What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
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Previously, WHL players were declared ineligible to play NCAA hockey in the U.S.
The CFL’s most outstanding player for 2022 practised Friday for the first time since arriving in Regina for Sunday’s Grey Cup game.
All eyes had been on Zach Collaros’ right ankle after it was injured in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 28-20 win over the B.C. Lions in last Sunday’s West Division final.
On Thursday, the 34-year-old quarterback said he would play in Sunday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts. On Friday, Collaros was on the turf at Leibel Field with his teammates.
“It’s always fun to be out there with Zach,” said Winnipeg slotback Greg Ellingson. “He talked a bit of crap to the defence (and) told us to change things up a little bit because our defence isn’t what we’re going to see on Sunday.”
Quarterbacks weren’t made available to the media on Friday, so Collaros couldn’t comment on his status.
Jefferson expecting pro-Winnipeg crowd at Mosaic
Willie Jefferson is expecting Mosaic Stadium to turn into friendly confines for the Grey Cup.
“We expect it to be a home game for us,” the Bombers’ defensive end said.
While it’s looking like the weather won’t be much of an issue when the game begins — Environment Canada is predicting sunshine and a high of -1 C — Jefferson and the Winnipeg defence embrace the cold.
“Hits hurt a little bit more. Wide receivers tend to not reach for the ball and running backs tend to tense up more when they are about to be hit,” Jefferson said.
The running back the Bombers’ defence will try to contain Sunday is a familiar face: Andrew Harris.
Harris played five seasons for the Bombers and was a key in them winning back-to-back Grey Cups before signing with the Argonauts this season.
Jefferson said Harris brings some key elements to a team that are crucial to success.
“Experience, know-how, the passion and knowledge and the want to — he has been in this situation many times, win or lose,” Jefferson said. “He has that drive and that want to that you want from a leader.”
Full circle moment for Bladek
Dariusz Bladek is excited to be playing for a championship at Mosaic Stadium.
The Argonauts’ right guard was drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the second round of the 2017 CFL draft, but he left in free agency and joined the Argos in 2019.
Now he’s happy to be back at Mosaic Stadium with a chance to win a title.
“It’s full circle, ain’t it? It’s kind of unbelievable,” Bladek said.
Bladek isn’t the only former Rider helping anchor the Toronto offensive line. Left tackle Philip Blake was traded to the Riders in 2018 and also signed with the Argos after the 2019 season.
“It’s something that we’ve manifested and something that we’ve talked about,” Bladek said. “I’m always grateful for all the leadership here that I had and the guys that really put me in the right mindset to take that to Toronto and be able to start to develop a culture.
“Raising the cup here would be so full circle for me in my life.”
CFLPA excited about the stability of seven-year CBA
The players’ association is excited about the fact there will be labour peace for the next few years.
While it took a players’ strike during training camp, a new deal was eventually reached and agreed to between the union and the CFL.
“It’s one of the many actions that we’ve taken to stimulate and empower growth for our league,” CFLPA executive director Brian Ramsay said.
The players’ association touted the partial guarantee on contracts and revenue-sharing that will lead to an increase in the salary cap as key victories for them.
The CFLPA hopes the new agreement will also lead to players having a bigger role in the growth of the league going forward.
“We won’t hide saying this: Our members are the stars of the show and the reason we watch the product,” Ramsay said. “We want to see our membership everywhere.”
CFLPA all-stars revealed
The Roughriders had just one West Division all-star — linebacker Derrick Moncrief — when that squad was announced Nov. 2, but he wasn’t named to the CFL all-star team.
On Friday, three Roughriders — Moncrief, cornerback Nick Marshall and returner Mario Alford — were named CFLPA all-stars in voting by the league’s players.
Moncrief recorded 49 tackles and four interceptions in 17 games for the Roughriders in the regular season. His four picks tied him for fourth in the league.
Marshall had 24 tackles and four interceptions (one of which he returned for a touchdown) in 16 regular-season games with the Green and White in 2022.
Alford had four return touchdowns in 13 games with Saskatchewan during the regular season, with two on kickoffs, one on a punt and one on a missed field goal.
He became the fifth player in league history with the return hat trick, registering at least one TD on a punt return, a kickoff return and a missed field-goal return in a season.
Regina-born Bombers offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld also made the CFLPA dream team.