Latest news with #HamiltonTigerCats
CTV News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Classic Sports Moments - A 2001 CFL match between the Tiger-Cats and Riders at Taylor Field
Watch Let's go back to a stunning win in 2001 at Taylor Field with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in town.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Toronto Argos and Hamilton Ti-Cats return to University of Guelph gridiron
The Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats met up for a preseason match at the University of Guelph's Alumni Stadium on May 30, 2025. (Dan Lauckner/CTV News) For the fifth consecutive season, CFL stars came to the University of Guelph for a preseason matchup. Defending Grey Cup champions, the Toronto Argonauts, took on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Alumni Stadium Friday night. The Boatmen brought out the Grey Cup ahead of the match, giving fans a chance to catch a glimpse of the coveted trophy. For years, the game has drawn out the faithful, eager to get a measure of the team before the official start to the season. 'We came last year to this game. [It's] always great to see the team in advance. I love coming here and seeing how the team is looking,' self-proclaimed Argos superfan Matthew McKenzie said. 'I was here last year for this game, and I just came out to root on our Tiger-Cats,' fan Shelle Papin said. 'It's not too far, just right up in Hamilton. So Oskee Wee Wee!' Others said it was the overall excitement that drew them in. 'I was here last year and the year before. It's a wonderful time,' Tayte Azzoparde, a Guelph Jr. Gryphons U18 player, told CTV News. The stands quickly filled up with diehard fans, some sporting the double blue while others came decked out in black and gold. Friday's game comes after the Argos used Alumni Stadium for a training camp and held a special opportunity for elementary students to get in on the action through the 'Huddle Up' program earlier this month.
CTV News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Former Argos DaShaun Amos, Jamal Peters together again with Ticats
Toronto Argonauts' DaShaun Amos (8) runs back an interception as Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Ontaria Wilson (80) and Argonauts' Tarvarus McFadden (2) look on during second half CFL football action at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver on Sunday, November 17, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette HAMILTON — Jamal Peters and DaShaun Amos are together again. The veteran defensive backs reunited this off-season when Amos signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. They were 2022 Grey Cup champions with the Toronto Argonauts. Amos, a field-side halfback, won another Grey Cup last season with Toronto before signing with Hamilton in free agency. With plenty of gentle persuasion from Peters, a boundary cornerback. 'I didn't know if there was a chance we'd be able to get him because he'd been with the blue team for so long and what he'd done for that organization,' Peters said. 'But being in his ear since the start of the off-season, I just told him what we could do if he came here and was a part of this. 'I know we can chase a championship and do something special here, so it's a huge piece. He's like a brother to me.' A message Amos heard loud and clear. 'He (Peters) is a big (reason) why I signed here,' Amos said. 'Being able to look across (the field) and see someone like him helps you play a little looser. 'A player of his calibre helps you be more confident in the room and want to win that much more.' Amos was also sold on the Ticats (7-11), who missed the playoffs last season but were 3-0 versus Toronto. 'From the very beginning of free agency, Hamilton just showed they wanted me the most,' he said. 'They were a few pieces away from having an amazing year last year and I feel like we have the pieces for that this year. 'They're very community-driven … and that's something that's huge to me.' The six-foot, 190-pound Amos was a '24 East Division all-star, registering 25 tackles, five interceptions and a defensive TD in all 18 regular-season games. In Toronto's 41-24 Grey Cup win over Winnipeg, Amos had one of the team's record-tying four interceptions that were returned for 164 yards, a new game standard. Amos began his CFL career with Calgary (2018-19, 2021). He was a 2019 West Division all-star and has won three Grey Cups (2018 with Stamps, 2022 and 2024 with Argos). The six- foot-two, 220-pound Peters enters his second season in Hamilton after starting his CFL career with Toronto (2021-23). Peters, 28, was a 2022 league all-star after registering a career-high six interceptions. Peters had 41 total tackles and four interceptions in 14 regular-season contests last season. Hamilton also signed veteran CFL defensive backs Reggie Stubblefield and Branden Dozier in free agency. Stubblefield spent two seasons with Montreal (winning 2023 Grey Cup) while Dozier joins the Ticats after spending time with the Alouettes (2017-18), B.C. (2019) and Calgary (2021-2024). The newcomers join returnees Destin Talbert (who started at halfback alongside Peters last season) and CFL veterans Jonathan Moxey and Lawrence Woods III. 'Depth is always your friend,' Amos said. 'I've yet to be on a championship team where we didn't need depth. 'It's going to build our room to be the best we can be as individuals and together as a group. You can never have too many.' Peters is one of the CFL's top cover corners, which could force teams to look more to Amos' side of the field. Amos is more than good with that. 'We've talked about that since we were first teammates,' Amos said. 'My job is to help shut down the field and send the ball his way and his job is to shut down the boundary side and send it back. 'Teams won't be able to game-plan us and go to just the strong side or the boundary side. They'll have to deal with us both.' Brent Monsoon begins his first season as Hamilton's co-ordinator following 15 seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, the last five as their defensive co-ordinator. He takes over a unit that was ranked last in offensive points (29.3 per game) and offensive TDs (55) allowed. Monson wants Hamilton's defence to be aggressive this season. But that will also mean doing so with a short memory because with aggression comes the possibility of being beaten for a big gain. 'First thing is make the play because if we can be perfect, we're going to be perfect,' Amos said. 'That's the standard and expectation, first and foremost … but in the back end the reality is many of us aren't perfect and we're going to give up some. 'But we must have that short memory and be able to reload. They might get the ball down to the one-yard line, but if we can reload and play the next play and get a turnover, it's like it never happened.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2025. Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
CBC
15-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Abrupt end to record-setting '24 campaign fuels Ticats receiver Shemar Bridges
