The Saskatchewan Roughriders are honouring a promise made eight years ago by taking the Grey Cup to Humboldt.
The Riders will officially launch a province-wide tour with the CFL championship trophy at Elgar Petersen Arena when the Humboldt Broncos take on the Estevan Bruins on Saturday, February 7. That fulfills a commitment made by the franchise to the community in the aftermath of their tragic 2018 bus crash, which vowed the town of 6,000 residents would be among the first to host the Grey Cup after the next Saskatchewan victory.
16 people were killed on April 6, 2018, when the Broncos' team bus collided with a tractor-trailer en route to a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoff game in Nipawin. Among the victims was Tyler Bieber, the team's 29-year-old play-by-play voice and an active CFL blogger, and Dayna Brons, an athletic trainer who had previously worked for the Riders.
The tragedy shocked the entire country, and the Riders responded accordingly. The team hosted practices in Humboldt, added a Broncos decal to their helmets, and then-head coach Chris Jones added the logo to his iconic black coaching shirt. The team later held a Humboldt Strong game, hosting victims, families, and first responders.
Nearly a decade later, the team has added another tribute. Details of the event will be announced closer to gameday.
Following the stop in Humboldt, the Grey Cup will embark on a tour across Saskatchewan throughout February and March, giving fans from every corner of the province the opportunity to share in the Roughriders' fifth CFL title.
“The Grey Cup Championship belongs to all of Rider Nation, whose passion and belief carried us through the entire season,” president and CEO Craig Reynolds said in a statement. “This tour allows us to bring the celebration directly to the fans and communities across Saskatchewan who were with us from opening kickoff to the final whistle, providing as many people as possible with the opportunity to share in the joy of our fifth Grey Cup Championship.”
Public tour stops and event details will be announced on a continual basis on the team's website and social media channels.
