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The Canadian PressVeteran Harris has no doubts that he'll be ready for the start of Riders camp
Trevor Harris will be full-go when the Saskatchewan Roughriders open training camp in May. The veteran quarterback missed most of last season — his first in Regina — with a significant knee injury. But Harris told reporters Thursday he could have returned at about 70 per cent efficiency had Saskatchewan reached the West Division final and was back at full strength by Christmas. "I'm just doing maintenance now," he said during a video conference. "Right around Christmas time . . . I was able to d
The Canadian PressBills replenish defensive line by signing Austin Johnson and DeShawn Williams to 1-year deals
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills replenished their depleted defensive line needs by signing tackles Austin Johnson and DeShawn Williams to one-year contracts on Thursday. The 29-year-old Johnson has eight seasons of NFL experience, including the past two with the Los Angeles Chargers where he started all 17 games last season. He’s listed at 6-foot-4 and 314 pounds and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2016 draft. Overall, Johnson has two forced fumbles, e
- The Canadian Press
Calgary Stampeders hire Beau Baldwin as their quarterbacks coach
CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders hired Beau Baldwin as their quarterbacks coach Monday. Baldwin replaces Ryan Williams, who has accepted a U.S. college position. Baldwin had two tenures covering 13 seasons as a coach at Eastern Washington University – offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2003-06) and head coach (2008-16). As head coach, Baldwin led the Eagles to an 85-32 record, five Big Sky Conference championships and one Division I FCS national title in 2010. The quarterback of that
The Canadian PressDumoulin-Duguay carries army experience into football with sights set on CFL draft
WINNIPEG — Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay doesn’t have any problem with football coaches yelling instructions or criticism. The offensive lineman out of Laval University spent almost a year in the Canadian Army and says basic training included long days starting at 4 a.m. and military personnel barking out orders. “It’s like on TV, maybe like worse,” Dumoulin-Duguay said with a smile on Sunday after this year’s CFL national combine wrapped up in Winnipeg. “I found through the army, I felt like it was
The Canadian PressDepth scoring lifts Canucks to 4-1 win over struggling Canadiens
VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks biggest stars were conspicuously absent from the scoresheet Thursday. It didn't matter. The Canucks got the offence they needed from a defensive defenceman and some depth forwards as they cruised to a 4-1 win over the struggling Montreal Canadiens. For coach Rick Tocchet, the way Vancouver defended was almost impressive as how they scored. “We didn’t give them much. That’s a fast team, they’re an up-and-coming team," Tocchet said. "I thought our third and fourth
The Canadian PressU.S.-born CFL prospects Bauman, Dublanko embrace Canadian designation and connections
WINNIPEG — Casey Bauman and Joel Dublanko don’t need their new-found dual citizenships to make them feel at home in Canada. The American-born football prospects have family ties that led to their designations as nationals for the April 30 CFL global and Canadian drafts, but they both already felt a connection. “It doesn’t feel that weird to me because Canada was my backyard,” said Bauman, a six-foot-seven, 225-pound quarterback who was born in Sumas, Wash. “My house is like five minutes from the
The Canadian PressFinding Canadian talent at national combine is crucial for success in CFL
WINNIPEG — Mike O’Shea and his CFL colleagues don't need convincing about the value of Canadian players. Their actions back up their words. Seventy per cent of players selected in CFL drafts since 2000 have played at least one game in the league, according to head statistician Steve Daniel. The rosters in the final week of the '23 regular season (active and injured list) featured 552 players, including 289 Americans, 247 nationals and 16 global competitors. “One of the things (the numbers) tell
The Canadian PressCFL officials take different philosophies into league's national combine
They're the glamour events of any football combine but neither the bench press nor the 40-yard dash are major points of emphasis in Chris Jones's evaluation of a pro prospect. The Edmonton Elks head coach/GM feels the vertical and broad jumps provide more telling measurables. "I think those are two real big indicators of explosiveness and flexibility," Jones said. "Many other events — the three-cone, five-10-five — are technique events where you can beat the test with technique while the ones th
The Canadian PressEdmonton Elks add Jason Shivers, four others to coaching staff
