SASKATOON — A 117-year-old visitor was welcomed to the Roughrider Foundation Winter Classic on Saturday.

The Grey Cup, first presented in 1909, was a popular attraction for fans who flocked to the Merlis Belsher Centre for a fourth annual charity hockey game.

The trophy was also a source of curiosity for the participants — some of whom recently had their names engraved on the upper part of the CFL’s coveted chalice.

“With all the hard work we put in throughout the season, it meant a lot to actually see the name on there,” said offensive lineman Jacob Brammer, who helped the Roughriders defeat the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 at Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium on Nov. 16.

“That was pretty cool,” kicker Brett Lauther added. “A lot of people were wondering if our nameplate was on the Cup yet, so to finally have it on there and see it in person, it was a little bit surreal.”

Lauther founded the Winter Classic along with

Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation Executive Director Cindy Fuchs. Proceeds from the hockey game, presented by McDougall Auctioneers Ltd., are earmarked for Foundation programs that promote mental health (Win With Wellness) and literacy (Rider Reading).

Roughriders player/ambassadors discuss those topics while meeting with students across the province during off-season visits.

“The 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,” Lauther said during a pre-game interview at the University of Saskatchewan Huskies’ home rink.

“For this weekend and for this game, it’s a lot of fun on the ice and a lot of fun off the ice. It’s something I look forward to personally every winter.

“Our training camps have always been up here. Saskatoon is a big part of the team, even though we’re based in Regina. It’s a provincially owned team, so it’s great to do other events here in Saskatoon. The Huskies are always great supporters and great hosts for us. It’s just another reason why it’s a community-owned team.

“The game was just a crazy idea I had a few years ago. They were crazy enough to listen to me and now we’re on Year 4 and we’ve raised a lot of money, so it’s pretty special.”

As per tradition, the Winter Classic featured an assortment of Roughriders players, former NHLers and sponsors’ representatives.

Mike Commodore, Mike Sillinger, Sheldon Kennedy and Ryan Bayda brought NHL credentials to the event. Commodore also has a connection to one of sport’s cherished trophies, having helped the Carolina Hurricanes win a Stanley Cup in 2006.

“I went for a brunch at the Saskatoon Club yesterday and the Grey Cup was there, so that was a first,” Commodore said shortly before the Winter Classic. “I did hold it. I didn’t know what the rules were. I haven’t had a drink out of it yet. I’m assuming that’ll probably happen later today.

“It’s one of the oldest trophies around, so it was cool looking at names and teams.”

There wouldn’t have been any argument from the hundreds of people who lined up during the Winter Classic to be photographed alongside the Grey Cup.

“It was my second time,” noted Brandon Hansen, who grew up in Saskatchewan’s far north before moving to Hague (near Saskatoon). “The first time I got to see the Cup was after the Riders won in 2013. They came up to Stony Rapids on a Cup tour, so I got to hold the Cup there.”

This time around, Hansen renewed ties to the Grey Cup alongside his girlfriend (Jen Fehr) and aunt (Joyce Torrie).

“It felt good to finally get to see the Cup again,” Hansen said with a smile.

Another prestigious trophy was on the premises on Saturday — the gleaming Winter Classic Cup.

Team Lauther won the Winter Classic in 2023 and 2024. The opposing squad, captained by former Roughriders receiver Chris Getzlaf, entered the win column last year, before Team Lauther turned the tables on Saturday.

In a typically close game, Team Lauther won 7-6 on the strength of three goals from Bayda.

“We came in, gave everything we had, and came up short against Team Lauther,” said Roughriders receiver Samuel Emilus, a guest coach with Team Getzlaf. “I think it was a great event that we put together and I’m excited to be back next year and get my first W in this Winter Classic.”

Would the “W” have materialized this year if Emilus had been playing instead of coaching?

“For sure,” he stated a few feet away from victorious guest coach Kian Schaffer-Baker. “We’re winning by at least four or five goals and I’d be talking ‘ish’ to Schaff the whole time.

“All joking aside, it was a great event. I think everybody in the building had fun. Congrats to Team Lauther.”

Schaffer-Baker was pleased to accept the congratulations on behalf of the captain. A few minutes earlier, the popular pass-catcher had performed a Conor McGregor-like victory strut on the ice after accepting the championship trophy.

“For the next three months, I’m going to be hitting that strut,” Schaffer-Baker said.

“When we go on the Grey Cup tour, these two trophies are going to be sitting side by side.

“I can’t give any of the credit to myself. It was all the guys out there working hard. Those guys busted their tails from the moment the puck dropped. You could see the hunger and determination. They wanted this one.

“I didn’t do anything today.”

Yet, he still got to carry the trophy off the ice. Where is the fairness in that?

“That’s a great point you make right there,” Schaffer-Baker acknowledged with all due contrition. “I’m about to bring it into the dressing room so the boys can celebrate and drink some champagne with it.”