Three former Saskatchewan Roughrider players and a one former community builder will have their names forever etched into team history. On Wednesday the team announced that this year will be a celebration of Canadian talent with Chris Getzlaf and Andy Fantuz being inducted in the Plaza of Honour. The Class of 2021 will also include the Riders’ first black star Gabe Patterson, who will be inducted posthumously and Paul J. Hill who spent more than 22 years on the team’s Board and Management Council, will be inducted as a Builder. Festivities for the 34^th Annual SaskTel Plaza of Honour will take place on October 9^th.

Below is the press release from the Saskatchewan Roughriders:

2021 PLAZA OF HONOUR CLASS ANNOUNCED

– Festivities for the 34^th Annual SaskTel Plaza of Honour presented by AGT Foods take place October 9^th –

The Saskatchewan Roughrider Plaza of Honour Committee has announced four new members will be inducted into the Plaza of Honour as the class of 2021. This year will be a celebration of Canadian talent as Chris Getzlaf and Andy Fantuz will have their names forever etched into Saskatchewan Roughriders history. The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ first black star, Gabe Patterson, will be inducted posthumously and for his tireless commitment to the Roughriders, Paul J. Hill, who spent more than 22 years on the Club’s Board and Management Council, will be inducted as a Builder. 

The Plaza of Honour events, which are now overseen by the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation and a committee of volunteers, will include an additional piece going forward: the 13^th Fan Breakfast presented by SaskTel. 

This special event will happen the morning of the game, October 9^th, and provides an opportunity for Roughrider fans to meet and mingle with the inductees and share in a special morning in honour of the Riders’ dedicated fan base filled with good food and good beverages. Look for a brand-new award to be announced in the coming weeks which will be handed out at the breakfast. Tickets for the 13^th Fan Breakfast are $40 and on sale now. The Plaza of Honour dinner will be a small, invitation-only fundraising event for the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation.  

The annual Plaza of Honour has inducted 131 individuals who have made major contributions to the proud tradition of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club. The Club has also inducted the 1966, 1989 and 2007 Grey Cup championship teams.

For information on tickets contact the Saskatchewan Roughrider Ticket Office at 1-888-474-3377 or visit riderville.com/foundation.

Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation Executive Director Cindy Fuchs and Plaza of Honour inductee Chris Getzlaf will be available to media Wednesday, August 18^th at 3 p.m. on the concourse in front of Harvard’s Studio 620 Lounge.

Because of QCX set up on the footprint, if attending, please reach out to Arielle at arielle.zerr@saskriders.com for if you are attending for information on how to attend.

Andy Fantuz

#83

Receiver

2006-2011

• Born December 18, 1983 in Chatham, Ontario. 
• Attended Western University (2002-2005).
• Selected in the first round (3^rd overall) in 2006 CFL Draft by the Roughriders
• Played six of his 12 CFL seasons as Rider
• Made CFL debut July 22, 2006
• Played 77 regular-season games with the Green and White.
• Played in 7 playoff games.
• Played in three Grey Cup games: 2007, 2009, 2010
• 12^th all-time in receiving yards with 4,311 and 14^th all-time in receiving touchdowns with 23
• Ranks second and fourth all-time in receiving yards in a single game earning 255 yards on 10 receptions on September 17, 2010 and 240 yards on seven receptions on October 14, 2007
• Was the CFL’s top receiver in 2010 earning 1,380 yards
• Named a CFL All-Star and the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian in 2010
• One of only two Roughriders players to score a touchdown in multiple Grey Cup games (2007, 2009)
• Selected as the Most Outstanding Canadian in the 2007 Grey Cup
• Grey Cup champion in 2007    

Chris Getzlaf

#89

Receiver

2007-2015, 2017

• Born January 9, 1983.
• Played for the Regina Thunder and attended University of Regina, playing for the Rams (2005-2006)
• Selected in the fifth round (33^rd overall) in the 2007 CFL Draft by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• Traded to the Roughriders in August of 2007 and went on to play 10 seasons in Green and White (2007-2015, 2017)
• Played 119 regular season games as a Rider
• Had three 1,000 yard receiving seasons including playoffs (2010, 2011 and 2013)
• Ranks fifth in franchise history with 5,694 receiving yards and ranks sixth all-time with 37 receiving touchdowns.
• Played in 10 playoff games and three Grey Cup games (2009, 2010, 2013).
• Two-time CFL West Division All-Star (2012, 2013)
• Selected as the Most Outstanding Canadian in the 2013 Grey Cup
• Two-time Grey Cup Champion (2007 and 2013).

Paul J. Hill

Builder

• Graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1967, and earned a Master of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business in 1969
• Chair, President and CEO of The Hill Companies where he has overseen its extensive growth, now operating in the areas of real estate, insurance, media, oil and gas and manufacturing
• Served on the Roughriders’ Management Council and eventually its Board of Directors for more than 22 years.
• The Hill Companies of which he is the Chairman, President and CEO, have been supporters of the Saskatchewan Roughriders for more than 50 years.
• A key benefactor of the Club in some of its darkest days, allowed the Club to make payroll at certain points in its history.
• Driving force behind many Club initiatives including Telethons and Radiothons in 1987 and 1997, new turf campaigns in 2000 and 2007, the east and west side club seating builds in Historic Mosaic Stadium, the centennial fund and camera tower build
• A major sponsor of Saskatchewan hosted Grey Cups in 1995, 2003 and 2013
• A noted philanthropist, Hill was entrusted as a Knight of St. Sylvester by Pope Benedict XVI, received the Canada 125 Medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Order of Canada – one of the country’s highest civilian honours that recognizes outstanding achievement and service to the nation.
• Recognized with the Saskatchewan Order of Merit 2017

Gabe Patterson

Posthumous

Quarterback, Running Back, Defensive Back, Kicker

1946-1947

• Born September 19, 1919 in Greenwood, South Carolina
• Played college football at Kentucky State and the University of Pittsburgh
• Considered to be the Roughriders first black star, and just the second black player to play for the Club
• A three-way player making significant contributions on offence, defence and special teams over his two seasons
• Led the 1947 team in points with 36 – three, five-point touchdowns, three converts, five field goals and three singles in eight games while also adding two interceptions
• Earned 31 points in 1948 making two touchdowns, 14 converts, two field goals and two singles and added another three interceptions
• Two-time All-Star (1947, 1948)
• Regina Leader-Post accounts said Patterson was active in the community, volunteering to Coach football at Balfour Tech and making numerous community appearances
• Died in Pittsburgh at age 72 on October 26, 1991.