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Global News
5 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
Well-rested Winnipeg Blue Bombers to welcome Calgary Stampeders
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been waiting a long time for their chance to exact revenge after their first loss of the season. After the Stampeders stomped them 37-16 two weeks ago in Calgary, the Bombers have had to stew over the lopsided defeat through their bye week. They will finally get the opportunity for vengeance Friday night. 'We've had a long time to think about our mistakes and what we want to do differently,' said Bombers defensive back Evan Holm. 'It was nice to get away from football, but we got to watch a lot of film and see what they wanted to do and have answers.' Winnipeg rush end Willie Jefferson relished the idea of playing the Stampeders again so soon after being dominated last time out. 'After a loss, you always say, 'I want to play them again,' and we have the opportunity to play them the next game,' he said. 'They were at home, they had their crowd into it. They had a nice environment. Now, they get to come to Winnipeg, to Princess Auto Stadium in front of 30,000-plus and play us. We play really (well) in front of our fans, so we need to get that swing.' Story continues below advertisement The Bombers have had two weeks to study film of both that loss and Calgary's victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders last weekend. 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 'They're playing really great football right now,' said Winnipeg offensive lineman Pat Neufeld. 'They're playing really confident football. We're going to have our hands full, but we're always up for a challenge, especially at home.' That challenge will be even tougher as the Bombers will be missing star receiver Dalton Schoen, who was placed on the six-game injury list, and perennial all-star offensive lineman Stanley Bryant. They will be replaced by speedy Kody Case at receiver and Micah Vanterpool on the O-line. They will also be up against what is currently the best defence in the CFL. 'It's a great challenge for us,' said Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros. 'They've played exceptionally well the entire season. They've given up five touchdowns throughout the entire year. Their scheme is sound. They play it very well.' Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea concurred. 'It seems like they're flying around,' he said. 'They're bringing a lot of energy, they're taking the ball away. Obviously, they took the ball away from us (two interceptions returned for touchdowns). When you see them put it all together as a 12-man unit, they seem to be getting after it pretty good.' Story continues below advertisement Even Calgary head coach/GM Dave Dickenson seemed a little surprised that his defence has improved so quickly from last season. 'It's a completely different group,' he said. 'I actually thought it might take some time to gel. There was a little bit of the element of surprise because we knew what we were going to run and what kind of type of defence, and that certainly helped us. 'The turnovers are the biggest thing as far as helping our offence. I think we've had three pick-sixes and when you get the ball and score with it, that's pretty nice.' Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams, Jr., is expecting a battle. 'Of course, they're hungry,' he said. 'They're coming off a bye, a sold-out crowd. This is their home stadium … Winnipeg's going to come out with their best shot. It's going to be loud. It's going to be fun.' CALGARY STAMPEDERS (4-1) at WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (3-1) at Princess Auto Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m. CT HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE Winnipeg is 39-6 at home since 2019 … The Bombers are 17-0 coming off a bye week. (Regular season and playoffs) ROAD WARRIORS The Stampeders have won three straight road games, all by at least 10 points. WELCOME BACK MILT Bombers legend Milt Stegall will return to the TSN panel Friday night after taking time off following the sudden death of his son, Chase. Story continues below advertisement 'There are no words to even talk about what happened to him and his family and obviously, as Bombers, we put our hearts out to him,' Neufeld said. 'It takes a lot of courage to come back to work and get in front of a lot of people on TV and this crowd. Everyone here loves him, and we can't wait to see him.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Well-rested Winnipeg Blue Bombers to welcome Calgary Stampeders
WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been waiting a long time for their chance to exact revenge after their worst loss of the season. After the Stampeders stomped them 37-16 two weeks ago in Calgary, the Bombers have had to stew over the lopsided defeat through their bye week. They will finally get the opportunity for vengeance Friday night. 'We've had a long time to think about our mistakes and what we want to do differently,' said Bombers defensive back Evan Holm. 'It was nice to get away from football, but we got to watch a lot of film and see what they wanted to do and have answers.' Winnipeg rush end Willie Jefferson relished the idea of playing the Stampeders again so soon after being dominated last time out. 'After a loss, you always say, 'I want to play them again,' and we have the opportunity to play them the next game,' he said. 'They were at home, they had their crowd into it. They had a nice environment. Now, they get to come to Winnipeg, to Princess Auto Stadium in front of 30,000-plus and play us. We play really (well) in front of our fans, so we need to get that swing.' The Bombers have had two weeks to study film of both that loss and Calgary's victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders last weekend. 