Your Riders are saying goodbye to Mitch Picton
Oh, my heart, eh? You know, you expect the big trades, the new signings, but sometimes it’s the quiet goodbyes that hit you right in the gut. Mitch Picton, one of our own Regina boys, has announced he’s retiring after eight years with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He got to go out on his own terms, as a Grey Cup champion, which, for a local kid, has to be the dream. He's been a dependable guy on the field, one of those steady hands you could always count on, even if he wasn't always making the splashy headlines.
### Why This Hurts So Good
For us Rider fans, it’s always special when a local player makes it onto the team, let alone spends eight years with the green and white. Mitch came up through Dr. Martin LeBoldus High School, played for the University of Regina Rams, and then, boom, he’s in the CFL, playing right here at Mosaic Stadium. That’s the kind of story kids growing up in the Cathedral District or out in Harbour Landing dream about when they’re tossing the football around Wascana Park. It’s a testament to the talent we grow right here, eh?
* Picton played 46 games for the Riders. * He caught 92 passes for 991 yards. * He scored 6 touchdowns. * He’s a Grey Cup champion, which is all that really matters in the end, isn't it?
This is Regina — yeah, we know what it sounds like, and we've heard your joke. Now sit down and listen. It’s hard to say goodbye to a player like Mitch, who embodies that homegrown spirit. It’s more than just a player leaving; it’s a piece of that local pride, that connection we all feel to this team. It reminds you that the Rider Nation is truly a family, and saying farewell to one of our own always feels a bit like a Sunday dinner when someone moves away. We wish him nothing but the best, oh for sure.
This is Darlene Chicken-Lawson, and you’ve been listening to The Buzz.
You can get all the morning chatter and more over at mornings.live, eh?