Key Points
- Honoring Dual Excellence: The Tom Pate Award celebrates excellence both on and off the field.
- Brett Lauther’s Achievements: 2023 winner for his outstanding community work and on-field performance.
- CFLPA’s Commitment: Emphasizing the association’s dedication to fair working conditions and player rights since 1965.
The Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA) takes immense pride in announcing Brett Lauther of the Saskatchewan Roughriders as the recipient of the 2023 Tom Pate Award. This prestigious award is not solely about athletic prowess on the field; it also honors a player’s distinctive qualities off the field, particularly in their community engagement and leadership.
Brett Lauther’s commitment to the Saskatchewan community is commendable. In 2023, he founded and co-organized the Saskatchewan Roughriders Foundation Winter Classic. His dedication and efforts led to a significant fundraising achievement, garnering over $20,000 for KidSport. This initiative helps fund sports registration for underprivileged children in Regina, demonstrating Brett’s profound impact beyond the gridiron.
The Tom Pate Award is named after a player who was not only remarkable for his sportsmanship and dedication on the field but also for his community spirit. Tom Pate, a University of Nebraska graduate and a Hamilton Tiger-Cats player, tragically passed away in 1975. His memory lives on through this award, highlighting players who embody his spirit of sportsmanship, community involvement, and contribution to their team and the CFLPA.
Each season, CFLPA members across the league nominate a teammate from their team for this honor. The award recipient epitomizes the qualities that distinguished Tom Pate: outstanding sportsmanship, significant contributions to their team, community, and the CFLPA.
