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CBC
3 hours ago
- Sport
- CBC
Bombers, starting season without Collaros, hope to collar hometown appearance in Grey Cup
Dalton Schoen doesn't care who throws him the ball, he just wants to make a meaningful catch. The Blue Bombers' talented receiver will get that chance when he returns from a season-ending injury to face the B.C. Lions in Winnipeg's CFL season-opener Thursday. "It feels great," Schoen said after Wednesday's walk-through practice. "It's kind of hard to describe, you get so used to the process of it that when it's taken away you go, 'Wow, that goes quick."' Schoen suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the third game last season, nixing a chance to put up a trio of consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns. His return to action will be key for a revamped Blue Bombers receiving corps. Schoen and 10-year CFL veteran Nic Demski will lead a group that's lost some veteran pass catchers such as Kenny Lawler and Drew Wolitarsky. Thursday's test will also include hauling in passes from quarterback Chris Streveler as starting quarterback Zach Collaros was suspended for one game after failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request. "We've got some familiar faces, but we've definitely got some new faces," said Demski, who's in his seventh year with his hometown team. "We've got some guys stepping up into different roles, so everybody's just got to make the most of their opportunities and come together and play great." Lawler and Wolitarsky both left for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, while Ontaria Wilson signed with the NFL New York Jets after catching 71 passes for 1,026 yards in his rookie three-down season. Winnipeg's starting five against the Lions (1-0) will feature Demski and Schoen with sophomores Keric Wheatfall and Kevens Clercius and rookie Jerreth Sterns. Hosting Grey Cup 'huge motivation' Dillon Mitchell was a big off-season signing after the third-year receiver was released by the Edmonton Elks, but he's on the one-game injured list. "We have pretty good chemistry in the room," Schoen said of his fellow receivers. "I think we communicate pretty well with each other and so I think it's going to be fun to get out there with those guys." Winnipeg's defence also has some new looks as the club aims to make it to a sixth straight Grey Cup and end a three-game losing streak in the championship game. Manitoba's capital city is hosting this year's Grey Cup on Nov. 16. "It's a huge motivation," Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson said. "To have the biggest game of the season to be in your home, it's an honour." Jefferson will have a different rush end on the line after James Vaughters was signed following four seasons during two stints with the Calgary Stampeders. "We got a chance to build our camaraderie, build that chemistry, a little bit of togetherness," Jefferson said of the defence in training camp. "Running new plays, new defences, new personalities and things like that. Now we've got the chance to put that work that we built during camp and put that out here with live bullets." The defence will be going up against Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, who claimed the league's top offensive honour for Week 1 after throwing for 324 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-14 victory over Edmonton. While running back Brady Oliveira should be Winnipeg's workhorse again, the team signed tailback Peyton Logan. He's expected to return kicks, but is on the one-game injured list. Rookie defensive back Trey Vaval will get the chance to shine in that role against the Lions. Winnipeg fans will see another familiar face on the field Thursday, but on a different sideline. Former Bombers offensive co-ordinator Buck Pierce left to become the Lions' head coach. "Probably a little of both," Pierce said with a smile when asked if he expects to be heckled or congratulated by Winnipeg fans. "But that's expected. The passion of the fanbase here and the excitement for a new season, I'm sure I'll hear both sides of that."
