Regina Thunder gets a boost with the return of Kristopher Calcutt
Kristopher Calcutt didn’t have high hopes when he was helped off the playing surface at Leibel Field on Sept. 3.
The Regina Thunder receiver had just suffered a lower-leg injury in a PFC game against the Winnipeg Rifles. After an examination on the Thunder bench, Calcutt was loaded onto a cart, taken to a vehicle in the parking lot and driven to hospital.
“I was pretty sure (the leg) was broken,” recalled the 19-year-old Reginan.
On Saturday, exactly four weeks later, Calcutt is slated to return to Regina’s lineup against the Saskatoon Hilltops (7 p.m., old Mosaic Stadium). The injury turned out to be a severe sprain that, with rest and rehabilitation, has healed enough for Calcutt to resume his season.
“It’s a big relief,” said Calcutt, whose team had two games and a bye week during his absence. “Sitting outside at practice and just watching is not very fun.”
Calcutt was leading the PFC with 350 receiving yards at the time of his injury. Because he also handled Regina’s kicking duties, he sat atop the league’s scoring race with 50 points (three touchdowns, seven field goals and 11 converts). He since has been surpassed in both categories.
Perhaps coincidentally, the Thunder lost both of the games it played without Calcutt. It’s hoping that his return will arrest that streak.
“It brings a little more confidence to our offence because you have another weapon that you’re able to utilize,” said head coach Scott MacAulay.
“We’ll see how much we’re able to play him. Our plan is to not use him the entire game. We’re just going to sprinkle him in and see how he’s able to pick up the new systems that have been installed.”
That’s fine by Calcutt. After weeks of rehabbing, watching and coaching his replacement, he’ll take what he can get.
“I’m OK with one in three series because it’s better than zero,” said Calcutt, who won’t resume his punting and kicking duties. “If I get a chance to make a play, that’s what I’m going to try to do.”
And he’s vowing to do so without any second thoughts. Even though he’s coming back from an injury, Calcutt doesn’t plan to take it easy when he’s on the field.
“If you’re playing scared, you’re not going to play confident and you’re not going to play well,” he said. “I’m pretty confident. It feels good, so I’m ready to go.”
The Thunder hasn’t exactly missed Calcutt — quarterback Sawyer Buettner passed for more than 400 yards in each of the two games Calcutt sat out — but the addition of one of the league’s leading receivers can’t hurt.
With three games left in its regular season, Regina is tied for third with the Edmonton Huskies at 3-30. Winnipeg is fifth at 2-4-0.
“We need one more win to make the playoffs,” MacAulay said. “We were trying to take it slow with Kris, but we’re at the point right now where we need him.
“We’re not planning to use him that much during the game, but if we do need to use him at certain points, we will.”
Calcutt, who had six catches for 78 yards and two TDs as a PFC rookie in 2015, has made the leap this season that’s expected as a player gets more experience.
His progression also was helped by three weeks of practising with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders before the Thunder’s season started.
“With all of the little hints you get that you don’t think of or that you’re not told before, it just makes you think of (playing receiver) another way,” Calcutt said of his stint with the Roughriders. “You learn new tricks and you have more stuff in your bag that you can pull out.”