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Welcome to the Halloween weekend edition of the Different Angles Podcast.
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I'm Bray Morrison.
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Matt Morrison.
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And we will talk about a few things, including the World Series.
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Is anybody watching?
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Is anybody out there?
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Uh the Winnipeg Jets, they finally move Connor Hellebuck.
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That scenario is finally over.
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Uh, we will talk with Jorgen Hughes, and we will also talk a little bit about the uh Husky football team and uh a new all-time career passing leader at the top of the school's record books.
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But uh first and foremost, Riders and BC Lions uh Saturday, and what will be uh playoffs matchup?
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The playoffs are here.
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Yeah, and the riders got in.
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I still can't believe that.
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But at times I shouldn't say that, but at times it didn't look like it was gonna happen down the stretch.
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Well, and now they're in.
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What are you thinking against BC?
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BC beats Saskatchewan two of the three meetings this year.
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The Saskatchewan Rough Riders have uh beat the BC Lions their last four playoff matchups against each other.
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The one thing I continue to wonder about is the Riders still limp in with the prior to their last game against Edmonton, which everybody's sat, right?
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You needed a program to sit through that game.
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Yeah, the Riders were one and four in their last five.
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The run game, uh AJ Willette was on the practice field this week, but the Riders were one and four in their previous five before the game against the Elks.
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Now you have to kind of rally.
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I'm a little bit surprised that Trevor Harris didn't get a little bit of time in the cleanup game against the Elks.
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Maybe like a half or like a quarter, something like that.
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Yep.
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Yeah, no, that's fair.
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But but uh someone was mentioning that his arm is tired and he's 40 years old and he needs the rest, right?
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Yeah but uh a very good offensive line on paper for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
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Yeah, that is going to have to be the difference for them, I think.
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Well, and the offensive line, also their defense is gonna have to get stops as well.
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I mean, that's gonna be imperative, especially going up against Nathan Rourke, who's one of the best quarterbacks in the Canadian Football League.
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Um, but you know, this this offense does have weapons, um, obviously led by Trevor Harris, but Keyshawn Johnson is back, Sam Analysis is back, like they're getting healthy at receiver.
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And when this Saskatchewan Rough Rider team is healthy and they have everybody available to them in that receiver room, then you know, that receiving core is probably tops in the Canadian Football League.
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Yeah.
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So they have that going for it.
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You have Trevor Harris who threw for what was it, over 5,000 yards this season.
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So um, despite the fact that he's 40 years old, he's still still slinging the rock pretty good.
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It does seem like AJ Olette is kind of starting to find his rhythm again.
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He was banged up off and on this year.
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So it's gonna be interesting.
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It, you know, it could be, I could see a high-scoring game.
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Yeah, right.
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Like I could see both teams maybe scoring 30 points.
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Um, but I do think that the riders are gonna have to score kind of in that high 20s, low 30s if they have a chance.
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You know, the one thing about it too is I keep thinking about this is Keon Hatcher and Justin McKinnon at home with uh a quarterback uh like uh Nathan Rorick, who can he has that escape ability that Trevor Harris doesn't.
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Now, Harris has the advantage of probably a better O-line, but that's to me, that's gonna be the difference.
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It is, you know what?
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Uh after sitting out at Griffith Stadium on the weekend, I can tell you it's nice to have this game indoors.
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It is nice when both teams can open up the playbook just for the sport.
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I'm always a big fan of that.
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Yeah, but I'm not sure it's gonna weigh in favor of the Riders.
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Just basically what I've seen in the last four or five weeks of the regular season.
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No, I that's totally fair.
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Yeah, I and especially against those games uh against the BC Lions, yeah.
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Right?
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Like the Riders won that week two game against BC, and then they lost the next two that they played against the Lions.
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Yeah.
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The one game, well, really both games weren't even close.
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The one game was 30 to 16, uh, and then the other game back in towards the end of September was close until a couple of garbage time touchdowns from the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
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So it's gonna be interesting.
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Um, you're right, BC Place, it's a tough place to play.
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It's you know, it's closed, it's loud.
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Um new ownership in BC has done a great job over the past couple of years um getting fans back into BC Place.
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With all that being said, it's one game.
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It's one shot, and you just have no idea, right?
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You have no idea how Nathan Rourke is gonna play, you have no idea how the BC Lions defense is gonna play, you have no idea how Trevor Harris is gonna play.
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That's the beauty of football, right?
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It's you got one shot, and the riders have had some some success against BC in the playoffs in recent memory.
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You know, it's funny.
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Tavon Campbell is a very good defensive backup.
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Uh that said, you know, it's so too bad.
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He's like that offensive lineman with the holding call, right?
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When defensively, when he gets torched, he seems to be torched bad.
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So that's the one thing about McKinnon's uh that I would think about it and Hatcher as well.
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But the other thing as well is um, you know, we were talking about AJ Willette.
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How healthy is he?
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The one guy that doesn't get enough credit in my mind is uh Xander Horvath, the running back for the BC.
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Oh, yeah.
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You know what I mean?
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Like he's I think he was top five or six in the league in rushing.
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Well, at one point he was he was up there for the the touchdown lead.
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Yeah, and and with the the challenge this with Nathan Rourke as your quarterback who throws and makes great plays, Horvath doesn't get a ton of credit.
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Um, or maybe the but that's gonna that'll be a guy who can keep that rider defense honest.
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Like I said, this rider defense, they're gonna have to get stops.
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Yeah.
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And uh at certain points throughout the the course of this regular season, especially down the stretch, especially when they went one and four, it's been tough.
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Yeah.
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So it's gonna be interesting.
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Um and it's you know, this is what happens when you don't finish first in your division.
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So, you know, say you get past BC.
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Well, who's waiting for you?
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The upstart Edmonton Elks.
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So that's a tough one.
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None of us will matter next year when eight teams get in.
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Yeah, right?
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Yeah, yeah, fair.
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Yeah.
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Three wins in your playoff bound next year.
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So no, but it is gonna be interesting.
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I can see it going either way.
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I really could.
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Yeah.
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Like both teams could score 30 points.
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I don't think it'll be a blowout one way or the other.
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I'm not necessarily saying that the Riders are gonna win, yeah, but I do think that it will be close.
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And we will talk more about this with Jorgen Hughes, who up until last year was the longest-serving member of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, a 10-year veteran, uh, the long snapper, great cup champion, actually helped unveil the banner to start the 2026 season, the 2025 banner.
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So he'll uh he'll join us.
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That was an interesting night at Griffith Stadium on Friday night as uh the uh Huskies uh they uh it was so funny.
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They put up 65 against the Alberta Golden Bears earlier this year and then had to fight scratch and claw for 21 uh in a 21-19 win over the Alberta Golden Bears.
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So now they go to UBC, and we'll delve into that playoff matchup in a little bit.
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But uh that was quite a night for two reasons.
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One, the Huskies, I mean, that wind at times was up 49, 51 kilometers an hour from the north, right?
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So luckily the game winning kick was into the south end zone.
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Um, but the other thing was to see Anton Amadrude uh set the school's all-time passing record.
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And I think we have a couple of images from that game.
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But Anton, you know, I've always said that the Lloyd Minster product, the fifth-year quarterback, he would be a guy who I would hate to play poker against because you just he's you know, he's the same guy no matter where you meet him.
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And you sometimes wonder where that, you know, that fighter comes from, right?
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And and that's and that's uh the thing about him.
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He's such an even keel, but here he is in uh some action here.
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And this was third, fourth quarter.
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So those are some of the images.
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Uh courtesy, Saskatchewan Husky Athletics that came down.
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And there he is with Brent Schneider.
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So up until Friday night, Brent Schneider held the record for career passing yards in the school.
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Uh and Anton needed 123 to break the record.
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Somehow he threw for 239 on the night, which was not very good.
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And there's James Keene, the second-year kicker from Calgary, who uh booted a 41-yard field goal on a miserable night at the last play of the game to get the job done.
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Lots of discussion.
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I was gonna say, not without some controversy, though.
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Yeah, you know, it was so funny because Elaine Penner ran left just to get the ball into a better spot.
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So he did get the ball down to about the 34-yard line.
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Um trying to get it in the center of the field on a windy night so the the kick would have a chance.
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And the clock actually hit zero as they were timing this out.
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Yep.
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Um and Alberta had thought they had pulled out a one-point win.
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Uh and there's no video evidence that shows it one way or the other.
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I don't know how detailed the officiating crew is versus what you see on a clock or on a scorebug on television.
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Um, a lot for much of the night, Stevenson Bowen, who I greatly respect, I worked with this dad, JB at TSN years ago.
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Um, he spent a lot of that night out around the numbers talking to the officials.
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Yeah.
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And not that what like yeah, I get what you're saying.
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You're right, yeah.
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Yeah, right.
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You didn't do yourself any favors.
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Well, here's the thing if if you were going to say to, you know, so the the referee comes on and says, No, I the that's the right call.
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Uh so put a second back on the clock.
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But to put 0.4 seconds on the clock, I don't know how they came to that decision with the with the lack of technology that I think the officials have.
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Uh that was sort of interesting.
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But, you know, there was a great deal of conviction.
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I I think the right call was made because Elaine Penner was running into the south end zone when so he's looking at the clock.
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He can see it.
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And he goes down, and Anton Amadrud was very, very animated with the officials.
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And you don't see the son of Anton much, but he he knew that he was down and he was confident.
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So the UBC or the Alberta Golden Bears were running on the field celebrating.
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Anton and that offense didn't move.
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They that seemed to give you the impression that they knew exactly what they were doing.
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Well, and you were doing the game with uh former Husky linebacker and and long snapper Jaden Engle, right?
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So I was listening to it because I was over at Belcher and I was I was back home nice and warm um by by then.
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Thanks.
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Uh well, okay, so here's the thing.
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Okay, so side note, we're gonna take you into the world of broadcasting here for all the viewers and listeners.
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Um there's big panes of glass at the Griffith Stadium press box where we where we do the games out of.
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And um you know, the glass, it's a little smudgy, right?
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It's a little um worn.
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It's not the cleanest pane of glass that you've ever seen.
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Yeah.
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Um and at night, for you, sometimes the numbers are hard to see.
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So you have to take those panes of glass out.
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Yeah.
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So I've been dealing with this for five or six years.
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So no matter the elements, it's like when it's the hardy cup semifinal hardy cup, I know to dress warm, even though we're gonna be inside.
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We're in big panes of glass are coming out.
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Um but, anyways, to get to my point, you and Jaden Angle on the broadcast did call it pretty much as soon as it happened.
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You both thought that, yeah, no, there was still time left in the city.
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It looked like it, yeah.
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Well, it it just it just there was so much conviction from each huddle, right?
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And that's sort of what I looked at was the fact that uh, you know, Alberta was trying to sell it, but the Huskies, their offense didn't move, and and uh the animation from Anton came when he was just pointing down to the official.
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He nodded and walked back to the huddle.
