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Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roughriders Mailbag: Attendance issues? Passing yards problem?
Welcome to another edition of the Roughriders Mailbag where we answer questions readers have about the Saskatchewan Roughriders. After last week's season-opening win against the Ottawa Redblacks, the Roughriders are now set for two straight road games as they visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday before visiting the Toronto Argonauts on June 20. Before then, let's dive in on some issues sent in by readers as Week 2 of the CFL season approaches. If you'd like to submit a question for the next Roughriders Mailbag, email your inquiry to: SaskatchewanRoughriders@ What's with the low attendance numbers? From Dale While injuries were a major concern of fans after Thursday's season opener, attendance was another issue brought up several times. The Roughriders announced 25,973 tickets were distributed for the club's CFL season opener, but obviously there were fewer inside Mosaic Stadium. Now if only the team would provide us with actual scanned attendance… It's no secret that fewer fans are attending games in person. Roughriders president Craig Reynolds told the Leader-Post this off-season that increasing season ticket sales was the club's primary focus. The team has developed some new perks for season ticket holders this year. But is that enough? We haven't got an update on season tickets sales this year after three straight years of decline. Last year, there were 15,500 season tickets sold. While playing on a Thursday obviously isn't great for the out-of-town fans, there's a larger issue at hand when it comes to increasing attendance. Last year, Reynolds said the team sold the most single-game tickets they've ever sold. That's obviously a new trend where fans are choosing individual games to attend and not committing to season tickets. This year, the two hottest games — the season opener and the Labour Day Classic — were offered as a package deal. Usually package deals aren't used on your hot-ticket items. Fans still support this team, but they aren't showing up like they used to. This is not the 'good ol' days' anymore. Does that have to do with affordability? Comfort of watching from home? Tickets, food and drinks aren't necessarily cheap. Winning helps, but it isn't everything anymore. Every single non-ticket buyer has their reason(s) for not going. Regional TV blackouts would help sell more tickets. But that would hurt the overall brand. It won't happen. How about what the B.C. Lions are doing? Bringing in Snoop Dogg to perform prior to the game helped the Lions sell 52,837 tickets in Week 1. Obviously Vancouver is a bigger market with a bigger venue, but owner Amar Doman is basically saying you have to spend money to make money. Should the Roughriders follow suit? Despite being in a smaller market, the Roughriders were ahead of the Montreal Alouettes (21,480) and Calgary Stampeders (18,682) when it came to ticket sales for their season openers. Attendance will go up during the summer as the season goes along, especially if they keep winning. And at the end of the day, the team will still likely make a profit from gate sales this year. However, it's not like it used to be. Are the Roughriders going to give up 400 yards to every quarterback they face this season? From Evan Head coach Corey Mace, who also serves as Saskatchewan's defensive coordinator, doesn't have a big issue in giving up passing yards. What he wants to see is timely stops and forced turnovers. Despite Dru Brown passing for 413 yards, the Redblacks forcing three turnovers and Saskatchewan generating no first downs in the fourth quarter, the Roughriders defence made the plays when it mattered. While Saskatchewan secured a late turnover on downs, they didn't force another turnover in the game. However, the team got two timely fourth-quarter sacks from linebacker Jameer Thurman and defensive end Malik Carney. So while there weren't any interceptions or forced fumbles, Saskatchewan still made the plays when it mattered. 'This defence gives up a lot of yards passing but it allows us to be opportunistic to go get the ball,' Mace said after the game. At the end of the day, Mace isn't tracking passing yards but instead wins and losses. And yes, maybe the turnover battle too. Here's a suggestion to improve TSN's broadcasts of CFL games. When the announcer introduces the defensive and offensive players, why not add a red maple leaf to the pictures of the Canadian starters? From Fred This is a good idea and I'm sure it would be simple enough to add to the broadcast even though some of the 'Canadian' starters are in fact Americans who are considered Nationals. That's a different debate in itself. It would be cool to see each player introduce themself and say where they're from, much like the NFL does during it's prime-time broadcasts. And instead of saying what university of junior club you played for, how about name and hometown. It will allow players to show a bit of their personal side. tshire@ 10 Thoughts: Roughriders find a way to beat Redblacks in season opener Roughriders overcome injuries in 31-26 win over Redblacks The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
