Getzlaf, Fantuz among 2021 Plaza of Honour inductees

Chris Getzlaf grew up idolizing many of the players in the Saskatchewan Roughriders Plaza of Honour – now he’s set to join them.

The wide receiver will be joined by fellow Canadian Air Force member receiver Andy Fantuz, quarterback/running back/defensive back/kicker Gabe Patterson – who played with the Riders from 1947-48 and was the first African American to play for the team – as well as Paul Hill in the builder category.

The four will be formally inducted on Oct. 9, prior to the Rider game against the Calgary Stampeders.

“It means a lot to be recognized in that capacity and to have your name beside the greats who wore the green and white before me,” Getzlaf said. “It’s kind of a surreal feeling. You get the opportunity to play for the team you grew up watching and be a hometown guy playing on a team for as long as I did – that’s rare on it’s own – and to have an honour like this, it just take sit above the top.”

Getzlaf was originally taken by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the fifth round (33rd overall) in the 2007 CFL Draft but the receiver only suited up in two games for Hamilton that season.

But in August of 2007, the Regina-born receiver would be traded to the team he grew up watching. He would spend the rest of that season on the Riders practice roster – earning him the first of his two Grey Cup rings.

Getzlaf suited up for 119 games with the Riders before playing his final 26 with the Edmonton Football Team. He returned to the Riders in 2017 in the practice roster and then retired in January 2018.

During his career, Getzlaf caught 414 passes for 6,192 yards and 41 touchdowns. He was a member of the 2013 Grey Cup-winning team, hauling in three catches for 78 yards en route to being named the game’s Top Canadian in the 45-23 win over the Tiger-Cats.

Getzlaf said he hopes his career is something that can provide inspiration for other Canadians trying to make it to the CFL.

“You hope that you played the game right and that you approached it right — not just on the field but in the community – and you hope that that transpires to the next generation and that is something they look up too,” Getzlaf said.

Fantuz was Saskatchewan’s first-round pick (third overall) in the 2006 Draft. He played six seasons with the Riders, including the 2007 Grey Cup win where he caught four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown in the 23-19 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Chatham product would join the Tiger-Cats in 2012, where he spent the rest of his career. During it, he accumulated 637 catches for 8,363 yards and 44 touchdowns.

Patterson joined the Riders in 1947 after playing college football at Kentucky State and the University of Pittsburgh. While he only played two seasons with the team, he was an all-star in both of them. He was one of the first African American players to play for the Riders. He died in 1991 at the age of 72.

Hill has served on the Riders board of directors for more than 22 years and his company has supported the club for over 50. He was a key contributor to many of the club’s initiatives.

He was recognized with the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2017.