Rider pride runs in Bastien’s family
‘It’s a great fit for me,’ receiver says
Parental pride and Rider pride came together during the 2014 CFL draft.
It took place in the third round of Tuesday’s draft when the Saskatchewan Roughriders selected receiver Kris Bastien from the Concordia University Stingers with the 26th overall selection. Bastien and his family were excited about the selection because they have strong ties to the Roughriders.
Bastien’s late grandparents grew up in Saskatchewan before moving to Ottawa. His grandmother was from Kerrobert and his grandfather hailed from Saskatoon. They carried their passion for the Riders with them to Ottawa. Val McLeod, Bastien’s mother, remembers growing up in a house filled with Roughriders paraphernalia.
“We only had the TV on when the Riders were playing,’’ McLeod said. “That was it.’’
McLeod watched the draft hoping that the Riders would select Bastien. There were tears of joy among the large group of family and friends when that took place.
“A part of me knew that my parents had something to do with it,’’ said McLeod, who remembers visiting the family’s farm in Kerrobert during the summers with her parents. “As we went through (the draft), all I cared about was Saskatchewan. I wanted them to get (Kris and other family members) back there. There were tears, of course.’’
Bastien grew up in Montreal and cheered for the Alouettes. He was still pleased when the Riders picked him in the draft.
“When he got the call, it was the first time he expressed that (the Riders) were among his first choices,’’ McLeod said. “He was very diplomatic before and would have gone anywhere. When he heard Saskatchewan, he was just thrilled — as was I.’’
Bastien is also good friends with Stingers quarterback Reid Quest, who spent five seasons with the Regina Thunder before joining Concordia in 2011.
“We were planning on visiting Reid (in Regina), but I guess I don’t have to time that trip anymore,’’ Bastien, 23, said.
The Roughriders are looking for Bastien to contribute on special teams if he does make the roster. Bastien is fine with that role.
“You find a way to get your foot in the door and you take it from there,’’ Bastien said.
Bastien, six-foot-three and 205 pounds, also appreciates how the Riders develop their Canadian receivers.
“They are willing to give Canadian receivers a chance,’’ Bastien said. “I’m talking about (Chris) Getzlaf and, back in the day, Andy Fantuz. It’s a great fit for me. The perfect thing would be for me to come in now. I’m really happy to be part of the organization.’’
The Riders were also pleased to add to their Canadian depth and size at receiver in the draft. Along with Bastien, the defending Grey Cup champions selected Alex Pierzchalski, a six-foot-five product of the Toronto Varsity Blues.
“It’s no secret that we’ve played two Canadian receivers in the past,’’ Brendan Taman, the Riders’ vice-president of football operations and general manager, said. “We wanted to upgrade our numbers and depth there. They are both big guys who can be physical players. That’s something (offensive co-ordinator) George Cortez really likes in his offence.’’
McLeod, who has never been to Regina to see a Riders game, hopes that she’ll get to see her son play in the Green and White.
“Now I will be going home to (hopefully) watch him play for the team that has been the only one on my radar since I was old enough to cheer,’’ McLeod said.