Murray Wood: A special Grey Cup edition of who's hot... and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look at the week's news and decides who's hot... and who's not. This week, Wood is pre...
Logan Ferland has shown fight and perseverance his whole life.
Those traits, along with the contributions the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offensive lineman has made in the community, saw him named the 2025 winner of the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Trophy. It recognizes a Canadian CFL player who best demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s veterans – strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contribution to Canadian communities.
“This means a lot. Football isn’t just for what’s going on on the field but off the field. This really exemplifies the work we do in the offseason,” Ferland said. “I very much appreciate it.”
Ferland was born prematurely at just 27 weeks and only weighed two pounds, seven ounces.
“His head was the size of a small Gala apple. Seeing him all splayed out on the bed, hooked up to the ventilator and all these tubes going into him… that was hard. He was a pretty sick baby,” his mom, Cathy White Ferland said back in May.
But he fought so hard, which inspired his family as well.
“Every time we encountered a hurdle, we overcame that,” White Ferland said. “It just made me change my whole outlook on miracles.”
Now as a six-foot-four, 300-pound member of the Riders, he has made a big impact off the field for the CFL club.
The Melfort, Sask., product serves as an ambassador for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House. He has also reached thousands of youth across the province through the Rider Reading and Win with Wellness programs, sharing his story of resilience after the loss of his father to cancer.
He said it means a lot to be able to affect kids in a positive way.
“A lot of what I do is for the kids and the next generation to strengthen them,” Ferland said.
His is the fourth straight winner from Saskatchewan with Dan Clark (2022), Brayden Lenius (2023) and Jorgen Hus (2024). He is the 15th player to win the award since its inception in 2010.
Ferland said one of the things that surprised him about the Riders is how much community involvement the team has.
“I think back to when I was in high school and even elementary school, I had (Jeremy O’Day) come talk to me when I was in elementary school so the fact that many years later he is now my (general manager), it shows how much you look up to those guys and you don’t really realize what is in your future and you have a lot to look forward to.”
Jermarcus Hardrick named CFL Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman
Jermarcus Hardrick is hoping this is the start of a weekend of winning.
The offensive lineman was named the recipient of the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award at the CFL Awards on Thursday night.
“It really doesn’t feel real. I’ve been in this league a while. I’ve seen some guys I look up to chase this thing,” Hardrick said. “I didn’t do it alone. It’s a one-person award but there was a lot of people who did it. Let’s go get this (Grey Cup) on Sunday.”
Hardrick, who was named an All-CFLer this season, helped anchor a line that allowed the third-fewest sacks in the league (26) while clearing the way for running back AJ Ouellette to finish with 1,222 yards (third-most in the CFL) and eight rushing touchdowns.
It was quite the comeback for the 35-year-old product of Batesville, Miss., who missed all of last season with a torn quad.
“I didn’t think I’d be playing again because I got carted off,” Hardrick said. “Man, I’m happy.”
Hardrick received 38 first-place votes. He joins Brendon LaBatte, Gene Makowsky, Andrew Greene and Roger Aldag as the only Riders to win the award.
This is the first time he has won the award; he was nominated for it as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2023.
“It’s great that it happened in Winnipeg because my kids went to school here and we went to all our favourite places to eat so we just had fun,” Hardrick said.
Riders head coach Corey Mace is up for Most Outstanding Coach against Montreal Alouettes bench boss Jason Maas. That award will be handed out during the CFL combine in Edmonton from March 27 to 29.
Nathan Rourke wins George Reed MOP and MOC awards
It was a double award night for B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke. The Victoria, B.C. product won both the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian and Most Outstanding Player award.
He threw for 5,290 passing yards, setting a new mark for Canadian passers as well as setting a record for most rushing touchdowns (10) by a Canadian quarterback.
He also threw for 31 passing touchdowns this season.
With Rourke at the helm, the Lions had the top offence in the CFL, recording 31.1 points per game.
Mathieu Betts wins Most Outstanding Defensive Player award
B.C. Lions defensive end Mathieu Betts was deemed the best defender in the CFL after leading the league with 15 sacks. He also added 42 defensive tackles, four forced fumbles, four pass knockdowns, two tackles for a loss and one fumble recovery.
Betts, a product of Montreal, Que., is a two-time winner of the award and is the first Canadian to ever accomplish that feat.
Trey Vaval named Most Outstanding Special Teams player and Most Outstanding Rookie
Trey Vaval, the dynamic returner and defensive back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, also claimed two CFL awards.
Vaval had a CFL-high four returns for touchdowns this season. He set a single-game CFL record of 199 fireturn yards in Week 16.
He is only the third player in league history to claim both awards in the same season, joining Winnipeg’s Albert Johnson III (2000) and Ottawa’s Lewis Ward (2018).
The Riders will take on the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup on Sunday. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.
–with files from 650 CKOM’s Brittany Caffet
