Honorary degrees awarded to Chris Getzlaf and Ryan Getzlaf at the Fall 2024 Convocation

The University of Regina will award Honorary Doctors of Laws honoris causa (LLD) to homegrown sports legends and brothers, Chris Getzlaf and Ryan Getzlaf, during the Fall 2024 Convocation on Thursday, October 17, 2024.

U of R alumni Chris Getzlaf graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree he earned while playing as a receiver with the Regina Thunder and then the University of Regina Rams. Drafted by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2007, he was soon traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, where he played in his hometown for nine and a half years of his outstanding 11-year CFL career. He also played for Edmonton for a year and a half before returning to Regina where he retired as a Roughrider in January 2018.

Receiving this honorary degree from the University of Regina, in the city where I was born and grew up in, is quite humbling. — Ryan Getzlaf, Honorary Doctors of Laws recipient

Chris won two Grey Cups (2007 and 2013) with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and played in two others (2009 and 2010). In the 2013 Grey Cup hosted in Regina, he was named the Most Outstanding Canadian. Upon his retirement from football in 2018, he had 414 career receptions for 6,192 yards and 41 touchdowns. He remains fifth all-time in receiving yards for the Roughriders and was named to the team’s SaskTel Plaza of Honour in 2021.

“When the award was explained as recognition of exceptional professional or personal accomplishments, and service to community, it was extremely flattering that our names were brought to the table,” said Chris Getzlaf.

During his four-year junior hockey career as a forward with the Calgary Hitmen, Ryan Getzlaf was a member of the gold medal-winning 2003 International Ice Hockey Federation U18 World Championship team. He was a member of what many consider may be the best World Junior team ever assembled – the Canadian team that won the 2005 gold medal by beating the United States 6-1 in the final.

Ryan was picked by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the 2003 NHL draft and made his NHL debut in 2005. Ryan played his entire NHL career – 17 seasons, including 12 as team captain – with the Anaheim Ducks. He was a member of the 2007 Stanley Cup-winning team, as well as the Canadian Olympic teams that won gold medals in both 2010 and 2014. At the time of his retirement, after the 2021-2022 NHL season, Ryan held multiple Anaheim Ducks franchise records, including games played (1157), assists (737) and points (1019). Ryan has agreed to serve with Team Canada as a player relations advisor for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

“Receiving this honorary degree from the University of Regina, in the city where I was born and grew up in, is quite humbling,” said Ryan Getzlaf. “To find out that my brother Chris would also be receiving an honorary degree from the U of R during the convocation ceremony makes it even more special.”

Watch the Getzlaf brothers receive their Honorary Doctors of Laws in addition to the 988 students who are graduating during the Fall 2024 Convocation on the event live stream, beginning at 2:00 p.m.

“In recognition of their outstanding accomplishments as professional athletes, but just as importantly, for their compassionate and dedicated service to community, the University of Regina is pleased to recognize Chris and Ryan with honorary degrees. This is the highest honour the University can bestow, and the Getzlaf brothers are very deserving recipients,” said U of R President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jeff Keshen.

In addition to Chris and Ryan Getzlaf being awarded the Honorary Doctors of Laws, 988 graduating students will be receiving 1012 degrees, diplomas, and certificates at the Fall 2024 convocation, joining the ranks of the over 92,000 University of Regina alumni.

Banner Photo: Chris Getzlaf and Ryan Getzlaf will be awarded Honorary Doctors of Laws at the Fall 2024 Convocation. Credit: Photo provided by University Communications and Marketing.