“Thomas the Train” took it upon himself to train, train, train.
As a result, third-year Saskatchewan Roughriders running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon is “an efficient 10 pounds” lighter heading into Friday’s pre-season finale against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
His off-season workout regimen could be likened to that of fellow Roughriders ball-carrier A.J. Ouellette.
“Everybody’s giving love to A.J. for transforming his body, but Thomas did the same thing,” Head Coach Corey Mace said.
“He came back a little bit lighter, leaner, and he definitely looks faster. His foot speed is excellent.”
That was evident on Saturday, when the 28-year-old Delaware State University alumnus rushed six times for a game-high 41 yards in a pre-season clash at Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium.
Most memorably, he gained 18 and 11 yards on back-to-back third-quarter carries.
His average yards per carry (6.8) on Saturday was marginally higher than his lifetime CFL regular-season mark of 6.6 (the result of 30 rushes for 199 yards).
“The yards per carry for this guy in his entire career has been freaking sensational,” Mace marvelled, “and he just answers the bell every time that he’s called upon.”
The same approach served the Roughriders’ No. 30 well during a productive off-season as he and Winnipeg running back Michael Chris-Ike returned to their alma mater and worked out with a trainer in Delaware.
“It kept me right to be able to go there and work out intensively for a good two months and be on a strict diet and try to work on my speed every day,” the easygoing Bertrand-Hudon said.
“It gave me some good results and I’m very proud of it.”
As he should be.
“It feels good,” Bertrand-Hudon continued. “I always knew I had the running back stuff locked down a little bit, so just being able to bring my body back to be able to run the ball and do what I wanted to do in my head, it’s perfect.”
Not that he was a slouch, by any means, in previous years.
In 2024, for example, Bertrand-Hudon carried the ball 17 times for 103 yards. Most memorably, he had a nine-carry, 72-yard game that included a 26-yard touchdown run on Sept. 28th against the visiting Ottawa REDBLACKS.
Bertrand-Hudon was also a key contributor on special teams, registering seven tackles as part of the coverage unit and averaging 25.6 yards on five kickoff returns.
Judging by the early results from 2025, he could be even more impactful in the months ahead.
“I had been advised that my role might be changing coming into this season,” the 6-foot-0, 220-pounder said.
“Also last year, with some joints on my ankles, knees and legs, I just realized that I wasn’t moving as fast as I wanted to, so it was a personal decision.
“Regardless of where I was supposed to play, I was probably going to lose the weight.”
But he’ll never lose the catchy nickname.
“My head coach in college, Rod Milstead, just started calling me ‘The Canadian Truck, The Train, The Choo-Choo Train …,’ ” Bertrand-Hudon recalled with a laugh. “They just stuck with it.
“It’s a fun nickname. I’ve got a little celebration for it. I might try to practise it.”
The more training, the better, as Bertrand-Hudon appears poised for a career year in 2025.
“I don’t see it as what kind of year it could be for me,” he said. “It’s mostly with the team.
“We have an amazing group this year and the goal, really, is to win it all, so I’m staying focused on that.
“If I get some opportunities here and there, I’ll do my best to help the team as much as possible.”
