Stampeders sign six-time CFL all-star LB Adam Bighill to practice roster
B.C. Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (3) gets sacked by Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Adam Bighill (4) during second half CFL action in Winnipeg Thursday, August 1, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
The Calgary Stampeders have signed linebacker Adam Bighill to their practice roster, the club announced Sunday.
Bighill, 36, is a three-time winner of the Most Outstanding Defensive Player award, an eight-time West Division all-star and a six-time league all-star.
The five-foot-nine, 230-pounder from Montesano, Wash., has won three Grey Cup rings – one as a member of the BC Lions and two with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
However, the 12-year veteran was released by the Bombers in January and has yet to suit up in 2025. He stated in a social media post following the release that he planned to keep playing.
He began his career in 2011 with the Lions, who he spent six seasons with before playing for the NFL's New Orleans Saints in 2017. He returned to the CFL in 2018 with the Bombers, who he spent the following six seasons with.
Bighill ranks sixth in CFL history with 939 defensive tackles. He also has 39 tackles for loss, 71 special-teams stops, 50 sacks, 15 interceptions including one pick-six, 11 fumble recoveries including three returned for touchdowns, 14 forced fumbles and 25 knockdowns.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2025.
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Winnipeg Free Press
16 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Zach is back
VANCOUVER — Two things can be true at this juncture in the Canadian Football League season. It's very, very early. Also, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, although far from a finished product, look like they could be hell to play against each week. The Blue and Gold have cruised to a 2-0 start after consecutive victories over the B.C Lions, the latest of which came in a 27-14 decision at BC Place on Saturday. The offence has had moments of brilliance over the last two weeks, while the defence has been the backbone of the club, and special teams has been responsible for game-changing moments. WTHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros capped off his first drive of the season with his 200th career touchdown pass on Saturday. WTHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros capped off his first drive of the season with his 200th career touchdown pass on Saturday. It's that kind of balance in all three phases that has this team looking like it will be a threat all season. There's still a long way to go, however, and things can change quickly in the three-down loop, so don't expect anyone to get ahead of themselves, especially when there is still plenty to clean up. The Bombers' latest victory took on a much different shape than their first, but the veteran squad has continued to look comfortable in these home-and-home situations, now winners of their last three rematches dating back to last season. Winnipeg has two more back-to-backs remaining on the calendar, with Toronto in weeks 8-9 and the annual dates with Saskatchewan in weeks 13-14. The club will await the arrival of the Edmonton Elks on Thursday at Princess Auto Stadium (7:30 p.m.), but before we turn the page to Week 4, let's put a bow on Week 3 with the latest edition of 5 Takeaways. Historical trends ultimately don't mean a thing once playoffs come around, but let the record show that should these two teams meet up in November, a main discussion point will be how the Lions have not been able to clear the Bomber hurdle. Winnipeg has now won the last four meetings and six of the last seven against B.C. In fact, the Lions haven't beaten Winnipeg at home since Week 19 of 2022. Should these teams meet again, it won't be on the West Coast. Saturday's result earned the Bombers the season-series win, which could factor in huge when playoff seeding is being settled. It all starts with the quarterbacks, and Winnipeg has been particularly cruel to the Lions' signal-callers. Nathan Rourke is 0-5 for his career against the Blue and Gold and owns a 5-8 interception-touchdown ratio over those games, while backup Jeremiah Masoli, who started in place of Rourke this week, has also struggled to a 3-7 record in his career, tossing for nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Again — and we can't stress this enough — it's early. These teams could — and likely will — look a lot different if they meet again, but, as it stands, the Bombers have the Lions' number. It might look a bit odd watching players of the Bombers' defence sprinting to recover an incomplete pass during practice. The club calls it 'loose change,' and it's a habit that is