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Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Nick Wiebe was one of the last people to talk to Jayden Dalke before the crash that took his life on Saturday.
“I spoke with JD when he was on his way home here. Was supposed to play a round of golf today, actually,” Wiebe said after Monday’s practice.
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“He was so excited to get back. He missed all of us during the bye week and just wanted to see all his boys again and just excited to see everybody. I think that’s the toughest part: talking to him that close in proximity to what happened.
“I think the one thing I’ll always be able to look back on and smile (at) is that we said we loved each other when we signed off the phone. The last thing I ever said to him was I loved him, so that’s something I’ll always be able to take solace in at least.”
Dalke died on Saturday night after a two-vehicle collision outside of Lumsden in a crash that also killed 22-year-old Bhishma Rajyaguru from Regina.
The RCMP released more details on Monday, indicating the initial investigation determined there was a collision Saturday between a silver SUV driven by the 30-year-old Dalke, and a black SUV driven by Rajyaguru.
Dalke’s SUV was travelling north in the southbound lane on Highway 11 between Regina and Lumsden, when the crash happened. Officers found alcohol and cannabis in a search of Dalke’s vehicle, according to the release.
The Riders were on the practice field when the details were released, and players indicated they didn’t know about the police statements.
Members of the CFL club were set to return to practice on Sunday to prepare for a Thursday night showdown at Mosaic Stadium against the Edmonton Elks.
Quarterback Trevor Harris said that morning he could tell something was wrong when he showed up to the stadium.
“Alarm bells started going off when I got in the facility. (Head coach Corey) Mace wouldn’t look me in the face, which was strange,” Harris said.
“I heard the team meeting got moved up and then the captains got a message to meet at 7:45 a.m. and I was just praying someone had gotten in trouble because it was the lesser of two evils.
“They delivered the news and it was heavy. It was a heavy day. We talk family a lot here and we mean that. Jayden is a family member so when that happens, it’s heavy. It’s hard.”
Mace admitted it was a tough day on Sunday.
“We have been preaching a lot of empathy, everybody be themselves. It was a difficult room to be in but the right people to be around for something like that,” Mace said.
“It’s a unique lifestyle we’ve chosen. Today and yesterday aside, we always have to answer questions about what we do and our job. When something like this happens, most people need some time. We don’t really get that luxury. You try to find a little bit of normalcy in what we do while also staring in the face of the inevitable.
“Just how we carry ourselves and how we move forward is the sweet spot for us. It’s not an easy thing but there’s a game to be played. It’s a big one.”
Mace, who has been Dalke’s coach since 2024, said he was a relentless competitor.
“He did things the hard way always. Even his journey to becoming a professional football player. A lot of people don’t make it in the journey he took. Journeys he had in the building … I benched Jayden for a few weeks because of penalties he was taking. For him to take the path of changing the way he played to benefit the team and be voted a team captain says a lot about him,” Mace said.
“Constantly a smile on his face, nonstop. Anyone who has the chance to meet him, whatever you think of him you are correct.”
Jameer Thurman has sat next to Dalke during the linebacker’s meetings over the past two seasons.
“We have work to do at the end of the day. We know he would want us to be here. He wouldn’t want us walking around and moping around,” Thurman said.
“It was tough, but I know he is always watching over us and making sure we are being held accountable for each other.
“Out here (Monday) it was tough having his picture up there on the screen all day. It was tough for me, but just having him here with us pushed us through the day and get to where we need to get to.”
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