Going camping: Riders to hold training camp in Saskatoon

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are runnin’ back to Saskatoon.

The CFL team announced Tuesday it will be holding its 2022 training camp in the Bridge City. A three-year agreement with the University of Saskatchewan means the Roughriders also will hold training camp at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon in 2023 and ’24.

“(The agreement) needs to be more than just words … and I think hosting training camp here is a really big commitment,” team president and CEO Craig Reynolds said Tuesday, noting the Roughriders stressed to the university that they wanted to have camp in Saskatoon for a longer period of time.

“I just think it shows a commitment to Saskatoon and area and to our fans.”

The last time the Roughriders held camp in Saskatoon was 2019. Since then, the U of S has spent $3.14 million to upgrade and expand the turf at Griffiths Stadium.

“It feels normal to be coming up for training camp in Saskatoon,” Reynolds said. “We’re not talking about (COVID-related) restrictions. We’re talking about interacting with fans. We’re talking about fans having autographs after practices … They all are feeling a little bit normal.”

As they have in the past, the Roughriders will stay in the dorms next to Griffiths Stadium and will have their meals at the university’s cafeteria.

“We pride ourselves on our incredible facilities and we know that our turf along with the Ron and Jane Graham Clubhouse are world class,” Huskies chief athletics officer Shannon Chinn said in a media release.

“Having the Roughriders on campus is beneficial to our program as our Huskie student-athletes, fans and community will be able to experience a professional training camp in our own home.”

The Roughriders are to hold rookie camp May 11-13 at Griffiths Stadium, with main camp to begin May 15. The team’s Green and White intrasquad game is slated for May 28, with the team scheduled to return to Regina on May 29 for the remainder of the preseason.

The 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19 and the league’s health and safety protocols forced the Roughriders to hold their 2021 training camp in Regina.

“The University of Saskatchewan has always been a fantastic host and the facilities are ideal for what we need to run a safe and successful training camp,” Jeremy O’Day, the Roughriders’ vice-president of football operations and general manager, said in the release.

“With everything our players, coaches and staff need within walking distance on campus, it allows us all to focus on putting together the best possible team and a strong 2022 season.”

The Roughriders also are planning to attend a number of community events in Saskatoon, including the Dogs’ Breakfast on May 5. Four members of the 2007 Grey Cup-winning team — O’Day, Andy Fantuz, Tad Kornegay and Scott Schultz — are to be keynote speakers at the fundraiser for the U of S Huskies.

Tickets are available by visiting the U of S website.