Between Kindersley born all-CFL centre Logan Ferland, breakout receiver and budding fan favourite Daniel Wiebe from Rosetown, and Regina Thunder all-star and territorial junior practice squad member Ben Walz out of Major, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have no shortage of West Central connections.
But the local ties to the team extend beyond the players on the field; helping keep the raucous Mosaic Stadium crowd energized is another West Central connection in Rosetown’s Kennedy Hannay who is currently in her fifth year as a Roughriders cheerleader.
Hannay is also fresh off receiving her 2025 Grey Cup ring last week, adding another memorable moment to what has already been a whirlwind experience — all while looking ahead to one of the biggest games of the season on Sunday in the Labour Day Classic versus Winnipeg.
Rosetown’s own Kennedy Hannay is a fifth-year member of the Rider Cheer Team
Passion leads to opportunity
The dedicated member of the Roughriders cheer team actually got her start with another one of Saskatchewan’s pro teams.
A dancer since she was three years old, Hannay was excited to bring her skills to the next level after earning an opportunity with the Rush.
“After high school I auditioned for the Saskatchewan Rush and that’s where I got my start.”
After spending six seasons with the Rush throughout university in Saskatoon, Hannay made the attempt to take her talents outdoors in Regina, making the Rider Cheer team and officially into a milestone year number five.
“It is a crazy experience. I feel like a live a double life,” joked Hannay calling herself an elementary school teacher by day, and a Roughriders cheerleader by night. “The fans are incredible, and the support for the Roughriders across Saskatchewan is insane. Across Canada really, there are so many Rider fans.”
The dedication is one thing, but the overall sense of community is what has stuck out to Hannay most during her time in green and white.
“The Cheer Team gets to travel all across the province to do different events, so we get to meet and connect with so many different people and it’s been amazing… Everyone has that common love for the Roughriders.”
Memories of a Grey Cup season
Hannay can cross “Grey Cup Champion” off her bucket list after helping cheer the Riders all the way to a championship in 2025.
With every cheer team in the league part of the annual Grey Cup festival, Hannay is no stranger to attending the CFL’s marquee weekend, but says it was quite a bit different having company in the form of a hungry Roughriders squad.
“The cheer team actually goes every year,” said Hannay. “But this was the first year the Riders actually came with us to Grey Cup, so it was a completely different experience. On top of all the things we already do at Grey Cup, you are adding in field practices, special appearances because we are the team in the game. It was very different, but man, it was insane.”
Hannay recalled the feeling of knowing they were going the championship.
“It didn’t become real until the Western Final where we beat BC, that moment everyone was like, ‘we are doing this, it’s happening, we are going to the Grey Cup’.”
She also said it was pretty nice to win the big game in their rival’s city.
“Having it be in Winnipeg was just the cherry on top. That was the best place to win a Grey Cup.”
The Grey Cup win also provided Hannay a new piece of jewelery.
While the Cheer Team wasn’t part of the ring ceremony prior to the season, they had their moment prior to hitting the field for the August 29 game against Toronto.
“Our coach made sure we had a special ceremony as well,” said Hannay. “Saturday morning, we went up to the Rider board room, all the boxes were laid out and the boxes were decorated. Sat down and talked about last season and how special it was, how special it is to be part of this organization and team. All the work that goes into it for everybody,” said Hannay highlighting all facets of what make a team great.
Then came the unboxing of the rings.
“It was incredible. It’s so cool to have something like that to commemorate the winning season, and it makes me feel really proud and honoured to be part of something that big.”
Hannay and a few fellow Rider Cheer Team 2025 champs showing off their rings (Photo via Rider Cheer Team on Facebook)
Approaching the Labour Day Classic
Bringing things back to current season at hand, Hannay and the Rider Cheer Team have a big weekend ahead of them with the rival Winnipeg Blue Bombers coming to town.
It’s not just the players who need to lock in for the Labour Day Classic.
“We love Labour Day,” said Hannay. “On the cheer team side of things, we really zero in on our dancing and we pick our best two routines to showcase. Get those cleaned up and ready to go for field.”
The big game isn’t for the faint of heart.
“We also have to physically and mentally prepare as well on the side, because it is the loudest game of the year,” said Rosetown’s own. “The fans in the stadium are packed. It’s crazy, it’s loud, it’s exciting. We just need to make sure on the sidelines we are bringing all the energy, all the excitement, hyping up the crowd and doing our part to support the team.”
Rosetown’s Roughrider connections
Boasting their iconic green and white themed water tower, Rosetown residents have to be proud of their connections to the Roughriders.
While she can claim team seniority, Hannay says it’s been amazing to see fellow Rosetown native Daniel Wiebe turn his opportunity into a strong rookie season so far with the Roughriders, Wiebe coming off the best game of his career last week against the Argos.
“Another local connection. I feel like we are putting Rosetown, and West Central on the map a little bit so it’s really cool.”
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Sharing her Rosetown roots has been one of the most fun parts of the job for Hannay.
“I love being able to go represent the Roughriders and tell people I am from Rosetown. Saskatchewan is so small, there is always a connection somewhere.”
Hannay’s hometown support provides her a hype-squad of her own at every Riders home game.
“My family comes out to almost every game. They go in the front row and yell for the cheerleaders.”
Returning the favour, Hannay comes back home every summer to put on a dance camp.
“Just kind of share my love for dance and the Riders with the younger dancers in the community, which I love.”
Perhaps she can be the source of inspiration for a future Grey Cup champion, just like her idol back at Rosetown Central High School.
“I have to give a special shoutout to my high school teacher Mr. McPhee,” said the RCHS alum, “Right from the beginning of Rush he was so supportive. Having my picture on his personal ‘Wall of Fame’, he comes out to the Rider games, so it’s those people who make it really special and so proud.”