Ricky Ray has always had a knack for reaching his destination.
That used to mean driving the Green and Gold dozens of yards down the field, across the goal-line and into the endzone.
Now it means driving his family hundreds of miles up the highway, across the border and into Edmonton.
Along with his wife Allyson and daughters Chloe, 12, and Olivia, 8, the legendary quarterback is on a road trip that began at their home in California, traversed through the states of Oregon and Washington, made stops in Sandpoint, Idaho, and Panorama in B.C., and has now arrived in the town where Ray’s storied CFL career began.
On Thursday night, the family will watch the Edmonton Elks take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Commonwealth Stadium. Ricky is holding an autograph signing exclusively for season seat holders (P1, P2, P3 and 25+ years) in the QB Club starting at 6 p.m. and ending shortly before kickoff at 7 p.m.
“We’re so excited to be able to go to a game again,” Ricky says. “I’m looking forward to enjoying the game, seeing the fans, and thinking back to all the good memories from getting to play at Commonwealth Stadium and being a part of that team”.
The Sacramento State product played nine seasons for the Green and Gold (2002 to 2003 and 2005 to 2011), winning two Grey Cups (2003 and 2005), and rewriting the record book. Ray is Edmonton’s all-time leader in completions (3,22), passing yards (40,531) and passing touchdowns (210). He holds or shares the club single-game records for completions (40) and passing touchdowns (5) and the single-season record for completions (479).
𝐻𝐸𝒜𝒟𝐸𝒟 𝒯𝒪 𝒯𝐻𝐸 𝐻𝒜𝐿𝐿
One of the best in Green & Gold history is being inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Congrats, Ricky! #BONE #OnceAlways
Read all about No. 15👉 https://t.co/LuhvWirtlP pic.twitter.com/qB72VAJ1tQ
— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) June 21, 2022
Ray was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame last September, and Thursday will mark his first game back at Commonwealth Stadium since Sept. 20, 2019, when he became the 31st player enshrined on the club’s Wall of Honour.
“It will be cool to show my kids the Wall of Honour again,” says Ray, 43. “Walking back into that stadium for the first time since my name got to go up a few years ago will be a fun little moment.”
Though they have lived elsewhere for a dozen years now, Edmonton will always mean a great deal to the Ray family. Allyson and Ricky bought their first home in St. Albert, made lifelong friends that they are visiting, and their oldest daughter Chloe was born just a couple months prior to the start of Ray’s final season wearing Green and Gold in 2011.
“She got to be here for the first part of her life,” Ricky says. “Going to football games, they would drive me and drop me off to the games and they’d hang out in the parking lot and then go into the game and the gates opened. So there are good memories of having our family here, having our first house and for Chloe to be part of my last year (playing for Edmonton).”
Be there Thursday, July 13 at Commonwealth Stadium when the Edmonton Elks host the Hamilton Ti-Cats for the Salute to Service game. Being part of the action has never been more affordable, with tickets starting at just $15. Click here to get your tickets now and be part of the tradition.
Elks Football…Our Team. Our City.