CFL.ca Staff

With Andy Fantuz set to make his much-anticipated return to Regina, CFL.ca takes a look back at some of the more memorable returns from former Roughriders in recent years, most of which didn’t go in the favour of the visiting team.

Whether they were traded, released or left on their own accord, these four players were once considered the talk of the town before quickly becoming the enemies once stepping onto Mosiac Field turf in opposition colours.

Corey Holmes
Years with Roughriders: 5
Departure: Traded to Hamilton for the first overall pick (Kerry Joseph) in the 2006 CFL Dispersal Draft
Return: Once voted by the fans as the city’s most popular player, RB Corey Holmes was traded to the Tiger-Cats after a career-year that saw him earn a league’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player nod.  His return to Regina was not nearly as joyful as his signature smile as he and the Ticats were thumped 46-15 with the tailback only rushing for 3 yards and catching the ball twice for 10.  Compounding matters was his former teammate Kenton Keith who went off for 148 yards on 13 carries for the Riders.

Kerry Joseph
Years with Roughriders: 2
Departure: Traded to Toronto in the off-season of 2007/2008
Return:  Although he personally didn’t have a poor night, Kerry Joseph failed to resemble the form that made him the league’s Most Outstanding Player when he was in Riderville upon his return as a Toronto Argonaut.  He passed for a solid 259 yards and 1 touchdown on 21 of 42 passing but the star of the day was a then little known pivot named Darian Durant who used the game as a springboard for his emergence.  Joseph and the Argos would fall 28-22. 

Paul McCallum
Years with the Roughriders: 12
Departure: Signed as a free agent with the BC Lions
Return:  McCallum’s return to Regina wasn’t  necessarily poor, in fact he punted 13 times for 472 yards.  The problem was a heavy amount ting of punting only means that his team could not sustain drives and it was his replacement, Luca Congi, that had the last laugh, kicking the eventual game-winning field goal to seal a 23-20 win for the Roughriders.

Henry Burris
Years with the Roughriders: 3
Departure: Signed as a free agent with the Calgary Stampeders in 2005
Return: Perhaps the player most closely resembling a ‘villain’ in his return to Regina, Henry Burris was one of the few that came back and captured a win.  In one of the most heated returns in recent memory, Burris passed for 292 yards on 15 of 16 passing in a 29-21 win, however, he did not record a touchdown pass.   

Andy Fantuz
Years with the Roughriders: 6
Departure: Signed as a free agent with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats prior to 2012 season
Return: In an off-season filled with dramatic trades and signings, Fantuz's story was arguably the most discussed. After becoming the darling of the Rider faithful for six seasons, Fantuz signed with the East Division's Ticats to remain closer to his family in Ontario. Upon his return, Fantuz managed to register just two first-half receptions for 39 yards, and fizzled throughout the the latter parts of the game. Much like his teammate Henry Burris, Fantuz's return was highlighted by a victory, as the Ticats staged a comeback, downing the Riders 35-34.