University of Regina Rams' linebacker Chopper Hippie is one of 92 draft hopefuls participating in the annual CFL Combine in Regina.
Hippie is from the border city of Lloydminster, a community that straddles the Saskatchewan-Alberta line. Depending on who and where you ask, you may get a different answer about which Hippie calls his home province.
“Well, when I'm in Regina, I say I'm from the Sask side, but when I played in Edmonton [with the PFC’s Wildcats], I’d say I'm from the Alberta side. I was born and raised on the Saskie side. I have a first driver's license from the Sask side, so Sask side, I would say.”
Hippie told The SportsCage there is no debate for the six-foot-one, 230-pound linebacker regarding the opportunity the combine presents.
“It's a tremendous privilege. When I was a kid, I dreamt about being a part of this. This is everything I've wanted. It's awesome to get the invite to the national.
Hippie’s football journey started with an exception to play. He petitioned the president of minor football at eight-years-old to allow him to play pee wee, which was reserved for nine-year-olds.
“I cried and asked to join. My dad was the president -- so I've always loved it. As the years have passed, every time I get a little bit better, it's like: 'Oh, there's a real possibility to go to CFL.'"
After graduating from Holy Rosary High School in Lloydminster, Hippie joined the Prairie Football Conference’s Edmonton Wildcats. He registered 88 solo tackles and 14 assisted tackles in 17 games during two seasons. Those numbers earned him a PFC all-star selection and caught the attention of the Rams.
Hippie joined the University of Regina in 2020, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Colton Hippie, a quarterback and tight end with the Rams.
Hippie and the Rams are coming off a 2024 campaign in which they captured the Canada West conference championship, the Hardy Cup, despite being underestimated all season after they were rated last in the pre-season coach’s poll.
“Unless I'm the number one guy on everyone's draft boards, I will consider myself an underdog. I go in with that chip on my shoulder every day, got to be the best and try to strive for the best.”
Hippie has added five pounds to his frame to prepare for the combine, bringing his weight to 230 pounds. The fleet linebacker isn’t worried about losing speed with his transformed body.
“I feel pretty good. I've had this training theory that muscle will move mass. The more muscle I can have on me, the better I'll be moving. I work on flexibility, stretching, and keeping fine-tuned as long as I can move and be big -- that's the goal.”
Hippie and the rest of the athletes will be on the field at the AffinityPlex on Friday morning, and with the countdown on, he doesn’t feel nerves creeping in.
“This is everything I've ever wanted. I've always wanted to be here. There's a lot of pressure on that aspect, but this is everything I wanted. I'm going to be playing against some of the best players. I'm going to get better after. There are a lot of takeaways that can be positive and that's what I am looking for.”
Coaches and general managers from all nine CFL teams will look closely all weekend, building their lists for April’s draft.