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So they they they had a good grip on that, I think.
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So uh this Saturday, it'll be a trek to UBC.
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The UBC Thunderbirds and the Saskatchewan Huskies meet for first place, basically, but UBC would have to beat Saskatchewan by 11 or more because the Thunderbirds are a game back of the Huskies for top spot in the standings.
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I'll uh and UBC is a tough place to play.
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Yeah, it's a great place.
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I enjoyed doing games over there.
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You know what?
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The atmosphere there is great.
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Uh, the couple times that I was there with Dave Thomas were awesome.
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I remember we were there for a Hardy Cup semifinal in 2018, and we were displaced from our normal um broadcasting spot.
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Yep.
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Uh and the fans were loud and were basically in the crowd.
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And yeah, the Huskies pulled it out in overtime.
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But yeah, great atmosphere at the at the UBC Thunderbird uh football games.
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Yep.
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Yeah.
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Uh we'll touch on two other things real quick here.
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One is uh Connor Hellibuck uh going to the New Jersey Devils.
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So imagine Saskatoon born Kevin Shebeldeoff, the general manager having to put up with this for four months because he's trying to move a goaltender.
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Keep in mind that on other teams there are, you know, 12 forwards, six defensemen, but in each team you only need one starting goaltender.
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And he's got to move a goaltender that is a three-time Vesna trophy winner who just told Shabeldeoff at the end, basically at the end of last season.
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Yeah, during their exit interviews.
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I'm not gonna be here next year.
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I don't want to be here.
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It took Shabeldeoff four months to finally get a deal where he brought in some players, was able to move Connor Hellebuck to um New Jersey.
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Uh Hellibuck is an American player, and we'll get into this conversation in a minute.
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But Connor Hellibuck lost$40,000 a day by holding out a training camp with the Winnipeg Jets.
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So he he fired.
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$150,000 in total.
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Of a$7.5 million contract.
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So it's it's interesting.
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Um must be nice to throw that kind of money away.
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Well, yeah.
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Uh, but what's interesting is there's lots of discussion about so now you got Brady Kachuk, now you got Gwyn Hughes, now you got Connor Hellebuck, American-born players that don't want to play in Canadian markets.
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Yeah.
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And the world is suggesting that boy, would Dylan Larkin be a nice ad for the Montreal Canadians about now.
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And you wonder if this is a trend or if if the Canadians can bring Larkin in, yeah, would it be a thing?
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Well, and that's the and that's the whole thing, right?
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And like part of this conversation is with all these American-born players leaving Canada.
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And we're not going to get into this, but you know, it a lot of people do think that there is something bigger than hockey at stake, whether it's you know, the politics or whatever the case may be.
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That's all I'm gonna say about that.
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I don't necessarily know if I buy that only because I look at a player like Dylan Larkin, who is from Michigan, he plays for the Detroit Red Wings.
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Yes, he doesn't have any Canadian teams on the list of teams that he would get traded to, but that's not necessarily somebody in a Canadian market that is leaving for an American market.
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He just doesn't like the way that things are going in Detroit.
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And honestly, I can't really blame him because uh seems like they might be a little bit uh directionless.
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Even Quinn Hughes, I think Quinn Hughes looked at the state of the Vancouver Canucks uh at the start of last year.
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Keep in mind this was before the Olympics, and that's the big conspiracy theory was all these guys teamed up at the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy, and they all tried to find ways to get on the same team or whatever.
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But Quinn Hughes was traded uh December or January of 2026.
00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:44.240
So before the before the um Olympic Games.
00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:48.080
And I just think he looked at Vancouver and thought, I don't like where this is going.
00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:54.399
Now that's there's a whole other topic of conversation of hey, do players have too much power nowadays and this and that?
00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:59.759
And why would you sign these long-term seven, eight-year deals when three years in you're asking for a trade?
00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:01.840
Like Connor Hellibuck was only in his third year.
00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:03.440
This is the third year of a seven-year contract.
00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:08.000
Dylan Larkin, I think, is only in his fourth year of an eight-year contract that he signed.
00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:09.279
So it is interesting.
00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:11.840
The Brady Kachuk thing is interesting as well.
00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:18.000
Uh now I'm gonna pick on the Leafs because this is our podcast and I can do what I want, and I'm a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:33.120
But I do look at a guy like Austin Matthews, who now, guy from Arizona, guy that was on that 2026 Olympic team, for now, he seems fully committed to the Toronto Maple Leafs until his contract is up and you know, whatever happens there, happens there, which is which is to be seen.
00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:36.480
But um I think it's player by player, to be totally honest with you.
00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:44.399
I I don't know if it is a thing so much so as like a guy like Phil Kessel hated the microscope in Toronto, like did not like it at all, right?
00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:46.320
Uh but it goes down.
00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:49.120
You can kind of so it depends on the kind of player you are.
00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:53.279
There are players that don't mind the scrutiny and don't mind the the press.
00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:58.240
So I I don't know if it is that, but you do wonder, you do wonder about some of the intangibles you talk about.
00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.000
You do wonder about the tax rate, yeah.
00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:11.279
You do wonder about um, you know, what agents are telling them with regards to, you know, profitability at the end of a contract in a Canadian market versus an American market and uh and that sort of thing.
00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:18.320
Well, and it's like you look at a guy like Connor McDavid, okay, so he's a Canadian, so it's a little bit different, but you don't think he's under the microscope in Edmonton.
00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:24.480
Right, right, you know, and that's one of the toughest markets or one of the busiest, loudest markets to play in, right?
00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.279
In the NHL.
00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:27.120
And and by all accounts, he loves it.
00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:31.679
And yes, he's the best player in the world currently, and and what he's doing is absurd.
00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:37.440
Yeah, um, and it's so funny because there's all this talk about uh about him leaving in in two years or whatever.
00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:45.440
I do think he ultimately, I do think he re-signs in Edmonton, but there is another example of a guy that's kind of almost embracing the spotlight and not running away from it.
00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.159
Yep, exactly.
00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.279
So there are leaders.
00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:50.559
Those are players, there are players out there that that do like the spotlight.
00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.120
Yep.
00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:56.799
Uh, and I just want to touch on the World Series before we go is uh have you followed this?
00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:57.440
Whatever else.
00:16:57.679 --> 00:17:01.279
Full disclosure, yes, our record date here is October the 27th.
00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:03.600
It's game four of the World Series.
00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:06.799
Uh Milwaukee, boy, they've done a they've done a great job.
00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:17.039
And it's funny that Milwaukee and Tampa Bay combined, the two teams uh have a payroll, probably a combined payroll of 70, 80 million less than the LA Dodgers do.
00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:18.559
And these are the teams that are in.
00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:22.720
So you know, I'm kind of kind of happy Milwaukee's doing what they're doing.
00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:25.839
But to the point where I'm watching this inning by inning?
00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:26.559
Probably not.
00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:28.880
It would be interesting to see what the numbers are.
00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:29.279
Yeah.
00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:29.599
Right?
00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:33.440
Of like the audience numbers, how they always put those out um every year.
00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:33.839
Yeah.
00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:37.680
Uh, because I can't imagine that they're gonna be that high across the board.
00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.160
They might be.
00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:41.440
It's it's hard to say, but uh I I do want to see Milwaukee.
00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:44.079
It is an interesting matchup, and I would love to see the Brewers win.
00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:47.200
Here's why I want to see the Brewers win is because uh I think Oh boy.
00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:55.680
I think no, honestly, I think Bob Eucher is looking down and he will totally enjoy watching the Milwaukee Brewers win their first ever uh World Series.
00:17:55.920 --> 00:18:00.000
Uh I think Tampa Bay Rays fans historically have been a little bit fickle.
00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:09.200
If they are right, I mean there's been nights when they've played in front of eight, nine thousand fans, and so not you know, they haven't stuck with their team like the Brewers faithful have.
00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:14.079
And uh I know uh you've met him and I know Rod Black.
00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:18.799
His son Ty Black, a Canadian, is on the 40-man roster for the Milwaukee Brewers.
00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:19.039
Yeah.
00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:21.519
So that's kind of that's kind of neat, you know.
00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:23.279
So it's just those small market teams, right?
00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:31.839
And like you can make an argument that Tampa Bay is a, I guess, a smaller market team, but a real small market team like um like the Brewers, yeah.
00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.440
Awesome to see.
00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:33.839
Yeah.
00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:40.799
Well, and you and you wonder what the celebration is gonna be like because they've never they've never had anything like this, you know, really in the city.
00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:56.880
I don't know the history of the Milwaukee NBA team or anything, but well, and it was funny, and uh there was some point in the summer, right around when Packers training camp was starting, and one of the Milwaukee Brewers pitchers goes out to do his scrum and he goes, Boy, it's a little light in here today.
00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:59.599
And one of the other comments was, Well, Packers training camp started.
00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:01.119
Oh, well, that makes sense.
00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:01.759
Yeah, exactly.
00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.400
Right, right.
00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:05.839
So, but those are those are kind of the markets, and those are the teams that you can root for.
00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:07.839
Everybody's everybody's in green base.
00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:08.079
Yeah.
00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:15.359
All right, when we come back, uh 2025 Great Cup champion, 10-year veteran of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, Jorgen Hughes, uh, joins us.
00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:18.160
This is the Different Angles Podcast.
00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:23.839
Welcome back to the Different Angles Podcast.
00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:32.720
Up until last year, this guy was the longest serving member of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, retired a Great Cup champion, and they say you'd gotta know when to get out.
00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:41.359
And this guy uh did that, uh, ended a brilliant, great decade-long career with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, spent a little time in the NFL as well.
00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:45.680
Uh, and it's our pleasure to welcome Jorgen Hughes to the Different Angles podcast.
00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.880
How are you, Jorgen?
00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.160
Hey, I'm great.
00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:48.480
Thanks.
00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:50.160
Uh, thanks so much for having me on.
00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:52.720
Yeah, well, first question out of the gate.
00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:58.319
Uh, do you miss it or did you really like the fact of not going to training camp last May, June?
00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:02.079
Uh yeah, that's uh two-sided questions.
00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:03.279
So I do miss it a lot.
00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:03.839
Yeah, I do.
00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:13.599
And um and especially this time of year, you know, I I actually texted Kent Majury earlier today, and I just, you know, I wished them all the best this week, day one practice.
00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:18.240
Um, and uh so you know, I miss you guys obviously, but I tell them that all the time.
00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:24.400
But this this time year, especially, you know, the weather starts turning, it's fall, uh, the leaves are turning colors.
00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:28.880
It's playoff football, and it's an exciting time, and you can just feel it in the air.
00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:31.200
And uh the excitement of this playoff game.
00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:34.240
I mean, I'm I'm I'm definitely missing it a lot.
00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:38.640
But however, uh training camp, it was nice, it was a nice spring on the body.
00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:47.039
So I'm I didn't I didn't miss that and and the grind of it all, but uh there's nothing like fall and playoff football time, so I'm excited.
