The Saskatchewan Roughriders “Plaza of Honour” is about to grow by four.
On Wednesday, the team announced former players Chris Getzlaf, Andy Fantuz and Gabe Patterson along with builder Paul Hill will be inducted on October 9th.
Getzlaf played for both the Regina Thunder and Regina Rams before being taken by Hamilton in the 2007 draft. He was acquired by the Riders later that year in a trade and went on to play 10 seasons for the club. In his 119 games, Getzlaf had three 1,000 yard receiving seasons including playoffs and ranks fifth in franchise history with 5,694 receiving yards and 6th in receiving touchdowns with 37.
Being a hometown boy, Getzlaf says it was amazing to have played for the Riders for his whole career, and an even better feeling to be honoured by them now.
“It’s kind of a surreal feeling, you get the opportunity to play for the team you grew up watching, and be a hometown guy playing on the team for as long as I did, that’s rare in it’s own,” said Getzlaf. “To have an honour like this, just takes it above the top.”
Getzlaf says being inducted alongside his longtime teammate in Andy Fantuz is pretty special, adding it’ll be nice to see two members of the “Canadian Air Force” in the Plaza.
“It’s super cool, I’m really looking forward to the weekend with Andy, we had a lot of years here together in the “Canadian Air Force” that we were called,” said Getzlaf. “Great teammate, great competitor, phenomenal football player, and it’s going to be a really fun weekend being able to celebrate with him.”
Fantuz was a member of the 2007 Grey Cup winning team and scored the only touchdown for the Riders in that victory over Winnipeg. He was also named the game’s most outstanding Canadian. He spent his first six seasons in the CFL as a Rider after being drafted 3rd overall in the 2006 draft. He is12th all-time in Riders receiving yards with 4,311 and 14th all-time in receiving touchdowns with 23.
Patterson, who died in 1991 is considered to be the Riders first black star and just the second black player to play for the club. He made significant contributions on offence, defence and special teams and led the 1947 team in points with 36. He was an all-star in both of his seasons as a Rider which were 1947 and 48
Hill, who is the owner of 620 CKRM (Harvard Broadcasting), served on the Roughriders’ Management Council and eventually its Board of Directors for more than 22 years. The Hill Companies, of which he is the Chairman, President and CEO, have been supporters of the Saskatchewan Roughriders for more than 50 years. He was a driving force behind many club initiatives including Telethons and Radiothons in 1987 and 1997, new turf campaigns in 2000 and 2007, the east and west side club seating builds in Historic Mosaic Stadium, the centennial fund and camera tower build.
The Plaza of Honour events, which are now overseen by the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation and a committee of volunteers, will include an additional piece going forward: the 13th Fan Breakfast presented by SaskTel.
This special event will happen the morning of the game, October 9th, and provide an opportunity for Roughrider fans to meet and mingle with the inductees and share in a special morning in honour of the Riders’ dedicated fan base.. Tickets for the 13th Fan Breakfast are $40 and on sale now. The Plaza of Honour dinner will be a small, invitation-only fundraising event for the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation.
The annual Plaza of Honour has inducted 131 individuals who have made major contributions to the proud tradition of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club. The Club has also inducted the 1966, 1989 and 2007 Grey Cup championship teams.