hammered home by defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger and defensive assistant Richie Hall. So, it came as no surprise to hear Jamal Parker Jr. say it was second nature for him to scoop up what appeared to be an incomplete pass and return it 75 yards to the end zone in the second quarter. Turns out that ball was live, and a lateral throw dropped by running back James Butler was, in fact, a good touchdown. That play is a microcosm of the defence's early-season success. Not only have the Bombers allowed a combined 37 points through two weeks, but the club has also forced a whopping eight turnovers in the process — six on defence and two on special teams. There were concerns about how the Bombers would handle losing some key pieces on defence from last season but, so far, it looks legit once again. It remains a safe bet that Dalton Schoen is the top receiving option in this offence, but the numbers have told a different story early on. Second-year receiver Keric Wheatfall has been the guy to have if you're a fantasy football manager, as he leads the team in targets (13), catches (11) and receiving yards (213). ETHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Keric Wheatfall (right) leads the team in targets (13), catches (11) and receiving yards (213). ETHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Keric Wheatfall (right) leads the team in targets (13), catches (11) and receiving yards (213). There were plenty of questions at the position entering the year with the release of veteran Drew Wolitarski and Kenny Lawler departing in free agency, and the club needed someone to step up as a trustworthy option for quarterback Zach Collaros. Wheatfall has been that and more. The 6-1, 185-pound pass catcher has serious speed and open-field quickness, and he's shown that by making plays at every level on the field. In Week 2, he caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Chris Streveler that blew the game open, and he encored by hauling in a 48-yard pass from Collaros in the fourth quarter of Saturday's contest, which stood as the longest play of the game. 'I've brought this up many times. That last Grey Cup game left a sour taste in my mouth, and I just got back to work as soon as I got back to the crib and everything like that,' Wheatfall said. 'And I know I had a bad game here at this stadium, inside this dome, so I told myself I got to come out here and do my thing, and that's what I did for my teammates.' Walk around the visitors' locker room following Saturday's contest, and there were plenty of smiling faces, but there was also a feeling of dissatisfaction that kept the Bombers from gloating. For the second week in a row, the Bombers did not put together a complete performance. Bomber linebacker Redha Kramdi said the defence in particular had a weird taste in its mouth after the game, as it gave up a touchdown on the Lions' final drive, and Willie Jefferson was disqualified for objectionable conduct. ETHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Dalton Schoen, second right, celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the B.C. Lions with Kevens Clercius (left), Jerreth Sterns (89) and Keric Wheatfall (88) during the first half. ETHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS 'Honestly, I think if you ask any player on defence, we're kind of not really happy with the way this game ended,' Kramdi shared. 'I think we give up stuff we shouldn't. Myself first, I think I have a lot of (missed assignments), so I think it's all about just keep working, keeping the game in front of us, stopping the big explosion plays that have been killing us, and just tackling when we have to.' Indeed, the big plays have been the lone sore spot for the Bombers' defence, which has allowed six explosive gains in two contests. On offence, things looked great after a 12-play, 82-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown to begin the game, but Winnipeg only gained three first downs the rest of the first half. The offence was also four-for-five on second-down conversions on the opening series, but went four-for-13 the rest of the contest. Collaros was at the centre of two head-scratching interceptions. The first came with two minutes left in the first half when instead of working the clock and trying to drive into scoring range, he chucked up a long ball intended for Nic Desmki, who outran a throw that fell into the arms of Lions' defensive back Cristophe Beaulieu. The other came on Winnipeg's penultimate drive of the game, as Collaros dialled up a deep shot from inside his five-yard line to Schoen that was picked off by Robert Carter Jr. and set up the late major for B.C. Despite his team controlling the game from start to finish, head coach Mike O'Shea still found himself sending out his hands team to recover an onside kick late in the fourth quarter. He was not pleased about it and, after the game, he shouldered the blame for the way both halves ended, saying he was not happy about the way he managed either situation. We wrap up Week 3 by putting a bow on Collaros' unusual start to the season. The Bombers' veteran quarterback returned from a one-game suspension, and while he likely hoped for a more high-powered performance in his season debut — he finished 18-for-25 for 179 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions — Collaros was as gracious as anyone to be on the field again. 