He's the ham in ‘Ham Jam': Comedic bard B.A. Johnston has new season of show about the Hammer
Paul Osbaldiston … meet B.A. Johnston. Ozzie, the former punter and placekicker for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, is just one Hamilton icon that turns up in the new season of the comedic troubadour's show 'B.A. Johnston's Ham Jam.' Johnston says it was a highlight of the five-episode show that is now playing on Bell Fibe TV 1 and YouTube. Each episode is about 15 minutes. 'I idolized Osbaldiston while I was growing up,' says the 50-year-old west Hamilton resident and entertainer, who will be on a tour this month, playing in bars between Thunder Bay and Vancouver. 'That was a real special one.' I love Hamilton. I could write love letters to Hamilton all the time. B.A. Johnston Other episodes see Johnston going to the 2022 Labour Day Classic, and a special food show where he visits Hutch's on the Beach, Roma Bakery & Deli, Easterbrook's, Grandad's Donuts, the Tally Ho, Black Forest Inn and Shakespeare's fine dining. B.A. Johnston gets shut out of the 2022 Labour Day Classic, despite having a ticket. It is part of an episode on his show 'B.A. Johnston's Ham Jam.' The second season is now running on Bell Fibe/TV 1 and YouTube. He has one sobering episode about gentrification of Hamilton, and the housing problem, but throughout the five episodes there are bursts of his infectious humour and his warmth for the Hammer. The first season featured shows on steel, waterfalls and sub shops. 'I love Hamilton,' Johnston says. 'I could write love letters to Hamilton all the time.' He thought of doing more food shows because 'I'm a food guy. Why don't we talk about Hutch's for six episodes?' In the show, he talks about having an eating challenge, maybe eating 'all this stuff in 24 hours.' His mother, Kim, advises against it. 'I don't think you should be scarfing down a bunch of food,' she says. B.A. Johnston chows down on a roast beef sandwich at the Tally Ho in an episode of his show 'B.A. Johnston's Ham Jam.' The second season is now running on Bell Fibe/TV 1 and YouTube. At another point, he waxes poetically about the Ghostbuster doughnut at Grandad's. 'This is the doughnut I would marry,' he says. 'This is the doughnut I would take to the prom.' It took six years to get the second season of 'Ham Jam' on the small screen. The first season premiered in 2019. The show is directed-produced by Douglas Nayler, co-founder of Quiet Ghost Inc. Johnston said the pandemic played a role in the delay, but there were some family crises and worry of legal action from the Canadian Football League over a cartoon. That latter issue required an episode to be changed. 'I don't know a lot about the TV business, but it takes longer than you think,' he said. 'But, it's out now.' The second season got a premiere in December at the Playhouse Cinema. 'I thought the response was great,' said Johnston. 'My mom said it was better than the first season.' Johnston went to Westdale Secondary School and took philosophy at Trent University in Peterborough. He said it took him seven years to get his degree 'but I did finish it.' B.A. Johnston is his stage name and he likes to say he uses that because his name is Bryan Adams Johnston. Of course, there is 65-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. 'He's a little older than me,' says Johnston. 'He got the jump on me.' He joked his entry into music was 'spite driven.' He started learning how to play the guitar in the last year of high school. 'No one would let me in their band, so I thought I'd have my own band,' he said. He was a regular at the former This Ain't Hollywood, but also played the old Underground, Pepper Jack Café and the Casbah Lounge. He has 14 albums and been nominated for two Polaris Prizes given to Canadian albums — in 2015 and 2017. His last album was titled 'Argos Suck.' Comic singer B.A. Johnston's second season of 'B.A. Johnston's Ham Jam' featured two episodes on his beloved Hamilton Tiger-Cats. One featured him being shut out of the 2022 Labour Day Classic, despite having a ticket. Johnston doesn't foresee a third season of 'Ham Jam.' 'There's more stories to tell, but I think that's the end of 'Ham Jam,'' he said. He's on the road a lot. He drives to his gigs, which he doesn't really enjoy. This month, he will be playing in places such as Winnipeg and Lethbridge. 'I like playing music,' Johnston says. 'I don't like driving to Wawa.'
