
20 – Roughriders de-activate K Paul McCallum
23 – Toronto Blue Jays eliminated in Game 6 of the ALCS by Kansas City Royals, 4-3
24 – CFL: Edmonton 35 Saskatchewan 24 (2-14) Eskimos score 21 points in the 2nd quarter
31 – CFL: Calgary 42 Saskatchewan (2-14) Jerome Messam rushes for 121 yards for Stamps

NOVEMBER
5 – Jeff Knox is named Riders’ MVP, Rookie of the Year and Most Outstanding Defensive Player
6 – Regina Pats and WHL mourn the passing of forefather Del Wilson at age 88
8 – CFL: Saskatchewan 30 Montreal 24 OT (3-15) Brandon Bridge is the first Canadian QB to start a game since 1996
9 – Alouettes Jim Popp will return as Head Coach and GM in 2016
10 – Blue Bombers fire Marcel Bellefeuille as Offensive Coordinator
25 – CFL names Henry Burris its 2015 Most Outstanding Player
28 – UBC wins the Vanier Cup, 26-23 over Montreal
29 – 103rd Grey Cup in Winnipeg: Edmonton 26 Ottawa 20

DECEMBER
2 – BC Lions announce Jeff Tedford resigns as Head Coach, GM Wally Buono takes over
2 – Jon Cornish retires as Stampeders RB after nine seasons and two Grey Cup wins
3 – Rich Stubler jumps from Calgary to Toronto as Defensive Coordinator
4 – Roughriders announce Greg Quick resigns as Defensive Coordinator
6 – BC Lions announce the retirement of assistant coaches George Cortez and Chuck McMann
7 – Roughriders name Chris Jones as V.P. of Football Operations, General Manager, Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator
7 – Blue Bombers name Paul Lapolice as Offensive Coordinator
14 – Eskimos name Jason Maas as the 21st Head Coach in franchise history
15 – Roughriders name John Murphy and Jeremy O’Day as Assistant V.P.s of Football Ops, release 19 players
16 – Roughriders announce their 2016 coaching staff, all nine were with Edmonton in 2015
19 – Ottawa RedBlacks name Bob Dyce as Special Teams Coordinator
22 – Riders extend DT Tearrius George, DB Matt Webster and release K Paul McCallum and CB/KR Tristan Jackson
22 – Eskimos extend REC Adarius Bowman and DT Almondo Sewell
23 – Roughriders sign five including REC S.J. Haidara
24 – RedBlacks name Jaime Elizondo Offensive Coordinator

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And that gets us up-to-date to today!  It truly was a wild, wild ride in 2015 but for me, personally, it was one of the greatest years of my life.  It’s too bad it had to coincide with one of the worst years in Roughriders franchise history but it’s still a thrill and a privilege to cover Canada’s Team on a daily basis.  It’s great to go to work every day to do something that matters!

To conclude, we’re naming Saskatchewan Roughriders President Craig Reynolds as the 2015 RodPedersen.com Newsmaker of the Year.  His inaugural campaign which officially began April 1 after the retirement of Jim Hopson was filled with ups and downs, trials and tribulations, but the Foam Lake, SK product showed exemplary leadership by making perhaps the biggest hire in CFL history in Chris Jones and his accompanying staff.  It showed all why Reynolds was the top choice to succeed Hopson all along, and he has reset the direction of the CFL’s greatest franchise for years ahead.

HERE’S TO A GREAT 2016!
RP
@sportscage