Nigel Romick has been a member of some sort of “team” for most of his life.
For the Thunder Bay native, a large percentage of that time has been spent with the Ottawa REDBLACKS, as the last original member of the 2014 expansion team standing in the league today. It’s only further testament to the team-first mentality that Romick has displayed throughout his career, whose work as a perennial special teams standout helped Ottawa to their first Grey Cup championship in 2016.
It seems only natural that in 2020, when there was no football to be played due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Romick started thinking about what his future looked like once he hung up the cleats for good.
His love for a team-oriented culture, and some discussions with friends and family, led Romick to firefighting.
Even though he may be most comfortable in a helmet and shoulder pads, when his training was complete and the journey officially got started, Romick felt right at home.
“There’s that locker room mentality and the fire stations, and here [with the REDBLACKS],” said Romick. “You have to trust the other person, and they have to trust you to get the job done. [My favourite part is] just the camaraderie between your teammates and your workers, and you know you’re doing something good for the community.”
While there was certainly a learning curve, and adjustments to be made, Romick had an advantage unique to the majority of your everyday firefighting hopeful. One adjustment that he didn’t need to make was the physical aspect, already being in professional football-playing shape, and with six seasons under his belt to that point.
Romick was not only unintimidated by the physical toll of firefighting, but it was truthfully one of the realities of the job that drew him to it.
“It’s different for sure, but the physical aspect of both the sport and the job really got me attracted to them. Growing up, I was always physically active, same with football, and then now with firefighting too. I just love that aspect of it.”
Despite the fact that Romick is sidelined with an injury, it makes Sunday’s game a special one for the 34-year-old veteran, as the REDBLACKS pay tribute to Ottawa’s first responders during their matchup with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The festivities got started earlier in the week, with Ottawa Fire Chief Paul Hutt presenting an Ottawa Fire challenge coin, and also a custom REDBLACKS axe to Head Coach Bob Dyce at the conclusion of Wednesday’s practice.
In Chief Hutt’s address to the team, he spoke of the likeness in the importance of teamwork shared by football and firefighting, and of the mutual admiration between the REDBLACKS and Ottawa’s first responders.
“When you look at the Fire Service, and when you look at professional sports, there’s so many synergies, and so many similarities. We know how much dedication, passion, and commitment it takes to get where you are today, so it gives us a great honour to present this axe as a symbol of somebody who has worked so hard all week through practice,” the Chief told the team. “You have 1,500 firefighters and fire service members that are behind you each and every game, and we wish you the very, very best of luck for the rest of the season.”
The week creates a rare opportunity for Romick’s two teams to cross paths, and show their appreciation for each other.
“I love the relationship between first responders and the REDBLACKS,” Romick said. “I love them coming together, and uniting as one.”
The REDBLACKS will honour Ottawa’s first responders, and also look to pick up a key divisional win on Sunday at TD Place. Kickoff is at 7:00pm ET between Ottawa and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Get your tickets here.