'It was pretty special': Former Regina Rams LB shines in Lions loss to Riders
Ryder Varga looked right at home on Saturday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium. He should. The 24-year old spent his entire U Sports career with the Regina Rams playing on that same turf.
This time, however, it was in a professional setting, a Canadian Football League game, and he was in visiting colours with the B.C. Lions.
“It was good to get my feet wet at the CFL level and hit some guys again,” said Varga, after the 30-27 loss to Saskatchewan.
In the third quarter, Varga read the eyes of Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Mason Fine perfectly, jumped the intended receiver’s route, a perfect 11-yard pick six.
He celebrated in the end zone, as he’d done several times before, but this time it was with his B.C. Lions teammates.
“It was special. I think that’s my first pick six ever, at any level,” he said.
“If it was a betting man I wouldn’t have picked a CFL game to get my first pick six. To do it in my home city, I had a lot of friends and family in the stands, it was pretty special.”
Varga says he had a large number of friends, family, former teammates and other supporters in the stands on Saturday.
“It was heartwarming to see the number of people who care about you.”
The rookie linebacker finished the game with three defensive tackles, one special teams tackle and that 11-yard pick six.
This is his second training camp with the Lions, having attended last season before returning to the Regina Rams at the U Sports level. Varga says the move to return for his final season of eligibility was extremely beneficial to his overall game.
“I think it just helped slow the game down a little. You see the speed of the pro level. It just allowed me to be a lot more comfortable and I think I have good instincts in believing in what I’m seeing and playing off of it. Applying some of the trial and error from the U of R and hopefully it keeps paying off and getting better.”
Varga was selected by the Lions in the third round of the 2022 CFL entry draft (29th overall).
In his final season with the Regina Rams, Varga recorded 54 combined tackles, seven tackles for a loss, two sacks and an interception in the team’s nine games.
He was an academic all-Canadian in 2018, 2019 and 2021 and was a Canada West all-star in 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.