‘He would just be beaming’: Raider jersey honouring longtime fan replaced after theft

A story initially about a stolen jersey will finish as a tale about a longtime fan’s love for the Prince Albert Raiders.

Deni Waithman’s personalized Raider jersey honouring her late grandfather was stolen from her car in Saskatoon.

After a plea on social media, the jersey is still missing. However, after learning of Waithman’s pilfered apparel and her grandfather’s passion for the team, the Prince Albert Raiders took action.

“We read and learned about it and felt we wanted see if there was anything we could do to help her,” the head coach for the Prince Albert Raiders Marc Habscheid said.

On Friday, prior to the Raiders home game, the team presented Waithman with a signed replacement jersey.

Habscheid told paNOW it’s important to support families who have been a part of the fan fabric.

“We’re a small community and everyone is part of the team. Everyone was part of the championship last year. I’ve always maintained that it’s not just the players, but the coaches, support staff, billet families and the fans,” he added

Waithman said the support means a lot.

“The whole thing has just been overwhelming for myself and my family. The story has kind of turned into how my grandpa’s love of the Raiders, was just that. I think this is kind of his last hurrah because honest to God, he would just be beaming,” she told paNOW.

Waithman said the team’s reaction to the story would have had made her grandfather proud.

“He always said the Raiders were a top-notch team and organization. Marc Habscheid, he had nothing but positive things to say about that man as a human and a coach,” she said.

The story impacted many on social media and Waithman said the support she and her family received was very touching.

“It has just kind of shocked me. There are good people out there,” she said.

Prior to the theft, Waithman planned to contact the Prince Albert Raiders to let the team know how important they were to her grandpa.

She’s happy his story has now been told.