We are still waiting for an X-ception.<\/p>\n
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have yet to dress \u2014 or even sign \u2014\u00a0a player whose surname begins with X.<\/p>\n
I was reminded of that on Tuesday night, while watching the Montreal Canadiens defeat the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1.<\/p>\n
Montreal\u2019s lineup included defenceman Arber Xhekaj, who in October of 2022 became the first NHL player with a surname beginning with X.<\/p>\n
Xhekaj is among 8,700 players who have suited up for at least one NHL regular-season game.<\/p>\n
The Roughriders, by contrast, have played or auditioned 4,821 gridders since the team\u2019s inception as the Regina Rugby Club in 1910.<\/p>\n
Of those 4,821 people, 2,214 have dressed for at least one regular-season or playoff contest.<\/p>\n
But we have yet to put an X beside the X column, as it were.<\/p>\n
In the NFL, the X-clusive fraternity consists of Oshane Ximines \u2014\u00a0an edge rusher with the New York Giants (2019 to 2023) and New England Patriots (2024).<\/p>\n
Ximines stands alone among 32,000-plus players who have seen active duty for an NFL or AFL team. (No stats, unfortunately, on the XFL!)<\/p>\n
The CFL, to this point, is X-less \u2014\u00a0unless first names are taken into consideration.<\/p>\n
Five players named Xavier have been under contract to Saskatchewan:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Xavier Adibi (linebacker, 2014).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Xavier Fulton (offensive lineman, 2012 to 2016).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Xavier Turner (running back, 2021).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Xavier Ubosi (receiver, 2022).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Xavier Walker (defensive back, 2016).<\/p>\n
Only one of those players \u2014\u00a0Fulton \u2014\u00a0has appeared in a regular-season game. Most memorably, he was the starting left tackle for the 2013 Grey Cup champions.<\/p>\n
Despite all of the above, football continues to be a game of X\u2019s and O\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u2022 X-TRA POINT: Sixteen products of St. Francis Xavier University have tried out for the Roughriders. Seven of them went on to represent the Green and White in regular-season competition \u2014 linebackers Paul Frlan (1997-98), Mike McCullough (2003-13) and Henoc Muamba (2016-17), defensive backs Imokhai Atogwe (2006-07) and Raye Hartmann (2016), receiver Devon Bailey (2017-18) and halfback Ken Townsend (1959).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Let\u2019s not forget Cincinnati-based Xavier University, which has brought us two X-Roughriders \u2014 halfback Jim Farasey (1938) and offensive lineman Russ Goings (1959).<\/p>\n
SURNAME STORY<\/p>\n
\u2022 Yes, dear reader, our expansive all-time players list includes Cummings and Goings. We have just referenced Russ Goings. Let\u2019s not forget defensive lineman Darious Cummings, who was on the practice roster in August of 2017.<\/p>\n
\u2022 In 1974, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted two future Hall of Fame receivers \u2014 Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. Swann and Stallworth are also part of the Roughriders\u2019 personnel records. Charles Swann, a receiver, attended the Roughriders\u2019 training camp in 1993. Defensive back Rollins Stallworth tried out for our favourite CFL team in 2016. It is important to note that Stallworth played receiver at Stanford.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Our history also includes Swann Lake \u2014 with all due appreciation to Charles Swann and a current Roughrider, defensive lineman Lake Korte-Moore.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The personnel files also include a Nurse and a Doctor. Defensive back Josh Nurse attended training camp in 2022. Middle wing Jim Doctor participated in one playoff game (1928) and one exhibition contest (1932).<\/p>\n
FITTING FOOTBALL FEEDERS<\/p>\n
\u2022 The most fitting collegiate affiliation belongs to running back Olaf Gunderson, who attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. St. Olaf\u2019s Olaf tried out for the Roughriders in 1972.<\/p>\n
\u2022 From the it-was-meant-to-be department, we bring you Bernie Bucholtz and Brian McKee, both of whom played junior football in Ontario for the North Bay Roughriders. Bucholtz, a running back, played in two games with Saskatchewan in 1955 and attended training camp the following year. McKee, a fullback, was at camp in 1955.<\/p>\n