'They're playing really great football right now,' said Winnipeg offensive lineman Pat Neufeld. 'They're playing really confident football. We're going to have our hands full, but we're always up for a challenge, especially at home.' That challenge will be even tougher as the Bombers will be missing star receiver Dalton Schoen, who was placed on the six-game injury list, and perennial all-star offensive lineman Stanley Bryant. They will be replaced by speedy Kody Case at receiver and Micah Vanterpool on the O-line. They will also be up against what is currently the best defence in the CFL. 'It's a great challenge for us,' said Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros. 'They've played exceptionally well the entire season. They've given up five touchdowns throughout the entire year. Their scheme is sound. They play it very well.' Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea concurred. 'It seems like they're flying around,' he said. 'They're bringing a lot of energy, they're taking the ball away. Obviously, they took the ball away from us (two interceptions returned for touchdowns). When you see them put it all together as a 12-man unit, they seem to be getting after it pretty good.' Even Calgary head coach/GM Dave Dickenson seemed a little surprised that his defence has improved so quickly from last season. 'It's a completely different group,' he said. 'I actually thought it might take some time to jell. There was a little bit of the element of surprise because we knew what we were going to run and what kind of type of defence, and that certainly helped us. 'The turnovers are the biggest thing as far as helping our offence. I think we've had three pick-sixes and when you get the ball and score with it, that's pretty nice.' Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams, Jr., is expecting a battle. 'Of course, they're hungry,' he said. 'They're coming off a bye, a sold-out crowd. This is their home stadium … Winnipeg's going to come out with their best shot. It's going to be loud. It's going to be fun.' CALGARY STAMPEDERS (4-1) at WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (3-1) at Princess Auto Stadium, Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE Winnipeg is 39-6 at home since 2019 … The Bombers are 12-0 coming off a bye week. ROAD WARRIORS The Stampeders have won three straight road games, all by at least 10 points. WELCOME BACK MILT Bombers legend Milt Stegall will return to the TSN panel Friday night after taking time off following the sudden death of his son, Chase. 'There are no words to even talk about what happened to him and his family and obviously, as Bombers, we put our hearts out to him,' Neufeld said. 'It takes a lot of courage to come back to work and get in front of a lot of people on TV and this crowd. Everyone here loves him, and we can't wait to see him.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2025. Jim Bender, The Canadian Press
National Post
02-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Can we assemble a current team of former Roughriders?
Article content Neufeld, a 2010 draft pick who was traded away by Saskatchewan early in his career, has been a three-time CFL all-star over his last 12 seasons in Winnipeg. He would anchor a guard position alongside Bladek, who was drafted by the Roughriders in 2017 and played three seasons before heading East in free agency. Article content Godber, a Rider from 2023-24, would solidify the centre position while Lofton (2023) and Boyko (2021) would serve as the right and left tackles. Szott, who had a short stint on the practice roster in 2023, could serve as the sixth man. Article content Defensive line Article content Willie Jefferson (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), Anthony Lanier II (Toronto Argonauts), Demarcus Christmas (Toronto Argonauts), Bryan Cox Jr. (Toronto Argonauts), Miles Brown (Calgary Stampeders) Article content Jefferson is another former Rider (2016-18) who has gone on to excel with the Bombers. The six-time CFL all-star would be joined on the defensive line with three players who left in free agency last year in Lanier, who was a Rider from 2021-24, Cox (2023-24) and Brown (2022-24). Christmas (2022-23) would be in the rotation as well. Article content Article content Darnell Sankey (Montreal Alouettes), Cameron Judge (Toronto Argonauts), Derrick Moncrief (Calgary Stampeders), Micah Teitz (Calgary Stampeders), Gary Johnson Jr. (Calgary Stampeders), Alexandre Gagne (Montreal Alouettes), Adam Auclair (B.C. Lions), Brian Harelimana (Toronto Argonauts), Stephen Smith (Toronto Argonauts) Article content Sankey was outstanding in 2022 with the Green and White as he had 120 tackles. After an XFL stint, Sankey has been continued to be an elite defender with the Alouettes for the past three seasons. Article content Judge is another Riders first-round draft pick who is currently playing elsewhere. After being the second overall pick in 2017, Judge was the West Division's top Canadian in 2019 before leaving Saskatchewan for Toronto in 2021. While he played for Calgary from 2022-24, he's back with the Argonauts this year. Teitz, who played for the Riders from 2018-23, and Auclair (2024) would offer solid Canadian depth. Article content Rounding out the linebacking corps would be Moncrief, an all-star in 2019 who played for the Riders for parts of five seasons (2017-19, 22-23) while Johnson (2019-22) played plenty of special teams during his time with the Riders as did Gagne (2017-19) and Harelimana (2023). Smith, a Regina Thunder product who spent time on the practice roster with Saskatchewan last year, got his first taste of CFL action this season in Toronto. Article content Article content Article content Damon Webb (Calgary Stampeders), Deontai Williams (B.C. Lions), Amari Henderson (Ottawa Redblacks), C.J. Coldon (Ottawa Redblacks), Jalon Edwards-Cooper (B.C. Lions), Godfrey Onyeka (Calgary Stampeders) Article content And in the defensive backfield, some recent Roughrider castoffs including Williams (2023-24) and Henderson (2022-24) would be in the mix alongside Webb (2020-22), who was a CFL all-star in 2024 after being cut by the Riders in 2022. Article content While Onyeka (2021-24) could play safety, Coldon, a 2024 training camp cut who is now a starting cornerback for the Redblacks, would be joined by Edwards-Cooper, who signed with the Riders in free agency in 2024 before failing his physical and being released. Article content
