Latest news with #BradyOliveira
CBC
a day ago
- Sport
- CBC
No Collaros, no Oliveira, no problem, as Blue Bombers handle B.C. Lions in season opener
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the B.C. Lions 34-20 in their season opener on Thursday without starting quarterback Zach Collaros and star running back Brady Oliveira. Collaros was serving a one-game suspension for failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request. He was replaced by Chris Streveler, who threw two of his three touchdown passes to Nic Demski. Streveler completed 15 of 24 pass attempts for 246 yards and one interception in front of a sellout of 32,343 at Princess Auto Stadium. Oliveira, the CFL's reigning most outstanding player and top Canadian, went to the locker room after a Winnipeg scoring drive in the first three minutes of the game. The Bombers (1-0) announced he wouldn't return because of an upper-body injury. Rookie Matthew Peterson from Brooks, Alta., took his place, scoring his first career touchdown off a 38-yard run in the second quarter. He ended up with 23 carries for 130 yards. B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke left the game midway in the fourth quarter after an apparent injury. He was 12 of 27 passing for 249 yards with one TD and one interception. He also ran two yards for a score. Rourke was replaced by Jeremiah Masoli as the Lions fell to 1-1. Keric Wheatfall had Winnipeg's other TD reception, finishing with five catches for 127 yards. Sergio Castillo booted field goals from 49 and 50 yards for Winnipeg, but missed from 47 yards out. He made three of his four convert attempts and the Bombers also picked up a point off a punt single. Keon Hatcher caught a 77-yard TD pass for the Lions and finished with four catches for 150 yards. Sean Whyte hit field goals from 21 and 37 yards and connected on two converts. The Bombers led 10-3 after the first quarter, 18-10 at halftime and 28-20 heading into the fourth. Winnipeg opened the game with a four-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Oliveira burst out of the gates for a 43-yard gain, the longest carry of his career. Streveler followed up with a 20-yard TD pass to Demski in the end zone at 2:29, marking his 72nd consecutive game with at least one reception. Oliveira went to the locker room after the score. The Bombers boosted their lead after his departure, thanks to a turnover. Defensive back Marquise Bridges intercepted a tipped Rourke pass attempt, leading to Castillo's 49-yarder and a 10-0 lead at 8:39. Rourke, who was pressured by Winnipeg's defence all game, ran for 36 yards to get his team to Winnipeg's 13-yard line but the Lions settled for Whyte's 21-yarder at 10:23. Peterson notched his touchdown at 7:25 of the second quarter and Winnipeg got the punt single four minutes later to go up 18-3. Rourke ran two yards for a score with nine seconds remaining in the half. After Wheatfall's 30-yard TD catch at 7:57 of the third quarter, Hatcher made an over-the-shoulder grab for his 77-yard score. Whyte's 37-yard field goal squeezed the score to 28-20 at 11:28. Demski hauled in a four-yard TD catch in the corner of the end zone at 3:48 of the fourth. Winnipeg got another turnover off a fumbled B.C. kickoff return, but the opportunity ended with Castillo going wide on his field-goal attempt and the ball was run out.
National Post
04-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
New CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston plans to be very visible at start of regular season
Article content The CFL's most decorated player last season was also a Canadian. Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was not only the league's top Canadian for a second straight year but also it's outstanding player. The five-foot-11, 222-pound running back earned a second straight CFL rushing title with 1,353 yards with his hometown team while topping the league in yards from scrimmage (1,829) for a second consecutive season. Article content Also enjoying a standout '24 campaign was B.C. receiver Justin McInnis. The six-foot-five, 210-pound native of Pierrefonds, Que., led the league in receiving yards (1,469) with 92 catches and seven TDs. Article content And in 2025, there'll be four Canadian-born head coaches for the first time, led by Winnipeg's Mike O'Shea, of North Bay, Ont. O'Shea, entering his 11th season with the Blue Bombers is the league's longest-tenured head coach. Article content Winnipeg native Bob Dyce is heading into his third full season as Ottawa's head coach while Corey Mace, of Port Moody, B.C., is in his second CFL campaign with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Kilam, of Lethbridge, Alta., is the other. Article content Article content 'There are more Canadian stars in the CFL,' Johnston said. 'There's more Canadians playing in the NFL, there's more Canadian talent coming at us through the NCAA and U Sports. Article content 'You've got this incredible Canadian representation at a star level across football and certainly in the CFL and that's being reflected in the wave of patriotism and interest in all things Canadiana. It's a perfect time for those influences to mesh.' Article content Veteran receiver Eugene Lewis begins the season with a new team (Ottawa) but looks to continue his record quest. Lewis registered TD grabs in Edmonton's final eight regular-season games in 2024, leaving him two short of Terry Evanshen's league mark of 10 consecutive contests. Article content Winnipeg chases a sixth straight Grey Cup appearance with definite purpose, as this year's game will be held at Princess Auto Stadium. The Bombers will have an opening-week bye but will be without veteran starter Zach Collaros when they host B.C. on June 12. Article content Article content Article content Article content
Hamilton Spectator
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
New training regimen has Bombers' Oliveira prepared for 2025 CFL season
