Painful loss still sits with Roughriders attending Grey Cup

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VANCOUVER — Still stinging from their season-ending loss, several Saskatchewan Roughriders have spent some rainy, West-Coast-in-November days representing their team at CFL functions during Grey Cup Week.

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If it was supposed to assuage some pain, it didn’t.

“It’s still kind of sinking in,” said Riders offensive lineman Logan Ferland. “Honestly, it is tough. It’s tough to be in a place like this and not be here, you know, on behalf of the team for the Grey Cup.”

The Roughriders turned in one of their weakest performances of 2024 during Saturday’s West final, where they lost 38-22 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The victory moved Winnipeg into its fifth straight Grey Cup, slated for Sunday against the Toronto Argonauts at BC Place Stadium,

“I felt like we didn’t tackle as well, we weren’t as physical,” said Riders defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. “I didn’t really ask everybody else how they felt about it.

“I’ve just kind of still been in my shell about it. But I’ll reach out to my guys and see what else they have to say.”

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While talented, outgoing rookie receiver Ajou Ajou was making CFL-scheduled appearances at Grey Cup events and long snapper Jorgen Hus received the 2024 Jake Gaudaur Veterans Award for his community work, Rider teammates Milligan, Ferland and head coach Corey Mace came for the awards gala Thursday night. After posting a 9-8-1, second-place record and eliminating the third-place B.C. Lions before falling in Winnipeg, Mace was selected as the West finalist for coach-of-the-year.

In balloting conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada, Mace lost 30-26 to Montreal Alouettes head coach Jason Maas, a former Roughriders offensive co-ordinator who led his team to the 2023 Grey Cup and a 12-5-1, first-place finish in the East this season before losing to Toronto.

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Ferland was also an awards finalist, losing the offensive lineman award 40-16 to Argonauts guard/tackle Ryan Hunter. Ferland played every game this season for the Roughriders, starting at guard, centre and tackle on an injury-plagued line that deployed 15 different players including 12 different starters.

“It was a whirlwind to say the least,” said Ferland. “It’s the most amount of injuries I’ve seen, the most amount of movement I’ve seen on an O-line, the most amount of bad luck I’ve seen.

“We did everything we could to stay on that field, regardless of who it was. And it was unfortunate. But you know, with things like that come an opportunity and I was happy I could stand up and be there for the guys.”

Milligan was the only Rider to win a category, earning 35 of 56 votes to be named the league’s top defensive player over Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette. Milligan had also been chosen as Saskatchewan’s outstanding player and top special teams player.

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One day before the gala, Milligan admitted he had gone home to Florida and wasn’t eager to attend the ceremony. His wife rightfully convinced him that his season had been remarkable, despite the loss, because of his recovery from surgery that sidelined him for 14 games in 2023 with torn toe ligaments.

“I’m glad, I needed it, so I wasn’t just sulking a little bit,” Milligan said after receiving his trophy.

“I’m still shaking. I didn’t know it was a real moment when they called my name. The rush of emotions have still got me right now and I’m trying to come back down from it.”

While it’s always fair to quibble about the voting, Mace seemed like a shoo-in to win the Annis Stukus Trophy as the CFL’s top coach. He took over a team that had finished its two previous seasons on seven-game losing streaks and each time missed the playoffs.

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Serving as Toronto’s defensive co-ordinator, where he had won a Grey Cup as an assistant coach after earlier winning once as a player and once as an assistant coach with the Calgary Stampeders, Mace was hired a year ago by Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day to replace Craig Dickenson.

Mace arrived with a commitment to accountability and the intention of building a family-type atmosphere. His players responded by winning four straight games before suffering through a seven-game winless streak. Another four-game winning streak vaulted them into second place.

“It kind of sucks,” said Mace when asked about attending the awards banquet after a somewhat successful season. “Maybe to see the other boys (win awards) brings a smile to my face, but you just wanted everybody to be a part of this.”

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