In an acceptance speech, the CFL’s newly decorated Coach of the Year applauded everyone but the winner.

Such is the self-effacing nature of Corey Mace, who received the honour on Wednesday in Edmonton.

“It’s a team award in my thought process,” he told the audience. “There’s so much that goes into having a successful team.”

With that in mind, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ chief strategist — a major reason for the team’s 2025 Grey Cup win — offered sincere and profuse thanks to …

The coaching staff: “The number of hours these guys put in and the commitment (is remarkable). We put everything that we can together to really push forward the dream and the vision of what we think the Saskatchewan Roughriders should look like. I’m forever indebted to those guys and the effort they put in. Much love and appreciation for that.”

The players: “This whole thing does not come to fruition without the work of the players.”

Players’ and coaches’ families: “It’s not just us as coaches. The players have to do the same thing. We’re trying to educate these guys to be great football players, great men, great fathers and great husbands, and they’re doing that at the sacrifice of leaving their kids and their wives back at home for six months at a time to help us come together to do something special.”

The process began in November of 2023, when Mace was interviewed for the head-coaching position. He did a deep dive into the organization with Craig Reynolds (President-CEO), Jeremy O’Day (Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager) and Kyle Carson (Assistant General Manager, who has since added the role of Director of Player Personnel).

“Thank you, fellas,” Mace said. “I love you guys.”

In that spirit, he made special mention of “the Number 1 teammate” — his wife.

“Coaching, in any professional sport, can be tough on marriages and tough on families,” Petra Mace’s husband said. “You’re asked to move from city to city to fulfil your dream and it takes strong people to be a part of that.

“We left Calgary, where my wife is from, and we had our first kid there. I got an opportunity to go somewhere else. We don’t know anybody. My wife is eight months pregnant. Terrible choice, probably, by me, but she came with me. We landed and I said, ‘Good luck … training camp!’

“It wasn’t easy, but the main thing is that she has always been by my side. She has always been my Number 1 cheerleader. Our kids are just entrenched in things that happen to be a part of what we do — and that’s special, babe.

“I love you for that. Thank you.”

Mace became the Roughriders’ eighth Coach of the Year, following Steve Owen (1962), Eagle Keys (1968), Joe Faragalli (1981), John Gregory (1989), Kent Austin (2007), Corey Chamblin (2013) and Chris Jones (2018), and the first Canadian to win the award with Saskatchewan.

“I’m just a B.C. kid, a Vancouver boy,” the former University of Wyoming Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Calgary Stampeders defensive tackle said.

“I liked to eat a lot of food and thought I was an athlete. I got pushed into playing defensive line because of my eating habits, but I love this game. I’ve been very fortunate to learn from a lot of great coaches.”

And to work in this province, for this team, with amazing people.

“The Riders are in such a unique spot,” Mace said. “You can’t do much in Saskatchewan without talking football.

“There are the people in the equipment room and the ticket office. Everybody is all hands on deck. The whole province is all hands on deck, so everybody gets a thank you for that.”

The final words of appreciation were reserved for the people who made the gala Coach of the Year Celebration a reality — principally the CFL and the Edmonton Elks, who organized the event in support of Football Alberta.

“Thank you for this entire evening,” Mace concluded, “and … I’ve got to … go Riders!”

RIDERS ON A ROLL

The Roughriders are cleaning up in terms of awards.

Six of them, to be exact, in a span of 135 days.

• Coach of the Year (Mace).

• Ted Goveia Football Operations Award (O’Day, et al).

• Grey Cup MVP: Trevor Harris.

• Grey Cup Most Outstanding Canadian: Samuel Emilus.

• Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Jermarcus Hardrick.

• Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award: Logan Ferland.

The Goveia Award, presented for the first time, was accepted by O’Day on Wednesday on behalf of Carson, Paul Jones (Assistant GM), Larry Dean (Assistant Director of Player Personnel) and Jordan Greenly (Director of Football Operations).

“I think it’s really cool being able to be in the same building year-round, because you see it hands on,” O’Day told CKRM’s Dave Thomas during a Wednesday afternoon interview with reporters.

“You see the communication that they have, the hours these guys put in, the amount of film that they watch, the understanding of what the coaches like at certain positions. They want guys who can fit the system on top of just saying, ‘Hey, we think you guys can turn this guy into somebody.’

“The communication is endless. Every scenario that comes up during the season or the off-season, solutions are found pretty quickly.”

MEMORIES OF MARGARET

I watched the 1966 Grey Cup Game on TV at the home of Dr. Borden and Margaret Bachynski, who resided on Academy Park Road — across the fence from the Vanstone residence on Acadia Drive.

Some of my earliest, favourite memories pertain to time spent with the Bachynskis at their home or at their cottage. I grew up with the Bachynski kids: Alan, Colin, David and Jane Bachynski.

David’s son, Chad, is now the Mayor of Regina, ensuring the enduring prominence of the Bachynski name.

The late Dr. Bachynski, an orthopaedic surgeon, is someone our community should always celebrate. He often went far beyond the call of duty — and even the job description — with some of the benefits being celebrated across the fence.

It is a long story, but the abbreviated, bottom-line version is this: In 1971, his intervention and influence resolved what had been a confounding, dire medical situation and saved my father’s life.

We got another 11 years with Dad because of Dr. Borden Bachynski.

He and Margaret were ardent fans of the Roughriders, which explains the Vanstones’ presence at the Bachynski household on Nov. 26, 1966.

Dr. Bachynski served on the Roughriders’ medical team and also contributed to the franchise as a patron, a director and an honorary director.

Now we honour the memory of Grace Margaret Bachynski, who was 97 when she passed away on March 17.

Like her husband, Margaret Bachynski seemed to be uncannily capable of being in 19 places at once.

“Margaret was a consummate baker and everyone’s second mom,” reads a portion of her obituary. “She was a loyal and loving friend and a go-to neighbour to many.

“She was a life-long member of the Anglican Church and a season-ticket holder and fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. She was very active with the Wa Wa Shriners Ladies Auxiliary, the Monarchist League of Canada, the I.O.D.E. and the Bacchus Club. She was devoted to her country and community and to helping those less fortunate.

“Margaret’s patience for kids, chaos and motorized vehicles of all types, as well as endless snowmobile races, swimming lessons, and volleyball and basketball practices knew no bounds. The family home and cottage were the epicentres of constant activity upon which she thrived.

“Margaret was, and always will be, our Amazing Grace and the Best Mommy in the Whole Wide World. If there were angels who walked among us on this Earth, Margaret was surely one of them.”

RHYME FROM ANOTHER TIME

The Roughriders signed defensive backs Tony Slaton and Tony Staten on March 26, 1986 — 40 years ago this past Thursday.

Slaton, from Texas A&M, played in four games with the Roughriders in 1986. Staten (Angelo State) suited up for one contest that season.

ROLL CREDITS …

• Nice people who deserve a plug: Jane Bachynski, David Bachynski, Colin Bachynski, Alan Bachynski, Lisa Wolfe, Ian Anderson, Ian Hamilton, Braden Konschuh, Lucas Barrett, Craig Reynolds, Jeremy O’Day, Corey Mace, Kyle Carson, Paul Jones, Larry Dean, Jordan Greenly, Doug Mutschler, Cindy Fuchs, Carson Sombach, Charlie Parks, Ethan Graham, Jack Warrack, Tim Winters, Graham Malazdrewicz, Peter Woldu, Julie Woldu, Paul Woldu and Rebecca Perigny.