On Saturday afternoon at Merlis Belsher Place, the Saskatchewan Roughriders Foundation delivered another reminder of why community remains at the heart of everything the Green and White do.
More than 2,000 fans packed the rink for the fourth annual Winter Classic, a unique charity hockey showdown featuring the 2025 Grey Cup Champion Saskatchewan Roughriders, Riders alumni, and a star-studded cast of NHL alumni. And while the skates and sticks take centre stage, the event is all about helping kids across Saskatchewan.
This year, Team Lauther got a little revenge, knocking off Team Getzlaf 7–6 in an entertaining, back-and-forth contest that blended competitive fire with plenty of good-natured chirping.
Former Carolina Hurricanes forward Ryan Bayda turned back the clock, scoring a hat trick to power Team Lauther to victory. Behind the bench, Kian Schaffer-Baker guided the green side, while Samuel Emilus called the shots for Team Getzlaf.
Team Lauther’s roster included plenty of star power, from NHL veteran Mike Commodore to Riders favourites like Brett Lauther, Mitch Picton, Jason Clermont, and towering offensive lineman Noah Zerr.
On the other side, Team Getzlaf countered with marquee names including Sheldon Kennedy, Mike Sillinger, Andy Fantuz, and Chris Getzlaf, along with rising Rider special teams dynamo Nick Wiebe.
For the game’s namesake captain, Brett Lauther, the event’s growth still blows him away.
“Crazy to be at year four. It’s just a lot of hard work from people inside the Foundation and the organization to make things like this happen, so I’m super thankful.”
Lauther, third all-time in Riders scoring, has become as well known for his community impact as for his field goals. And as he explained, the mission behind the Winter Classic goes far beyond a fun February skate:
“I think it’s just first things first, we’re trying to raise money for the kids in the province. Lowest literacy rates in Canada and the highest suicide rates are in Saskatchewan, so we’re trying to do our best and our part to help fix those.”
The Riders' kicker has spent countless hours in schools across the province, delivering mental health and literacy lessons to students. Seeing those kids return the favour by showing up in Saskatoon? That hits different.
“It’s the best. A kid will come up and say, ‘You were at my school in Moose Jaw,’ or ‘I’m using the box breathing before my hockey games or math test.’ You kind of see the full-circle impact.”
When asked about what it means to have teammates, alumni, and even NHL players travel in to support the cause, Lauther didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah, that’s everything. Everyone’s sacrificing time to be up here. NHL players, guys with families, people flying in. Top to bottom, everyone’s sacrificing time for the kids and to make a bigger impact. I’ll forever be grateful for that.”
Roughrider Foundation Executive Director Cindy Fuchs was all smiles watching families stream into the rink. And with mini-sticks, face painting, footballs, and a Kidsport-run Fan Zone, the Winter Classic was built for kids as much as for the scorekeepers.
“This is a chance of a lifetime for our sponsor players to be able to play in this game, and although it’s a fun charity game, you can guarantee they want to win that cup.”
Fuchs also highlighted a special guest: the Grey Cup, making one of its first Saskatoon appearances since the Riders’ 2025 title run.
“It has our team names on it, which is really cool. Fans can get photos with it, and players will be around to sign afterwards.”
Beyond the skates and selfies, Fuchs emphasized how the Foundation’s fundraising fuels real, life-changing work.
The 1,000 helmets donated last year to youth football programs. The mental health programming where players openly discuss anxiety and stress. The literacy initiatives where kids receive their first-ever book from a Rider player.
She shared a story from a family who lost a son to suicide—one that shows just how important these school visits can be:
“They said, ‘Please keep going into schools.’ If he had felt like it was okay to talk, it might have made a difference.”
That, more than anything, is why events like the Winter Classic matter.
From the NHL alumni—Sillinger, Kennedy, Bayda, Commodore—to Rider legends like Fantuz and Clermont, to fan favourites Emilus, Schaffer-Baker, and Getzlaf, the Winter Classic once again showcased what makes Saskatchewan special: people showing up for each other.
Year four is in the books. The impact will last far longer.
