It was an exciting day for football fans in the Battlefords Monday.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders were in the area as one of their stops on their tour of the province, a tour that focuses early on locations in the Northwest and western parts of the province.
The stops in the Battlefords included visits at three area public elementary schools followed by the public autograph signing event at the NationsWEST Field House in the afternoon.
The 10 players who were in the Battlefords were Kory Sheets, Paul Woldu, Terrell Maze, Tristan Jackson, Taj Smith, Xavier Fulton, Dan Clark, John Chick, Neal Hughes and Mike McCullough.
The Riders spent much of the day at Living Sky School Division elementary schools. Their first stop was at Battleford Central School in the morning. Students at that school were joined by students from neighbouring St. Vital School as well as Heritage Christian School in Battleford.
The Roughriders answered questions from students and then posed for pictures alongside students with the Grey Cup. One of the questions the players fielded from the students was who was the first person they called after winning the Grey Cup.
Sheets responded that most of his family was actually at the game but "I did call my grandmother," he said. Others said they called their family members as well.
They were also asked questions about how they stay warm during the cold weather games, how each of them became a Roughrider player, as well as what out-of-town city was their favourite to play in.
Many cited Calgary because of the number of Riders fans who show up there for games, though Hughes added "any city that we win in is my favourite city."
As for which stadium was the loudest (besides Mosaic Stadium), there was general agreement from the players that Winnipeg was the loudest one during the Banjo Bowl.
After posing for pictures with the excited students at Battleford Central School, the Roughriders made their way to McKitrick School in the early afternoon, an event that also included students from Lawrence School.
One question the players fielded at that event was why the Roughriders opted to be introduced as a "team" rather than individually at the start of the Grey Cup game.
"We felt that we play as a team, we felt we win as a team and celebrate as a team," Woldu explained. "We decided we were going to go out together as a team, and we went out and played well as a team and we won the Grey Cup as a team."
As for what was the best part of winning the Grey Cup, some pointed to being able to share it with the fans, while John Chick cited the memories created.
"When you lose, you try and forget the season because you're angry you lost," said Chick. "So when you actually win the championship, you keep a whole lot of the memories and remember so much more moments of that season."
The Roughriders went on to Bready School in the afternoon before making their way to NationsWEST Field House for a public event, allowing fans to meet and congratulate the Riders players and also see the cup.
The event at the Field House attracted long lineups of fans, who nevertheless moved swiftly through to have their memorabilia autographed by the players. Many of those in attendance were dressed in Riders attire but others showed up in outlandish costumes.
One of them was "Captain Harvey Rider," an avid Riders season ticket holder, who showed up dressed in a green pirate costume to meet his heroes.
"These guys made my 2013 so epic that it's indescribable," said Rider, who bears an uncanny resemblance to local resident Steven Cormons.
"To be here and be with them and tell every one of them I am so proud of them, and how they made me feel, this is what it's all about."
The Battlefords tour followed closely on weekend stops in Saskatoon, where they signed autographs at the Blades game at Credit Union Centre, and in Lloydminster Sunday. The Saskatoon stop included hospital visits as well as a trip to Ronald McDonald House.
The players were due to head to Prince Albert the following night for the game involving the Prince Albert Raiders, and planned stops in Kindersley, Macklin and Rosetown before this portion of the tour wraps up. It's anticipated more stops will be announced for other parts of the province.
