Former Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Steve Mazurak explained his criteria for what it takes to earn a place in the Plaza of Honour.
"The athletic prowess on the field, they like to look at how long you played, your achievements in your particular position, some of the awards and accolades that may have been received and digging a little bit deeper into the community. It's not what they've done on the field, but it's what they've done in the community," Mazurak said on the 620 CKRM Rider Broadcast Network.
"A good example of that is Alex Smith this year. When I was at the Plaza of Honour dinner to listen to him talk through his coaching experience and all the head coaches he survived, you watch the film clips of him on the sideline and in the face of the head coaches, be it Ken Miller or Ken Austin listening and paying attention, and that Alex is a very bright, brilliant football man. He'd have suggestions, he'd have ideas, it's all of the above. There are so many with wonderful records and backgrounds in the sport that we tick off the boxes."
For Mazurak himself, he was inducted into the Plaza of Honour in 2004 and provided details on why some of this year's inductees were chosen.
"So once a year, we have a great lunch at the Roughrider office. We sit down and go through a long list of wonderful Roughriders, deserving builders, we go through a process and it's a lot of fun," Mazurak said.
"There are so many that are so deserving, more often than not, it's not so much who they are and what they did. It's timing because when you look at the list, you're going to be like, man, they're all going in at some point in time. It was an honour for us this year to honour one, if not two, unsung heroes. Alex Smith [Sr.] for instance is the first assistant coach to be inducted into the Plaza. Steve Molnar, a teammate of mine, his son got up and spoke about him being an unsung hero. This was a Plaza you'll build around and in, showing that it's not the heroes but sometimes it's the unsung heroes that have a place and should be in a place with the Plaza of Honour."
The selection committee is formed by Mazurak, Alan Ford, Cleveland Vann, Wes Cates, Don Hewitt, Terri Strunk, Barry Clarke and Rob Vanstone. This year's inductees for the Plaza of Honour included Chris Best, Steve Molnar, and Alex Smith Sr.
Mazurak's playing career with the Riders spanned from 1973 through 1981. He transitioned over to working for the CFLPA as their executive director from 1980 through 1986. After some time away from the CFL, working in either Sask sports or at CKCK Radio, plus a stint in the telecommunications industry, he returned to work with the Riders in 2005 as their new director of sales and marketing. That job with the Green and White lasted until 2018 when he retired. He received rings when Saskatchewan won the Grey Cup in 2007 and 2013.
In October, the Regina Sports Hall of Fame will induct Mazurak, and their acknowledgement humbles him. Also going in Regina's Sports Hall of Fame alongside Mazurak in the 2025 class will be Janine Polischuk, Rob Bresciani, Dale Derkatch, Mervin Tran, and the 2013 Regina Thunder Football Team.
"It's a wonderful honour and I know my family is really looking forward to joining me on that wonderful night. Pleased that the Hall of Fame saw something there that sometimes you don't see yourself," Mazurak explained. "It's a wonderful Class of '25 and I'm so honoured to be joining that class with them."