WINNIPEG - If it's good for Navy SEALs, it's good for Brady Oliveira. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers star running back added a new element to his off-season training that's used by the elite U.S. special operations force. It's called hypoxic training, which aims to improve physical endurance and mental strength. 'It was amazing. It was challenging for the mind,' Oliveira said Tuesday after Day 3 of training camp. 'I like to say it's like bulletproofing the mind.' Oliveira tried hypoxic training while in Bali, Indonesia, where he spends part of the off-season relaxing, training and rescuing dogs. The first part of the training was on land, where he practised holding his breath. In his first session, he held it for one minute, 20 seconds. The last session, he reached three minutes, 45 seconds. Then it was into the water to work under low oxygen levels. 'You're underwater walking with dumbbells, swimming with one-arm dumbbells there and back,' Oliveira said. 'It's putting your body and mindset in a position where you think you need to come up for air, you need a breath, you're going to pass out, but understand that your body and mind can push through so much more. 'Physically it wasn't demanding, mentally it was probably one of the greatest things I've ever done.' Oliveira believes the training he did two to three days a week will translate to the football field and give him an edge. 'When I'm on the field, in the fourth quarter of a game, they rely on me and the offensive line to get the job done,' the 27-year-old said. 'You can't be tired, you have to keep pushing through. I think that's exactly what it'll do for me.' It's hard to imagine what an improved Oliveira may be like. The Winnipeg-born tailback won a second consecutive most outstanding Canadian award last season and was also the league's top player — becoming only the fourth player in history to capture both honours in the same season. Oliveira finished the regular season with 1,353 rushing yards and three touchdowns off 239 carries in 17 games. He also recorded 57 receptions for 476 yards and one TD. The five-foot-nine, 225-pound sparkplug of Winnipeg's offence said he's got a lot left for an encore. 'I do think I have more in the tank,' Oliveira said. 'There's still so much that I left on the field. 'You can always continue to get better. Improve my football IQ, I think that will allow me to get into better positions, to get more positive runs. 'Last year, you saw me get more active in the receiving game and I still think that's another part of my game that I can expand on. I'm excited.' All that would be welcomed by fans, who want the team to make a sixth straight trip to the Grey Cup that Winnipeg is hosting Nov. 16. The Blue Bombers lost their third championship game in a row last season, falling 41-24 to the Toronto Argonauts. While trying to propel his team to the big game again, Oliveira will continue balancing his life with charitable work. Before training camp, he and girlfriend Alex Blumberg helped rescue 40 dogs and 55 cats in the northern Manitoba community of Sandy Bay. One of the dogs, who is pregnant, has joined their own four dogs at home for a while. 'It's going to be busy in our household,' Oliveira said with a smile. Their adventures at home and in Bali garner a huge social-media audience, with Oliveira having 244,000 followers of his Instagram page. He also experienced an eye-opening trip to Kenya this year with other CFL ambassadors for World Vision Canada, helping raise awareness about various issues. One village they went to was getting a borehole (well) for fresh water so villagers wouldn't have to walk six kilometres to get brown, unsafe water. When the borehole was tested and clean water poured out, it was an unforgettable moment for Oliveira. 'Seeing the kids, their eyes just light up,' he said. 'That was the first time they ever saw clean water. It really puts things in perspective. 'We're in this world to make it a better place. When you leave this place, you should make it better.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2025.
Global News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Global News
New training regimen has Bombers' Oliveira prepared for 2025 CFL season
If it's good for Navy SEALs, it's good for Brady Oliveira. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers star running back added a new element to his off-season training that's used by the elite U.S. special operations force. It's called hypoxic training, which aims to improve physical endurance and mental strength. 'It was amazing. It was challenging for the mind,' Oliveira said Tuesday after Day 3 of training camp. 'I like to say it's like bulletproofing the mind.' Oliveira tried hypoxic training while in Bali, Indonesia, where he spends part of the off-season relaxing, training and rescuing dogs. The first part of the training was on land, where he practiced holding his breath. In his first session, he held it for one minute, 20 seconds. The last session, he reached three minutes, 45 seconds. Then it was into the water to work under low oxygen levels. Story continues below advertisement 'You're underwater walking with dumbbells, swimming with one-arm dumbbells there and back,' Oliveira said. 'It's putting your body and mindset in a position where you think you need to come up for air, you need a breath, you're going to pass out, but understand that your body and mind can push through so much more. 'Physically it wasn't demanding, mentally it was probably one of the greatest things I've ever done.' Oliveira believes the training he did two to three days a week will translate to the football field and give him an edge. 'When I'm on the field, in the fourth quarter of a game, they rely on me and the offensive line to get the job done,' the 27-year-old said. 'You can't be tired, you have to keep pushing through. I think that's exactly what it'll do for me.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy It's hard to imagine what an improved Oliveira may be like. The Winnipeg-born tailback won a second consecutive most outstanding Canadian award last season and was also the league's top player — becoming only the fourth player in history to capture both honours in the same season. Oliveira finished the regular season with 1,353 rushing yards and three touchdowns off 239 carries in 17 games. He also recorded 57 receptions for 476 yards and one TD. Story continues below advertisement The five-foot-nine, 225-pound sparkplug of Winnipeg's offence said he's got a lot left for an encore. 'I do think I have more in the tank,' Oliveira said. 