Work ethic helps Logan Ferland achieve pro dream

Logan Ferland’s dedication to football was born out of a tragedy in the offensive lineman’s life.

When the Saskatchewan Roughriders guard was just 15 years old, his dad Marcel passed away.

With Logan’s three older brothers no longer living at home, he had to step up and help his mom around their acreage near Melfort.

“I had to buck up and really try to take a lead role in my house,” Ferland said. “There was quite a bit of work to do all the time, so when I wasn’t doing stuff out there, I was working a couple of jobs I had there. I started carpentry out in Melfort and really fell in love with that.”

“It was tough, but the amount of stuff I had to be responsible for got my mind off of losing my dad at that age and so did football. Right around that time I was in Grade 9 and that was why I latched so hard onto football. It was a way to cope and I just started working out as well.”

“That was basically my way of coping with that loss so that really helped me propel in football and construction as well.”

Ferland admitted that while he grew up in Saskatchewan, he didn’t have a lot of time to sit down and watch CFL football or any sports.

“I didn’t have much of a life outside of playing football and practising football. It was a bit of a different lifestyle for me,” Ferland said. “I get my fill of it from the film I watch and the practice I do on my own.”

After excelling in the nine-man version of the sport in Melfort, Ferland moved to Regina to continue his football career with the PFC’s Regina Thunder.

“It was a goal of mine (to go pro) since I had that opportunity to leave Melfort and go to the next level. That’s why I chose Regina — I saw the opportunity with the practice roster spots (with the Riders),” Ferland said.

“The Thunder had a few guys going there and I was really keen on going there as well. It was a long-term goal of mine and a dream come true to make it.”

He admitted it was a tough adjustment to go from nine-man football to the 12-man version.

“When I first got to the Thunder, I didn’t start to get into the X’s and O’s of things until about halfway through my first year,” Ferland said. “Before then, I was pretty clueless how 12-man worked versus nine-man.”

Ferland spent five seasons with the Thunder and was an all-star in four of those campaigns.

“It’s a pretty amazing program. I continue to say it’s the best developmental program for juniors across Canada and I’ve got nothing but good memories from there,” Ferland said. “If a guy is good enough to move on, of course they are reluctant to lose a guy, but it’s about what’s best for the players.”

Ferland will be one of the people who will be keeping a close eye on the PFC championship game Sunday between the Thunder and their rivals, the Saskatoon Hilltops. The Thunder had the upper hand in both regular-season games this season, sweeping the two-game series.

“When I first came (to the Thunder) that was all anyone talked about – the Hilltops,” Ferland said. “We put them on a big pedestal and it’s still ongoing, obviously. I’m proud of (the Thunder) because I only ever had one win in my five-year career against (the Hilltops) and that was an away game. I’m really excited for these guys to not only go and beat (Saskatoon) again on Sunday but bring home a championship to end their season.”

Ferland first made the jump to the Riders in the 2019 season, when they added him to the practice roster for the season.

“That was a grind. I saw people in the past do it and I thought it couldn’t be that bad. I was working construction all day and still coming to (Thunder) practice. Once I actually did it, it was very tough,” Ferland said. “You’re using the same muscle groups you did that morning (at Roughriders practice) and you also have two playbooks so mentally and physically, it’s a grind.”

Ferland admitted there’s some extra hurdles when it comes to making the jump to the pros from a junior football program rather than a U Sports school or American college.

“There’s not a lot of eyes on someone as a territorial junior and I think that’s probably why it’s so hard to make the next level,” Ferland said. “You’re really rolling all the dice on yourself and that’s the tough part – just betting on your own skills and putting all your eggs in one basket to stay with the Riders rather than try your luck with the draft.”

“People in Canada just say, ‘It’s another junior player, he will get cut halfway through camp and that will be the end of it.’ I want to show guys you can make it to the next level.”
Riders head coach Craig Dickenson said that a lot credit with finding Ferland belongs with offensive line coach Stephen Sorrells.

“(Sorrells) saw something in Logan two or three years ago and said, ‘This guy was going to be a good player if he continues to develop,’ and Logan has done that,” Dickenson said.
Ferland also has a great example to look up to right beside him. Centre Dan Clark followed a very similar path to Ferland, also making the jump from the Thunder to the pros.
“You look at Logan Ferland and all I see is humble and grounded. He comes to work every single day and is putting the work in,” Clark said. “He has being a professional down and I’m proud to go to war with him every single day.”

“I’ve told Dan before that I would not be here without the help he has given me,” Ferland said. “For him to be able to reach out and give the help he does day in and day out, it’s just incredible and I think he’s really trying to groom the next players coming up. I’ve got nothing but respect for the guy.”

Ferland spent the cancelled 2020 CFL season with a personal trainer to try and be prepared for 2021 season. That hard work was noticed.

“Physically he has gotten way bigger and stronger. The three guys I saw on a daily basis here last year when we didn’t have a season lifting weights and running and really preparing their bodies were Logan Ferland, (slotback) Brayden Lenius and (wide receiver) Mitch Picton,” Dickenson said. “Logan has had a great year and I think he’s worthy of rookie-of-the-year honours for our team. I think he has played that well.”

Ferland was also thrust into a starting role in 2021 with the sudden departure of Brendon LaBatte, who elected to opt out of the 2021 season due to COVID-19 restrictions in place.

But while the offence hasn’t been as explosive as many fans might have hoped for, the Riders (8-4) find themselves in second place in the CFL’s West Division. They can clinch a home playoff game with a win over the Edmonton Elks on Saturday. Kickoff for the game is set for 3 p.m.

The Riders have given up 34 sacks in 2021, second-most in the CFL. But Ferland says the linemen believe they’re getting better as playoffs get closer.

“I think there’s always things to improve on week by week,” Ferland said. “We get a lot of flak and we’re fine with that because we’re the O-line and we’re used to that. We’re used to getting the butt end of the stick, but what we’re really good at is just keeping united within the O-line room and continue to fight together.”