Past and present members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders were in town on the weekend to help promote the growing football organizations in Estevan.
Estevan Minor Football and the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football held a joint fundraiser on Saturday at the Estevan Curling Rink.
Ryan Getzlaf and Jason Clermont were in the Energy City for the second time, while retired Rider Matt Dominguez, made his first trip to Estevan. When they spoke at the fundraiser, the trio celebrated how football has sprung up in the area in the last few years to develop organized programs.
EMF president Steve McLellan said they were impressed by the football program's growth.
"They were all really impressed with how far football has come in Estevan in this time. It was good because you can relate to them being local products."
Clermont and Getzlaf both played in Regina leagues, while Dominguez is an import from Texas.
Upon his return, Getzlaf said he was not surprised by the growth and success of the football programs here.
"When I attended the local sportsmen's dinner last year you could tell this was a little city that was ready to make things happen. I love coming out here to events like this," said Getzlaf.
Getzlaf added that he is comfortable with where Canadian football is today.
"When you look at CIS alone, it's growing dramatically. I think that's contributing to our minor football growing across Canada. More and more teams are going to produce more and more players and those players are going to get better training. You're going to see more players coming out of Canada that can really contribute to CFL teams."
He said he likes being out in the community, surrounded by people involved in youth football because he remembers being in the same situation.
"I grew up cheering for (the Roughriders) and I know what (Rider fans) are like, and what they cheer for and what drives them. Getting the opportunity to come out and talk to some young kids from both football teams today, it's going to be a great opportunity to get to know them and shed some light on where I came from."
Clermont said he knows high school football coach Marco Ricci pretty well, so he's been able to keep tabs on how things have been going here since he was last in town.
"(Ricci's) kept me abreast of what's going on," said Clermont. "I'm pretty excited about the infrastructure that's been laid down here, and how the community has rallied around Estevan and been instrumental trying to being the infrastructure so football can happen here."
He said for those entering the sport, just getting involved as parents can be very important.
"Get involved as a family. If you have a kid who wants to play football, there's so much opportunity for you to be a part of your community and help your community in that football program. For the young athletes, you can believe that you can, you can believe that you can't, and either way you're right. Just go out with what you believe in and you'll achieve it. If you believe that you can't, then you won't. If you believe you can, you'll definitely do it."
He said young football players should be trying to win their one-on-one battles, and trying to win every game they can.
"There's no shame in losing when you're trying. I know there's a lot of emphasis based on participation but kids should be striving to be great, and if they fall short, at least they tried."
Dominguez now does pre- and post-game analysis for Roughriders games on TV. He said because there is more media coverage of the CFL, including coverage south of the border now, Canadian football talent is more well known.
"Canadian players have always been good," he said. "Now we've just shifted the lens a little bit to really look at them."
He said the U.S. will always have the best players because here, hockey is played first, and then some people choose to play football as well.
"In terms of the Canadian game, there are always going to be really good players, now we're just focusing on these guys."
Dominguez has chosen to stay in Regina after his football career. He said it's better for his family. He's also been coaching amateur football in Regina.
"I have no desire to put in 19 hours a day and be paid $5 an hour, once you average it out (as a professional coach). In high school, you get to mould the player, and how they're going to be."
He will be coaching in Moose Jaw this fall.
With the Roughriders loss of receiver Andy Fantuz, Getzlaf said he's sure his role will be a little bigger on the team, but he said he's ready to take that role on. He said a lot of guys are going to have to step up to fill the void.
Dominguez said he's concerned that because of the collective bargaining issues in the NFL, Fantuz won't get evaluated anytime soon.
As far as coaching changes are concerned for the Riders, Clermont said he's happy with Greg Marshall coming in as head coach.
"They say he's a guy who doesn't deal with the media great and doesn't interview well," he said. "As far as a player's perspective, he's a hell of a football coach, and I'm glad that he hasn't interviewed well, and I'm glad that he hasn't been the greatest guy in front of the media for years."
