'Frustrated': Riders return to practice following Labour Day Classic loss
The Saskatchewan Roughrider’s 35-33 loss in the annual Labour Day Classic against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers marked the team’s sixth straight game without a win.
“We’re frustrated for sure. Looking for some payback, you know, they came into our house and did that and we have to go into theirs and do the same,” said offensive lineman Logan Ferland following practice on Wednesday.
“We’re as frustrated as you can get as a competitor. If you’re not mad about the situation then we have a problem. We’re all competitors in here and we all want to win. So you have to get mad, have to have some kind of fire lit under you and go out there and play that much harder,” added his teammate, KeeSean Johnson.
The team has still not won a game since Week 7 against the Bombers and have since lost five of their last six, with one tie. Of the five losses, four have been decided by four points or less. Despite the feelings of frustration for the recent winless streak, the team is using that frustration to motivate them and turn the tides.
“The priority is to keep things positive, keep things happy. We still want to harp on keeping the mood up because when everything’s caving in around you, when guys focus on the negative, that’s when it gets into trouble. And that’s what we’ve seen in the past,” Ferland explained.
Ferland could be referencing the last two seasons where the team ended with seven game losing streaks in both years and failed to clinch a playoff spot. But this season the West Division is a lot tighter and despite their 5-6-1 record, the team only sits one point out of first in the West.
A win against Winnipeg this weekend would secure the season series against them. But down the stretch, the team has five western opponents in their final six games of the regular season.
“The reality is we still have games to play in this season and the reality is if we handle business, we put ourselves in a really good position to attain a lot of things that we looked to attain as the season starter. So everything we still want is still in reach and still in our control,” said head coach, Corey Mace.
“We know what we have in our locker room. We know what we have with our coaching staff, everyone in this building knows what we have. Now it’s just going out there and executing the little things and going what we can,” Johnson added.
On the injury front, offensive linemen Peter Godber [ankle] and Zack Fry [elbow], as well as receiver Dohnte Meyers [shoulder] are expected to miss the game this week as all three did not practice on Wednesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Donald Trump was the subject of 'an assassination attempt,' FBI reports
The FBI said Donald Trump was the target of “what appears to be an attempted assassination” at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sunday.
LIVE UPDATES 2024 Emmy Awards: 'The Bear,' 'Fargo' and 'Hacks' win acting awards
'Shogun,' 'The Bear' and 'Baby Reindeer' at the topo of the queue as the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards arrive on Sunday.
B.C. to open 'highly secure' involuntary care facilities
B.C. will be opening “highly secure facilities” for people with addiction and mental health issues in the province, officials said Sunday.
Calgary police honour 3 Calgarians who helped save Lanny McDonald’s life in airport incident
The Calgary police paid tribute to a trio of Calgarians who saved the life of Lanny McDonald at the airport in February, 2024.
They came from Jamaica for work, now they're homeless and out thousands of dollars in lost wages
Abuse of Canada’s temporary foreign worker program has left a group of carpenters from Jamaica 'destitute' after an Ottawa company refused to pay them for nearly half a year of work.
Montreal bars, restaurants react to Quebec bill to regulate merchant tipping requests
Quebec tabled a bill on Thursday that would regulate how merchants determine suggested tips, forcing businesses to calculate them based on the price before tax. Restaurant staff and management are divided on the policy.
Greater Sudbury resident dies in 5-vehicle crash involving 3 motorcycles near Port Dover
A person from Greater Sudbury died and two other individuals were transported to hospital after a five-vehicle crash near Port Dover, Ont., late Saturday afternoon.
Queen Victoria's favourite Tuscan villa for sale for more than US$55 million
Once a favoured holiday destination for Queen Victoria, and reputedly described in one of the greatest works of Italian literature, the Villa Palmieri is steeped in history and could now be yours – if you have more than €50 million (US$55 million) lying around.
Liberals will let Conservatives hold non-confidence vote 'fairly soon', no intention of proroguing Parliament
The Liberals have no intention of using procedural tactics to delay the Conservatives' promised non-confidence motion, and they have no plans to prorogue Parliament to hold onto power, according to Government House Leader Karina Gould.