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Even though Nick Wiebe still calls himself a proud Albertan, the province of Saskatchewan has been home to the linebacker for the last five years.
He spent the first three in Saskatoon with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, before heading south to Regina in 2024 to turn professional with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
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“My dad always says I’m kind of an adopted son of Saskatchewan at this point,” Wiebe said.
“I always take a lot of pride in that. I love the province, I love the people here. I wouldn’t have it any other way, I’d love to spend the next 10 years here too.”
Wiebe is coming off a Grey Cup championship with the Roughriders last season after making 22 combined defensive and special teams tackles, but is now preparing for a different kind of meaningful game.
On Saturday, Wiebe will be part of a group of Huskies graduates returning to Griffiths Stadium as the Roughriders will face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the first CFL pre-season game in Saskatoon since 1991.
“It’s just cool to have the northern Saskatchewan fan base represented this year,” Wiebe said.
“Them having to drive south to Regina for all the games and (now) get one in your backyard up here this year, so that will be cool.”
The Roughriders will close out their pre-season schedule at the same field they’ve spent the last two and a half weeks of rookie and training camp on, including the linebacker Wiebe.
He’s one of two players at Roughriders camp with that last name, as his former Huskies teammate Daniel Wiebe is also gunning for a spot in the Week 1 lineup.
“Never enough Wiebes,” Nick said. “We bring a certain grit to that locker room. It’s a bit of a Prairie last name, so you got to love that. It does get a little confusing, I won’t lie to you.”
Saskatchewan Roughriders prospect Daniel Wiebe holds the single-season and career receiving touchdown records for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)
For Daniel, the gap since his last game at Griffiths Stadium is much shorter as he captured the Mitchell Bowl with a touchdown in the Huskies’ 22-11 victory over the Queen’s Gaels on Nov. 15, 2025.
Now getting set to play a CFL pre-season game on that same field, the wide receiver is pinching himself ahead of kickoff.
“It gives me chills right now thinking about it I can’t lie,” Daniel said. “I’m really excited. I’m just trying to stay in the moment for now, but holy I’m looking forward to it.”
The Rosetown, Sask. athlete closed out his U Sports career last season with the Huskies by becoming the program’s all-time and single-season touchdown receptions leader.
Those aren’t the first memories he looks back on when it comes to his Huskies career, however.
“I remember I was a rookie and I had a post (route),” Daniel said.
“Mason Nyhus threw just a perfect ball, wide open and I dropped it. It’s weird that one stands out because that was the moment where I was like, ‘Okay, I really got to work on things you know?’”
Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Nelson Lokombo will play in his first game at Griffiths Stadium since departing the University of Saskatchewan Huskies program in 2019. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)
Defensive back Nelson Lokombo is the furthest distanced from his time suiting up for the Huskies, as he’s become an everyday starter at free safety for the Roughriders.
Still, he often gets a moment during training camp to reflect on the role Saskatoon played in his journey to becoming a Grey Cup champion.
“There’s always a point during camp where I’m like, ‘Man, it’s cool that I get to be back here where really it all started and where I played my (university) ball at,’” Lokombo said.
“Even staying at the dorms here, I stayed here my first year. It’s always a wave of memories initially when I get here.”
A sixth season with the Roughriders awaits the 27-year-old, half a decade removed from causing havoc in the secondary for the Huskies.
Lokombo said he remembers those crowds well during his time in Saskatoon, which were punctuated with plenty of victories.
“It was always a great atmosphere playing here at Griffiths,” Lokombo said.
“There was a lot of winning, there was a lot of support from the fan base and some good times. It was really cool, I’m excited to get the opportunity to play here. The last time I played (here) was in 2019, so it’s been a long time.”
All three will be familiar faces to longtime football fans in Saskatoon on Saturday, as they complete a full circle moment on a piece of turf which was pivotal in launching their football careers.
“I feel like I did a lot of growing in Saskatoon and at the U of S,” Nick said. “To have those people in the stands and be able to play in front of them again is pretty special.”
Riders training camp notes
The Roughriders were on the field for less than an hour on Friday, as they completed their final walkthrough before their pre-season game against the Blue Bombers.
Saskatchewan will be dressing a veteran-heavy roster for their second exhibition game with all-stars such as running back A.J. Ouellette, wide receivers KeeSean Johnson, Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker, plus defensive standouts Jameer Thurman, Rolan Milligan Jr. and Tevaughn Campbell starting.
As for quarterback Trevor Harris, he’ll make his pre-season debut against Winnipeg as he’s also listed to start Saturday night.
How many series he’ll play is still up in the air, as head coach Corey Mace said Harris will be on he field “the perfect amount” versus the Blue Bombers.
The 112th Grey Cup’s most valuable player however, is preparing for a long night.
“Whatever (Mace) prescribes is what I’m going to do, but I’m prepared to play all four quarters,” Harris said.
“If don’t have that mindset, if you just say, ‘I want to play good for a series, or two series, or a quarter,’ I feel like you’re going to leave something in the tank.”
Two rookies in Erik Andersen and Jaison Williams will be starting for the Roughriders on the offensive line, with Zack Fry and Jermarcus Hardrick not expected to play.
According to Mace, it’s a perfect chance for both to make an impact and solidify a spot on the roster.
“Sometimes you got to grow up fast,” Mace said.
“These guys, they present a lot of different things defensively that they might have to find the answers to those equations. You’re going to get a mental test, you’re going to get a physical test, but we feel they’re ready for that.”
Williams, who signed with Saskatchewan after six seasons at Youngstown State University and a stint at New York Giants training camp, said he’s trying to keep Saturday’s game in perspective.
“I’ve been doing this my whole life,” Williams said.
“Now it’s the professional stage, but I’ve been doing it my whole life. Obviously I’m recognizing that it is a big moment, but not making the moment bigger than it actually is.”
Like the former Huskies making their return to their university field, Mace added he’s excited to walk into the energy of Griffiths Stadium on Saturday.
“I’m going to look out my dorm room and see how early people are out there in the beer gardens,” Mace said.
“Kind of gives me an idea of how loud they’re going to be. Man, what an experience. I’m happy these guys will still have an opportunity to hear Rider Nation.”
The Roughriders and Blue Bombers game is set for a 5 p.m. kickoff.
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