A premature end to a stellar rookie campaign is fuelling Shemar Bridges' preparation for the 2025 CFL season. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats' receiver was the East Division's top rookie in 2024 with 83 catches — a club-record for a first-year player — for 933 yards and four touchdowns. But it could have been much more. Bridges missed the final three games with a quad injury, ending his pursuit of Curtis Mayfield's league record for most regular-season receptions by a rookie (102). "I definitely feel like if I didn't get hurt I could've done some more things and helped the team," Bridges said. "Being able to go to the (CFL) awards show and watch the Grey Cup myself, it fuelled me that I didn't want to be in the stands, I want to be on the field. "It gave me that hunger and I just wanted to work as hard as I can to possibly come ready to help the team." The six-foot-four, 208-pound Bridges has looked good early in Hamilton's training camp. But head coach Scott Milanovich is keeping an eye on Bridges, and plans to save the receiver from himself and give him days off as the Ticats prepare for the upcoming season. Especially after Bridges pushed to continued playing last season after suffering his injury. "You love those kind of guys, right, they want to be out there and they're willing to play with pain," Milanovich said. "The concern with guys coming off injury is just how much pounding can they take on it? "We're going to keep a close eye on him and maybe try to give him a vet day here and there just to make sure we're not pushing him too hard. The tempo out there is fast, there's a lot of running." Bridges got his first "vet day" Wednesday. Bridges comes into camp heavier than last season But if the '24 season taught Bridges anything, it was to take everything — successes and struggles — in stride. "It's a long season so you can have your real high weeks as an individual and as a team and you can also have lower weeks," he said. "You've got to keep the journey even-keeled... you can't get too high or too low, just enjoy the process." Bridges said he had a little trouble last season keeping weight on so he reported to camp Sunday a few pounds heavier. "Not a lot, just enough to give me some strength to be able to endure hits and try to block better," he said. Hamilton (7-11) missed the CFL playoffs last season despite having the league's top-ranked offence. The Ticats were first overall in net offence (406.1 yards/game), passing yards (332.1) and passing TDs (35) and second in offensive points (26.5). Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was the CFL leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32) but also interceptions (18). Bridges tied Canadian Kiondre Smith for third among Ticats receivers (933 yards) behind Tim White (74 catches, 1,164 yards, eight TDs) and current Edmonton Elk Steven Dunbar Jr (75 catches, 1,159 yards, five TDs). And the unit was bolstered by the off-season signing of veterans Kenny Lawler and Drew Wolitarsky, who both won two Grey Cups with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. "We can be special but it's on us," Bridges said of Hamilton's receiving corps. "We've got to come out to work every day and stay accountable. "But it's a great group and I love that we keep each other accountable and work hard." Last season was one of adjustment for Bridges as he not only headed to a different country but had to get acclimated with a new game. With a year under his belt and returning for a second season in the same offence with the same receivers coach (Naaman Roosevelt) and offensive co-ordinator (Milanovich), Bridges is much more comfortable heading into the '25 campaign. "It's definitely a big jump," he said. "Things slow down, especially playing a whole year and having success. "Having the same receiver coach and same OC and playing with a lot of the same guys and having someone like Bo who believes in me just makes things so much easier to come into. But now I just want to take that next step, you can't be complacent, just got to get better every day."
National Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Return to B.C. Lions 'a beautiful hello' for running back James Butler
KAMLOOPS — James Butler always knew a return to the B.C. Lions was possible. The CFL veteran just didn't anticipate the way he'd find his way back. Article content Article content After two years with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Butler was released in January after a difficult season. Article content 'I didn't have any heads-up,' he said of the team's decision. 'I was coming off one of my worst years in Hamilton, so I was like, 'I hope I can have another opportunity.' But I understand the game.' Article content Article content Hours after the Ticats announced the move, the Lions inked the five-foot-eight, 215-pound running back as a free agent. Article content Coming back to B.C. was 'a pretty easy decision,' Butler said. Article content 'It was an opportunity. (Lions general manager Ryan Rigmaiden) called me and said 'Hey, we should have kept you here when you left.' So it was nice to hear that,' he said at Lions training camp in Kamloops, B.C., this week. Article content 'It's funny. (Former Ticats head coach Orlando Steinhauer), he calls me and he's like 'I just want to say congratulations. I think that was the fastest someone's ever been cut and then re-signed.'' Article content After playing college football at Iowa, the Chicago native spent time with the Oakland Raiders, Saskatchewan Roughriders and XFL's Houston Roughnecks before signing with the Lions in 2021. Article content He had a standout campaign in 2022, starting with a four-touchdown performance against the Edmonton Elks in the regular-season opener. Over 17 appearances, he rushed for 1,060 yards with seven touchdowns, and chalked up 384 receiving yards with another four majors. Article content Part of that success was due to Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, Butler said. Article content 'I had my best season playing with Nate because with Nate, anything's possible,' he said. 'He opens everything up.' Article content Article content As a free agent, Butler signed with the Ticats before the 2023 season. He amassed a career-high 1,116 rushing yards with seven touchdowns over 17 games, and added 527 receiving yards with another TD. Article content He had a strong start to 2024, too, running for 119 yards against the Calgary Stampeders in the first game of the year. Article content As the season wore on, though, he struggled and was replaced in the lineup midseason by rookie Greg Ball. Butler played 10 games across the campaign, rushing for 522 yards with two touchdowns. Article content 'I wouldn't say anything went wrong (last season). I would just say it's the business of football,' he said. 'There's only so many things you can really control. All I could really do is control playing the games as well as I can and just pray and hope for another opportunity.'
