Saskatchewan Roughriders release running back Kienan LaFrance, Shakir Bell

REGINA — Running back Kienan LaFrance, who helped the Ottawa Redblacks win the 2016 Grey Cup, was released by the Saskatchewan Riders on Thursday.

The Riders also let American running back Shakir Bell go.

The five-foot-nine, 205-pound LaFrance, a Winnipeg native, ran for 273 yards and two TDs on 68 carries (4.01-yard average) in 13 games last year, his first with Saskatchewan. The former Manitoba star joined the Riders as a free agent.

LaFrance spent his first two CFL seasons with Ottawa, rushing for 180 yards on 43 carries combined (4.2 yards per carry). But in snowy conditions he ran for 157 yards and a TD on 25 carries in leading the Redblacks past Edmonton 35-23 in the 2016 East Division final.

Ottawa went on to beat the Calgary Stampeders in the Grey Cup.

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The five-foot-six, 187-pound Bell signed with Saskatchewan prior to last year’s playoffs but didn’t see action. He spent the previous two years with Edmonton, rushing for a combined 1,058 yards (5.8-yard average) and two TDs while adding 34 catches for 312 yards and two touchdowns.

The Canadian Press