00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:56.240
I was gonna say, you're probably not missing it based, you probably are missing it based on the fact that if had you been beaten up for 18-19 games, the answer might have been a little bit different.
00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.680
That is true.
00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:02.960
It's a long season, it's a long season, and it goes by so quick, and uh everybody gets nicked up.
00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:07.200
I don't care who you are, and uh the injury bug, it comes and it bites everybody.
00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:08.480
It's just a matter of when.
00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:11.200
So it's uh 18 games, it's it's no joke.
00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:15.279
It's a long ride, and what those guys put themselves through, it's um it's a lot.
00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:19.920
You were good enough to forward some images to us here, Jorgen, of last year's celebration here.
00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:22.480
And I just want to kind of have a quick look at those.
00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:25.920
And what what isn't that's a great picture at the legislature?
00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.720
That's outstanding.
00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:27.759
That's great stuff.
00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:36.799
What what is there a memory or something about the winning that championship as a Saskatchewan that uh that jumps off the page at you there?
00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.279
You know what?
00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:41.359
It was just such a magical year.
00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:44.640
Um, the relationships, the friendships, the team.
00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:47.200
It was truly the best team I've ever been on.
00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:49.440
Everybody cared about each other so much.
00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:53.519
We had depth, we had the great players, but better people.
00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.960
It was the total package.
00:21:55.039 --> 00:22:02.000
And I remember looking at Brad and Kent and training camp, and I said, if this isn't a Great Cup winning roster, I don't know what is.
00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:05.119
And after 10 years of being on the team, we finally got there.
00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:08.559
And it was um it was just an unbelievable ride.
00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:12.720
And I I enjoyed it so much, and I can truly say it was my funnest year of football.
00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:18.960
And um, I it was just the people I think that I'm gonna remember the most from that win, and that's that's why we won.
00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:25.359
Um, it was because of the people that we had on that team and uh the the friendships that were built because of that.
00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:36.079
Um I talked to a bunch of those guys still, and I always will, and um, I'm just so thankful for the team that you know Mace and Jo and you know Mark Mueller they they put together.
00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:38.640
It was um it was just a blast.
00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:41.359
And uh I'm just proud of the people that we had on that team.
00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:43.599
Was there a certain point like last year?
00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:59.119
You know, you mentioned the roster and how good it was at training camp and stuff like that, but like was there a certain game uh or a certain point last year throughout the season when you guys kind of knew, like, okay, this is a championship caliber team, we have what it takes to go all the way and win the great cup.
00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:01.359
You know, that's a really good question.
00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:08.319
Um, I don't know if there was a certain point that I could remember, but I do remember, you know, a good chunk of the way through.
00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:11.599
I'm sitting there during a game and I'm going, you know what?
00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:15.680
Nobody once has ever bickered at each other on the sideline during a game.
00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:19.440
And and that would have like I've never felt that before in my career.
00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:30.559
You know, no matter what was going on, and it's not like we didn't lose any games, like no matter what the adversity was, nobody got on each other on the sideline, and that is such a good sign.
00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:33.279
That is indicative of a good team, a healthy team.
00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:39.519
And we just went back out there and worked, and you know, we won most of the games, obviously, uh in the regular season.
00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:46.880
But but uh I think I was just like at that time, I was really proud in the team that we had, and I knew okay, we we really got something here.
00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:54.640
We've got the talent, we've got the depth, and um we got the right kind of people on the team, and that uh that that goes a long way.
00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:56.000
Was it one of those things?
00:23:56.079 --> 00:24:06.559
Like, did it kind of take a while to when you guys did win the Great Cup, did it kind of take a while to sink in that you actually are a Great Cup champion for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders being a kid from from Saskatoon?
00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:10.640
Like, when did it kind of really hit you that hey, I am a Great Cup champion?
00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:13.440
Yeah, um, good question.
00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:18.960
I think it was it was probably about a month or so later, but I mean in that moment I was so excited.
00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:20.880
I I remember I just like fell to my knees.
00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:27.759
I was just like a whole decade worth of emotion just came out in that moment when we won and that clock ran out, that ball was incomplete.
00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.640
It I fell to the ground and I just started crying.
00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:39.839
Brett picked me up, and we just you know hugged, and my family was on the field not too long after that, and we just hugged and and then we celebrated all night.
00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:43.359
And it was uh I don't know if I've stopped celebrating.
00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:50.640
I know that Corey Mace's message this year has been, you know, we're we're forgetting about last year, that you know, that was last year's blah blah blah.
00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:53.519
Uh but I have not stopped uh thinking about that.
00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:57.440
So I'm on a totally different uh wavelength there.
00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:07.200
Uh uh from all accounts, I don't know Corey real well, full disclosure, but uh he seems like the guy that players would run through the wall for, as the saying goes.
00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.680
It's exactly who he is.
00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:14.000
Um I knew when we signed him it was the right, it was the right choice.
00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:17.440
And uh he's he's a guy that players play for.
00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:20.319
Guys respect, he's an alpha male who's been there, done that.
00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:24.240
People respect him, people want him to come play for him as soon as he signed.
00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:30.160
Here, you know, we got all these all these players to come over and not just good players, but good people.
00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:33.599
And uh, you know, everybody worked hard.
00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:39.519
I mean, I I always say like the sign of a good team is when you show up on an off day, how many people are in there?
00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:47.599
And last year, on any given off day, if you went in there, you you'd think you would have missed a practice or something because half the team was there or more.
00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:53.920
So that was just the kind of environment that he bred and what you could tell was starting to breed in his first year.
00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:58.000
And uh, you know, it just took us two years to get there, but you you knew it was gonna happen.
00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:03.519
And you know, when I look at what the Edmonton Elves have in Mark Killum, it's it's really the same kind of guy.
00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:08.079
Like it's uh, you know, he's a special teams version of of a Corey Mace.
00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:12.319
So um, yeah, it's um they're they're pretty both pretty special people.
00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:17.759
I'm glad that you know we got Corey, obviously, and he means a lot to me in the in the couple years that we had together.
00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:22.319
I'd I'd do anything for that guy, and and I know everyone feels the same way.
00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:25.759
The decision to retire, what uh went into that?
00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:27.119
When did you decide it?
00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:30.400
And uh I know that's uh not an easy call to make.
00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:34.559
Uh what uh walk me through that after the great cup of the celebration.
00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:39.519
Yeah, it was definitely the hardest decision I've had to make in my life for sure.
00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:41.359
And uh it wasn't something I made alone.
00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:44.319
My wife supported me 100% either way.
00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:49.759
Um I the the offseason before that, I was already contemplating it.
00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:52.480
And I said, no, you know what, I got a real good feeling about this team.
00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:56.160
The way uh we were starting to sign guys in the offseason felt real good.
00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:58.079
So we said, okay, let's go back for one more.
00:26:58.160 --> 00:27:03.599
And we kind of were you know 90, 95% sure that was gonna be the last year, regardless of what happened.
00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:05.680
We just so happened to win the great cup.
00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:08.559
Um, so it made it pretty pretty easy after that.
00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:12.480
However, it's always easy to talk about it when you're actually going to make that decision.
00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:16.960
You better know darn well that you know that's what you want and you're ready for it.
00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:26.799
Um, so you know, we just made you know pages and pages of pros and cons and the finances and this and that, and you you know, you make a smart decision one way or another after that.
00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:33.440
But it it took some time, it took the offseason, and um, you know, Corey Mace and JO were awesome in the decision.
00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:36.960
Obviously, they didn't like it, but they were um super supportive.
00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:40.480
And um yeah, I miss those guys a lot.
00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:43.279
But um, you know, it's it's time to be with the family now.
00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:52.559
And um, you know, I got two little ones, and you know, they're they're getting older, and it's good being home and having that time now in the summer that that I haven't had in, you know, 13, 14 years.
00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:56.799
So well, and so you started your professional career, Jorgett, down south, right?
00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:59.200
You were at training camp with at the time the St.
00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:05.200
Louis Rams, you were um with camp uh at camp with Kansas City.
00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:17.599
Um, that experience and for a guy from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, to go down to those camps and have that experience, just I guess, hey, how did those experiences come about and and what were those experiences like?
00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:22.079
Yeah, it was um it was a fun time in my life.
00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:24.240
It was uh just exciting.
00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:29.359
And um, you know, coming from the then CIS to the NFL, it was quite the jump.
00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:38.160
And as a long snapper, you know, in Canada, we would snap and then run downfield and try to make a tackle, but then when you get to the NFL, you gotta you gotta block.
00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:41.279
So you gotta snap the ball and then you gotta work backwards off the ball.
00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:46.400
And so that was quite an adjustment that took really a couple years until I got the hang of it.
00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:55.039
Um, but uh I ended up getting traction down there from getting invited to a specialist combine by a guy named Gary Zahner.
00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:59.599
And he coached like 13, 14 years in the NFL as a special teams coordinator.
00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:05.119
And then after he retired from the NFL, he did one-on-one lessons, private camps, stuff like that.
00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:18.160
And then he kind of got a little bigger and he started having these um college senior combines and and free agent combines, um, basically like the NFL combine, but only for punters, snappers, and kickers.
00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:22.640
And so I was one of 72 specialists to get invited to this combine.
00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.680
I was the only Canadian.
00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:25.119
Everybody else was NCAA.
00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:28.160
And I mean, this is the top talent in the NCAA.
00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:31.359
I mean, minus a couple guys that go to the NFL combine.
00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:32.960
This everybody was there.
00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:34.640
So it was really, really wild.
00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:37.599
And I just happened to have like the best weekend of my life.
00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:50.480
I tested out of this world, snapped the lights off, and um, you know, I was I got recommended in the top six to the NFL teams, and and the top six guys from that 72 uh ended up signing NFL deals.
00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:55.680
So um fortunate for Gary and you know him bringing me down because it was an invite thing.
00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:59.119
So I was you know, I'll forever be grateful to him for that.
00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:10.160
And um yeah, then had a fun couple years in the NFL and got some game film and picked up from a few teams and obviously never ended up sticking uh through the regular season, but you know, it was close.
00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:14.640
And uh, you know, you you get one of those jobs and you you hang on to it for a long time.
00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:18.880
And the guy uh in Kansas City, he was I I mean, I roomed with him.
00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:23.359
We lived together in an apartment in Overland uh park in Kansas City.
00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:28.880
And uh he's still there and we talk, and you know, I've said wish him the best and everything, and he's doing a really good job.
00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:32.480
But you know, you you get one of those jobs, you you hang on to it for a long time.
00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:34.160
Two more questions for you.
00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:39.599
Uh size up this weekend's matchup, then between uh the Lions and the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:45.519
Riders, uh they don't appear to be going into this playoff game as healthy as they were last year, Jorgen.
00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:49.359
And uh a few players are a little bit of a a pitch count here.
00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:54.400
Um and Nathan Rourke uh is a special talent, but Trevor Harris has been there before.