'I mean, it's not just that. It's the sport. You put a lot of time in, whether it's the off-season or during the season, and you only have so many opportunities. So to miss an opportunity, it's tough, because you only have 18 of them and the playoffs,' he said. 'So you really cherish them. And just something I'll never get sick of, running out of the tunnel and getting out there with the guys.' ETHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros (8) prepares to pass the ball as B.C. Lions' Ezechiel Tieide (80) attacks and Winnipeg's Kendall Randolph (69) defends during the first half. ETHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Early in the week, Collaros detailed the anxiousness that overcame him while watching the club's season-opener on a treadmill. On the eve of his first contest, he did not hide his excitement for returning to game action. Collaros couldn't have asked for a better start, as he capped the first drive of the series by feathering a 15-yard touchdown to Schoen in the back of the end zone. The pivot tossed for 70 yards while completing all seven of his pass attempts on the drive, in what was perhaps a statement to the rest of the league: 'Zach is back.' 'When you're young, you think you're going to do it forever,' Collaros said. 'I still feel good and think that I'm gonna do it forever, but I know at some point it's gonna come to an end. I don't think any time soon, but I think as you get older, you gain a little more wisdom… and you try to just cherish every moment and just be present all the time, whether it's in a facility, on the field, at home with the kids, seeing my parents, all those little things, because that's what it's all about, right?' X: @jfreysam Joshua Frey-SamReporter Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh. Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
‘As a kid you always dream': Edmonton Elks who grew up watching the green and gold excited for upcoming season
Edmonton Elks' Jalen Tolliver (88), Danny Vandervoort (83), David Beard (57) and Walter Fletcher (25) celebrate Vandervoort's touchdown during second half CFL action in Edmonton on Friday, November 5, 2021 (The Canadian Press/Jason Franson). While the Edmonton Elks home opener last weekend didn't go as the team hoped, it still felt special for a few of the players who grew up watching the green and gold. 'It's a treat, it's something to be really, really excited about. I got all kinds of guys around me now that are guys who I got an unbelievable amount of belief in and it's just great to be back and have that excitement and that juice flowing again,' Elks offensive lineman David Beard said Wednesday before the home opener. He may not be a household name, but Beard has a hand in every Elks' touchdown. This year, he's back anchoring the offensive line after spending the past two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger Cats. The offensive lineman isn't playing too far from home, he grew up in Sherwood Park and played in Edmonton between 2015 and 2022. 'It's going to be fun, it's going to be a real treat to play in front of the fans and I hope they're as excited as we are,' said Beard. The same excitement is being felt by two other locals—Josiah Schakel and Mark Korte grew up watching the Elks win Grey Cups from opposite sides of the Edmonton area. 'It means a lot to me to play here. It's very important to me that this team is successful and that we have good results, especially at home,' Korte said last week. Schakel is from Sherwood Park while Korte was born in Spruce Grove. 'It's a whole experience for somebody who watched the team growing up, as a kid you always dream 'I want to play for the Eskimos one day'—or the Elks now, but actually doing it is another thing,' Schakel said during Sunday practice. Schakel said he's witnessed the history of the team winning with thousands of people in the stands at Commonwealth Stadium and feels 'incredible' to be on the field representing the team. The players say they're excited to show a new and improved product on the field after a few down years for the franchise. The Elks take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday. The team will return home to host Ottawa the first weekend of July. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Evan Kenny
Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Canada's cricketers qualify for T20 World Cup with win over Bermuda
Teenage batsman Yuvraj Samra scored 45 runs Sunday as Canada celebrated qualification for next year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup with a six-wicket win over Bermuda in the final game of the four-country Americas Qualifier. Canada's seven-wicket win over the Bahamas on Saturday, coupled with Bermuda's nine-wicket loss to the Cayman Islands, sealed the Canadian qualification on the penultimate day of the four-team qualifier. Sunday's win, which improved Canada's tournament record to 6-0-0, was icing on the qualifying cake. 'It's a great feeling,' captain Nicholas Kirton said of qualification. 'Obviously we were there a year ago, so it's good to be preparing for that again. 'Playing with a team like that, obviously it's easy to get into the winning habit. It's just to keep doing the basics right and hopefully we can continue.' Canada made its T20 World Cup debut last year, failing to advance out of the group stage after beating No. 11 Ireland and losing to No. 8 Pakistan and co-host United States, ranked 17th. A match against No. 1 India was abandoned because of inclement weather. Bermuda won the toss Sunday and elected to bat at the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground where it was 32 C feeling like a steamy 39 C for the mid-afternoon start. After a storming inning of 70 runs by No. 3 batsman Delray Rawlins, Bermuda's batting order crumbled. Bermuda finished at 131 all out midway through the 19th over. That set Canada a victory target of 132 from its 20 overs. Canada put up its half-century in the fifth over with Samra accounting for 40 of the runs. But the 18-year-old was bowled by Dominic Sabir in the sixth over with Canada at 63 for one. Samra finished with three sixes and five fours in his 23-ball knock. Fellow opener Dilpreet Bajwa was caught two balls later on 12 runs off 10 deliveries. And Pargat Singh was run out the next over with Canada at 65 for three. The Canadians were 85 for three after 10 overs. Harsh Thaker (33 runs) and Kirton (17 runs) steered Canada over the victory line at 132 for four wickets in the 16th over. Canada is the 13th country to qualify for the 20-team T20 World Cup in February-March 2026. The other qualified sides are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the U.S., West Indies, Ireland, New Zealand and Pakistan, plus co-hosts India and Sri Lanka. Seven more teams – two from the Europe Qualifier (to be played July 5-11), two from the Africa Qualifier (Sept. 19 to Oct. 4) and three from the Asia-Pacific Qualifier (Oct. 1-17) – will book their ticket through regional qualifiers. Canada defeated Bermuda by 110 runs in its June 15 opening match at the Americas Qualifier. Bermuda was 100 for two after 10 overs Sunday, before losing the next eight wickets for just 31 runs. Rawlins' fine innings ended when he was caught at the boundary by Shivam Sharma off Saad Bin Zafar's last delivery of the 11th over with Bermuda at 102 for three. Kaleem Sana and Zafar each took three wickets. Zafar was named player of the match, conceding just 10 runs in his four overs. Sharma was named best bowler of the tournament after taking 11 wickets, while Jermaine Baker of the Cayman Islands, with 311 runs, was named best batsman and tournament MVP. Sana removed Bermuda opener Tre Manders with Canada's first ball. But Rawlins, the No. 3 batsman, came out swinging, scoring 14 balls off Dilon Heyliger's first three deliveries of a third over that produced 16 runs for Bermuda. Rawlins punished Jaskaran Buttar in the fourth over, with 10 runs of his first two deliveries of a 14-run over. And Rawlins attacked the spin of Thaker the next over, reaching his half-century with a four-six-four off the first three balls. Canada had a slight chance to remove Rawlins on 64 in the eighth over but a diving Singh was unable to get to a moonshot when it came down. Rawlins and Alex Dore put on an 83-run partnership before Dore, on six, was caught by Zafar off Buttar's last delivery of the eighth over. The 27-year-old Rawlins, who made his debut for Bermuda at 15 and went on to make 138 appearances for Sussex in England, slammed six sixes and four fours in his 42-ball knock. Onias Bascome added 20 runs. Canada, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Cayman Islands were competing in an eight-day, double round-robin format that sent the tournament winner to the T20 World Cup. Canada is ranked 19th in T20 play by the International Cricket Council, compared to No. 27 for Bermuda, No. 41 for the Cayman Islands and No. 56 for the Bahamas. The Cayman Islands and Bahamas were recently promoted from the Subregional Qualifier.