WHAT\u2019S IN A NICKNAME?<\/p>\n
\u2022 Nicknames? We have nicknames! Darryl (Corky) Barrett, Jack (Jersey) Campbell, C.R. (Bobs) Davidson, Alfred (Jitter) Fields, Orville (Fishy) Heron, Sylvester (Molly) McGee, Courtland (Slabs) Merrick, Cory (Poop) Johnson, Joe (Joker) Milovanov, Llewellyn (Yo) Murphy, Walter (Oke) Olson, John (Bricks) Peebles, Fred (Tubby) Renwick, Shaunterous (Boo) Robinson, William (Buck) Rogers, Lafayette (Skippy) Spruill, Harry (Harpo) Stilwell, Hartzell (Moose) Stinson, Neil (Piffles) Taylor, Russell (Punk) Thomson, Jerry (Pee Wee) Wasnik and Frank (Hoot) York.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Alas, the historical record does not include the actual first names for Dope Morrison (1911), Smoke Robson (1919-20) and Smokey Wilson (1943). If you happen to know the answer, please let me know!<\/p>\n
\u2022 Best current NHL nickname: Wi-Fi \u2014 the label that has been attached to the aforementioned Arber Xhekaj because, as explained by AI, \u201chis last name resembles a complex, random Wi-Fi router password.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Best NFL nickname: Walter (Sneeze) Achiu, who played for the Dayton Triangles in 1927 and 1928.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Defensive end\/special teams sensation Aaron Patrick in 2025 became the third player from Dayton, Ohio to play a meaningful game for the Roughriders. He was preceded by halfback Hal Williams (1960) and offensive lineman Don Swafford (1980-83).<\/p>\n
SHORTS\u2019 STORY<\/p>\n
\u2022 Swafford, who was named the Roughriders\u2019 Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 1981 and 1982, completed his time in Saskatchewan by playing in the team\u2019s first two regular-season games of 1983. After that, a Roughriders offensive lineman was not classified as an American until Pete Shorts made his CFL debut against the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sept. 10, 1995. Days between starting American offensive linemen: 4,439.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Shorts was not described by his surname. He was listed at 6-foot-8.<\/p>\n
\u2022 How times have changed. The Roughriders started three American offensive linemen for most of the 2025 regular season. In the playoffs, the team employed four American starters (Jermarcus Hardrick, Jacob Brammer, Payton Collins and Trevon Tate). Trevor Harris was not sacked in the Western Final or the Grey Cup Game.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Until November of 2025, Saskatchewan had not started four American offensive linemen since the 1976 playoffs (Mike Dirks, Ralph Galloway, Sam Holden, Joe Miller).<\/p>\n
GREEN GEOGRAPHY<\/p>\n
\u2022 In 2025, the Roughriders added Eatonia to a geographic list that also included Estonia. Eatonia-born defensive lineman Johnathon Stevens attended Coors Light Training Camp in 2025 and spent time on the practice roster before rejoining the Saskatoon Hilltops. Running back Erkki Pukonen \u2014 from Pandivere, Estonia \u2014 attended training camp in 1966 after being drafted in the third round. Pukonen played collegiately at the University of Toronto.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Eatonia is among 94 players\u2019 birthplaces in Roughriders history. See also: Abernethy (one player), Allan (1), Annaheim (1), Assiniboia (2), Balcarres (1), Beechy (1), Bienfait (2), Big River (2), Biggar (1), Bladworth (3), Borden (1), Buchanan (2), Cabri (2), Cannington Manor (1), Canora (2), Caronport (2), Central Butte (1), Colgate (1), Cupar (1), Dafoe (1), Davidson (1), Delisle (1), Dysart (5), Earl Grey (1), Edenwold (1), Elfros (1), Estevan (2), Foam Lake (1), Fort Qu\u2019Appelle (1), Francis (1), Gainsborough (1), Galilee (1), Glaslyn (1), Goodwater (1), Govan (1), Gull Lake (3), Hanley (1), Hazenmore (1), Herbert (1), Holdfast (2), Hudson Bay (1), Humboldt (3), Indian Head (1), Ituna (1), Kamsack (1), Kenlis (1), Kinistino (1), Kipling (1), Lafleche (1), Langenburg (1), Lipton (3), Lumsden (1), Maple Creek (1), Markinch (1), McKague (1), Melfort (5), Melville (2), Meskanew (1), Milestone (4), Moose Jaw (21), Moosomin (1), Mortlach (1), Naicam (1), Neudorf (2), Norquay (1), North Battleford (4), Ogema (2), Outlook (1), Pense (2), Pilger (1), Pilot Butte (1), Prince Albert (3), Qu\u2019Appelle (2), Redvers (1), Regina (297), Rosetown (2), Rosthern (1), Rouleau (2), Rowatt (2), Saskatoon (101), Shaunavon (2), Swift Current (2), Tregarva (1), Unity (1), Val Marie (1), Vibank (1), Viscount (1), Weyburn (5), Whitewood (1), Wilkie (3), Willowbrook (1), Yorkton (7) and \u2026 whew! \u2026 Zenon Park (1).