Globe and Mail
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Bombers look for another trip to the Grey Cup, this time as hosts
Dalton Schoen doesn't care who throws him the ball, he just wants to make a meaningful catch. The Blue Bombers' talented receiver will get that chance when he returns from a season-ending injury to face the B.C. Lions in Winnipeg's CFL season-opener Thursday. 'It feels great,' Schoen said after Wednesday's walk-through practice. 'It's kind of hard to describe, you get so used to the process of it that when it's taken away you go, 'Wow, that goes quick.'' Schoen suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the third game last season, nixing a chance to put up a trio of consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns. His return to action will be key for a revamped Blue Bombers receiving corps. Schoen and 10-year CFL veteran Nic Demski will lead a group that's lost some veteran pass catchers such as Kenny Lawler and Drew Wolitarsky. Thursday's test will also include hauling in passes from quarterback Chris Streveler as starting quarterback Zach Collaros was suspended for one game after failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request. 'We've got some familiar faces, but we've definitely got some new faces,' said Demski, who's in his seventh year with his hometown team. 'We've got some guys stepping up into different roles, so everybody's just got to make the most of their opportunities and come together and play great.' Lawler and Wolitarsky both left for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, while Ontaria Wilson signed with the NFL New York Jets after catching 71 passes for 1,026 yards in his rookie three-down season. Winnipeg's starting five against the Lions (1-0) will feature Demski and Schoen with sophomores Keric Wheatfall and Kevens Clercius and rookie Jerreth Sterns. Dillon Mitchell was a big off-season signing after the third-year receiver was released by the Edmonton Elks, but he's on the one-game injured list. 'We have pretty good chemistry in the room,' Schoen said of his fellow receivers. 'I think we communicate pretty well with each other and so I think it's going to be fun to get out there with those guys.' Winnipeg's defence also has some new looks as the club aims to make it to a sixth straight Grey Cup and end a three-game losing streak in the championship game. Manitoba's capital city is hosting this year's Grey Cup on Nov. 16. 'It's a huge motivation,' Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson said. 'To have the biggest game of the season to be in your home, it's an honour.' Jefferson will have a different rush end on the line after James Vaughters was signed following four seasons during two stints with the Calgary Stampeders. 'We got a chance to build our camaraderie, build that chemistry, a little bit of togetherness,' Jefferson said of the defence in training camp. 'Running new plays, new defences, new personalities and things like that. Now we've got the chance to put that work that we built during camp and put that out here with live bullets.' The defence will be going up against Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, who claimed the league's top offensive honour for Week 1 after throwing for 324 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-14 victory over Edmonton. While running back Brady Oliveira should be Winnipeg's workhorse again, the team signed tailback Peyton Logan. He's expected to return kicks, but is on the one-game injured list. Rookie defensive back Trey Vaval will get the chance to shine in that role against the Lions. Winnipeg fans will see another familiar face on the field Thursday, but on a different sideline. Former Bombers offensive co-ordinator Buck Pierce left to become the Lions' head coach. 'Probably a little of both,' Pierce said with a smile when asked if he expects to be heckled or congratulated by Winnipeg fans. 'But that's expected. The passion of the fan base here and the excitement for a new season, I'm sure I'll hear both sides of that.'
CTV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Dedrick Mills, Vernon Adams Jr., spur Stampeders to 38-26 win over Tiger-Cats
Dedrick Mills scored one touchdown in the 2024 CFL season. He started 2025 with three in a single game for the Calgary Stampeders. The Stampeders downed the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats 38-26 in the season-opener for both clubs Saturday. Mills rushed for 94 yards on 17 carries, while quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 19 of 28 pass attempts for 284 yards, and rushed for 33 yards on three carries, in his highly-anticipated Stampeder debut. Mills handed off the white cowboy hat as his team's offensive player of the game to his offensive linemen. 'They did their thing and they got me in the end zone three times, so of course, man, I had to give it to them,' Mills said. 'They deserved it.' Adams' backup P.J. Walker contributed a short-yardage touchdown and Rene Paredes kicked field goals from 42, 29 and 38 yards in front of an announced 18,682 on a breezy, hazy evening at McMahon Stadium. Former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Kenny Lawler scored his first touchdown as a Tiger-Cat. Isiah Wooden returned a kickoff to score, while Marc Liegghio booted field goals from 47, 37 and 25 yards. The Stampeders acquired Adams in a trade with the B.C. Lions a month after their 5-12-1 season ended in 2024. He was intercepted twice in Saturday's second quarter, but distributed the ball efficiently for 428 yards of net offence. Adams scrambled out of the pocket to connect with Clark Barnes on a 65-yard passing play that Mills finished for a 34-11 lead to start the fourth quarter. The Stampeders scored on their first drive of the game when Adams marched the offence 85 yards on nine plays. 