00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:56.720
What all do you see in this matchup?
00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:59.519
Yeah, it's playoff football.
00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:01.920
I mean, anybody can win, and that that's the thing.
00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:07.440
I mean, we can drop all the conclusions from regular season, but at the end of the day, you know, playoffs are a different animal.
00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:10.880
And uh, you know, I do wish it was in Saskatchewan with a little bit of weather.
00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:12.799
Um I think we'd benefit a bit there.
00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:16.400
I don't think that they like the cold last year when we played them in that West final.
00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:18.480
But you know, they're they're a talented team.
00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:22.079
It's gonna take everybody, and we we definitely have to have our best game of the year.
00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:25.440
I do believe that it's it's we gotta play our best football.
00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:28.559
But like I said, it's playoffs and and anything can happen.
00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:36.160
And you know, there might be a little bit of doubt in their mind from you know in the past, and they they know that we've we've got them uh when it mattered most.
00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:41.680
So um hopefully that you know doubt starts creeping in their heads a little bit and and we can have a good day.
00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:47.839
And that might be one of the things that would uh speak to a real early great start for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:50.799
Get in their heads early, do it with uh do it with some points.
00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:55.920
So um finally, Jorgon, I know one of the things that you do a lot of work with is with mental health.
00:31:56.000 --> 00:32:00.640
I think you and I were actually speaking at a dog's breakfast uh a couple three years ago.
00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:02.160
Uh oh, there we are.
00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:04.319
Um tell me what are you doing now?
00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:10.640
Tell me what you're doing for a career, and still are you doing some of the mental health work that you were doing while you were playing?
00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.799
Yeah, no, I appreciate that.
00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:15.119
So uh right now I'm a full-time mortgage broker.
00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:15.359
Yeah.
00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:22.640
I mean, truth be told, I've been doing that since 2018, and it just got busier and busier and busier, and I just couldn't, you know, juggle both anymore.
00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:29.680
But I I do a lot of the mental wellness talks in schools, and every offseason I visit probably 30 to 40 schools.
00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:33.839
Um, you know, as long as the riders keep asking me to go, I'm gonna go.
00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:36.400
And uh, so you know, it's a it makes for a busy winter.
00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:41.279
You're traveling all over the province and and visiting schools, talking to kids about mental wellness.
00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:47.200
And it really started, you know, 11 years ago when I started doing this, it was it was part of the Red Cross program.
00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:48.720
Imagine no bullying.
00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:50.799
It was more of an anti-bullying thing.
00:32:50.960 --> 00:33:08.240
But what we kind of noticed over the years, and then when the Ryder Foundation was started, we kind of created our own thing and we took all the best, you know, things and ideas from that uh anti-bullying uh campaign and and we kind of put together our our own our own little thing um called win with wellness.
00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:15.279
So, how do you win in life, you know, through mental wellness and focusing on the on the muscle between the ears, you know, not just the ones from the neck down.
00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:24.160
So we give all sorts of tools and and uh things to help with that and build resilience, build confidence, because that's what we found is the best uh the best solution.
00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:28.079
Um, you know, everyone's been told, you know, you see bullying, what do you do, all that kind of stuff.
00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:33.759
Because, you know, they they start hearing you talk about this and they just look the other way, you know, it goes in one ear out the other.
00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:39.440
But when you actually start talking about how to become a more resilient person, build yourself up, they're interested in that.
00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:46.160
And if you can make yourself more resilient, the things in life that you know are negative, they don't affect you as much.
00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:54.640
So that's kind of what our belief has shifted to is how do we build these kids up from within to handle anything in life that's that's negative around them.
00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:56.400
Yeah, that's great stuff.
00:33:56.480 --> 00:34:03.119
And uh the neat thing about that is it also still gives you a tie and some time with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, which uh which is awesome too.
00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:04.880
Jorgen, thank you very much for doing this.
00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:06.799
We really appreciate your time, sir.
00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:08.880
No, Braum, anytime.
00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:11.679
Thanks for having me on, and it's uh it's great to chat with you guys.
00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:14.320
There's Jorgen Hughes, the former Saskatchewan Rough Rider.
00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:18.079
We will have more on the Different Angles podcast on the other side of the break.
00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.599
And we're back.
00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:23.440
Uh the big giant headsets are off.
00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:25.360
That was good of Jorgen Hughes to give us some time.
00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:29.119
I keep saying, like, I love the headsets, but again, I want the the earpiece.
00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:29.760
Is all right?
00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:30.719
You never get to wear one of those.
00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.000
No, I never got to wear one of those.
00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:32.400
Yeah.
00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:34.159
Makes me look like I'm security detail.
00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:38.480
Uh it is it's kind of nice if Jorgen is still hanging around with his Rough Rider buddies.
00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:46.400
I mean, he did put in uh 10-year stint there, and uh, you know, as a Great Cup champion, he would have a lot to offer for uh his work with mental health.
00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:55.920
Well, and it's you know, it's cool that he still keeps up with uh with I mean it was his competition, but he keeps up with uh a former Kansas City chief or a current Kansas City chief, right?
00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:56.239
Yep.
00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:57.440
Um but yeah, just cool.
00:34:57.519 --> 00:35:00.639
The connections you can make through sport, right, are so are just the best.
00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:01.280
Yeah, yeah.
00:35:01.599 --> 00:35:02.960
I asked him for sort of a pick.
00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:04.880
It was more no, I'm cheering for the riders.
00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:05.840
If you notice that.
00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:06.719
I think that's okay.
00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:09.119
One's been cheered for a decade right now.
00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:09.760
Yeah, yeah.
00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:11.280
No, that that's that's his pick.
00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:13.840
But that is uh that is going to be a big clash.
00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:17.840
Uh lots of things going on in and around Saskatoon this weekend.
00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:20.880
City High School 5A football championships.
00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:22.960
It's BJM against Aiden Bowman.
00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:25.119
So I think that's Will Reddle against Donnie Davidson.
00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:25.280
Yes.
00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:26.719
I think that's the matchup there.
00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:29.760
So that'll be at 6 o'clock at SMF Field.
00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:34.719
Canada West Women's Hockey uh Friday night, October 30th at 7.
00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:37.119
Halloween night at 5 o'clock.
00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:39.039
Uh the UBC Thunderbirds are in.
00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:44.400
UBC Thunderbirds are in for volleyball as well as that season starts on campus as well.
00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:46.559
It's the Huskies versus Thunderbirds weekend.
00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:47.679
It is, yeah, exactly.
00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:49.599
Almost all across the board.
00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:52.239
Yeah, volleyball is here and women's hockey is here.
00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:55.599
The men's hockey team goes to UBC, as that's the football team.
00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:58.320
And uh Halloween afternoon.
00:35:58.480 --> 00:36:11.519
If you're looking for something to do then, the Seattle Thunderbirds are rolling on their eastern road swing, and they will stop at uh Sassel Center for a two o'clock puck drop there, Blades and uh T-Birds.
00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:15.199
And because it's Halloween, uh, you know who Polk Check is.
00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:15.840
Yes.
00:36:16.400 --> 00:36:18.639
His uh his long lost relative is gonna be.
00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:19.039
Right.
00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:20.400
I did see something about that.
00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:22.000
Yes, yes, what's his name?
00:36:22.159 --> 00:36:22.800
I can't remember.
00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:23.599
Cross check.
00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:24.320
Cross check.
00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:25.360
I knew it was a check.
00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:25.840
There it is.
00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:26.639
Actually, you know what?
00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:30.480
There is a there is a great video that the Saskatoon Blades put out on their social media.
00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:32.159
Uh I think a great job of it.
00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:33.119
Yeah, they do.
00:36:33.280 --> 00:36:36.719
Um I think it was over the weekend, but it was the scare cam.
00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:44.079
So PogChek was hanging out in the one janitor's closet right by the uh the blades dressing room and scaring all the guys as they were walking in.
00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:45.119
It was great footage.
00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:45.599
Yeah.
00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:45.840
Yeah.
00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.440
What are you being for Halloween?
00:36:47.760 --> 00:36:51.519
Uh I'm gonna be an old cranky grouchy Great.
00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:52.239
There you go.
00:36:52.320 --> 00:36:52.559
Yeah.
00:36:53.199 --> 00:36:53.920
I'll be on an airplane.
00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:55.360
I'll be on a I'll be on an airplane.
00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:56.320
You got the costume.
00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:58.079
Yeah, I'm already dressed.
00:36:58.159 --> 00:36:58.400
Yeah.
00:36:58.639 --> 00:37:02.000
Um and then uh I'm gonna come see if I can get a glimpse of Marshall.
00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:02.880
Oh, yes, okay.
00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:03.760
From Baw Patrol.
00:37:04.880 --> 00:37:07.519
Apparently that's gonna be part of the family outing, isn't it?
00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:08.400
So yes, it will be.
00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:08.880
It'll be fun.
00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.039
Yes.
00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:10.239
That'll be that'll be great.
00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:10.480
Yeah.
00:37:10.800 --> 00:37:12.000
Well, that's it, that's all.
00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:18.000
Um we have wrapped up another edition of the Different Angles podcast because the world needs another podcast.
00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:18.960
Goodbye.
00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:09.119
Welcome to the Halloween weekend edition of the Different Angles Podcast.
00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:10.000
I'm Bray Morrison.
00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:11.119
Matt Morrison.
00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:14.400
And we will talk about a few things, including the World Series.
00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:15.839
Is anybody watching?
00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:17.280
Is anybody out there?
00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:21.519
Uh the Winnipeg Jets, they finally move Connor Hellebuck.
00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:23.440
That scenario is finally over.
00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:33.679
Uh, we will talk with Jorgen Hughes, and we will also talk a little bit about the uh Husky football team and uh a new all-time career passing leader at the top of the school's record books.
00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:40.560
But uh first and foremost, Riders and BC Lions uh Saturday, and what will be uh playoffs matchup?
00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:41.600
The playoffs are here.
00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:43.200
Yeah, and the riders got in.
00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:44.479
I still can't believe that.
00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:49.520
But at times I shouldn't say that, but at times it didn't look like it was gonna happen down the stretch.
00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:51.039
Well, and now they're in.
00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:52.399
What are you thinking against BC?
00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:55.359
BC beats Saskatchewan two of the three meetings this year.
00:00:55.679 --> 00:01:02.240
The Saskatchewan Rough Riders have uh beat the BC Lions their last four playoff matchups against each other.
00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:09.359
The one thing I continue to wonder about is the Riders still limp in with the prior to their last game against Edmonton, which everybody's sat, right?
00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:11.359
You needed a program to sit through that game.
00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:13.680
Yeah, the Riders were one and four in their last five.
00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:23.200
The run game, uh AJ Willette was on the practice field this week, but the Riders were one and four in their previous five before the game against the Elks.
00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:25.680
Now you have to kind of rally.
00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:30.560
I'm a little bit surprised that Trevor Harris didn't get a little bit of time in the cleanup game against the Elks.
