The Edmonton Elks will play with heavy hearts on Saturday night when they host the West-leading Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Elks owner Larry Thompson died Thursday due to complications following an unspecified surgery. He was 65. His passing comes just over a year after he purchased the longtime community-owned team in August 2024.

“Larry’s toughness and direct nature were matched only by his genuine care for every person connected to the Double E,” team president and CEO Chris Morris said. “He led with clarity, courage, and an unwavering belief in people. We will do everything in our power to carry his example with us as we rebuild this franchise in his honor.”

The Elks (5-9) are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season as they welcome the first-place Roughriders (10-3) to the Alberta capital.

Edmonton has lost two straight games and three of its last four. The Elks lost the first meeting at Saskatchewan on July 25, rallying with two fourth-quarter touchdowns before falling short 21-18.

In that game, Trevor Harris led the Roughriders with 268 yards on 25-of-33 passing with two touchdowns. Samuel Emilus caught six passes for 113 yards and a score.

Cody Fajardo threw for 346 yards and two scores for the Elks, who trailed 21-4 entering the fourth quarter.

The well-rested Riders have been idle since a 48-31 loss at home against Montreal on Sept. 13.

The Riders have not lost two straight games this season.

“This is the time of the year we’ve been talking about,” Harris said this week, per SaskToday. “All year we’ve been building to be the team we need to be and there are always going to be times where you play a little bit better, play a little bit worse and take a step back, figuring out who you are and what you need to be.”

Saskatchewan has turned Edmonton into a home away from home in this series, winning seven straight meetings at Commonwealth Stadium dating back to 2019.

–Field Level Media