'It's always important to get some points on the first drive if you can,' Adams said. 'I like receiving the ball because if we can go down and do that, that puts pressure on their offence to do it. 'Defence did a good job. Rene was Rene. And that was awesome operation on the special teams. 'It wasn't pretty by any means, but it's a win and it's so hard to get wins in this league. We have a really good team and once we get it together, get it clicking, I think we're going to be special.' It was too little, too late when Ticats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell found rhythm in his offence as the Stampeders had built a 15-point lead by the first play of the second half. Mitchell completed 31 of 50 pass attempts for 304 yards and a touchdown throw in an interception-free start, but Hamilton also turned the ball over on downs three times. 'We have to do better jobs on offence, me put the ball in a catchable spot every time and let's put two hands on it, locking it up, getting vertical,' Mitchell said. 'We just want to reward the defence when they're playing that well in the first half. When you're making Vernon throw two picks … in the first half, you've got to take advantage of them and I just think we didn't do a good enough job of instantly kind of turning those into points.' The Tiger-Cats haven't won their first game of the season since 2019, while the Stampeders improved to 3-3 in their last six openers. The game turned on Calgary's kickoff to start the second half when Paredes' kick hung in the wind, which gave Calgary's Jeshrun Antwi time to get a hand on the football. Teammate Kelon Thomas recovered at Hamilton's 13-yard line. After Mills ran the ball to the one, Walker scored and Paredes' convert gave Calgary a 25-10 lead. Stopping the run was among Calgary's priorities this season as the Stampeders were the worst in the CFL at it in 2024. They held the Ticats to 47 rushing yards Saturday. 'Definitely if you can make a team a little more one-dimensional, we had the lead though, which was nice too,' said Stampeders head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson. 'I did feel like they tried to run early and we were there and thought we spiked our ends and did some good things. They tried some deep throws on us, really weren't able to do it. We've got some things we can get better at, but a good start for the defence.' As for his new quarterback, Dickenson liked what he saw from Adams in the face of Hamilton's pressure. 'What he does so well though is he escapes. He used his legs. The things we wanted from him, he did,' Dickenson said. 'He got first downs with his legs. He got out of the pocket.' Up next Stampeders: Visit the Toronto Argonauts next Saturday. Tiger-Cats: Host the Saskatchewan Roughriders next Saturday. -- Donna Spencer This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2025.
National Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Dedrick Mills, Vernon Adams Jr. power Stampeders to season-opening win over Tiger-Cats
Dedrick Mills scored one touchdown in the 2024 CFL season. He started 2025 with three in a single game for the Calgary Stampeders. Article content The Stampeders downed the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats 38-26 in the season-opener for both clubs Saturday. Article content Article content Mills rushed for 94 yards on 17 carries, while quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 19-of-28 pass attempts for 284 yards, and rushed for 33 yards on three carries, in his highly anticipated Stampeder debut. Article content Mills handed off the white cowboy hat as his team's offensive player of the game to his offensive linemen. Article content 'They did their thing and they got me in the end zone three times, so of course, man, I had to give it to them,' Mills said. 'They deserved it.' Article content Adams' backup P.J. Walker contributed a short-yardage touchdown and Rene Paredes kicked field goals from 42, 29 and 38 yards in front of an announced 18,682 on a breezy, hazy evening at McMahon Stadium. Article content Former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Kenny Lawler scored his first touchdown as a Tiger-Cat. Isiah Wooden returned a kickoff to score, while Marc Liegghio booted field goals from 47, 37 and 25 yards. Article content Article content The Stampeders acquired Adams in a trade with the BC Lions a month after their 5-12-1 season ended in 2024. Article content He was intercepted twice in Saturday's second quarter, but distributed the ball efficiently for 428 yards of net offence. Article content Adams scrambled out of the pocket to connect with Clark Barnes on a 65-yard passing play that Mills finished for a 34-11 lead to start the fourth quarter. Article content Article content The Stampeders scored on their first drive of the game when Adams marched the offence 85 yards on nine plays. Article content 'It's always important to get some points on the first drive if you can,' Adams said. 'I like receiving the ball because if we can go down and do that, that puts pressure on their offence to do it. Article content 'Defence did a good job. Rene was Rene. And that was awesome operation on the special teams. Article content 'It wasn't pretty by any means, but it's a win and it's so hard to get wins in this league. We have a really good team and once we get it together, get it clicking, I think we're going to be special.' Article content Article content It was too little, too late when Ticats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell found rhythm in his offence as the Stampeders had built a 15-point lead by the first play of the second half. Article content Mitchell completed 31-of-50 pass attempts for 304 yards and a touchdown throw in an interception-free start, but Hamilton also turned the ball over on downs three times.