00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:33.040
Maybe like a half or like a quarter, something like that.
00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:33.439
Yep.
00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:34.319
Yeah, no, that's fair.
00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:40.319
But but uh someone was mentioning that his arm is tired and he's 40 years old and he needs the rest, right?
00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:46.159
Yeah but uh a very good offensive line on paper for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:48.640
Yeah, that is going to have to be the difference for them, I think.
00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:52.640
Well, and the offensive line, also their defense is gonna have to get stops as well.
00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:58.480
I mean, that's gonna be imperative, especially going up against Nathan Rourke, who's one of the best quarterbacks in the Canadian Football League.
00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:09.599
Um, but you know, this this offense does have weapons, um, obviously led by Trevor Harris, but Keyshawn Johnson is back, Sam Analysis is back, like they're getting healthy at receiver.
00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:19.919
And when this Saskatchewan Rough Rider team is healthy and they have everybody available to them in that receiver room, then you know, that receiving core is probably tops in the Canadian Football League.
00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:20.159
Yeah.
00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:21.520
So they have that going for it.
00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:25.280
You have Trevor Harris who threw for what was it, over 5,000 yards this season.
00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:30.479
So um, despite the fact that he's 40 years old, he's still still slinging the rock pretty good.
00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:33.840
It does seem like AJ Olette is kind of starting to find his rhythm again.
00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:35.599
He was banged up off and on this year.
00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:37.120
So it's gonna be interesting.
00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:40.159
It, you know, it could be, I could see a high-scoring game.
00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:40.719
Yeah, right.
00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:43.439
Like I could see both teams maybe scoring 30 points.
00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:48.879
Um, but I do think that the riders are gonna have to score kind of in that high 20s, low 30s if they have a chance.
00:02:49.120 --> 00:03:05.520
You know, the one thing about it too is I keep thinking about this is Keon Hatcher and Justin McKinnon at home with uh a quarterback uh like uh Nathan Rorick, who can he has that escape ability that Trevor Harris doesn't.
00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:11.759
Now, Harris has the advantage of probably a better O-line, but that's to me, that's gonna be the difference.
00:03:11.919 --> 00:03:13.039
It is, you know what?
00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:18.240
Uh after sitting out at Griffith Stadium on the weekend, I can tell you it's nice to have this game indoors.
00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:21.120
It is nice when both teams can open up the playbook just for the sport.
00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:22.719
I'm always a big fan of that.
00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:25.599
Yeah, but I'm not sure it's gonna weigh in favor of the Riders.
00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:29.039
Just basically what I've seen in the last four or five weeks of the regular season.
00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:30.319
No, I that's totally fair.
00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:34.400
Yeah, I and especially against those games uh against the BC Lions, yeah.
00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:34.719
Right?
00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:39.840
Like the Riders won that week two game against BC, and then they lost the next two that they played against the Lions.
00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:40.080
Yeah.
00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:42.240
The one game, well, really both games weren't even close.
00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:52.000
The one game was 30 to 16, uh, and then the other game back in towards the end of September was close until a couple of garbage time touchdowns from the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:53.599
So it's gonna be interesting.
00:03:53.680 --> 00:03:56.319
Um, you're right, BC Place, it's a tough place to play.
00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:59.039
It's you know, it's closed, it's loud.
00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:06.319
Um new ownership in BC has done a great job over the past couple of years um getting fans back into BC Place.
00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:09.280
With all that being said, it's one game.
00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:11.840
It's one shot, and you just have no idea, right?
00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:18.240
You have no idea how Nathan Rourke is gonna play, you have no idea how the BC Lions defense is gonna play, you have no idea how Trevor Harris is gonna play.
00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:20.000
That's the beauty of football, right?
00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:25.600
It's you got one shot, and the riders have had some some success against BC in the playoffs in recent memory.
00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:26.399
You know, it's funny.
00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:28.959
Tavon Campbell is a very good defensive backup.
00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:32.079
Uh that said, you know, it's so too bad.
00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:35.360
He's like that offensive lineman with the holding call, right?
00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:40.000
When defensively, when he gets torched, he seems to be torched bad.
00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:45.040
So that's the one thing about McKinnon's uh that I would think about it and Hatcher as well.
00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:49.199
But the other thing as well is um, you know, we were talking about AJ Willette.
00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:50.560
How healthy is he?
00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:55.839
The one guy that doesn't get enough credit in my mind is uh Xander Horvath, the running back for the BC.
00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:56.319
Oh, yeah.
00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:57.040
You know what I mean?
00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:59.519
Like he's I think he was top five or six in the league in rushing.
00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:02.720
Well, at one point he was he was up there for the the touchdown lead.
00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:11.759
Yeah, and and with the the challenge this with Nathan Rourke as your quarterback who throws and makes great plays, Horvath doesn't get a ton of credit.
00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:17.920
Um, or maybe the but that's gonna that'll be a guy who can keep that rider defense honest.
00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:20.480
Like I said, this rider defense, they're gonna have to get stops.
00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:20.720
Yeah.
00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:27.920
And uh at certain points throughout the the course of this regular season, especially down the stretch, especially when they went one and four, it's been tough.
00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:28.240
Yeah.
00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:30.079
So it's gonna be interesting.
00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:34.000
Um and it's you know, this is what happens when you don't finish first in your division.
00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:36.560
So, you know, say you get past BC.
00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:37.360
Well, who's waiting for you?
00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:38.800
The upstart Edmonton Elks.
00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:39.759
So that's a tough one.
00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:42.160
None of us will matter next year when eight teams get in.
00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:42.959
Yeah, right?
00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:44.800
Yeah, yeah, fair.
00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:45.199
Yeah.
00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:47.279
Three wins in your playoff bound next year.
00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:48.720
So no, but it is gonna be interesting.
00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:50.240
I can see it going either way.
00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:50.800
I really could.
00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:51.040
Yeah.
00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:52.959
Like both teams could score 30 points.
00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:55.439
I don't think it'll be a blowout one way or the other.
00:05:55.600 --> 00:06:00.800
I'm not necessarily saying that the Riders are gonna win, yeah, but I do think that it will be close.
00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:15.920
And we will talk more about this with Jorgen Hughes, who up until last year was the longest-serving member of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, a 10-year veteran, uh, the long snapper, great cup champion, actually helped unveil the banner to start the 2026 season, the 2025 banner.
00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:17.759
So he'll uh he'll join us.
00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:25.360
That was an interesting night at Griffith Stadium on Friday night as uh the uh Huskies uh they uh it was so funny.
00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:36.800
They put up 65 against the Alberta Golden Bears earlier this year and then had to fight scratch and claw for 21 uh in a 21-19 win over the Alberta Golden Bears.
00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:40.319
So now they go to UBC, and we'll delve into that playoff matchup in a little bit.
00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:42.800
But uh that was quite a night for two reasons.
00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:50.399
One, the Huskies, I mean, that wind at times was up 49, 51 kilometers an hour from the north, right?
00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:54.800
So luckily the game winning kick was into the south end zone.
00:06:54.959 --> 00:07:00.720
Um, but the other thing was to see Anton Amadrude uh set the school's all-time passing record.
00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:02.639
And I think we have a couple of images from that game.
00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:14.720
But Anton, you know, I've always said that the Lloyd Minster product, the fifth-year quarterback, he would be a guy who I would hate to play poker against because you just he's you know, he's the same guy no matter where you meet him.
00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:19.519
And you sometimes wonder where that, you know, that fighter comes from, right?
00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:22.879
And and that's and that's uh the thing about him.
00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:25.920
He's such an even keel, but here he is in uh some action here.
00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:27.519
And this was third, fourth quarter.
00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:28.879
So those are some of the images.
00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:32.560
Uh courtesy, Saskatchewan Husky Athletics that came down.
00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:34.399
And there he is with Brent Schneider.
00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:41.279
So up until Friday night, Brent Schneider held the record for career passing yards in the school.
00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:45.839
Uh and Anton needed 123 to break the record.
00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:49.600
Somehow he threw for 239 on the night, which was not very good.
00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:59.279
And there's James Keene, the second-year kicker from Calgary, who uh booted a 41-yard field goal on a miserable night at the last play of the game to get the job done.
00:07:59.360 --> 00:07:59.920
Lots of discussion.
00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:02.639
I was gonna say, not without some controversy, though.
00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:08.240
Yeah, you know, it was so funny because Elaine Penner ran left just to get the ball into a better spot.
00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:11.439
So he did get the ball down to about the 34-yard line.
00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:16.720
Um trying to get it in the center of the field on a windy night so the the kick would have a chance.
00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:20.000
And the clock actually hit zero as they were timing this out.
00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:20.480
Yep.
00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:24.959
Um and Alberta had thought they had pulled out a one-point win.
00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:30.399
Uh and there's no video evidence that shows it one way or the other.
00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:39.519
I don't know how detailed the officiating crew is versus what you see on a clock or on a scorebug on television.
00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:47.679
Um, a lot for much of the night, Stevenson Bowen, who I greatly respect, I worked with this dad, JB at TSN years ago.
00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:52.080
Um, he spent a lot of that night out around the numbers talking to the officials.
00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:52.799
Yeah.
00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:55.759
And not that what like yeah, I get what you're saying.
00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:56.559
You're right, yeah.
00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:57.039
Yeah, right.
00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:58.559
You didn't do yourself any favors.
00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:07.919
Well, here's the thing if if you were going to say to, you know, so the the referee comes on and says, No, I the that's the right call.
00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:10.320
Uh so put a second back on the clock.
00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:19.120
But to put 0.4 seconds on the clock, I don't know how they came to that decision with the with the lack of technology that I think the officials have.
00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:21.360
Uh that was sort of interesting.
00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:24.320
But, you know, there was a great deal of conviction.
00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:32.639
I I think the right call was made because Elaine Penner was running into the south end zone when so he's looking at the clock.
00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:33.519
He can see it.
00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:37.679
And he goes down, and Anton Amadrud was very, very animated with the officials.
00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:42.080
And you don't see the son of Anton much, but he he knew that he was down and he was confident.
00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:46.559
So the UBC or the Alberta Golden Bears were running on the field celebrating.
00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:48.399
Anton and that offense didn't move.
00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:53.360
They that seemed to give you the impression that they knew exactly what they were doing.
00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:59.200
Well, and you were doing the game with uh former Husky linebacker and and long snapper Jaden Engle, right?
00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:04.720
So I was listening to it because I was over at Belcher and I was I was back home nice and warm um by by then.
00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:05.279
Thanks.
00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:06.720
Uh well, okay, so here's the thing.
00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:12.159
Okay, so side note, we're gonna take you into the world of broadcasting here for all the viewers and listeners.
00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:18.159
Um there's big panes of glass at the Griffith Stadium press box where we where we do the games out of.
00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:22.559
And um you know, the glass, it's a little smudgy, right?
00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:24.639
It's a little um worn.
00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:27.440
It's not the cleanest pane of glass that you've ever seen.
