Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Weston Dressler was in Yorkton over the weekend, taking time out of a busy CFL season that just started.
He was at the Yorkton Co-op celebrating Canada Day with the locals and to promote his latest brand of chips.
"He was here to promote the chips," says Yorkton Co-op manager Bruce Thurston, referring to the countless bags of chips available to customers called 'Weston Undressed'.
Last year, Dressler had a brand named 'Weston Alldressed'.
Previously, Rider quarterback Darian Durant has had a product named after him, 'Darian's Darios', and former Rider Andy Fantuz had his own, 'Fantuz Flakes'.
Dressler's day in Yorkton adds to the number of times when he has made an appearance locally.
He was a member of the Rider Prider hockey challenge in January and was at Football Night in Saskatchewan the year before.
He was making the appearance just after his team recorded their first victory of the 2012 season, dumping the Tiger-Cats to a tune of 36-16.
It was a special game for Dressler who put up a pair of touchdowns, and also marked the first time he's ever seen former teammate Andy Fantuz in a different CFL jersey.
"Really, to be honest, I didn't think about it," offers Dressler who said he did speak with Fantuz the night before the meeting at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
"It was a good team win. We wanted to start out the season fast.
We always expect big things."
The Riders lost a few players in the off-season aside from Fantuz, including kicker Luca Congi, who also found a new home in Steeltown.
MARKETING
Thurston said the Co-op has a strong relationship with the CFL club and noted that the company has "exclusive" rights to acquiring players for various appearances.
"It's our marketing department. The Co-op has a very strong relationship with the Riders.
As well, everything marked with the Rider logo goes to support a very worthy cause," he added.
"Everything we sell, proceeds from anything goes to the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan."
As for the masses of people that came out that likely contributed in some way or another to that cause?
"I have to guess 1,000," estimates Thurston.
"There were 150 people in the lineup before I even got here!"
