Spring season happenings finally hit full speed for photo roundup

The Gordie Howe Sports Complex is fortunate that a number of CFL players train here during the off-season, and their presence brings a cool aspect.

All those CFL players, who work with the crew at Ignite Athletics, are usually looking for a way to give back to the community often helping coach football in younger age groups. Saskatchewan Roughriders right guard Evan Johnson is included in that group.

Johnson is well-known in football circles in Saskatoon having played on the offensive line for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team in the U Sports ranks from 2012 to 2016. He was one of the guest coaches that helped out with Saskatoon Minor Football’s annual Playground To Pros camp. While he has a busy schedule, he has gotten out into the community a few other fronts.

Our main feature story for the May 2023 upload of the “Howe Happenings” blog is a piece on Johnson. The piece is a timely one as Johnson will soon be starting training camp activities with the Roughriders.

The Roughriders will hold rookie camp from May 10 to 12 at Griffiths Stadium at the U of S and open main training camp at that same location on May 14.

On May 20, Johnson and the Roughriders will be on the Complex’s grounds as the CFL club will host its annual Green and White Day at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Roughriders President and CEO Craig Reynolds, Vice-President, General Manager Jeremy O’Day and Head Coach Craig Dickenson will give the Roughriders State of the Nation address and host a fan question and answer session at 1 p.m.

The Green and White game follows at 3 p.m. The afternoon will be great for families as there will be many kids’ activities include face painting, music, inflatables, performances by the 620 CKRM Pep Band, the 620 CKRM Rider Cheer Team and Gainer the Gopher. Following the Green and White game, fans are invited to line the fences for a player autograph session.

Along with the piece on Johnson, May’s “Howe Happenings” upload includes a photo roundup that saw the spring season quickly jump to full speed after snow stuck around to late in the third week of April.

You can find these items on the “Howe Happenings” blog at howehappenings306.blogspot.com.

New content will be released on the ninth day of each month. We hope you will enjoy the stories that make up the posts on the “Howe Happenings” blog.