EDMONTON — Chris Jones is easing his workload. The Edmonton Elks announced Monday that Jason Shivers will be the team’s assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach this season. This takes the defensive coordinator job away from Jones, who remains as the team’s head coach and general manager. Jones, whose second stint with the Elks has seen him lead the team to a 8-28 record over the past two seasons, had often been criticized by fans and the media for wearing too many hats
The Canadian PressHerdman looks forward to first visit to Yankee Stadium with resurgent Toronto FC
As someone who has coached around the world, John Herdman is no stranger to different venues. But Saturday marks his visit to the narrow confines of Yankee Stadium, where his unbeaten and resurgent Toronto FC side takes on winless New York City FC. "I'm excited. It's bringing us back to the narrow field of Hamilton (Tim Hortons Field) or Edmonton (Commonwealth Stadium)," the former Canada coach, referencing CFL stadiums where the Canadian men hosted World Cup qualifying games before Qatar, said
The Canadian PressGrey Cup champion Alouettes bring stability into 2024: 'I wanted to keep that recipe'
MONTREAL — Danny Maciocia was flying home the day after his Montreal Alouettes won the Grey Cup when he leaned over to head coach Jason Maas and said: “Now what do we do?” “I know we won a Grey Cup, but what are our next steps?” the Alouettes general manager thought at the time. The organization’s two central figures got off the plane from Hamilton — where the Alouettes upset the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28-24 on Nov. 19 in a dramatic championship victory — and instantly drove to a restaurant in Mo
- The Canadian Press
CFL officials will get to see Bonhomme perform at national combine
TORONTO — CFL officials will have the chance to get up close and personal with DK Bonhomme. The South Alabama linebacker has been added to the league's national combine, which will be held next week in Winnipeg. On Friday, Bonhomme's name was on the list of participants released by the CFL. The six-foot-two, 237-pound Bonhomme was invited to participate in the CFL's regional combine Friday in Waterloo, Ont., but was unable to attend. Bonhomme began his college career at Indiana, appearing in 24
The Canadian PressElks may be looking to sell to private owners after 75 years of community ownership
EDMONTON — The Edmonton Elks may be looking to sell to a private ownership group for the first time in the franchise's 75-year history. The Elks announced that team president and CEO Rick LeLacheur, as well as board chair Tom Richards, provided an update to the Canadian Football League's Board of Governors on its ongoing ownership review on Wednesday. That update is based on the findings of a special committee working with Park Lane, a sports investment bank that managed the sale of the Montreal
The Canadian PressFord looking forward to returning to Blue Bombers following NFL tryout
Tyrell Ford can see coaching in his football future but is gladly hanging up his whistle for the next little while. The 25-year-old defensive back will resume his CFL career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after missing last season to pursue NFL opportunities. During that time, Ford worked with the coaching staff at his alma mater, the University of Waterloo, before ultimately deciding to return to Manitoba. "Oh, 100 per cent. I want to be a coach … but I'm super excited about going back (to Winn
The Canadian PressCanadian QB Nathan Rourke officially returns to the New England Patriots
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Canadian Nathan Rourke is officially back with the New England Patriots. The NFL club formally announced Rourke had signed a one-year deal Tuesday. Reports earlier this month had the former B.C. Lions star signing an exclusive rights free agent deal with the Patriots. New England claimed the six-foot-one, 210-pound Rourke off waivers in December from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Exactly where Rourke fits in with the Patriots is a mystery. New England has reportedly agreed to dea
The Canadian PressCalgary Stampeders add former Roughriders coach Craig Dickenson as senior consultant
CALGARY — Dave and Craig Dickenson are together again with the Calgary Stampeders. The Stampeders appointed Craig Dickenson as a senior consultant Tuesday. His younger brother Dave Dickenson is Calgary's head coach and GM. This marks the elder Dickenson's third stint with Calgary. He served as a receivers coach in 2002, then joined the Montreal Alouettes as a running backs coach before returning to the Stampeders as running backs coach in 2004. He served as the Stampeders special-teams co-ordina
The Canadian PressCanadian Tre Ford expects to have chip on his shoulder this season with Elks
He made Edmonton Elks fans forget about a dismal 0-9 start and dubious 22-game home losing streak last season. But when Canadian quarterback Tre Ford reports to training camp in May, it will be to compete as newcomer McLeod Bethel-Thompson's backup. "It is what it is, it's pro football and I can't control anything that I can't control," Ford told The Canadian Press in an interview. "I'm just going to learn as much as I can this year and do the best I can to help the team win any way I can." Ford
