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Kienan LaFrance and Patrick Neufeld always dreamed about playing in the Labour Day Classic – but now it’s for the CFL teams they grew up booing.
Neufeld, a guard with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, grew up in Regina and then played two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“I grew up going to Rider games as a kid and having season tickets and having a Gene Makowsky jersey,” Neufeld said.
Meanwhile, LaFrance, who is a running back with the Roughriders, would sometimes make the trek from his hometown of Winnipeg to Regina to watch the annual clash between the two rivals.
“It was fun. I went to a few games in the past with some family so just being there, it’s a great environment. Both the Banjo Bowl and Labour Day were pretty sweet games to be a part of but growing up and being able to see the environment around it was pretty cool,” LaFrance said.
While Neufeld got to begin his career with his home-province Riders, he was traded to the Blue Bombers in 2013. Now, he welcomes the challenge that comes with being the away team at Mosaic Stadium.
“It’s a group of 45 guys in blue and gold going into the most away game in the CFL and it’s just a crazy fun atmosphere and the most traditional kind of rivalry and physical rivalry in the CFL,” Neufeld said.
Neufeld remembers the first time he walked out of the visitors tunnel at Mosaic Stadium on Labour Day.
“It was definitely the loudest I’ve ever been booed. (It was) definitely an eye-opener but was to be expected,” Neufeld said. “It’s a next level of loudness that really kicks up on Labour Day.”
Neufeld admitted he was a contributor to that hostile environment growing up in Saskatchewan.
“As a kid, it’s bred in you that you’ve got to be loud on Labour Day and cheer as loud as you can to make it hard on the (Winnipeg) offence,” Neufeld said. “That’s what we expect still. Every year I’ve played in the game – whether I’ve been a Roughrider or been a Winnipeg Blue Bomber – it’s crazy loud.
“When you’re a Rider on Labour Day, it’s all love and when you’re a Bomber on Labour Day, it’s all hate.”
Neufeld and the rest of the Bombers’ offensive line will have their hands full against the Riders’ pass rush. The Riders have a league-leading 14 sacks through three games.
While LaFrance used to boo the Riders, he is now trying to do all he can to help the Riders continue their dominance in the game – but his friends don’t let him off easy.
“I wouldn’t expect them to go back and forth between their teams. It’s all in love and it’s all in fun,” LaFrance said. “When I get back to the city, it’s all love and all hate at the same time and some chirps back and forth with the friends. You’ve got to learn to live with that stuff. It’s fun.”
The Riders have won 14 of the past 15 Classics, with Winnipeg’s only win in the span coming in 2016. The 2021 matchup will be the 57th meeting overall between the two teams on Labour Day Weekend. The Riders have won 37 of them. Kickoff for the game is set for 4 p.m.
“Even explaining it to the new guys, they are starting to see pretty quickly how much excitement comes around this game in the facility. Even from a coaching standpoint, I think everyone is just geared up a little bit more when it comes to the rivalry games this weekend. I think it’s fun and an experience and for the new guys that are going to get to experience it, it’s going to be fun for them as well,” LaFrance said.
Neufeld said the rivalry between the two clubs is the greatest in the CFL.
“I think guys playing in this game play with another level and another gear because of that tradition and those childhood memories of being a Bomber fan or Rider fan,” Neufeld said. “I think this weekend brings out the best in all facets of football from the fans to the players to the coaching so it’s a great weekend for all things football.”
