Bombers QB revels in fan adulation

One more night of adulation, this time from a hockey crowd, and Chris Streveler will finally say goodbye to Winnipeg.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ parade marshal, fashion trendsetter and do-it-all quarterback will be part of a ceremonial faceoff honouring the Grey Cup champs at Tuesday’s Jets game, capping a week he’ll never forget.

“Maybe the best week of my life,” Streveler said Monday. “A crazy whirlwind. Getting to spend so much time with fans and see how much this means to them. And spending so much time with teammates — it’s just been unbelievable. I mean, so many events around the city. And just to see everybody’s reaction, it’s been honestly unbelievable.”

The 24-year-old didn’t even bother to go home for American Thanksgiving. That holiday comes around every year. What he saw over the last week doesn’t.

“I don’t think I really, really realized how much it meant to everyone until we were at the parade and seeing people go absolutely insane,” Streveler said. “People as far as the eye can see, people are crying, throwing beers up, whatever — that was really eye-opening for me.

“The parade was probably the coolest experience I’ve ever had in my life.”

The signature image from last week’s victory parade featured a shirtless Streveler in a fur coat, wearing a gold chain, jean shorts, a cowboy hat and sunglasses.

“I got the coat from my girlfriend’s mom,” he said, adding he bought the shades in Toronto and hat in Calgary. “The gold chain, somebody just threw to me in the middle of the parade and I caught it.

“The jean shorts ... I came in already prepared with those.”

A free agent come February, Streveler said he has told the Bombers he’d love to return.

“I love Winnipeg,” he said. “It’s an awesome place. Kind of feels like home to me at this point.”