Thousands of fans gathered at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Thursday night to honour Bhishma Rajyaguru and Saskatchewan Roughriders team captain Jayden Dalke. Both men died in a two-vehicle collision on Highway 11 near Lumsden on Saturday. The ceremony took place before the Roughriders‘ game against the Edmonton Elks.
During the tribute, photos and videos of Rajyaguru and Dalke were displayed on the stadium screens. Rajyaguru‘s presentation highlighted his love for music and showed him with friends and family, while Dalke‘s tribute focused on his connections with teammates and fans. The ceremony concluded with applause and a moment of silence.
Fan reactions to the ceremony varied. Shane Holstein felt that more could have been done to share Rajyaguru‘s story, suggesting that some of his music or the voices of his family could have been included. He noted that Dalke‘s tribute featured voices of those who knew him through football.
Community reflects on the tribute
Conversely, Richard Blackburn expressed appreciation for how the Roughriders chose to honour both men, stating that he believed they were done justice. His sister, Euphemie Blackburn, echoed this sentiment. Richard Blackburn acknowledged the difficulty of the task faced by the organization, suggesting they did as much as they could given the circumstances.
Another fan, William Sanderson, shared some of Holstein‘s concerns regarding the ceremony. The Roughriders had stated before kickoff that they were entering the night with “heavy hearts” and aimed to recognize what both Rajyaguru and Dalke meant to the team and the community.
Craig Lawson described the situation as tragic, extending beyond the realm of football. Desiree Clark commended Dalke‘s teammates for playing while grieving, acknowledging the difficulty of such a situation. She also emphasized that the tragedy should not be viewed differently because one of the victims was a professional football player, stating that both were human beings.
The tributes continued throughout the game. A helmet bearing Dalke‘s initials was placed behind the team’s bench. For their first punt, Saskatchewan lined up with only 11 players, leaving the position typically occupied by Dalke vacant. The Roughriders received a time-count violation, but Edmonton declined the penalty.
Details of the collision
According to RCMP, Rajyaguru, 22, was driving a black SUV that collided with a silver SUV driven by Dalke, 30. Police allege that Dalke‘s SUV contained evidence of alcohol and cannabis and was travelling north in the southbound lanes of Highway 11 when the crash occurred. Both men died at the scene.
Rajyaguru, originally from Gujarat, India, came to Canada in 2022 as an international student. A fundraising campaign was organized to help return his remains to his family, describing him as a kind friend, talented musician, and someone who brought joy to others. The campaign reached its goal on Tuesday.
Dalke, from Leduc, near Edmonton, joined the University of Alberta Golden Bears in 2019 and was named All-Canadian for the 2019 season. The Roughriders selected him in the sixth round of the Canadian Football League (CFL) 2022 draft, and he signed in May 2022. He played 17 regular-season games for the Riders last year and participated in the Grey Cup.
The Dalke family issued a statement expressing their deep love for Jayden and gratitude for the support received. They requested donations to the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation in his memory instead of flowers or gifts. The family also extended condolences to Bhishma Rajyaguru‘s family and requested privacy during their grieving process. The game concluded with a 36-34 loss for the Riders, as the Edmonton Elks secured the win with a 57-yard field goal by Vincent Blanchard in the final seconds.
Source: ckom.com
