Brett Lauther will soon be a Merlis Belsher Place-kicker once more.<\/p>\n
The Saskatchewan Roughriders\u2019 placement specialist excitedly awaits the fourth annual Roughrider Foundation Winter Classic, to be played Jan. 31 on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s home since its inception in 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s kind of surreal,\u201d Lauther marvels. \u201cEven saying that it\u2019s at four, it still feels like the first one a little bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lot of good staff members and on our board, so it\u2019s a bit of plug-and-play. We kind of have the formula down now.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo say we\u2019re at the fourth one now, it\u2019s super-cool, but hopefully this keeps going well after my time playing for the Riders.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s in the Roughriders\u2019 receiving corps, is now preparing for his third consecutive year as a captain.<\/p>\n
Former Anaheim Ducks star Ryan Getzlaf \u2014\u00a0Chris\u2019s younger brother \u2014\u00a0was one of the marquee attractions two years ago.<\/p>\n
Regina Pats legend Mike Sillinger, himself a former Duck, returns to the Classic for a second consecutive year.<\/p>\n
Also of note is the Winter Classic debut of former NHL defenceman Mike Commodore, who has become one of the sport\u2019s most popular and colourful commentators.<\/p>\n
Commodore, who helped the Carolina Hurricanes win a Stanley Cup in 2006, brings even more championship credentials to the latest Winter Classic.<\/p>\n
For the first time, a Winter Classic is being held on the heels of a Roughriders Grey Cup victory.<\/p>\n
The CFL\u2019s championship trophy will be an added attraction at the Jan. 31 game.<\/p>\n
Attendees will be able to have pictures taken with the Grey Cup on the concourse at Merlis Belsher Place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s just what it\u2019s all about in this province, sharing (the Cup) all over the province,\u201d Lauther said. \u201cYou know how much it means, with the Roughriders being a community-owned team.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to have the Cup in Saskatoon for the weekend. We have a lot of fans there and it\u2019s where we have training camp every year. The Huskies are big supporters of the team as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s definitely a lot more going on outside the game, but it\u2019s all good stuff,\u201d Lauther said. \u201cWe\u2019re extremely busy, but this is something that\u2019s super important to me and the Foundation and everyone involved, so the show goes on.\u201d<\/p>\n
The lineups will include an assortment of current and former Roughriders players, such as Lauther, Getzlaf, Noah Zerr<\/a>, Mitch Picton, Nick Wiebe and Andy Fantuz<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sillinger, Commodore and Ryan Bayda are among the former NHLers who are to take part.<\/p>\n 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 \u2014 the latter of whom was named the Most Valuable Canadian in the 2025 Grey Cup Game.<\/p>\n Asked why Emilus isn\u2019t on either team\u2019s roster, Lauther replied: \u201cSam\u2019s too good of a football player. I don\u2019t want J.O. (Vice-President of Football Operations\/General Manager Jeremy O\u2019Day) to cut me, so we\u2019re not letting Sam put on the skates.\u201d<\/p>\n