FOAM LAKE — The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ short-yardage specialist has been a long-distance traveller during a momentous off-season.
Tommy Stevens, who ran for two touchdowns in the Roughriders’ 25-17 Grey Cup victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Nov. 16, has visited “20 to 25” schools across the province in recent months.
On Friday, for example, he appeared at Foam Lake Elementary School and Foam Lake Composite School as part of the community-owned CFL team’s wide-ranging Grey Cup Community Tour.
The 28-year-old quarterback is also a Player Ambassador for the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation. He has been introduced to several Saskatchewan communities while promoting literacy (via the Foundation’s Rider Reading program) and mental health (Win With Wellness).
“The kids are always very, very appreciative,” Stevens said during a visit to the hometown of Roughriders President-CEO Craig Reynolds. “They ask good questions and are respectful. Really, I haven’t had a bad experience in any of the schools that I’ve been in so far this off-season.
“I don’t even need to say that I hope it continues to be like that. Everybody I’ve been around in this province has been awesome and I’m excited to continue.”
Most of the excursions break new ground for Stevens, who is spending the winter in Saskatchewan with his girlfriend (Lauryn Schimke) and the couple’s two dogs (Goose and Maverick).
Lauryn is from Calgary, where Stevens spent his first three CFL seasons before signing with Saskatchewan as a free agent on Feb. 11, 2025.
Stevens liked it here so much that: (a) He signed a two-year contract extension on Dec. 5; and, (b) He wanted to become a year-round Saskatchewanian, with Lauryn’s blessing.
“She got a job with an oil and gas company in Pilot Butte, so that made it a little bit easier,” Stevens said. “Being able to sign a two-year extension, it was, ‘All right, this is where our feet are going to be, so let’s get settled in.’
“We’ve done some travelling in the meantime, too. We’ve been able to go back to Calgary and we still have a cabin an hour and a half north of Calgary. We were in Mexico in December and that was fun as well.
“We’ve been able to do some things and escape the cold a little bit, but we’re trying to fully embrace the Saskatchewan winter. I’ve heard this has been one of the better ones in recent memory.
“Minus-50 still hurts. Whenever that comes around, it’s not very much fun and you try to stay in the house, but all in all it has been great.”
Especially on top of a Grey Cup win.
“I think (staying in Saskatchewan) was part of the original plan, anyway, but this is the best time to possibly do it,” the Indianapolis-born Stevens said with a smile. “It’s great to be a part of the Foundation and I try to give back in any way I can.
“I had a similar experience when I was in grade school. A player from the Indianapolis Colts, Dominic Rhodes, came to visit our school.
“I also went to training camp one time and he gave me his gloves. I was a little kid, so that has stuck with me for 20-plus years. I remember thinking that I would love to have an opportunity to give back if I could.
“This is my opportunity and it’s special. It’s pretty cool to have these full-circle moments.”