Riders’ Dan Clark nominated for Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award

Dan Clark is being recognized for what he has done off the field for his home province.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders centre was one of nine CFL players nominated for this year’s Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award. The award recognizes a Canadian CFL player who demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s veterans: Strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship, and contribution to Canadian communities.

The other nominees include fullback David Mackie (B.C. Lions), fullback Tanner Green (Edmonton Elks), kicker Rene Paredes (Calgary Stampeders), fullback Mike Miller (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), linebacker Curtis Newton (Hamilton Tiger-Cats), linebacker Henoc Muamba (Toronto Argonauts), running back Brendan Gillanders (Ottawa Redblacks), and offensive lineman Landon Rice (Montreal Alouettes).

“You look across the eight other teams (and) I’m with a pretty good group of guys,” Clark said. “It’s just a representation of what you are and what you mean to the club.”

Clark has been nominated for the award before in 2017 and 2019.

The CFL recognized the work Clark did with his teammates and coaches while he was rehabbing a broken leg he suffered on June 18 against Edmonton. Clark returned to action on Sept. 30.

“It feels great and coming back from injury is a huge achievement for myself, especially if you put my age into that talk,” said Clark, a 34-year-old Regina product. “But (the season) has been disappointing.

“It has been something that I didn’t want to put out what I put out there. I definitely need to be better for this group and I need to be better for this team.”

Clark also does a lot off the field when it comes to things like mental wellness, healthy relationship, and anti-bullying campaigns across Saskatchewan.

He also works with the Red Cross and the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.

“I think it’s a shining light to both my children, Kash and Kendall, and both have that opportunity to represent what the province means to them and that their dad did it and maybe set the future better for them,” Clark said.

The offensive lineman said former Roughriders like Weston Dressler, Neal Hughes, Jeremy O’Day, Chris Getzlaf, Scott McHenry and Luc Mullinder showed him how to represent the Riders in the community.

The community work also gave Clark more confidence as well.

“It gave me a chance to step out of my shell and be who I am around people,” Clark said.

Clark is expected to suit up for the Riders in their final game of the season on Saturday in Calgary against the Stampeders.

However, his future after that remains up in the air.

“I’m not signed for next year and I have not had those discussions,” Clark said. “I’m just focused on Calgary.”