Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Malik Carney is a friendly foe, but there’s no mistaking his allegiances now that he’s with the Edmonton Elks.
“The guys over there in the locker room that I cherish and I never want to forget. I’m excited to see them boys,” Carney said in a pregame interview with the SportsCage’s Teagan Witko. “But when we cross the line, I don’t know who they are.”
Carney returns to Regina for his first game against his former teammates on Thursday after signing with the Elks as a free agent in February.
He spent the previous two campaigns with the Riders, including being a key part of a Grey Cup championship team in 2025.
The defensive lineman appeared in all 18 games last season, recording 39 tackles, eight sacks, and forcing one fumble.
“It’s a lot of emotions going on right now,” Carney said about being in Regina. “Excited to be back, most importantly to get a win versus them and just prepare.”
Thursday’s contest is a pivotal one and marks the first of a home-and-home set between the two rivals. Carney’s new team, the Elks, sit atop the West Division with a 5-1 record. Carney’s old team, the Riders, are right on their heels at 4-1.
His objective is getting after his former quarterback, Trevor Harris, and creating chaos.
“Let’s get him off his point, throw off his timing, create pressure, getting to him, just trying to get into his head a little bit, see how he reacts to that,” Carney said.
The Rider Broadcast Network pregame show begins at 4 p.m., and the Voice of the Roughriders Dave Thomas and analyst Luc Mullinder will have the game call at kickoff at 7 p.m.