Winnipeg Free Press
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Battle brewing at Bombers camp
As far as training camp battles go, the duel at left guard is one of the biggest — literally and figuratively— for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Tui Eli and Gabe Wallace are shuffling toward the same goal this spring, but look very different while doing it. Eli has the advantage in experience, entering his fifth year with the club, while Wallace prepares for his second season. Meanwhile, Wallace is much younger and holds the size advantage. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Offensive lineman Gabe Wallace (61) prepares to block defensive lineman Willie Jefferson (No. 5) during Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp. The 29-year-old Eli is listed at 6-3, 287 pounds, while Wallace, 24, checks in at 6-6, 340 pounds. Both are listed as national players. 'They may look different, but they have that same sort of fierceness,' said head coach Mike O'Shea. 'I think Gabe, in a very positive way, that I would think, is nasty. And Tui has got that toughness — that same nastiness, but it comes maybe from a different place. But I think they both can have that, which we obviously like. It's just, they're two different type of characters, but I think they can bring that same type of ferocity.' They're battling for the job vacated by Liam Dobson, who signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in free agency during the winter. So far, it looks to be anyone's game. 'Tui's been with us a while, and he's so versatile and he just totally believes it 100 per cent at the core, he's wired to do whatever he's asked to do and love that role, which I think is unique in pro sport,' O'Shea added. 'At the root of it, they both can be very tough players, even though there's a size difference.' Both players will hold significant roles for the Blue and Gold this season, regardless of who emerges as the starter. The loser of the camp battle will become the sixth offensive lineman, referred as the 'K' in Winnipeg's offence, checking into the game for plays that require the extra lineman and being one of the first depth options in the event of an injury. 'The battle, to be honest with you, it's not really about who gets what spot right now,' Eli said. 'It's more about, for us, just working hard every day. It sounds really, really weird, because you'd think that a group of us guys who are vicious and nasty, we're all just, 'We want that spot, I want that spot,' but this group of guys is different.' Eli, who has had trouble staying healthy in previous camps, is in his sixth pre-season with Winnipeg and looking to finally lock down a starting job after serving as a rotational player for much of his career. The product of Richmond, B.C., has six starts in his career, including one he made in the Labour Day Classic last summer. He's lauded for his versatility, with the ability to play guard, centre and even taking a few snaps at tackle since arriving in the CFL. 'We truly want the best out there, and if one of us has a bad day, we're open and willing to say, 'I had a bad day.' None of us is too big for the job, everyone's very humble, I find, and that makes it a whole lot less stressful,' Eli added. 'But it's pretty amazing how we push each other during practice. Pushing Gabe, a big 320-something pound, 6-6, having to push him just in (individual drills), that's enough for me to get that iron sharpens iron every day, and then we just keep going back and forth every day, pushing each other. It's never felt like, 'Who gets what.' It's more of a, 'What can I do? Where would I be best?'' 'It's a different-looking camp this season, just schedule-wise, but it feels good, it feels like there's a fire building up.' BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Offensive lineman Tui Eli is entering his fifth year with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. As for Wallace, who is still trying to add some versatility to his arsenal, this year's camp has been a night-and-day difference from the one he went through as a fresh-faced rookie last year. 'More settled. A huge thing, it's kind of a weird one, but being more comfortable around the group, around the coaches and stuff like that. Being able to take the coaching a lot better than last year — kind of maturing your game and how you take criticism and how you improve on things,' he said. 'I think just how you respond to certain things, I think that's been a huge jump.' Wallace arrived in Winnipeg after starting for three years at the University of Buffalo, where he mostly aligned at left guard but also played some left tackle. He got some runs in last year's season opener against Montreal and dressed for the first 11 games of 2024 before suffering a knee injury that knocked him out until the regular-season finale. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'I think it's great, having that competition going. It's not even looking at it as competition, it's just — we're both getting our opportunities and when we get them we go out and give it our all. I just think it's really great for the team, too, because it's going to be us competing as hard as we can, and whoever competes better and competes harder… is going to get that job. It's just great for the team,' he said. It's been tough to tell who's 'winning' the battle through two weeks of camp, as offensive line coach Marty Costello and offensive co-ordinator Jason Hogan mix both players in with the first-team offence. With that, it appears more likely that the eventual starter will need to prove themselves in a game setting, beginning Saturday in the pre-season clash against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Princess Auto Stadium (3 p.m.). 'Every coach just wants to see them play games against other competition, but players want to see a different colour jersey,' O'Shea said. 'Yeah, you evaluate what they do in practice, and that takes you so far down the path. Even the veteran guys, you still want to see them do it in a game again.' 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.
