SCHULTZ RETIREMENT BITTERSWEET FOR STADNYK

Roughriders defensive lineman Michael Stadnyk at practice.
Photograph by: Roy Antal, Leader-Post

REGINA — Mike Stadynk had mixed feelings after hearing that veteran defensive tackle Scott Schultz was retiring Monday.

Stadnyk, a Regina product, grew up watching Schultz play for the Saskatchewan Roughriders through eight-plus seasons. Stadnyk was surprised by Schultz's sudden retirement to become president of the Schultz-Gareau Insurance Agency. Stadnyk also understood what it meant for him.

"He was an amazing guy and he lit up the whole locker room,'' said Stadnyk, who is expected to be on the Riders' active roster Friday when they play the B.C. Lions at BC Place. "He was a great influence on me right through training camp because he never let me get down. He will be missed but we have to move on. Even though he left, it's a great opportunity for me.''

Stadnyk, 6-foot-4 and 247 pounds, thought about that chance Monday but wasn't sure where he fit into the coaches' plans. Stadnyk was on the Riders' 46-man roster for four of the first five regular-season games. He wasn't on the 42-player roster for games, though. That changed on Monday.

"When I came back, I had a special teams sheet in my locker,'' said Stadnyk, a graduate of Miller High School. "I knew then that I would be playing.''

Mike Scheper, the Riders' first-year defensive line coach, said that Stadynk will see playing time as part of the three-player rotation at defensive end with Stevie Baggs and Luc Mullinder. Scheper added that game situations will determine how much Stadnyk will play.

"Should we be in the unfortunate situation where we're on the field for a very long time, those reps will increase,'' said Scheper. "We have to go with the flow but he's ready to play. He will definitely be part of our plans for Friday night.''

Stadnyk has been in part of the Riders' plans since 2008 when he was selected in the second round (14th overall) in the CFL draft after playing four years with the University of Montana Grizzlies.
After being drafted, Stadnyk returned to the Grizzlies for his senior year. In his two seasons as a starter with the Grizzlies, he recorded 35 tackles and 11 sacks. He was named an All-Big Sky Conference Honourable Mention in each of the past two seasons.

Stadnyk made the Riders out of training camp. He had been biding his time on the scout team while waiting for a chance to be added to the active roster. Those repetitions on the scout team helped Stadnyk land his latest opportunity.

"Mike is a man of few words but a lot of action,'' said Scheper. "He has done a nice job on the practice roster, which is as thankless a job as you might imagine. Among the players, he's the low man on the totem pole and he just kept grinding away. He's paid his dues, especially as a first-year player.''
Scheper also understands that it required Schultz's retirement to create an opportunity at this point of the season for Stadnyk.

"It's the irony of life, especially in football and it's another amazing twist of things,'' said Scheper. "As a matter of being able to suit up, Mike isn't going to complain too much.''
Stadnyk will be active on the Riders' special teams. He has already been part of the kickoff teams, which is a drastic change from being scratched before each game.

"This is huge,'' said Stadnyk, who turns 23 on Saturday. "It's the best feeling of my life because I will be putting on that jersey and not just for a pre-season game but for a game that matters.''
The Riders are 3-2 and tied for the Edmonton Eskimos for first place in the West Division. The B.C. Lions are 1-4, which is last in the four-team division.

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com
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