Rider draft pick Quinn van Gylswyk likely to get first shot as CFL kicker

Quinn van Gylswyk may go from the six-game injury list straight into his first CFL start.

Regular Roughrider kicker Tyler Crapigna was injured during in practice a week ago, leading the Riders to bring in Johnny Mark for one game. Mark was released on Monday.

After practice Tuesday afternoon, head coach Chris Jones said it is “likely” that van Gylswyk will kick during Saturday’s game.

“He’s a good kicker,” Jones said of his third round pick in the CFL draft. “[Craig Dickenson] knows what he’s doing and he was the guy that really vouched for him, so … I feel confident in him.”

Van Gylswyk himself said he thought Crapigna was feeling pretty good and figured it would be a game time decision.

He said despite spending the last six weeks recovering from an injury himself, he’s ready to go if he needs to be.

“It’s just keeping yourself mentally strong more than physically,” he said of recovery. “I know I can do it when I have to.”

Van Gylswyk had an exceptional end to his career at the University of British Columbia, securing the Vanier Cup for his team by kicking a last-second field goal.  He was attractive to the Riders because of that, and the fact he handled all three facets of the kick game for the team: kickoffs, punting, and field goals.

During training camp, van Gylswyk mentioned the Riders were asking him to do things he’d never had to think about in the university game.

“It’s been a stressful first few days of camp,” Van Gylswyk admitted at the time, but added “it should get a little bit better.”

He said Tuesday it had.

Van Gylswyk has also benefited from the mentorship of punter Josh Bartel, who helped him through camp.

“He’s come along really well,” Bartel said. “You can see the six weeks he took to recover from the injury he’s come back better and he’s hitting the ball really well.”

ROSTER NOTES:

The Riders released Joel Brtka, B.J. Coleman, Cedric McKinley, Aaron Picton and D-Tre Player.
The team signed  Kacy Rodgers, and added Dillon Campbell, Michael Ford, Makana Henry, Caleb Holley and Marte Sears to the practice roster.
Terrell Maze announced his retirement.

INJURY NOTES:

The following Riders are eligible to come off the six-game injury list this week (but may not):  Derrius Brooks, Eric Norwood, Dylan Ainsworth, Levi Steinhauer, Chris Best, Quinn van Gylswyk, Matt Vonk, Jarriel King.