MOOSE JAW — A local restaurant owner is serving up more than just great food — he’s dishing out a hearty helping of Rider Pride, too.
John Iatridis, owner of The Mad Greek in downtown Moose Jaw, recently cooked up a meal for Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Corey Mace and the team, delivering it straight to Mosaic Stadium ahead of the club’s regular season opener on June 5.
For Iatridis, this wasn’t just about ribs, pizza and salad — it was about sharing a sense of community, hospitality, and Saskatchewan spirit with the province’s most beloved sports team.
“Corey came into the restaurant last year with his wife, and he's probably about as good a human being as you'll ever meet,” Iatridis said. “The guy was really great to my staff, and so was his wife. He went into the kitchen (after his meal) and took pictures with my cook. If there's an ambassador the CFL needs, that's the guy.”
That first visit left an impression on Iatridis, and evidently the feeling was mutual. When the two crossed paths again during the Kinsmen Sports Celebrity Banquet in April, Mace immediately recognized him.
“I just kind of waved, even though I wasn’t sure if he would remember me. He jumped out of his chair, came up and actually gave me a big hug, and he's like, ‘I was just telling these guys, ‘Where's Johnny from The Mad Greek?’’” Iatridis recalled.
From there, the two stayed in touch. The idea of a team-building meal came up in conversation, and on Wednesday evening, one day ahead of the Riders’ season opener, Iatridis loaded up his vehicle and drove to Regina with his signature Greek cuisine in tow.
“We prepared the food here, and a couple of us loaded up our vehicles and took it right down to the stadium,” Iatridis said. “We just did some pizza, ribs, and salads … Come playoffs, or maybe before that, we’ll do it again.”
The Riders went on to win their opening game against the Ottawa Redblacks 31 to 26 the following night.
“Yeah, it was a good game. It was closer than it probably should have been … but I think they're going to be all right,” he said, noting a few injuries but staying optimistic.
For Iatridis, football and good food are just the beginning of something bigger.
“I told (Mace) … I would love for Moose Jaw to kind of be a home away from home for the Riders,” he said. “Like during buy weeks and stuff like that … (having the team come in to) relax, do a tunnel or trolley tour, or just get out here … letting them be family people with their families and enjoying themselves (would be a great idea).”
With a strong base of Rider fans in Moose Jaw, including at least three or four familiar Moose Jaw faces Iatridis recognized behind the scenes at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium, it’s moments like this that help reinforce a shared sense of provincial identity.
“They're definitely our province’s team … Instead of hating on people because your team is in other cities — like we do with the Warriors and the Pats — it’s nice for everybody to be pulling for the same team.”
In a province united by green and white, Iatridis hopes Moose Jaw continues to play a part in keeping that Rider spirit strong.
“I just encourage people to try and support them as much as we can. Like I said, they're Saskatchewan’s team … not just Regina’s team.”