'There's still so much that I left on the field. 'You can always continue to get better. Improve my football IQ, I think that will allow me to get into better positions, to get more positive runs. 'Last year, you saw me get more active in the receiving game and I still think that's another part of my game that I can expand on. I'm excited.' All that would be welcomed by fans, who want the team to make a sixth straight trip to the Grey Cup that Winnipeg is hosting Nov. 16. The Blue Bombers lost their third championship game in a row last season, falling 41-24 to the Toronto Argonauts. While trying to propel his team to the big game again, Oliveira will continue balancing his life with charitable work. Before training camp, he and girlfriend Alex Blumberg helped rescue 40 dogs and 55 cats in the northern Manitoba community of Sandy Bay. One of the dogs, who is pregnant, has joined their own four dogs at home for a while. Story continues below advertisement 'It's going to be busy in our household,' Oliveira said with a smile. Their adventures at home and in Bali garner a huge social-media audience, with Oliveira having 244,000 followers of his Instagram page. He also experienced an eye-opening trip to Kenya this year with other CFL ambassadors for World Vision Canada, helping raise awareness about various issues. One village they went to was getting a borehole (well) for fresh water so villagers wouldn't have to walk six kilometres to get brown, unsafe water. When the borehole was tested and clean water poured out, it was an unforgettable moment for Oliveira. 'Seeing the kids, their eyes just light up,' he said. 'That was the first time they ever saw clean water. It really puts things in perspective. 'We're in this world to make it a better place. When you leave this place, you should make it better.'
Toronto Star
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
New training regimen has Bombers' Oliveira prepared for 2025 CFL season
WINNIPEG - If it's good for Navy SEALs, it's good for Brady Oliveira. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers star running back added a new element to his off-season training that's used by the elite U.S. special operations force. It's called hypoxic training, which aims to improve physical endurance and mental strength. 'It was amazing. It was challenging for the mind,' Oliveira said Tuesday after Day 3 of training camp. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'I like to say it's like bulletproofing the mind.' Oliveira tried hypoxic training while in Bali, Indonesia, where he spends part of the off-season relaxing, training and rescuing dogs. The first part of the training was on land, where he practised holding his breath. In his first session, he held it for one minute, 20 seconds. The last session, he reached three minutes, 45 seconds. Then it was into the water to work under low oxygen levels. 'You're underwater walking with dumbbells, swimming with one-arm dumbbells there and back,' Oliveira said. 'It's putting your body and mindset in a position where you think you need to come up for air, you need a breath, you're going to pass out, but understand that your body and mind can push through so much more. 'Physically it wasn't demanding, mentally it was probably one of the greatest things I've ever done.' Oliveira believes the training he did two to three days a week will translate to the football field and give him an edge. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'When I'm on the field, in the fourth quarter of a game, they rely on me and the offensive line to get the job done,' the 27-year-old said. 'You can't be tired, you have to keep pushing through. I think that's exactly what it'll do for me.' It's hard to imagine what an improved Oliveira may be like. The Winnipeg-born tailback won a second consecutive most outstanding Canadian award last season and was also the league's top player — becoming only the fourth player in history to capture both honours in the same season. Oliveira finished the regular season with 1,353 rushing yards and three touchdowns off 239 carries in 17 games. He also recorded 57 receptions for 476 yards and one TD. The five-foot-nine, 225-pound sparkplug of Winnipeg's offence said he's got a lot left for an encore. 'I do think I have more in the tank,' Oliveira said. 'There's still so much that I left on the field. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'You can always continue to get better. Improve my football IQ, I think that will allow me to get into better positions, to get more positive runs. 'Last year, you saw me get more active in the receiving game and I still think that's another part of my game that I can expand on. I'm excited.' All that would be welcomed by fans, who want the team to make a sixth straight trip to the Grey Cup that Winnipeg is hosting Nov. 16. The Blue Bombers lost their third championship game in a row last season, falling 41-24 to the Toronto Argonauts. While trying to propel his team to the big game again, Oliveira will continue balancing his life with charitable work. Before training camp, he and girlfriend Alex Blumberg helped rescue 40 dogs and 55 cats in the northern Manitoba community of Sandy Bay. One of the dogs, who is pregnant, has joined their own four dogs at home for a while. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'It's going to be busy in our household,' Oliveira said with a smile. Their adventures at home and in Bali garner a huge social-media audience, with Oliveira having 244,000 followers of his Instagram page. He also experienced an eye-opening trip to Kenya this year with other CFL ambassadors for World Vision Canada, helping raise awareness about various issues. One village they went to was getting a borehole (well) for fresh water so villagers wouldn't have to walk six kilometres to get brown, unsafe water. When the borehole was tested and clean water poured out, it was an unforgettable moment for Oliveira. 'Seeing the kids, their eyes just light up,' he said. 'That was the first time they ever saw clean water. It really puts things in perspective. 'We're in this world to make it a better place. When you leave this place, you should make it better.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2025.