Global News
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Brady Oliveira to miss 2nd straight game, Nic Demski questionable
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be without the CFL's most outstanding player for a second straight game, while one of their top receivers is questionable to play against the still-winless Edmonton Elks on Thursday. Running back Brady Oliveira missed Tuesday's practice and has already been ruled out for the week four matchup with a shoulder injury. Receiver Nic Demski also sat out of Tuesday's session and is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. Demski had his leg rolled in the fourth quarter of their win over the BC Lions. Long snapper Mike Benson (hip) and running back Peyton Logan (thigh) also won't play this week. The Bombers have a short turnaround with only five days between games, so it was their only full practice to prepare for the Elks. Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson was back on the practice field after being ejected from their last game for taking two objectionable conduct penalties. The first penalty flag was for trash talking the Lions sideline, and the second was for what he called a head-butt that wasn't shown on the broadcast. Story continues below advertisement It set off a scrum in the fourth quarter with an official even getting hit as the BC Lions Kory Woodruff was also kicked out. 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 Jefferson said it's the first time in his career he's been ejected. 'It won't happen again,' Jefferson said. 'I got in trouble by my little girls and yeah I heard it from coach (Mike) O'Shea. We had a conversation. It's not my character. It's never been in me to to get ejected from a game, right? 'I've always been the guy trying to keep my guys level-headed and things like that. But BC Place, things can happen, so, it is what it is. 'Coach O'Shea was a little bit more direct with his approach. Just telling me that wasn't me, that's not what we do here, don't let it happen again, those type of things.' 5:04 RAW: Blue Bombers Willie Jefferson Interview – June 24 Jefferson said he was in trouble with his head coach, his daughters, wife, mom, and even grandma for getting booted out. Story continues below advertisement 'That's completely unlike Willie,' said Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea. 'What am I gonna do?' Kickoff on Thursday is at 7:30 p.m. at Princess Auto Stadium.
Winnipeg Free Press
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Early-season growing pains glaring for some clubs in Week 1
The CFL season is already a week old, but for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the fun is just getting started. As Week 1 unfolded, the Bombers found themselves as the lone club on the sidelines, a consequence of the CFL's nine-team structure, leaving the Blue and Gold as the odd men out. Winnipeg's last Week 1 bye was back in 2017, well before their current, impressive streak of five straight Grey Cup appearances began. Inside the locker room, opinions on the early break were decidedly mixed. 'I don't like it, especially with the camp we had, you want to come out and play right away,' said offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld. 'It's a chance to get your body right,' added defensive end Willie Jefferson. MIKE SUDOMA / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers veteran defensive end Willie Jefferson likes the Week 1 bye week, saying 'it's a chance to get your body right' before the season kicks off. MIKE SUDOMA / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers veteran defensive end Willie Jefferson likes the Week 1 bye week, saying 'it's a chance to get your body right' before the season kicks off. 'I don't know. It could be a gift and a curse,' said running back Brady Oliveira. After an intense training camp, sitting idle for Week 1 would undoubtedly feel strange, particularly for those new to the CFL. Many players admitted they enjoyed watching the games, noting that Week 1 can be a bit sloppy. They hoped to capitalize on the added time to dissect film, aiming to avoid those early-season growing pains when they welcome the B.C. Lions to Princess Auto Stadium Thursday night. While a bit unusual, Week 1 byes are likely here to stay for the foreseeable future, until the CFL can finally secure a 10th team. The league has made this a clear mission in recent years, with significant efforts focused on bringing a franchise to Atlantic Canada, ultimately aiming for a true coast-to-coast presence across the three-down loop. For now, that might feel like a pipe dream. But much like East Coast weather, if expansion talk is quiet now, just wait fifteen minutes — there's always something new brewing in this beautifully chaotic league. With that in mind, let's dive into the league's top stories from the week that was in the latest edition of CFL Rundown. 