Saskatchewan Roughriders Foundation Winter Classic hockey game raises $25,000 for local charity

Courtesy: Brett Lauther

Football fans are a generous group of people, especially those in the province of Saskatchewan.

Kicker Brett Lauther announced that the Roughriders Foundation Winter Classic charity hockey game raised $25,000 for KidSport Saskatchewan.

It’s a charity that provides grants to help cover the costs so that all kids between the ages of five and 18 can play a season of sport in Saskatchewan, according to the organization’s website.

The game featured plenty of current Riders such as Lauther, who captained one of the teams, receiver Brayden Lenius, long snapper Jorgen Hus and offensive lineman Evan Johnson, and Riders alumni such as Rob Bagg, his team’s captain, Chris Getzlaf, Dan Clark and Jason Clermont as well as current University of Saskatchewan football coach Scott Flory. The game was won by Lauther’s side 8-7, according to Rob Vanstone.

The lineup also included a number of former NHL players such as Ryan Bayda, Byron Bitz, Ryan Keller, Jeremy Reich, James Wright and Saskatchewan native and Stanley Cup champion goalie Braden Holtby.

This was the first year for the charity hockey game and Lauther, who is a KidSport ambassador and helped organize the event, is hoping to make this a yearly event in Saskatchewan.