The Saskatchewan Roughriders are entering the 2026 CFL season with a completely revamped special teams unit, featuring a new kicker, punter, and long snapper. Head coach Corey Mace expressed confidence in the group, noting that they have bonded quickly during training camp.
New Faces on Special Teams
Rookie kicker Alex Hale, a 28-year-old Australian who played college football at Oklahoma State University and spent time with the NFL's Green Bay Packers, will make his CFL debut on Saturday against the B.C. Lions. He beat out American kickers Jonathan Kim and Michael Hughes for the job after the Roughriders released veteran Brett Lauther.
Joining Hale are long snapper Aaron Crawford, a CFL veteran with 166 career regular season games, and punter Oscar Chapman, another Australian rookie who previously played for the Auburn Tigers and spent time with the Minnesota Vikings. Chapman edged out Jesse Mirco, last season's punter, for the role.
Coach Mace's Philosophy
Mace said he did not give the new trio a guided tour of Mosaic Stadium, instead letting them find their way together. "If they get lost, they'll be lost together," he joked. "I was never a specialist, but I heard they're as weird as goalies. They've got to find their own routines."
The coach added that Crawford's experience will be invaluable for the two rookies. "If nothing else, Crawford's been around the league forever, so they can follow him."
Adjusting to the CFL
Despite the new surroundings, Hale feels at home on the field. "Obviously a different field, a few different rules, but end of the day kicking is kicking," he said. "It's a little different ball, but once you get used to it, it's all the same."
Chapman echoed the sentiment, praising the chemistry among the new unit. "We've got Aaron, the vet, coming in and bringing some of that vet swag for us, and we got two guys that haven't played yet. Being new and getting to experience it all together has been really cool."
Historical Context
The Roughriders have seen stability at kicker and long snapper in recent years, with Lauther and Jorgen Hus holding their roles since 2018 and 2015, respectively. However, the punter position has been a revolving door since Josh Bartel's tenure from 2016-18. Last season, Mirco replaced Joe Couch, who had replaced Adam Korsak, with Kaare Vedvik and Jon Ryan before them.
The new-look special teams will be tested immediately as the Roughriders host the B.C. Lions in their season opener on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.
