Players ready for any weather condition
The Saskatchewan Roughriders didn’t let inclement weather deter them from preparing for Saturday’s game against the visiting Edmonton Eskimos.
The Riders appeared to be enjoying themselves while playing catch and other games during Friday’s snowy and cold conditions at Mosaic Stadium.
“Everyone was trying to block out the wind and the cold so they were doing different things to occupy their minds instead of shivering in the cold,” quarterback Kevin Glenn said. “That shows the camaraderie with our team and how we’ve grown over the last 18 weeks plus training camp.”
The forecast for Saturday’s 5 p.m. kickoff is for minus-6 C, with a wind chill of minus-13 and a 30 per cent chance of snow.
There isn’t any avoiding the weather conditions, which is why the Riders practised outdoors this week.
“For the most part, you just have to block that stuff out,” Glenn said. “Weather will be weather and you can’t change it.”
National running back and Winnipeg native Kienan LaFrance excelled in blizzard-like conditions during the 2016 East Division final with the Ottawa Redblacks. He replaced an injured Mossis Madu and had 25 carries for 157 yards and a touchdown in Ottawa’s 3523 win over the Eskimos.
“It’s a little bit easier for the person with the ball because you know where you’re going,” said LaFrance, in his first year with the Riders. “The defenders don’t (know where the ball-carrier is going) and there isn’t more to it than that. I’m not going to lie; I’m not a big fan of the cold. It just adds to the whole Canadian aspect of things.”
Guard Brendon LaBatte prefers colder games.
“When you take me out east and in the humidity, I’m in their element,” LaBatte said. “Playing in these kinds of games is where the Canadian offensive linemen are more at home and probably have a slight edge.”