The Canadian PressStudy indicates '23 Grey Cup provided economic boon for both Ontario and Hamilton
HAMILTON — The 2023 Grey Cup provided economic gain for both the city of Hamilton and province of Ontario. According to a study by Sport Tourism Canada, the game and '23 Grey Cup festival generated a net economic impact of $41.9 million, including $35.4 million for Ontario and $29.2 million for Hamilton, which staged the game. The Montreal Alouettes defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28-24 at Tim Hortons Field. "These numbers show that regionalizing the festivities not only supported local econo
The Canadian PressChris Jones, Shawn Burke open to talking about their early '24 CFL draft picks
Chris Jones and Shawn Burke are both keeping an open mind about the 2024 CFL draft. Jones, the Edmonton Elks head coach/GM, currently holds the top selection of the April 30 draft with Burke, the GM of the Ottawa Redblacks, slated to pick second. Both teams posted 4-14 records last year and split their season series 1-1 with the Redblacks finishing ahead on point differential. Ottawa and Edmonton picked 1-2 in last year's draft, with Burke taking Dontae Bull, an offensive lineman from Fresno Sta
The Canadian PressHall of Fame CFL head coach Dave Ritchie dead at age 85
Dave Ritchie, who was the head coach of the B.C. Lions for their iconic '94 Grey Cup victory over the Baltimore Stallions, died Saturday. He was 85. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, another CFL team Ritchie coached, confirmed the death. The cause was not immediately divulged. Ritchie amassed a 52-41-1 regular-season record as a head coach with Winnipeg (1999-2004). That left him fourth overall in club history behind Bud Grant (102), current head coach Mike O’Shea (96) and Cal Murphy (86). But it was d
The Canadian PressOttawa receiver Gendron among players to secure berths to CFL national combine
WATERLOO, ONTARIO — It wasn't his best performance, but it was good enough to earn Nicholas Gendron a spot in the CFL's national combine. The Ottawa Gee-Gees receiver was among eight players from the league's invitational combine Friday to secure spots at the national event. Gendron punched his ticket by posting the second-best times in both 40-yard dash (4.59 seconds) and shuttle (4.13 seconds). "Honestly, I think I could've done better in all of the tests, I've done better in training," Gendro
The Canadian PressCornerback Marchant opting for low-key approach to CFL invitational combine
When Dawson Marchant steps onto the turf at the University of Waterloo on Friday, it'll be just another workout. The Northwestern Oklahoma State University cornerback will join 75 other players at the CFL's invitational combine, performing before league coaches and GMs. Only the top performers will advance to the league's national combine March 19-24 in Winnipeg. "There's no pressure, really, it's just doing what I do," Marchant said Thursday. "Just show my athleticism and how well-rounded I am.
The Canadian PressWNBA to hold pre-season game in Edmonton on May 5 amid reports of Toronto expansion
The WNBA is coming back to Canada, just maybe not in the way people had expected. The women's basketball league announced on Thursday that it will hold a pre-season game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Seattle Storm at Edmonton's Rogers Place on May 5. The news comes three days after media reports that Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum is pursuing a WNBA franchise in Toronto. It's the second year in a row a Canadian city has hosted a WNBA pre-season game after Tor
The Canadian PressBMO Field playing surface looking good ahead of Toronto FC's home opener
TORONTO — A new era dawns Saturday at Toronto FC's home opener. With Michael Bradley retired, there will be no pre-match pitch inspection by the TFC captain — unless new skipper Jonathan Osorio continues the tradition. It's a pity because Bradley, who used to check the playing surface like clockwork, probably would have liked what he saw. "He was very particular," Robert Heggie, director of grounds at MLSE, said with a belly laugh. "That was his job. He was the captain. "But we had a great relat
The Canadian PressVeteran CFL linebacker Larry Dean retires to join Roughriders' front office
REGINA — Larry Dean is transitioning from the football field to the front office. The veteran linebacker retired Thursday after seven CFL seasons. But Dean will be remaining with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as the club's player-personnel co-ordinator. Dean, 35, is currently participating in the CFL mentorship program. The joint venture between the league and CFL Players' Association is in its third season and provides education about pro football off the field. The six-foot, 226-pound Dean play