00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:27.840
Yeah.
00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:31.679
Um and at night, for you, sometimes the numbers are hard to see.
00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:33.840
So you have to take those panes of glass out.
00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:34.080
Yeah.
00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:36.879
So I've been dealing with this for five or six years.
00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:43.039
So no matter the elements, it's like when it's the hardy cup semifinal hardy cup, I know to dress warm, even though we're gonna be inside.
00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:45.759
We're in big panes of glass are coming out.
00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:50.720
Um but, anyways, to get to my point, you and Jaden Angle on the broadcast did call it pretty much as soon as it happened.
00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:53.519
You both thought that, yeah, no, there was still time left in the city.
00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:54.399
It looked like it, yeah.
00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:58.000
Well, it it just it just there was so much conviction from each huddle, right?
00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:09.759
And that's sort of what I looked at was the fact that uh, you know, Alberta was trying to sell it, but the Huskies, their offense didn't move, and and uh the animation from Anton came when he was just pointing down to the official.
00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:11.600
He nodded and walked back to the huddle.
00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:15.120
So they they they had a good grip on that, I think.
00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:20.240
So uh this Saturday, it'll be a trek to UBC.
00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:33.120
The UBC Thunderbirds and the Saskatchewan Huskies meet for first place, basically, but UBC would have to beat Saskatchewan by 11 or more because the Thunderbirds are a game back of the Huskies for top spot in the standings.
00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:35.519
I'll uh and UBC is a tough place to play.
00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:37.120
Yeah, it's a great place.
00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:38.799
I enjoyed doing games over there.
00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:39.279
You know what?
00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:40.559
The atmosphere there is great.
00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:43.600
Uh, the couple times that I was there with Dave Thomas were awesome.
00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:52.320
I remember we were there for a Hardy Cup semifinal in 2018, and we were displaced from our normal um broadcasting spot.
00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:52.720
Yep.
00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:56.080
Uh and the fans were loud and were basically in the crowd.
00:11:56.240 --> 00:11:58.399
And yeah, the Huskies pulled it out in overtime.
00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:01.600
But yeah, great atmosphere at the at the UBC Thunderbird uh football games.
00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:01.919
Yep.
00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:02.159
Yeah.
00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:04.559
Uh we'll touch on two other things real quick here.
00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:08.240
One is uh Connor Hellibuck uh going to the New Jersey Devils.
00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:15.679
So imagine Saskatoon born Kevin Shebeldeoff, the general manager having to put up with this for four months because he's trying to move a goaltender.
00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:22.399
Keep in mind that on other teams there are, you know, 12 forwards, six defensemen, but in each team you only need one starting goaltender.
00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:32.559
And he's got to move a goaltender that is a three-time Vesna trophy winner who just told Shabeldeoff at the end, basically at the end of last season.
00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:34.159
Yeah, during their exit interviews.
00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:35.679
I'm not gonna be here next year.
00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:36.720
I don't want to be here.
00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:45.440
It took Shabeldeoff four months to finally get a deal where he brought in some players, was able to move Connor Hellebuck to um New Jersey.
00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:49.519
Uh Hellibuck is an American player, and we'll get into this conversation in a minute.
00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:55.360
But Connor Hellibuck lost$40,000 a day by holding out a training camp with the Winnipeg Jets.
00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:56.080
So he he fired.
00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:57.679
$150,000 in total.
00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:02.399
Of a$7.5 million contract.
00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:04.320
So it's it's interesting.
00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:06.639
Um must be nice to throw that kind of money away.
00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:07.360
Well, yeah.
00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:20.399
Uh, but what's interesting is there's lots of discussion about so now you got Brady Kachuk, now you got Gwyn Hughes, now you got Connor Hellebuck, American-born players that don't want to play in Canadian markets.
00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:20.960
Yeah.
00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:28.399
And the world is suggesting that boy, would Dylan Larkin be a nice ad for the Montreal Canadians about now.
00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:36.799
And you wonder if this is a trend or if if the Canadians can bring Larkin in, yeah, would it be a thing?
00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:38.720
Well, and that's the and that's the whole thing, right?
00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:43.919
And like part of this conversation is with all these American-born players leaving Canada.
00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:52.799
And we're not going to get into this, but you know, it a lot of people do think that there is something bigger than hockey at stake, whether it's you know, the politics or whatever the case may be.
00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:53.919
That's all I'm gonna say about that.
00:13:54.000 --> 00:14:02.480
I don't necessarily know if I buy that only because I look at a player like Dylan Larkin, who is from Michigan, he plays for the Detroit Red Wings.
00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:12.080
Yes, he doesn't have any Canadian teams on the list of teams that he would get traded to, but that's not necessarily somebody in a Canadian market that is leaving for an American market.
00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:14.639
He just doesn't like the way that things are going in Detroit.
00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:19.519
And honestly, I can't really blame him because uh seems like they might be a little bit uh directionless.
00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:25.600
Even Quinn Hughes, I think Quinn Hughes looked at the state of the Vancouver Canucks uh at the start of last year.
00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:35.440
Keep in mind this was before the Olympics, and that's the big conspiracy theory was all these guys teamed up at the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy, and they all tried to find ways to get on the same team or whatever.
00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:40.639
But Quinn Hughes was traded uh December or January of 2026.
00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:44.240
So before the before the um Olympic Games.
00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:48.080
And I just think he looked at Vancouver and thought, I don't like where this is going.
00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:54.399
Now that's there's a whole other topic of conversation of hey, do players have too much power nowadays and this and that?
00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:59.759
And why would you sign these long-term seven, eight-year deals when three years in you're asking for a trade?
00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:01.840
Like Connor Hellibuck was only in his third year.
00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:03.440
This is the third year of a seven-year contract.
00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:08.000
Dylan Larkin, I think, is only in his fourth year of an eight-year contract that he signed.
00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:09.279
So it is interesting.
00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:11.840
The Brady Kachuk thing is interesting as well.
00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:18.000
Uh now I'm gonna pick on the Leafs because this is our podcast and I can do what I want, and I'm a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:33.120
But I do look at a guy like Austin Matthews, who now, guy from Arizona, guy that was on that 2026 Olympic team, for now, he seems fully committed to the Toronto Maple Leafs until his contract is up and you know, whatever happens there, happens there, which is which is to be seen.
00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:36.480
But um I think it's player by player, to be totally honest with you.
00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:44.399
I I don't know if it is a thing so much so as like a guy like Phil Kessel hated the microscope in Toronto, like did not like it at all, right?
00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:46.320
Uh but it goes down.
00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:49.120
You can kind of so it depends on the kind of player you are.
00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:53.279
There are players that don't mind the scrutiny and don't mind the the press.
00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:58.240
So I I don't know if it is that, but you do wonder, you do wonder about some of the intangibles you talk about.
00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.000
You do wonder about the tax rate, yeah.
00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:11.279
You do wonder about um, you know, what agents are telling them with regards to, you know, profitability at the end of a contract in a Canadian market versus an American market and uh and that sort of thing.
00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:18.320
Well, and it's like you look at a guy like Connor McDavid, okay, so he's a Canadian, so it's a little bit different, but you don't think he's under the microscope in Edmonton.
00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:24.480
Right, right, you know, and that's one of the toughest markets or one of the busiest, loudest markets to play in, right?
00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.279
In the NHL.
00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:27.120
And and by all accounts, he loves it.
00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:31.679
And yes, he's the best player in the world currently, and and what he's doing is absurd.
00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:37.440
Yeah, um, and it's so funny because there's all this talk about uh about him leaving in in two years or whatever.
00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:45.440
I do think he ultimately, I do think he re-signs in Edmonton, but there is another example of a guy that's kind of almost embracing the spotlight and not running away from it.
00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.159
Yep, exactly.
00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.279
So there are leaders.
00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:50.559
Those are players, there are players out there that that do like the spotlight.
00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.120
Yep.
00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:56.799
Uh, and I just want to touch on the World Series before we go is uh have you followed this?
00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:57.440
Whatever else.
00:16:57.679 --> 00:17:01.279
Full disclosure, yes, our record date here is October the 27th.
00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:03.600
It's game four of the World Series.
00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:06.799
Uh Milwaukee, boy, they've done a they've done a great job.
00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:17.039
And it's funny that Milwaukee and Tampa Bay combined, the two teams uh have a payroll, probably a combined payroll of 70, 80 million less than the LA Dodgers do.
00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:18.559
And these are the teams that are in.
00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:22.720
So you know, I'm kind of kind of happy Milwaukee's doing what they're doing.
00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:25.839
But to the point where I'm watching this inning by inning?
00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:26.559
Probably not.
00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:28.880
It would be interesting to see what the numbers are.
00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:29.279
Yeah.
00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:29.599
Right?
00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:33.440
Of like the audience numbers, how they always put those out um every year.
00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:33.839
Yeah.
00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:37.680
Uh, because I can't imagine that they're gonna be that high across the board.
00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.160
They might be.
00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:41.440
It's it's hard to say, but uh I I do want to see Milwaukee.
00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:44.079
It is an interesting matchup, and I would love to see the Brewers win.
00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:47.200
Here's why I want to see the Brewers win is because uh I think Oh boy.
00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:55.680
I think no, honestly, I think Bob Eucher is looking down and he will totally enjoy watching the Milwaukee Brewers win their first ever uh World Series.
00:17:55.920 --> 00:18:00.000
Uh I think Tampa Bay Rays fans historically have been a little bit fickle.
00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:09.200
If they are right, I mean there's been nights when they've played in front of eight, nine thousand fans, and so not you know, they haven't stuck with their team like the Brewers faithful have.
00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:14.079
And uh I know uh you've met him and I know Rod Black.
00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:18.799
His son Ty Black, a Canadian, is on the 40-man roster for the Milwaukee Brewers.
00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:19.039
Yeah.
00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:21.519
So that's kind of that's kind of neat, you know.
00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:23.279
So it's just those small market teams, right?
00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:31.839
And like you can make an argument that Tampa Bay is a, I guess, a smaller market team, but a real small market team like um like the Brewers, yeah.
00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.440
Awesome to see.
00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:33.839
Yeah.
00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:40.799
Well, and you and you wonder what the celebration is gonna be like because they've never they've never had anything like this, you know, really in the city.
00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:56.880
I don't know the history of the Milwaukee NBA team or anything, but well, and it was funny, and uh there was some point in the summer, right around when Packers training camp was starting, and one of the Milwaukee Brewers pitchers goes out to do his scrum and he goes, Boy, it's a little light in here today.
00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:59.599
And one of the other comments was, Well, Packers training camp started.
00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:01.119
Oh, well, that makes sense.
00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:01.759
Yeah, exactly.
00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.400
Right, right.
00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:05.839
So, but those are those are kind of the markets, and those are the teams that you can root for.
00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:07.839
Everybody's everybody's in green base.
00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:08.079
Yeah.
