Nurses knit Rider hats for newborns

In Saskatchewan, Roughrider fandom starts early.

Just ask people at Prince Albert's Victoria Hospital, where newborns this week have been decked out in green and white — Rider colours.

Earlier this week, six newborn babies could be seen squirming and stretching atop a Saskatchewan Roughriders flag. On their heads were green and white bonnets knitted by the ward's nurses.

For years, nurses and volunteers have knitted hats for babies born in the hospital, but this week, with Saskatchewan defeating Calgary in the west division final and securing a berth in next Sunday's Grey Cup game, the nurses went to work knitting Riders-themed bonnets.

The knitting has been done completely on their own time, said Yvette Thomas, the nursing manager in the maternity ward.

"It's not part of their job description, it's just a nice thing to do," Thomas said. "After the Riders won the game on Sunday, the girls thought, hey, we're going to make green and white bonnets."

The Riders take on the Montreal Alouettes Sunday at Calgary's McMahon Stadium.