ANAHEIM -- With a day off to do whatever he wanted, Anaheim Ducks star Ryan Getzlaf chose to head to the Honda Center anyway.
Not to skate, but to watch his brother Chris play in the CFL West Division final against the Calgary Stampeders.
"We couldn't get TSN anywhere, so we shacked up on the couch in here and watched the whole game," the Regina product said a day after his sibling's Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Stamps for a berth in next weekend's Grey Cup in Calgary.
"I talked to him right after the game. He was pretty excited. He was pretty fired up. Especially in our hometown. I'm sure it was great for him with our family and stuff."
Chris Getzlaf scored his side's first touchdown to get the Riders offence rolling in the 27-17 victory that pits them against the Montreal Alouettes Sunday.
As excited as the receiver was, Ryan might have been even more jacked as he watched with teammate Sheldon Brookbank in the Ducks dressing room.
"I was pumped. I was jumping up. It was a big play," Getzlaf said.
"It was a pretty good experience for him, and I could see how excited he was when he got it."
Joking that he considered calling in sick next Sunday when the CFL championship game is played -- his Ducks play host to the Phoenix Coyotes that evening -- Getzlaf is happy he got to see big brother play in a big game.
Chris was part of the practice roster when the Riders won the Grey Cup two years ago.
"But he does have a ring," Ryan said.
"Hopefully, he can get another one this year."
