OTTAWA — It’s old home week for Kienan LaFrance.
On Thursday, the 26-year-old product of Winnipeg returned to TD Place, the stadium that was home to him during his two CFL seasons with the Ottawa Redblacks.
On Friday, LaFrance will come out of a different tunnel and take the field as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in their game against the Redblacks (5 p.m., CKRM, TSN).
“It’s going to be a little different,” the tailback acknowledged during a chat with reporters outside the Roughriders’ locker room. “It’s going to bring back some memories for sure.
“I was eager to maybe go step on the field just now, but I think I’m going to hold off on it. I’m definitely excited to be in new colours and contribute to my team.”
LaFrance contributed mightily to Ottawa’s run to the Grey Cup title in 2016.
A sixth-round pick (45th overall) of the Redblacks in the 2015 CFL draft, the former University of Manitoba Bisons star took over as Ottawa’s starting tailback after Mossis Madu suffered an injury in the East Division final. Over the Redblacks’ next two games, LaFrance rushed for 199 yards to help them win the Grey Cup.
He carried 25 times for 157 yards and a touchdown in Ottawa’s 35-23 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos in the East Division final on Nov. 20. A week later, he had 11 carries for 42 yards and six catches for 31 yards in the Redblacks’ 39-33 overtime win over the Calgary Stampeders in the Grey Cup game.
LaFrance signed as a free agent with the Roughriders in February and, on Friday, will face his former team for the first time.
“I definitely left off on a good note, I would say,” he said of his time in Ottawa. “It’s just nice to be back in the city, nice to rekindle some of the relationships and see some guys. I’m happy about it.”
On Thursday, he entered the stadium with Roughriders quarterback Kevin Glenn and head coach-GM Chris Jones and headed toward a waiting group of reporters. En route, LaFrance passed the Ottawa dressing room without breaking stride.
Asked if it was odd to not stop at his former stomping grounds, LaFrance chuckled and replied: “I walked right past it and didn’t even think about it.”
Before fulfilling his media obligations, LaFrance met a few of his former teammates down the hall from the visitors’ locker room. Those face-to-face meetings were the latest interactions between LaFrance and some of the Redblacks this week.
“Everybody’s chirping for sure,” he said with a grin. “But it’s cool to see all these guys out here again and reconnect with them and talk a little bit of smack with them and (on Friday) we’ll just let it lay on the field.”
•••
The Roughriders put receivers Devon Bailey and Naaman Roosevelt on their six-game injured list Thursday.
Both players were injured during Sunday’s 15-9 loss to the visiting Stampeders. Bailey went down in the fourth quarter after taking a big hit while making a touchdown reception. Roosevelt left in the second quarter after absorbing a high hit and then smacking his head on the turf.
Brett Blaszko is to take Bailey’s roster spot Friday, while Antwane Grant is to replace Roosevelt.
On Thursday, Jones said Roosevelt — the Roughriders’ leading receiver this season — will stay on the six-game list “until we know exactly how long he’ll be out.”
Centre Dan Clark and defensive tackle Zach Minter were among the Roughriders who were eligible to come off the six-game list for Friday’s game, but Jones said neither of those veterans was ready to go at 100 per cent.
Saskatchewan currently has 19 players on its six-game injured list and one player on the one-game.
•••
Fortunately for the Roughriders, Glenn hasn’t gone on an injured list this season.
The 17-year CFL veteran did miss Saskatchewan’s game Sept. 15 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with a bruised right hand — an injury he suffered during a contest Sept. 9 versus the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — but Glenn returned for Sunday’s clash with Calgary.
On Thursday, Glenn was asked about his health.
“I’m pretty good, to be 38 and playing this sport,” he replied. “That’s just what it is with football …
“It’s the whole, ‘Are you hurt or are you injured?’ Everybody’s hurt. We play a very physical sport and, at times, you’re going to get the dings and bruises and you’re going to have to play through them. That’s just what happens. You never really heal until the off-season when you’re not running into somebody.”
•••
The CFL announced Thursday that Roughriders receiver Duron Carter had been fined for violating the league’s social media policy.
Carter was critical of the officiating crew that worked Sunday’s game and the way he felt it handled the hit on Roosevelt. Carter opted to tweet his thoughts on the matter — and the league replied Thursday with a fine.
As per its established practice, the CFL didn’t disclose the amount of the fine.
