Monday Night Football (MNF) kicked off its 2014 season with some big names.

Members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders Alumni Association and players from the Regina Thunder hit the field Monday, Aug. 25th to help Ranch Ehrlo’s Sport Venture kick off its Monday Night Football season.

Greg Fieger, Dale West, Cleveland Van, Rob Pyne, Terry Bulych, and Paul Vajda of the Rider Alumni attended the event along with Matt Williams, Brayden Moroz, Jacob Prode, Carter Sticen, Nate Goudy, Steen Siebrecht, and Caleb Goudy of the Regina Thunder. David Lee from the current Rider roster was also helping out at the event.

“I think it’s a great, great thing this Ehrlo Football League,” Alumni president Terry Bulych said from the field Monday night. “We are always looking for opportunities to attach ourselves to grassroots football. “

Youth had the opportunity on Monday night to register for the 2014 season, to meet the players in attendance, and to participate in a skills camp.

Matt Williams, defensive end for the Regina Thunder, led some youth through footwork and stance skills during his drill rotation.

“It’s cool coming out to these events,” he said as youth weaved around him. “You get to help kids play football, a sport a lot of people, myself included, love.”

The Rider Alumni made a generous donation of 170 jerseys to the league.

“We heard that they were playing with ragtag pinnies and thought ‘why don’t we replace those’,” Terry explained.

“The kids have never had new football jerseys so it will be exciting to see what they do,” Sport Venture staff Kelsey Bugera said during the drills. “The kids get super excited wearing new equipment.”

As the kickoff winded down and drills came to an end, a presentation was made by Sport Venture manager Amanda McConnell. A huge cheer erupted from the group of kids at the 50-yard line as the Alumni revealed the new team jerseys.

“We have a couple of kids in the league who have been here for three years and they have never had the opportunity to have something new during the season,” said Kelsey. “With something that says Ehrlo on it they feel like professionals.”

The MNF is a non-contact football league that operates for seven weeks in the city of Regina. Approximately 200 youth are involved in the free league, which operates from five city schools and recreational areas throughout the city.

The 2014 MNF regular season will begin on September 13th. More information and a full list of field locations and dates can be found here.