What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
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Previously, WHL players were declared ineligible to play NCAA hockey in the U.S.
Shea Patterson is thankful for the chance to help the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2024.
The 27-year-old quarterback won the job to be the team’s backup quarterback behind starter Trevor Harris.
Patterson is in his second season with the Riders and fourth in the CFL, and he beat out four-year CFL veteran Mason Fine for the role. Both Fine and short-yardage quarterback Antonio Pipkin were among the team’s final roster cuts on Saturday.
CFL rookie Jack Coan also made the team’s roster to start the 2024 CFL season.
“We have a lot of good quarterbacks in that room and we have a special team this year from top to bottom,” Patterson said. “I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Patterson said he has a lot of respect for Fine and what he did with his time in Saskatchewan.
“A guy who grinded it out and competed every single day, I admire that and a lot of respect for him,” Patterson said.
Riders’ head coach Corey Mace said it was a tight contest between Patterson and Fine.
“We felt Shea really set himself above. That was really the number one position we looked at with a magnifying glass, so to speak, and we felt we made the right decision,” said Mace.
“Mason is a good player and we wish him all the best moving forward. Those conversations are never easy but it is necessary in what we do. We’re happy with the roster we have put together.”
Mace said they allowed Patterson to show what he could do in the preseason.
“He ran away with that. He does have the ability to create from the quarterback position and I think that’s important to have on the roster,” Mace said.
“Just his overall understanding of the playbook and his ability to make the throws and make the reads and have that backup in there that if things hit the fan, he can make things happen still.”
Another tough decision the team made was releasing veteran Brayden Lenius. The Canadian pass-catcher has proven to be a great ambassador off the field but with an inability to stay healthy – only appearing in eight games the past two seasons and missing training camp this year – the team elected to move on from the 27-year-old.
“It’s a tough one. He just didn’t get quite back with his rehab. I know he’s still going to work on that,” Mace said. “He means a lot to this organization and the guys in this locker room and in the building. It’s a tough conversation but it’s part of the business and we all know that.”
Mace said they would keep tabs on Lenius and didn’t rule out him returning at some point.
“He has to focus on getting his rehab back to where it needs to be,” Mace said. “If he’s getting back to full strength, we will take a look at it.”
The Riders open their 2024 regular season on Saturday in Edmonton against the Elks. The expected start time for the game has been changed to 2 p.m. due to the Stanley Cup Final beginning that day and the Edmonton Oilers playing in the game.