ROLLIE BOURASSA – K-9 PATS MASCOT - 30 YEARS

“It all started back in the year 1978,” stated Rollie Bourassa, Regina Pats Mascot. “The name of the mascot has changed several times.” Bourassa, a commercial artist at the time, was asked to design a mascot for the Pats that would also reflect Labatt (Breweries), their sponsor. The original K-9 (meaning dog, as in canine), was called "Big Blue." The colour reflected the team and Labatts, as well as pop culture at the time, with the movie Big Blue and the country western song "My Dog Blue" which dictated the choice of animal and the nickname.

"I did K-9 for a couple of games to see if it worked OK. Whatever I was doing they thought it was OK and they asked, 'Would you keep doing it until we find somebody?'. Thirty some years later, they're still trying to find someone!" said Bourassa. "But it was fun, and my wife (Bea) and I were hockey fans anyway, so we were going to games. She still comes to the games and sits in the stands.

After awhile Rollie soon realized he needed smaller feet for going up and down the stairs. But his design to see through the nose and the chin (to see his feet) have been major assets in the Brandt Centre while he runs, bounces, skates and slides down railings.

The Pats aren't the only team K-9's been a part of. At the start of the 1980's, the Canadian Olympic team needed a mascot while playing across Canada. K-9 changed jerseys and Bourassa hopped on flights to get around the country on weekends.

Over the years sponsorship changed and another brewery became a major sponsor of the WHL. Blue was out and for awhile it seemed as if K-9 would be put to sleep. But then Bourassa got a call asking if K-9 could be made a different colour. So K-9 became red, and showed up again at the start of the season. Despite the fact the change came about 20 years ago, Bourassa said he still hears calls from people as "Big Blue."

(Photo: Kevin Shaw (4 or 5 years old) and Big Blue - Kevin Shaw Collection)

K-9's antics have changed a bit over time. At one time rinks had organists to play music throughout the arena. "The organist would watch for me and, if he couldn't find me, he'd start playing, 'Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone?' "said Bourassa. "And when the referee made a bad call he would start playing 'Smoke gets in your eyes' and I'd be out there wiping my eyes. But pretty soon we were told we couldn't ridicule anyone and the music changed."

Bourassa's spirit and energy bounding through the arena, giving high fives and hugs, playing the drums, and raising the spirits of fans. At age 73, (2009) Bourassa said he still feels like a kid and K-9 is probably a large reason for that. When people ask when he's going to retire, Bourassa replies, "When I can't do it anymore."

Every game brings a different story. While Bourassa tries not to walk around without K-9's head on, a young girl once spotted him under the concourse cooling off with K-9's head tipped back. She began hyperventilating because "K-9 was eating a man!" until she was brought down to meet Bourassa and the situation was explained.

Another time Bourassa grabbed a player's stick for a puck-shooting contest he had to take part in. He went to shoot but couldn't turn the stick, and then noticed a piece of the stick had gone right through his finger, shooting through a nerve. The doctor took care of him, then sent K-9 to the doctor for a tetanus shot. (Photo: Bryan Schlosser - Regina Leader Post)

I can remember there was the time K-9 decided to go swimming. "We used to have the hot tub" said Bourassa. "And during the last game of the year, K-9 thought he'd be smart and went up the steps and jumped in. Little did I know that all the foam and material took on every bit of water it could. They couldn't get me out. When I did get out, I couldn't even walk. We hung it up, and three days later it was still dripping. It took almost a week to dry out."

But K-9, of course, is not limited to Regina Pats home games. K-9 is in the community throughout the year, at various events, parades, appearances, promotions and fund raisers, often with players from the Regina Pats. Some of Bourassa's favourite things to do are visiting the children's ward at the hospital at Christmas, or going to seniors' centres or to school safety patrols.

When Bourassa can't make it, Danny Massier, who has been doing mascots for years, steps in to help out. Rollie Bourassa still enjoys what he does and has fun with K-9 every time they're out.

Bourassa said, "K-9's a fixture, he's just part of the organization, who will continue as long as he's having fun. The best part of it all is just seeing people's faces, the big smiles, and all the little kids running around and wanting hugs."