What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
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Previously, WHL players were declared ineligible to play NCAA hockey in the U.S.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders will need to name a new starting quarterback after placing Zach Collaros on the six-game injured list.
Collaros left last week’s 23-17 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats early in the first quarter after an illegal hit by linebacker Simoni Lawrence. Lawrence received a 25-yard penalty for the hit that caught the head of Collaros. As of Sunday afternoon, the CFL hadn’t decided if more discipline would be necessary.
“(Zach) won’t be with us for a while,” head coach Craig Dickenson said following Sunday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “We don’t want anybody to have health issues when they are done (playing football). We feel like we don’t want to make an emotional decision and do what’s best for Zach. He seems fine right now and he’s doing well, but we certainly want him to be well and healthy for down the road when he gets old like the rest of us.”
Dickenson wouldn’t confirm if Collaros suffered a concussion from the hit and said it was a group decision between the medical staff, management and Collaros to put the 30-year-old quarterback on the six-game list. Collaros missed four games due to concussions last season.
Left tackle Takoby Cofield rushed to check on Collaros after the hit.
“I just went there and tried to make sure (Zach) had his eyes open and was at least conscious,” Cofield said. “That was my biggest thing (was to) make sure he was conscious and just trying to get him to be responsive. If he was responsive with me then I knew at least he knew what was going on to some degree. That was my biggest concern.”
Cofield said the hit on Collaros was “not acceptable.”
“Everybody in the game is supposed to (try to) protect the quarterback or a defenseless player or a defenseless runner and you have to look to the (defence) to do their job just as much as the (offensive line) when it comes to protecting players,” Cofield said.
Cody Fajardo, Isaac Harker and Bryan Bennett (wearing #6) are the quarterbacks out on the field. Zach Collaros is not out here. #Riders #CFL pic.twitter.com/iI572yb5HR
— Britton Gray (@BrittonGray) June 16, 2019
The top two candidates to take Collaros’ place are two newcomers to the team this season; three-year CFL veteran Cody Fajardo and rookie Isaac Harker.
Fajardo signed with the team this past offseason after stints with the Toronto Argonauts and B.C. Lions. He replaced Collaros in the contest and threw for 66 yards after completing nine of 17 passes.
“It’s tough as a backup because you know anytime you play is probably a bad situation,” Fajardo said. “Obviously I wish the best for Zach and I wish he was still playing with us.”
Fajardo suffered an injury in the second half of the game against the Tiger-Cats which led to Harker taking snaps under centre. Harker completed eight of 14 passes for 128 yards but threw two interceptions, including one on a Hail Mary attempt on the last play of the game.
Fajardo, who hasn’t been the starting quarterback since he played for the University of Nevada, is excited about the opportunity.
“I feel like this time has been coming for me, I’ve been in this league for a while now,” Fajardo said. “Being a backup is a little bit harder because the game plan is tailored to the starter and now being the starter, the game plan can be tailored to my strengths.”
The team also signed quarterback Bryan Bennett Thursday. He spent the entire 2018 season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a backup after spending parts of training camp in 2017 with the Roughriders.
Dickenson said Harker and Fajardo will battle it out for the starting job as the team prepares to play the Ottawa Redblacks on the road Thursday. He also said both quarterbacks could see playing time.
“I’ll just talk to the offensive coaches and see who they feel most comfortable with,” Dickenson said.
Offensive coordinator Stephen McAdoo dealt with a similar situation last season when Collaros was injured, with Brandon bridge and David Watford splitting time at the quarterback position due to injuries. He said every time an injury occurs, it can be a learning experience to help deal with future situations.
“I think the biggest thing is understanding what (the new quarterback) does best,” McAdoo said. “Don’t put too much on his plate and make sure everyone around him is that much better.”
McAdoo said he saw good things from Fajardo and Harker when they were put into the game.
“I saw some things that we can build on. They saw the things that they did wrong and why. For Cody, it’s a thing of just getting settled in and putting the ball on the receivers and different things of that nature. For Harker, you’re talking about a guy coming in and seeing some defences he’s probably never seen before. It’s a learning experience – the learning curve is there and he’s got upside. I expect big things from both of them.”
Dariusz Bladek dealing with injury
Offensive lineman Dariusz Bladek suffered an apparent knee injury in the loss to the Tiger-Cats. Dickenson said it’s an MCL issue and wasn’t sure if he will also be put onto the six-game injured list.
Offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley is a candidate to replace Bladek but Dickenson said he hasn’t shown him he can be a starter on the line yet. Dickenson said practice roster offensive lineman Braden Schram could make a case to play in Thursday’s game as well.
The Roughriders will try to get into the win column against a Redblacks team that defeated the defending Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders in Week 1. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m.