1) The Montreal Alouettes, the top-ranked team in my early season power rankings, certainly didn't disappoint. Up against a Toronto Argonauts team missing their star quarterback, the Alouettes looked dominant in all three phases. The Davis Alexander era officially began, and the young pivot looked calm and collected throughout the game. Christopher Katsarov / THE CANADIAN PRESS Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander led Montreal to a dominant season-opening win against the Toronto Argonauts on Friday. Christopher Katsarov / THE CANADIAN PRESS Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander led Montreal to a dominant season-opening win against the Toronto Argonauts on Friday. Alexander didn't have to do too much, tossing for just over 200 yards in the victory. When a defence plays that well and special teams are that effective, sometimes a quarterback simply needs to get out of his own way. 2) The Saskatchewan Roughriders earned a convincing win over the visiting Ottawa Redblacks, but at first blush it appeared they suffered the greatest loss on the night. Running back A.J. Ouellette left the game late in the first quarter with a head injury, immediately casting serious doubt on his status for Week 2. However, as the Riders returned to practice this week, Ouellette was already working with the first-team offence after clearing concussion protocol. This is good news for the 29-year-old, who has struggled to stay healthy since arriving in Regina at the start of last season. Saskatchewan signed free agent Ka'Deem Carey as a backup, so it's certainly something to monitor over the weekend. 3) Heading into the 2025 campaign, one question loomed large on everyone's mind: would Nathan Rourke return to his dominating form from 2022? Well, if Week 1 was any indication, he's certainly going to do some damage this year. While the Lions offence had a slow start, Rourke came alive in the second half, leading his team to four straight touchdown drives. Rourke finished 27-for-36 passing for 324 yards and three touchdowns, along with five runs totalling 54 rushing yards. Rourke also appears to have found a new favourite target, connecting with Stanley Berryhill III for six catches, 105 yards and two TDs. 4) You can't say the same about Edmonton Elks QB Tre Ford, who struggled against the Lions in what was his first Week 1 start of his career. Ford has been given the keys to the franchise after years of parachuting into action only when the Elks were already out of playoff contention. It's still too early for definitive statements, but the early signs point to a player who can make highlight-reel plays yet struggles with routine passes. In other words, he makes the hard plays look easy and the easy plays look hard. There's still time to grow for the Canadian kid and one game won't decide the rest of the season. But if Edmonton wants to snap a years-long playoff drought, they need more from their leader behind centre. 5) Vernon Adams Jr. sure looked good in his debut in Calgary, leading the Stampeders to a win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He got off to a hot start, collecting more than 100 of his 284 total passing yards on the opening drive. Despite the Stamps putting up 38 points, Adams was without a throwing touchdown, as running back Dedrick Mills punched in a hat trick of scores to become the CFL's early touchdown leader. Adams was a major off-season pickup for Calgary, valued both for his ability on the field and his character in the locker room. So far, so good in Cowtown, where the Stamps look to make it back to the playoffs after missing out last season for the first time in 20 years. 6) As mentioned, it's not the time for definitive statements, with Week 1 often proving to be a bit of a crapshoot as clubs try to smooth out early wrinkles. But the Ticats fanbase must have a here-we-go-again feeling following the loss to Calgary. Larry MacDougal / THE CANADIAN PRESS The Hamilton Tiger-Cats were supposed to have improved in the off-season, but the club had no semblance of a run game against the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday. Larry MacDougal / THE CANADIAN PRESS The Hamilton Tiger-Cats were supposed to have improved in the off-season, but the club had no semblance of a run game against the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday. Hamilton was supposed to be improved this season, building on their league-leading offence and bolstering their talent on defence. None of that looked evident this past week, especially on offence, where 35-year-old Bo Levi Mitchell attempted 50 passes and the Ticats had no semblance of a run game. Things don't get any easier this week with Saskatchewan coming to town. 7) I'm going to end this column on a somber note. First, I want to extend my best wishes to Ticats general manager — and former Bombers assistant GM — Ted Goveia as he continues his battle with cancer. Ted is a CFL lifer, and the more we see of him around the league, the better. Also, last week, we received the devastating news of the death of Milt Stegall's son, Chase, a 20-year-old student-athlete who played on the soccer team at DePaul University. Anyone who has had a chance to meet Milt, a Blue Bomber legend, knows what a special human being he is. No one has more fun, or smiles more on the job than Milt, and my heart breaks for him and his family. I wish them nothing but the best as they navigate this incredibly difficult time. The support from Winnipeg and the broader CFL community has been incredible. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Jeff HamiltonMultimedia producer Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University's journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff. Every piece of reporting Jeff 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.
