This evening’s matchup for the Saskatchewan Roughriders is about their fans. Rider nation returns to Mosaic Stadium for another regular season as the green and white compete in the 2023 home opener against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Today is also a chance for the players to enjoy playing the game they love, especially on Father’s Day weekend when they can show their appreciation to their biggest fans.

Whether it’s a father feeling proud as he watches his son grow up on the football field or young children admiring their dad, a star on and off the field, more lasting memories will be created tonight.

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The Roughriders season already enjoyed had a heartwarming storyline between father and son.

Safety Jayden Dalke returned to Edmonton on Sunday to celebrate his dad Ryan’s birthday by helping the Riders to a win against the Elks with five tackles, some bone-jarring hits and an interception.

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Shawn Bane Jr., just like his father, Shawn Bane Sr. was a star on the gridiron growing up in Florida.

After following in his footsteps, the Sarasota product found success at Northwest Missouri State before heading north to the Canadian Football League, first with Calgary and now with Saskatchewan.

Unfortunately, Shawn Bane Sr. passed away just over three years ago. This weekend the Roughriders receiver will continue to honour the memory of his father when he competes tonight.

“Any time I’m able to touch the field, it’s an honour,”

He added, “I always bring a piece of him out there with me too.”

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For a father  like defensive tackle Micah Johnson, Friday’s game is the perfect start to the Father’s Day weekend.

He is looking forward to reuniting with his family soon.

“Hopefully come into Father’s Day with a win and you know I get my family up here in a couple of weeks and it will be fun.”

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If there is something that Jake Wieneke takes even more pride in than his responsibilities as a wide receiver for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, it’s his daily role as a father, a task that will soon expand for him. He is also excited about tonight’s game as a part of this weekend’s festivities.

“I’m glad to play in front of my son especially with the Father’s Day game, hopefully there’s a lot of father and sons, fathers and kids out here at the game. So I’m glad I’m going to play in front of my son.”

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One of the most scrutinized jobs in the province is the starting quarterback of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Trevor Harris says that he spends as much as he can at the stadium focusing on his quarterback duties because when he goes home, it’s not about football, it’s about being a dad.

“But when I get home they get my attention because that’s what they deserve, I use to go home and I still had my stuff out all night, I was half here, I was half there, I just wanted to make sure I was fully presented for them when I’m there, often times, I think something that I learned, you know being fully present with someone for two hours, with you know 40 to 50 percent for six hours, so yeah when I get home, I’m Dad, I just think I owe that to them. ”

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Another unknown author once wrote.

“A father is neither an anchor to hold us back nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way.”

With a tint of green and a shade of white, the impact of that guidance is felt here in Saskatchewan.