Riders’ Dan Clark, Mario Alford win CFL awards

While the Saskatchewan Roughriders didn’t make the 2022 CFL playoffs, two of their players are still leaving Grey Cup week with some hardware.

Centre Dan Clark was named the winner of the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award on Thursday, while returner Mario Alford was named the CFL’s most outstanding special-teams player.

The awards ceremony was held at the Conexus Arts Centre as a part of Grey Cup week in Regina. The CFL championship game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts is set for Sunday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.

Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award: Dan Clark

Clark was recognized not only for his ability to persevere through serious injury, but for his community involvement as well.

The Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award is handed out to a Canadian player who demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s veterans: Strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contribution to Canadian communities.

“It means everything. It means everything I’ve worked for and every leadership capability in myself … I will choose everyone in that locker room over myself. No matter the situation, I will put my brothers before me,” Clark said.

The Regina-born centre suffered a broken fibula and a shifted ankle bone in Week 2 of the season in a game against the Edmonton Elks. He was able to return 15 weeks later and finish out the season for the Riders.

“It wasn’t so much about getting back and having that success, it was about going to war with my brothers on that offensive line,” Clark said. “I wanted to go to war with them every single day.

“This trophy means everything to me.”

It was the second serious injury Clark had to deal with since 2019. That year, he was ejected from a car in the off-season, but never missed a snap that season.

The 34-year-old has championed mental wellness, healthy relationships and anti-bullying across the province and visited more than 20 schools in 2022 alone in support of youth literacy.

“The province gave me everything. The province gave me the opportunity to dream big, the province gave me Rider Nation and the belief that I could be the next Gene Makowsky,” Clark said.

“At that point in my career, when I had the opportunity to start doing community work, I started to see that engagement and I started to see kids look up to me. I hope I made the kids in the crowd, if I was myself, change what was going on in their life or stand up for themselves.

“Now all I want to do is to make my province a better place for my son and daughter to grow up in. I want them to never be able to face a situation and think to themselves, ‘I’m just going to keep it to myself.’ I’d rather them talk to somebody. I’d rather them seek help. If we let youth know they’re not alone, that’s a big difference.”

It was Clark’s first time winning the award.

Fullback David Mackie (B.C. Lions), fullback Tanner Green (Edmonton), kicker Rene Paredes (Calgary Stampeders), fullback Mike Miller (Winnipeg), linebacker Curtis Newton (Hamilton Tiger-Cats), linebacker Henoc Muamba (Toronto), running back Brendan Gillanders (Ottawa Redblacks), and offensive lineman Landon Rice (Montreal Alouettes) were also nominated.

Most outstanding special-teams player: Mario Alford

Alford made history in 2022 and has been recognized as the CFL’s top contributor on special teams.

The 31-year-old became the fifth player in league history to record a returner hat trick — returning a punt, missed field goal and kickoff for touchdowns — during a season. His four touchdowns were also the most ever by a Saskatchewan kick returner in a season.

“I’ve been through a lot, being traded midway through the season. It’s a blessing,” Alford said. “If I’m healthy and playing 100 per cent of the time and I’m on the field — I get 10 to 12 punts or kick returns — something special is going to happen. That’s just how I feel and that’s my confidence (in myself).”

In total, the product of Greenville, Ga., recorded 43 punt returns for 524 yards and a touchdown, 37 kickoff returns for 937 yards and two touchdowns, and three missed field-goal returns for 129 yards and another major.

Alford started the season with the Alouettes but the play of Chandler Worthy — who was the East Division nominee for the award — prompted the Als to trade Alford to Saskatchewan in Week 5.

“It’s all business. I got hurt the first game of the season within the first 10 minutes of the game,” Alford said. “Next week, Worthy came up and took the league by surprise and he took over and did what he had to do.”

Earlier this week, Alford signed a one-year contract extension with the Riders.

“I love Rider Nation so I wanted to be back,” Alford said.

Most outstanding player: Zach Collaros

With a third Grey Cup appearance just days away, the 34-year-old Winnipeg quarterback is a back-to-back winner of the most outstanding player award.

Collaros threw for 4,183 yards and 37 touchdowns while leading the Bombers to a CFL-best 15-3 record and a second straight West final at IG Field in Winnipeg.

With Collaros at the helm, the Bombers are set to play in their third straight Grey Cup, winning the previous two.

Collaros joins Anthony Calvillo, Doug Flutie, Dieter Brock and Jackie Parker as the only players to claim the honour in consecutive years.

Als wide receiver Eugene Lewis was the other nominee.

Most outstanding defensive player: Lorenzo Mauldin IV

Mauldin tallied a league-leading 17 sacks in his first season with the Redblacks. He was the first Ottawa player to lead the league in sacks since Angelo Snipes did it in 1992.

The defensive end is the first Ottawa player to win the award since Greg Marshall in 1983.

Calgary defensive end Shawn Lemon was the other nominee.

Most outstanding Canadian: Nathan Rourke

The 24-year-old Lions quarterback lit the CFL world on fire with his play in 2022.

Despite only playing in 10 games in 2022, Rourke still ranked among the league leaders in passing stats. His 3,349 yards were sixth in the league and his 25 touchdowns were second.

The last quarterback to be nominated for the award was Gerry Dattilio (1980).

Reports are Rourke will be given NFL tryout opportunities.

Argos slotback Kurleigh Gittens Jr. was also a nominee.

Most outstanding offensive lineman: Stanley Bryant

The Bombers tackle has made history, becoming the only player to win the most outstanding offensive lineman award four times.

Bryant started all 17 games he dressed for this season and helped the Bombers allow the second-fewest number of sacks (29) while registering the second-most rushing yards.

Hamilton’s Brandon Revenberg was also nominated.

Most outstanding rookie: Dalton Schoen

Concerns around the depth of the Bombers’ receivers group were quickly put to rest with Schoen emerging in his first CFL season.

The 26-year-old led the CFL in receiving yards (1,441), average yards per catch (20.6) and touchdown receptions (16) while helping the Bombers to the best record in the CFL.

Montreal’s Tyson Philpot was also nominated for the award.

Coach of the year: Mike O’Shea

For the second straight season, the Winnipeg bench boss was named the CFL’s top coach.

O’Shea led Winnipeg to a league-best 15-3 record, including an 8-1 showing at IG Field and a 10-1 mark against divisional opponents. Winnipeg’s win total established a new franchise single-season record with the team reaching a fourth consecutive appearance in the West final.

The North Bay, Ont., product is the longest-tenured coach in the CFL and has a career record of 82-58. Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie was the other nominee.