Winnipeg Free Press
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Collaros, O'Shea approve of CFL rules adjustments
Egregious roughing the passer penalties will come with a hefty penalty this season. The Canadian Football League took another step toward trying to protect its most valuable players, the quarterbacks, by expanding the criteria for what qualifies as a Grade two roughing the passer penalty on Thursday. Going forward, teams will receive a 25-yard penalty when a blow is delivered with the crown of the helmet to the head or neck of the passer, despite having a clear view to contact, and there are no mitigating circumstances (i.e. if the level of the quarterback's helmet changes prior to contact); a blow is delivered to the knee or below of the passer, despite having a clear view to contact, and there are no mitigating circumstances (i.e. if contact with another player(s) alters what would otherwise be legal contact); a blow is egregiously late. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers' quarterback Zach Collaros (left) said Thursday that the CFL rules tweaks should be a good deterrent for bad hits on defenceless players. Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros has been on the receiving end of several hits in recent years that would fall under the new rules, most recently when he was knocked out of last year's Labour Day Classic after the Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive lineman Miles Brown delivered a shoulder-check to the head well after he had released the ball. 'The quarterback a lot of times, like other positions as well, they're in a defenceless position a lot of times. So, protecting the quarterback, I think it's paramount. I think it's good for the league when all the guys are healthy. So those things matter,' said Collaros. 'The 25-yard thing, I think it should be a good deterrent, if that guy's a team player. I don't know how much it'll hurt your pocket, if that rule changed at all, but yeah, you never want to put your team in a bad position. And a 25-yard penalty is just asking for a field goal or a touchdown to be scored, right? It's created an explosive right there in that, so hopefully it's a deterrent.' The modified roughing the passer penalty was one of six rule changes the league announced will come into effect this season. The list of actions that lead to automatic ejections was expanded to include all low block penalties on kicking plays and punching actions (open or closed hand) to the head area. There will also be a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down awarded when a blow is delivered at or below the knees of a receiver who is in the act of catching a pass, while in a vulnerable position. The penalty was created to deter low hits on receivers who are not in a position to adequately protect themselves. Should a receiver jump, they will lose low hit protection. Once an eligible receiver touches a pass, all players on both teams become eligible to catch the pass. Changes to what is considered an offside pass. The following plays are no longer considered an offside pass: – If a defending player prevents the ball from going out of bounds, knocks it down or bats it back into the playing area in an offside direction. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers' head coach Mike O'Shea said Thursday that the increased penalties should help make player safety awareness a priority. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. – Batting a loose ball in any direction following a fumble, a blocked kick, a wild snap, a lateral pass or a kicked ball. Finally, major penalties will no longer be restricted inside the defence's 20-yard line. Previously, a major penalty that occurred inside the 20-yard line would result in the ball advancing half the distance to the goal line. Now, the total distance of the penalty yardage will be applied, to a maximum of the one-yard line. 'Player safety is always an issue,' said head coach Mike O'Shea, who is on the league's rules committee. 'Some increased penalties to keep the awareness high in terms of making sure we keep players safe, those are always big ones and very easy ones to pass. 'The no more half-the-distance to the goal line on defensive major penalties in tight… that obviously should also clean up the game and keep players safe. So, those ones are very easy to agree upon, and they move quickly.' 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.
CBC
25-02-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Volunteer Dick Voneugen, giant of Prince George sports scene, dead at 92
A longtime volunteer and athlete who is the only person to be named Prince George's Citizen of the Year twice has died. Dick Voneguen, 92, was born in Holland in 1932 and emigrated to Canada in 1956, eventually settling in Prince George where he worked as an electronics salesperson servicing the growing forestry industry. His true passion, though, was sport, and he quickly established himself as a key figure in the local scene, helping found the still-active Prince George Roadrunners running club, building trails and facilities at the Otway Nordic cross-country ski centre and starting the Outdoor Ice Oval committee. The ski club is now a regular training ground and host to international competitions. Voneugen was a familiar face at events ranging from the Kid's Fun Triathlon to the B.C. Senior Games, often starting races or cheering on competitors by blowing through first a logging truck air horn and later a vuvuzela gifted to him by a student from South Africa who was studying at UNBC. He also helped run the Prince George to Boston Marathon (now the Labour Day Classic), where, in 1979, he met Terry Fox. Fox used the run as a testing ground for his famous Marathon of Hope in 1980, which saw him attempt to run across the country on an artificial leg to raise money for cancer research. Afterward, Voneugen established the city's annual Terry Fox Run, which has raised thousands of dollars toward Fox's original goal, with participants tracing the same path he ran in 1979. In a 2014 interview published in the Prince George Citizen, Voneugen said that late in his career, he was asked to move to Vancouver, but he opted to retire rather than leave the city he called home. "Friends have asked me if I'd ever consider moving away from Prince George to a warmer climate," he is quoted as saying. "I have great friends here; we can enjoy four wonderful seasons and get to anything we like within 15 minutes of driving. So my answer is a resounding no." News of his death was shared by Robin Draper, who worked with Voneugen to establish and manage trails at the Cranbrook Hill Greenway. He said that until recently, Voneugen was in good health and that a medical team ensured that he was comfortable in his last moments. "Dick had a rewarding long life and will be missed by many," he said. A celebration of life will be held in the spring.
