Brett Lauther will soon be a Merlis Belsher Place-kicker once more.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ placement specialist excitedly awaits the fourth annual Roughrider Foundation Winter Classic, to be played Jan. 31 on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon.

The faceoff between Team Lauther and Team Getzlaf is set for 1 p.m. at Merlis Belsher Place, which has been the charity hockey game’s home since its inception in 2023.

“It’s kind of surreal,” Lauther marvels. “Even saying that it’s at four, it still feels like the first one a little bit.

“We have a lot of good staff members and on our board, so it’s a bit of plug-and-play. We kind of have the formula down now.

“To say we’re at the fourth one now, it’s super-cool, but hopefully this keeps going well after my time playing for the Riders.”

Lauther was coming off his fourth season with the Green and White when his idea of an on-ice fundraiser for the Roughrider Foundation came to fruition.

From the outset, he has captained one of the teams. Rob Bagg was the rival captain in Year 2. Chris Getzlaf, a former cohort of Bagg’s in the Roughriders’ receiving corps, is now preparing for his third consecutive year as a captain.

Former Anaheim Ducks star Ryan Getzlaf — Chris’s younger brother — was one of the marquee attractions two years ago.

Regina Pats legend Mike Sillinger, himself a former Duck, returns to the Classic for a second consecutive year.

Also of note is the Winter Classic debut of former NHL defenceman Mike Commodore, who has become one of the sport’s most popular and colourful commentators.

Commodore, who helped the Carolina Hurricanes win a Stanley Cup in 2006, brings even more championship credentials to the latest Winter Classic.

For the first time, a Winter Classic is being held on the heels of a Roughriders Grey Cup victory.

The CFL’s championship trophy will be an added attraction at the Jan. 31 game.

Attendees will be able to have pictures taken with the Grey Cup on the concourse at Merlis Belsher Place.

“I think it’s just what it’s all about in this province, sharing (the Cup) all over the province,” Lauther said. “You know how much it means, with the Roughriders being a community-owned team.

“It’s great to have the Cup in Saskatoon for the weekend. We have a lot of fans there and it’s where we have training camp every year. The Huskies are big supporters of the team as well.

“It’s the best.”

Lauther is poised to play in the game for the first time as a Dad. His wife, Jill, gave birth to a daughter (Townes) on Aug. 28.

“There’s definitely a lot more going on outside the game, but it’s all good stuff,” Lauther said. “We’re extremely busy, but this is something that’s super important to me and the Foundation and everyone involved, so the show goes on.”

The lineups will include an assortment of current and former Roughriders players, such as Lauther, Getzlaf, Noah Zerr, Mitch Picton, Nick Wiebe and Andy Fantuz.

Sillinger, Commodore and Ryan Bayda are among the former NHLers who are to take part.

The guest coaches will include Roughriders players Kian Schaffer-Baker, Logan Ferland, Jacob Brammer, Charbel Dabire, Ajou Ajou and, for the first time, Samuel Emilus — the latter of whom was named the Most Valuable Canadian in the 2025 Grey Cup Game.

Asked why Emilus isn’t on either team’s roster, Lauther replied: “Sam’s too good of a football player. I don’t want J.O. (Vice-President of Football Operations/General Manager Jeremy O’Day) to cut me, so we’re not letting Sam put on the skates.”

Luke McGeough, whose father Mick refereed 1,083 NHL regular-season games, will once again don the stripes and blow the whistle at the Winter Classic.

Proceeds will go to the Foundation’s Win With Wellness (mental health) and Rider Reading (literacy) initiatives.

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