00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:15.359
All right, when we come back, uh 2025 Great Cup champion, 10-year veteran of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, Jorgen Hughes, uh, joins us.
00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:18.160
This is the Different Angles Podcast.
00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:23.839
Welcome back to the Different Angles Podcast.
00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:32.720
Up until last year, this guy was the longest serving member of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, retired a Great Cup champion, and they say you'd gotta know when to get out.
00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:41.359
And this guy uh did that, uh, ended a brilliant, great decade-long career with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, spent a little time in the NFL as well.
00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:45.680
Uh, and it's our pleasure to welcome Jorgen Hughes to the Different Angles podcast.
00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.880
How are you, Jorgen?
00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.160
Hey, I'm great.
00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:48.480
Thanks.
00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:50.160
Uh, thanks so much for having me on.
00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:52.720
Yeah, well, first question out of the gate.
00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:58.319
Uh, do you miss it or did you really like the fact of not going to training camp last May, June?
00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:02.079
Uh yeah, that's uh two-sided questions.
00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:03.279
So I do miss it a lot.
00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:03.839
Yeah, I do.
00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:13.599
And um and especially this time of year, you know, I I actually texted Kent Majury earlier today, and I just, you know, I wished them all the best this week, day one practice.
00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:18.240
Um, and uh so you know, I miss you guys obviously, but I tell them that all the time.
00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:24.400
But this this time year, especially, you know, the weather starts turning, it's fall, uh, the leaves are turning colors.
00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:28.880
It's playoff football, and it's an exciting time, and you can just feel it in the air.
00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:31.200
And uh the excitement of this playoff game.
00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:34.240
I mean, I'm I'm I'm definitely missing it a lot.
00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:38.640
But however, uh training camp, it was nice, it was a nice spring on the body.
00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:47.039
So I'm I didn't I didn't miss that and and the grind of it all, but uh there's nothing like fall and playoff football time, so I'm excited.
00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:56.240
I was gonna say, you're probably not missing it based, you probably are missing it based on the fact that if had you been beaten up for 18-19 games, the answer might have been a little bit different.
00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.680
That is true.
00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:02.960
It's a long season, it's a long season, and it goes by so quick, and uh everybody gets nicked up.
00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:07.200
I don't care who you are, and uh the injury bug, it comes and it bites everybody.
00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:08.480
It's just a matter of when.
00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:11.200
So it's uh 18 games, it's it's no joke.
00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:15.279
It's a long ride, and what those guys put themselves through, it's um it's a lot.
00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:19.920
You were good enough to forward some images to us here, Jorgen, of last year's celebration here.
00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:22.480
And I just want to kind of have a quick look at those.
00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:25.920
And what what isn't that's a great picture at the legislature?
00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.720
That's outstanding.
00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:27.759
That's great stuff.
00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:36.799
What what is there a memory or something about the winning that championship as a Saskatchewan that uh that jumps off the page at you there?
00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.279
You know what?
00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:41.359
It was just such a magical year.
00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:44.640
Um, the relationships, the friendships, the team.
00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:47.200
It was truly the best team I've ever been on.
00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:49.440
Everybody cared about each other so much.
00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:53.519
We had depth, we had the great players, but better people.
00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.960
It was the total package.
00:21:55.039 --> 00:22:02.000
And I remember looking at Brad and Kent and training camp, and I said, if this isn't a Great Cup winning roster, I don't know what is.
00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:05.119
And after 10 years of being on the team, we finally got there.
00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:08.559
And it was um it was just an unbelievable ride.
00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:12.720
And I I enjoyed it so much, and I can truly say it was my funnest year of football.
00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:18.960
And um, I it was just the people I think that I'm gonna remember the most from that win, and that's that's why we won.
00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:25.359
Um, it was because of the people that we had on that team and uh the the friendships that were built because of that.
00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:36.079
Um I talked to a bunch of those guys still, and I always will, and um, I'm just so thankful for the team that you know Mace and Jo and you know Mark Mueller they they put together.
00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:38.640
It was um it was just a blast.
00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:41.359
And uh I'm just proud of the people that we had on that team.
00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:43.599
Was there a certain point like last year?
00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:59.119
You know, you mentioned the roster and how good it was at training camp and stuff like that, but like was there a certain game uh or a certain point last year throughout the season when you guys kind of knew, like, okay, this is a championship caliber team, we have what it takes to go all the way and win the great cup.
00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:01.359
You know, that's a really good question.
00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:08.319
Um, I don't know if there was a certain point that I could remember, but I do remember, you know, a good chunk of the way through.
00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:11.599
I'm sitting there during a game and I'm going, you know what?
00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:15.680
Nobody once has ever bickered at each other on the sideline during a game.
00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:19.440
And and that would have like I've never felt that before in my career.
00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:30.559
You know, no matter what was going on, and it's not like we didn't lose any games, like no matter what the adversity was, nobody got on each other on the sideline, and that is such a good sign.
00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:33.279
That is indicative of a good team, a healthy team.
00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:39.519
And we just went back out there and worked, and you know, we won most of the games, obviously, uh in the regular season.
00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:46.880
But but uh I think I was just like at that time, I was really proud in the team that we had, and I knew okay, we we really got something here.
00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:54.640
We've got the talent, we've got the depth, and um we got the right kind of people on the team, and that uh that that goes a long way.
00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:56.000
Was it one of those things?
00:23:56.079 --> 00:24:06.559
Like, did it kind of take a while to when you guys did win the Great Cup, did it kind of take a while to sink in that you actually are a Great Cup champion for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders being a kid from from Saskatoon?
00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:10.640
Like, when did it kind of really hit you that hey, I am a Great Cup champion?
00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:13.440
Yeah, um, good question.
00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:18.960
I think it was it was probably about a month or so later, but I mean in that moment I was so excited.
00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:20.880
I I remember I just like fell to my knees.
00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:27.759
I was just like a whole decade worth of emotion just came out in that moment when we won and that clock ran out, that ball was incomplete.
00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.640
It I fell to the ground and I just started crying.
00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:39.839
Brett picked me up, and we just you know hugged, and my family was on the field not too long after that, and we just hugged and and then we celebrated all night.
00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:43.359
And it was uh I don't know if I've stopped celebrating.
00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:50.640
I know that Corey Mace's message this year has been, you know, we're we're forgetting about last year, that you know, that was last year's blah blah blah.
00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:53.519
Uh but I have not stopped uh thinking about that.
00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:57.440
So I'm on a totally different uh wavelength there.
00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:07.200
Uh uh from all accounts, I don't know Corey real well, full disclosure, but uh he seems like the guy that players would run through the wall for, as the saying goes.
00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.680
It's exactly who he is.
00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:14.000
Um I knew when we signed him it was the right, it was the right choice.
00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:17.440
And uh he's he's a guy that players play for.
00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:20.319
Guys respect, he's an alpha male who's been there, done that.
00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:24.240
People respect him, people want him to come play for him as soon as he signed.
00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:30.160
Here, you know, we got all these all these players to come over and not just good players, but good people.
00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:33.599
And uh, you know, everybody worked hard.
00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:39.519
I mean, I I always say like the sign of a good team is when you show up on an off day, how many people are in there?
00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:47.599
And last year, on any given off day, if you went in there, you you'd think you would have missed a practice or something because half the team was there or more.
00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:53.920
So that was just the kind of environment that he bred and what you could tell was starting to breed in his first year.
00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:58.000
And uh, you know, it just took us two years to get there, but you you knew it was gonna happen.
00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:03.519
And you know, when I look at what the Edmonton Elves have in Mark Killum, it's it's really the same kind of guy.
00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:08.079
Like it's uh, you know, he's a special teams version of of a Corey Mace.
00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:12.319
So um, yeah, it's um they're they're pretty both pretty special people.
00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:17.759
I'm glad that you know we got Corey, obviously, and he means a lot to me in the in the couple years that we had together.
00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:22.319
I'd I'd do anything for that guy, and and I know everyone feels the same way.
00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:25.759
The decision to retire, what uh went into that?
00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:27.119
When did you decide it?
00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:30.400
And uh I know that's uh not an easy call to make.
00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:34.559
Uh what uh walk me through that after the great cup of the celebration.
00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:39.519
Yeah, it was definitely the hardest decision I've had to make in my life for sure.
00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:41.359
And uh it wasn't something I made alone.
00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:44.319
My wife supported me 100% either way.
00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:49.759
Um I the the offseason before that, I was already contemplating it.
00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:52.480
And I said, no, you know what, I got a real good feeling about this team.
00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:56.160
The way uh we were starting to sign guys in the offseason felt real good.
00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:58.079
So we said, okay, let's go back for one more.
00:26:58.160 --> 00:27:03.599
And we kind of were you know 90, 95% sure that was gonna be the last year, regardless of what happened.
00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:05.680
We just so happened to win the great cup.
00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:08.559
Um, so it made it pretty pretty easy after that.
00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:12.480
However, it's always easy to talk about it when you're actually going to make that decision.
00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:16.960
You better know darn well that you know that's what you want and you're ready for it.
00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:26.799
Um, so you know, we just made you know pages and pages of pros and cons and the finances and this and that, and you you know, you make a smart decision one way or another after that.
00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:33.440
But it it took some time, it took the offseason, and um, you know, Corey Mace and JO were awesome in the decision.
00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:36.960
Obviously, they didn't like it, but they were um super supportive.
00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:40.480
And um yeah, I miss those guys a lot.
00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:43.279
But um, you know, it's it's time to be with the family now.
00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:52.559
And um, you know, I got two little ones, and you know, they're they're getting older, and it's good being home and having that time now in the summer that that I haven't had in, you know, 13, 14 years.
00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:56.799
So well, and so you started your professional career, Jorgett, down south, right?
00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:59.200
You were at training camp with at the time the St.
00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:05.200
Louis Rams, you were um with camp uh at camp with Kansas City.
00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:17.599
Um, that experience and for a guy from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, to go down to those camps and have that experience, just I guess, hey, how did those experiences come about and and what were those experiences like?
00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:22.079
Yeah, it was um it was a fun time in my life.
00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:24.240
It was uh just exciting.
00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:29.359
And um, you know, coming from the then CIS to the NFL, it was quite the jump.
00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:38.160
And as a long snapper, you know, in Canada, we would snap and then run downfield and try to make a tackle, but then when you get to the NFL, you gotta you gotta block.
00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:41.279
So you gotta snap the ball and then you gotta work backwards off the ball.
00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:46.400
And so that was quite an adjustment that took really a couple years until I got the hang of it.
00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:55.039
Um, but uh I ended up getting traction down there from getting invited to a specialist combine by a guy named Gary Zahner.
00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:59.599
And he coached like 13, 14 years in the NFL as a special teams coordinator.
00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:05.119
And then after he retired from the NFL, he did one-on-one lessons, private camps, stuff like that.
00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:18.160
And then he kind of got a little bigger and he started having these um college senior combines and and free agent combines, um, basically like the NFL combine, but only for punters, snappers, and kickers.
