Rider Fans Dawn on Arizona Coyotes Game

Hundreds of Roughrider fans show their rider pride in the desert

Puerto Vallarta, Jal.- From Vatican City to Costa Rica, there's a good chance you’ve spotted a Rider fan while travelling outside of Canada.

And those attending the hockey game tonight in Glendale, Ari., between the Anaheim Ducks and the Arizona Coyotes -- they're going to get a big helping of green and white.

That's because it's Rider Day in Arizona and close to 500 Saskatchewan Roughrider fans are expected at a special pre-game party with Rider receiver Chris Getzlaf.

Rider fans will also have their own section during the hockey game, which will likely be one of the more rowdy corners of the arena. After the game 350 fans will get the chance to have their picture taken at centre ice.

When asked where’s the strangest place you’ve seen a Rider fan, texters into 306-306 had a long list of places including the tailgate party in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where more than 400 Rider fans gather each year.

“We were on a Mediterranean cruise and I saw two people with their Riders jacket on.”

“I was in Ecuador in 2007 and in Quito me and my buddy found a bar owned by a guy from Saskatchewan and they had a rider flag up on the wall.”

“We were in Lunenburg, N.S. last June and we went into a gift shop the owner noticed my Rider hat and came over to say hi. It was Terry Baker the punter for the Riders in 1989! I Told him I was at the Grey Cup in 89, got my picture with him and his Grey Cup ring!”

“I was waiting to board Catamaran in Kauai wearing my Rider hat of course. Guy yells "Go Riders.” Turns out he was from Lloydminster.”

When I was in Las Vegas last weekend I was wearing a Rider shirt and hat walking down the strip and I hear let's go riders I saw another Rider shirt gave a nod.”