Roughriders' wins literally leave their mark on Saskatchewan history

For the Saskatchewan Roughriders, victory is marked not just on the scoreboard, but literally on a piece of provincial history. A unique tradition, implemented in the Corey Mace era, sees players add a brand mark to a wooden plaque after every win inside Mosaic Stadium.

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We looked at starting a new tradition for us and to be able to pull in a piece of wood, you know, off the farm here in Saskatchewan, have it nicely put together with the Rider nation on it and just start a tradition that every win that we get we celebrate together and then branding off a tick mark for us.

The plaque itself is a tangible link to the province's heritage, crafted from wood salvaged from a potash mine in Esterhazy that dates back over 60 years. "Kind of pride ourselves on being Saskatchewan and embody what Saskatchewan is, hardworking and stuff like that, so the fact that it comes from Saskatchewan obviously makes it even better," said player Dhel Duncan-Busby.

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Kind of pride ourselves on being Saskatchewan and embody what Saskatchewan is, hardworking and stuff like that, so the fact that it comes from Saskatchewan obviously makes it even better.

This tradition began in 2025, the year before the team won the Grey Cup. The team's championship rings already bear 14 notches, representing the initial brands that kicked off the practice. Located in the player tunnel, the plaque serves as a constant reminder of the culture and standards the Roughriders strive to uphold.

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Going out there every game, seeing it and smacking it before I go to the field and getting that first little notch on it after the game, it means something to the team, and it means something to me as well.

"Going out there every game, seeing it and smacking it before I go to the field and getting that first little notch on it after the game, it means something to the team, and it means something to me as well," said quarterback James Letcher Jr. The honor of adding a brand is decided by head coach Corey Mace, with quarterback Trevor Harris receiving the privilege after a strong performance in week two of the current season. Many players, like Tevaughn Campbell, express a strong desire to add their mark, viewing it as a symbol of contributing to the team's success rather than personal recognition.

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It’s the ultimate, like, helping the team out, so that’s the goal for sure. That’d mean a lot.