00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:22.640
And so I was one of 72 specialists to get invited to this combine.
00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.680
I was the only Canadian.
00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:25.119
Everybody else was NCAA.
00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:28.160
And I mean, this is the top talent in the NCAA.
00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:31.359
I mean, minus a couple guys that go to the NFL combine.
00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:32.960
This everybody was there.
00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:34.640
So it was really, really wild.
00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:37.599
And I just happened to have like the best weekend of my life.
00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:50.480
I tested out of this world, snapped the lights off, and um, you know, I was I got recommended in the top six to the NFL teams, and and the top six guys from that 72 uh ended up signing NFL deals.
00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:55.680
So um fortunate for Gary and you know him bringing me down because it was an invite thing.
00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:59.119
So I was you know, I'll forever be grateful to him for that.
00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:10.160
And um yeah, then had a fun couple years in the NFL and got some game film and picked up from a few teams and obviously never ended up sticking uh through the regular season, but you know, it was close.
00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:14.640
And uh, you know, you you get one of those jobs and you you hang on to it for a long time.
00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:18.880
And the guy uh in Kansas City, he was I I mean, I roomed with him.
00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:23.359
We lived together in an apartment in Overland uh park in Kansas City.
00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:28.880
And uh he's still there and we talk, and you know, I've said wish him the best and everything, and he's doing a really good job.
00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:32.480
But you know, you you get one of those jobs, you you hang on to it for a long time.
00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:34.160
Two more questions for you.
00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:39.599
Uh size up this weekend's matchup, then between uh the Lions and the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:45.519
Riders, uh they don't appear to be going into this playoff game as healthy as they were last year, Jorgen.
00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:49.359
And uh a few players are a little bit of a a pitch count here.
00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:54.400
Um and Nathan Rourke uh is a special talent, but Trevor Harris has been there before.
00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:56.720
What all do you see in this matchup?
00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:59.519
Yeah, it's playoff football.
00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:01.920
I mean, anybody can win, and that that's the thing.
00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:07.440
I mean, we can drop all the conclusions from regular season, but at the end of the day, you know, playoffs are a different animal.
00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:10.880
And uh, you know, I do wish it was in Saskatchewan with a little bit of weather.
00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:12.799
Um I think we'd benefit a bit there.
00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:16.400
I don't think that they like the cold last year when we played them in that West final.
00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:18.480
But you know, they're they're a talented team.
00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:22.079
It's gonna take everybody, and we we definitely have to have our best game of the year.
00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:25.440
I do believe that it's it's we gotta play our best football.
00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:28.559
But like I said, it's playoffs and and anything can happen.
00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:36.160
And you know, there might be a little bit of doubt in their mind from you know in the past, and they they know that we've we've got them uh when it mattered most.
00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:41.680
So um hopefully that you know doubt starts creeping in their heads a little bit and and we can have a good day.
00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:47.839
And that might be one of the things that would uh speak to a real early great start for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:50.799
Get in their heads early, do it with uh do it with some points.
00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:55.920
So um finally, Jorgon, I know one of the things that you do a lot of work with is with mental health.
00:31:56.000 --> 00:32:00.640
I think you and I were actually speaking at a dog's breakfast uh a couple three years ago.
00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:02.160
Uh oh, there we are.
00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:04.319
Um tell me what are you doing now?
00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:10.640
Tell me what you're doing for a career, and still are you doing some of the mental health work that you were doing while you were playing?
00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.799
Yeah, no, I appreciate that.
00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:15.119
So uh right now I'm a full-time mortgage broker.
00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:15.359
Yeah.
00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:22.640
I mean, truth be told, I've been doing that since 2018, and it just got busier and busier and busier, and I just couldn't, you know, juggle both anymore.
00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:29.680
But I I do a lot of the mental wellness talks in schools, and every offseason I visit probably 30 to 40 schools.
00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:33.839
Um, you know, as long as the riders keep asking me to go, I'm gonna go.
00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:36.400
And uh, so you know, it's a it makes for a busy winter.
00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:41.279
You're traveling all over the province and and visiting schools, talking to kids about mental wellness.
00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:47.200
And it really started, you know, 11 years ago when I started doing this, it was it was part of the Red Cross program.
00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:48.720
Imagine no bullying.
00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:50.799
It was more of an anti-bullying thing.
00:32:50.960 --> 00:33:08.240
But what we kind of noticed over the years, and then when the Ryder Foundation was started, we kind of created our own thing and we took all the best, you know, things and ideas from that uh anti-bullying uh campaign and and we kind of put together our our own our own little thing um called win with wellness.
00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:15.279
So, how do you win in life, you know, through mental wellness and focusing on the on the muscle between the ears, you know, not just the ones from the neck down.
00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:24.160
So we give all sorts of tools and and uh things to help with that and build resilience, build confidence, because that's what we found is the best uh the best solution.
00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:28.079
Um, you know, everyone's been told, you know, you see bullying, what do you do, all that kind of stuff.
00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:33.759
Because, you know, they they start hearing you talk about this and they just look the other way, you know, it goes in one ear out the other.
00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:39.440
But when you actually start talking about how to become a more resilient person, build yourself up, they're interested in that.
00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:46.160
And if you can make yourself more resilient, the things in life that you know are negative, they don't affect you as much.
00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:54.640
So that's kind of what our belief has shifted to is how do we build these kids up from within to handle anything in life that's that's negative around them.
00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:56.400
Yeah, that's great stuff.
00:33:56.480 --> 00:34:03.119
And uh the neat thing about that is it also still gives you a tie and some time with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, which uh which is awesome too.
00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:04.880
Jorgen, thank you very much for doing this.
00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:06.799
We really appreciate your time, sir.
00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:08.880
No, Braum, anytime.
00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:11.679
Thanks for having me on, and it's uh it's great to chat with you guys.
00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:14.320
There's Jorgen Hughes, the former Saskatchewan Rough Rider.
00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:18.079
We will have more on the Different Angles podcast on the other side of the break.
00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.599
And we're back.
00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:23.440
Uh the big giant headsets are off.
00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:25.360
That was good of Jorgen Hughes to give us some time.
00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:29.119
I keep saying, like, I love the headsets, but again, I want the the earpiece.
00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:29.760
Is all right?
00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:30.719
You never get to wear one of those.
00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.000
No, I never got to wear one of those.
00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:32.400
Yeah.
00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:34.159
Makes me look like I'm security detail.
00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:38.480
Uh it is it's kind of nice if Jorgen is still hanging around with his Rough Rider buddies.
00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:46.400
I mean, he did put in uh 10-year stint there, and uh, you know, as a Great Cup champion, he would have a lot to offer for uh his work with mental health.
00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:55.920
Well, and it's you know, it's cool that he still keeps up with uh with I mean it was his competition, but he keeps up with uh a former Kansas City chief or a current Kansas City chief, right?
00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:56.239
Yep.
00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:57.440
Um but yeah, just cool.
00:34:57.519 --> 00:35:00.639
The connections you can make through sport, right, are so are just the best.
00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:01.280
Yeah, yeah.
00:35:01.599 --> 00:35:02.960
I asked him for sort of a pick.
00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:04.880
It was more no, I'm cheering for the riders.
00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:05.840
If you notice that.
00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:06.719
I think that's okay.
00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:09.119
One's been cheered for a decade right now.
00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:09.760
Yeah, yeah.
00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:11.280
No, that that's that's his pick.
00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:13.840
But that is uh that is going to be a big clash.
00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:17.840
Uh lots of things going on in and around Saskatoon this weekend.
00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:20.880
City High School 5A football championships.
00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:22.960
It's BJM against Aiden Bowman.
00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:25.119
So I think that's Will Reddle against Donnie Davidson.
00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:25.280
Yes.
00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:26.719
I think that's the matchup there.
00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:29.760
So that'll be at 6 o'clock at SMF Field.
00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:34.719
Canada West Women's Hockey uh Friday night, October 30th at 7.
00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:37.119
Halloween night at 5 o'clock.
00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:39.039
Uh the UBC Thunderbirds are in.
00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:44.400
UBC Thunderbirds are in for volleyball as well as that season starts on campus as well.
00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:46.559
It's the Huskies versus Thunderbirds weekend.
00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:47.679
It is, yeah, exactly.
00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:49.599
Almost all across the board.
00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:52.239
Yeah, volleyball is here and women's hockey is here.
00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:55.599
The men's hockey team goes to UBC, as that's the football team.
00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:58.320
And uh Halloween afternoon.
00:35:58.480 --> 00:36:11.519
If you're looking for something to do then, the Seattle Thunderbirds are rolling on their eastern road swing, and they will stop at uh Sassel Center for a two o'clock puck drop there, Blades and uh T-Birds.
00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:15.199
And because it's Halloween, uh, you know who Polk Check is.
00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:15.840
Yes.
00:36:16.400 --> 00:36:18.639
His uh his long lost relative is gonna be.
00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:19.039
Right.
00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:20.400
I did see something about that.
00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:22.000
Yes, yes, what's his name?
00:36:22.159 --> 00:36:22.800
I can't remember.
00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:23.599
Cross check.
00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:24.320
Cross check.
00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:25.360
I knew it was a check.
00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:25.840
There it is.
00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:26.639
Actually, you know what?
00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:30.480
There is a there is a great video that the Saskatoon Blades put out on their social media.
00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:32.159
Uh I think a great job of it.
00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:33.119
Yeah, they do.
00:36:33.280 --> 00:36:36.719
Um I think it was over the weekend, but it was the scare cam.
00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:44.079
So PogChek was hanging out in the one janitor's closet right by the uh the blades dressing room and scaring all the guys as they were walking in.
00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:45.119
It was great footage.
00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:45.599
Yeah.
00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:45.840
Yeah.
00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.440
What are you being for Halloween?
00:36:47.760 --> 00:36:51.519
Uh I'm gonna be an old cranky grouchy Great.
00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:52.239
There you go.
00:36:52.320 --> 00:36:52.559
Yeah.
00:36:53.199 --> 00:36:53.920
I'll be on an airplane.
00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:55.360
I'll be on a I'll be on an airplane.
00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:56.320
You got the costume.
00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:58.079
Yeah, I'm already dressed.
00:36:58.159 --> 00:36:58.400
Yeah.
00:36:58.639 --> 00:37:02.000
Um and then uh I'm gonna come see if I can get a glimpse of Marshall.
00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:02.880
Oh, yes, okay.
00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:03.760
From Baw Patrol.
00:37:04.880 --> 00:37:07.519
Apparently that's gonna be part of the family outing, isn't it?
00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:08.400
So yes, it will be.
00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:08.880
It'll be fun.
00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.039
Yes.
00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:10.239
That'll be that'll be great.
00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:10.480
Yeah.
00:37:10.800 --> 00:37:12.000
Well, that's it, that's all.
00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:18.000
Um we have wrapped up another edition of the Different Angles podcast because the world needs another podcast.
00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:18.960
Goodbye.
