Credit: Daniel Perry

By Wray Morrison

Daniel Perry dedicates 2022 season to his father

“One thing I would want to give (my father) is a Vanier Cup Championship.” – Daniel Perry

Jul 31, 2022 | 10:10 AM

Fourth year receiver Daniel Perry has gone through an off-season unlike any other in his football career. Near the of the end of March of 2022, in his hometown of Calgary, Daniel’s father, John, suffered a seizure. “They took him to hospital, and did not find anything,” said Daniel. “Two weeks later he couldn’t really talk. They did some more tests and unfortunately found a tumor on the part of the brain that deals with communication and speaking.”

John Perry, who is 58 years old, is a salesman in financial technology. The seizure left Daniel’s family with some difficult choices. “If they didn’t take the tumor out, he would have passed away last June,” said Perry. “When they did the surgery, they took out half the tumor so there is still some cancer in there. If they would have taken that part out, he would not have been able to speak or talk. The doctors have estimated that he has a year to live, maybe a year and a half. I’m hoping to God he could live beyond that.”

John has stressed to his son the importance of looking ahead, as Daniel completes a degree in education. “One of the things Dad said to me throughout the last four months is that ‘You are out there for football and school’. He wants me to focus on my future. He says after he passes away, I still have a future to live.” With that message, Perry prepares for the start of Huskie training camp on August 15^th.

Saskatchewan head coach Scott Flory expects Perry to be an elite receiver in the conference in 2022. “He has the speed, runs great routes, and catches the ball very well,” said Flory. Perry was second in the conference at 18.5 yards per catch last season. His greatest game as a Huskie was in week two of the 2021 season, when he had 123 yards in receiving in a 43-15 win over UBC. That was the team’s first victory in an eight game win streak that led Saskatchewan to a Vanier Cup appearance.

“I feel like my game boils down to route running”, said Perry. “Ever since I started football, I felt like my route running was a little bit better than my other attributes.” Perry has now advanced to the stage of his career where he’s comfortable with the playbook and can now focus on opponents more. “If you understand the coverages, it just opens up so many doors in your game.”

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Perry is also driven by being part of a Huskie team that came up short in last December’s Vanier Cup. (A 27-21 loss to Western.) “I want to get back there so bad,” said Perry. “It’s like a nasty taste that won’t leave my mouth. We need to win.”

Daniel also envisions a USports football championship to be a great family moment. (Daniel’s mother, Candace, is an EMT. Younger brother, Jakob, is also in the medical field in Calgary.) Daniel says that his father is going to see as many games as he can this season. “My goal is to win it for my Dad.”

“I played hockey back in the day, and in my last year I won a championship. I always remember the look on his face and the pride that he had. If things go worse, and he does not live to see another year after this year, that’s the one thing I would want to give him is a Vanier Cup.”

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wray.morrison@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @wraymorrison