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Viscount-born Al Johns, a Roughriders defensive lineman from 1980 to 1987, turned 70 on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Earl Grey is aptly represented by Mel Fiissel, who attended training camp in 1968. Fiessel was a star running back for the Regina Rams in 1966 when they won the first national junior title in franchise history. The Rams defeated Montreal\u2019s Notre Dame de Grace Maple Leafs 29-14 in Saskatoon on Nov. 11, 1966 \u2014 15 days before Saskatchewan\u2019s ice-breaking Grey Cup victory. The Roughriders also won 29-14, downing the Ottawa Rough Riders.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Notre Dame de Grace\u2019s starting quarterback against the Rams in the national final was Rip Ripstein, a Roughriders draftee in 1966. Given name: Richard Owen Ripstein.<\/p>\n
COUNTING COUNTRIES<\/p>\n
\u2022 Along with Canada and the United States, the Roughriders have signed or drafted players from American Samoa (4), Australia (10), Austria (2), Bahamas (1), Barbados (1), Belgium (1), Bermuda (1), Bosnia and Herzegovina (1), Burkina Faso (1), Cameroon (1), China (1), Chile (1), Congo (5), Croatia (1), Czechia (2), England (29), Estonia (1), Finland (1), France (5), Germany (6), Ghana (2), Greece (1), Haiti (2), Hungary (1), Ireland (2), Isle of Man (1), Italy (4), Ivory Coast (1), Jamaica (18), Kenya (1), Latvia (1), Lebanon (1), Mexico (4), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (3), Nicaragua (1), Nigeria (11), Norway (1), Philippines (2), Poland (1), Romania (3), Sierra Leone (1), Samoa (3), Scotland (6), Serbia (2), South Africa (2), Sweden (1), Switzerland (1), Tonga (2), Trinidad and Tobago (2), Yugoslavia (3) and Zaire (1).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Country count: 54.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Players born outside of Canada or the United States: 161 \u2014 or 3.4 per cent of the team\u2019s all-time total.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Eight non-North American-born players have suited up for Saskatchewan in a Grey Cup victory. Receiver Gil Petmanis (Riga, Latvia) was a member of the 1966 Roughriders. The 1989 edition included linebacker Tuineau Alipate (Tonga), running back Milson Jones (Linstead, Jamaica) and kicker Dave Ridgway (Stockport, England). Defensive lineman Luc Mullinder (Auckland, New Zealand) was with the 2007 Grey Cup champions. Dwight Anderson (Spanish Town, Jamaica) was a key part of the defensive backfield when Saskatchewan won it all in 2013. Most recently, defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado (Rome, Italy) and punter Jesse Mirco (Fremantle, Australia) were in the lineup on Nov. 16 when the Roughriders defeated the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 to win the 112th Grey Cup Game.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Other international players with the 2025 Roughriders: Defensive linemen Kendy Charles (Haiti), Charbel Dabire (Burkina Faso) and Sylvain Yondjouen (Ruisbroek, Belgium), offensive lineman Daniel Johnson (Nairobi, Kenya) and punter Joe Couch (Torquay, Australia). As well, Mullinder was part of CKRM\u2019s broadcast team, alongside Dave Thomas (Weyburn).<\/p>\n
\u2022 The lone Chinese-born player is Frank Hall, who grew up in San Francisco before starring at quarterback with USC. Hall, who was born in Tsingtao, tried out for the Roughriders in 1958.<\/p>\n
ROLL CREDITS \u2026<\/p>\n
\u2022 Nice people who deserve a plug: Barry Zerr, Brenda Edwards, Angela Tillier, Joshua Bell, Bob Krause, Dr. Tom Robinson, Mike O\u2019Donnell, Dylan Earis, Wayne Morsky, Xavier Fulton, Mel Fiissel, Lake Korte-Moore, Bill Dubecky, Al Johns, John Stallworth, Ralph Galloway, Aaron Patrick, Rod Schmidt, Tim Iannone, Chris Iannone, Sheryl Iannone, Ava Iannone, Thelma Loist, Megan McCormick and, with profuse thanks for a remarkable concert on Wednesday at Darke Hall, Michael Kaeshammer.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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