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#1
Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: NFL Option Clause
Last post by Tecno - Today at 08:55:36 AM
Quote from: Jesse on December 26, 2025, 03:24:49 PMI guess my opinion is that, given it happens so rarely, it's not worth trying to negotiate it out of the next CBA.

Well, you're right about that.  My idea will never make it into any CBA because it only hurts the players (they can't get a big payday immediately upon return).  But it would help the teams, and really make fans happy and make things make more sense.  "Why isn't dude X coming back to our team after an NFL stint?"
#2
Quote from: Jesse on December 26, 2025, 03:21:57 PMOf the very best QBs that I've seen over the past 20+ years watching the CFL, they usually look pretty good as soon as they get an opportunity.

Ya, maybe it's not really "how long they sat holding the clipboard?", maybe it's more "when they first stepped on the field in reg season, did they suck?".

I didn't even know there were guys named Rourke, Kelly, or Alexander on a roster in the CFL until the moment they stepped on the field (usually in injury relief).  Then they all lit it up.  Same for Dru Brown -- the lighting it up part, not the "didn't know" part, but that's only because I'm a WPG fan.

The Cody & T.Harris examples are probably the best Calvillo-like counter-examples.  But those examples are getting real stale (like a decade ago stale).  There's really no current new guy starting who didn't light it up and have instant success.

You just gotta have that "it" factor immediately.  Wilson has had a few (big!) opportunities to light it up.  He's been mediocre (but not crap) every time.
#3
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on December 26, 2025, 04:33:43 PMWell they let Buck walk out the door with Kevin Bourgoin on a leash, if O'Shea had offered him the OC job he likely doesn't follow Buck to BC. Just guessing, but I would say he was better equipped for the step up than Hogan.

But that scenario doesn't make sense.  That would imply that MOS preferred Hogan as the next OC?!  Unless Bourgoin was dead set on following Buck regardless of what was offered.  Or... Bourgoin was asked and wanted way more than Hogan and the coach cap wouldn't allow it.
#4
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on December 26, 2025, 05:16:27 PMJohnson was #4 in receiving yards, Dohnte Meyers #7

Deceiving (yards).  Meyers was the homerun WR, Johnson was the clutch SB.  Meyers would catch them way down field make a guy miss and get 70YDS.  Johnson was doing the hard work and making spectacular grabs.

Meyers looked to be nothing special -- maybe a route guy, not a hands guy.

Johnson is the guy who will make the stabs and get you 1st downs.

Looking at stats though, it appears those who didn't watch every game may think Meyers is the guy deserving of the big $$ FA!  If Johnson for some odd reason is going for cheap, I'm all over that!!  Man would he be good as a solution to our short game woes.
#5
Offside Forum / Re: 2025-26 Manitoba Bisons & ...
Last post by Hollywood - Today at 05:58:29 AM
December 27, 2025: C.W. SCHEDULING AND IMPACT OF S.F.U.



With Simon Fraser planning an application to join U-Sports and the CW, effective 2027-28, the impact on hockey scheduling has to be considered.

In my opinion, the addition of Simon Fraser is inevitable. They would likely have to introduce a timetable for adding a women's program. No problem, Calgary did it a few years back.

I have previously posted about the current CW divisional scheduling format, which rotates. I do not care for it. Especially since next year the Prairie teams and BC teams are due to form a division, thus ending the supposed cost savings which motivated this format. In any event, 2026-27 would end a 3-year cycle and allow for a fresh start with a 10-team conference in 2027-28.

I have devised a six-year rotation which would do away with divisions, and would also lean into lower cost travel arrangements.

The league would be divided into four segments (not divisions) for scheduling purposes:

BC: UBC, Simon Fraser, Trinity Western
Edmonton: Alberta & MacEwan
Calgary: Calgary & Mount Royal
Prairies: Saskatchewan, Regina, & Manitoba

With ten teams, there would be no byes, This would free up time for non-conference play. The CW would continue to play weekend double-headers.

Each team would play the other teams in their segment four times per season, and the teams in the other segments either twice or four times per season.

The "interlocking" segments would work like this:

- BC and the Prairies would play either the Edmonton teams 4 times, and the Calgary teams 2 times or vice versa, then rotate the following season.

- Within Alberta, each Edmonton team would play one Calgary team 4 times, and the other 2 times, the rotate the following season.

- The BC v Prairies interlock would work on a 3-year rotation, i.e. 4 games against one opponent and 2 games against the other two opponents each season.

The teams would play four games against five opponents, and two games against four opponents. It is easy to make a schedule where the first five series on the schedule and the last five series on the schedule would be against the "four games" opponents. Also the middle four series would be against the "two games" opponents. (If interested, I could send out a draft schedule.)

I have entered this onto a chart:



The teams can, of course, be shuffled within their segment, e.g. switch Manitoba and Saskatchewan, or Simon Fraser and UBC, or Calgary and Mount Royal, etc. Also, the Edmonton and Calgary segments could be switched.

For the 2027-28 season, you look at the number in the upper left box. So for Regina, they would play four games against Trinity, Alberta, MacEwan, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba (the first five and last five series on their schedule, though not necessarily in that order) and two games against each of UBC, Simon Fraser, Calgary, and Mount Royal (which would be the middle four series on their schedule).

In the 2028-29 season, you look at the middle number is the first column, etc. as outlined in the guide box at the bottom of the chart.

In the CW, the women's schedule is always the inverse of the men's schedule. If on a given weekend Alberta is at Saskatchewan in men's, Saskatchewan is at Alberta in women's. So this format works for both.

This works out surprisingly easily.

#6
Offside Forum / Re: Winnipeg Jets Discussion -...
Last post by JockitchwithRich - Today at 04:25:06 AM
Just looked and indeed Shaw scored and Mooseland must be happy
#7
Offside Forum / Re: 2026 IIHF World Junior Cha...
Last post by JockitchwithRich - Today at 04:17:41 AM
My word how this game got into shoot and score action

Certain that Canada will need to play harder away from the puck or their games will be much to chaotic

Not sure if anyone really was impressive. Felt both sides played absolutely no holds barred pond hockey
#8
Offside Forum / Re: 2026 IIHF World Junior Cha...
Last post by Pigskin - Today at 03:39:28 AM
Canada with lots of offence, but have to get a little better in the D-zone.
#9
Rourke looked legit from his first snap, same with Davis Alexander. They had no problem reading defenses and executing plays. Guys who have it have
#10
Offside Forum / 2025-26 Manitoba Bisons & CW H...
Last post by Hollywood - Today at 12:41:21 AM
Preview: December 30, 2025 & January 2, 2026: MANITOBA at U.S.A.


MANITOBA BISONS (6-9-1, 11-14-1, OHT35 #21)
NEBRASKA-OMAHA MAVERICKS (3-7-0, 7-11-0, NCHC #8)
MINNESOTA-DULUTH BULLDOGS (7-5-0, 14-6-0, NCHC #3)

Tuesday, December 30th at 7:00 CDT at Baxter Arena, Omaha
Friday, January 2nd at 7:00 CDT at AMSOIL Arena, Duluth


Live Links:
➤ Video: CanadaWest TV - none
➤ Hockey Tech Game Centre: none - see host links below


Manitoba Links:
➤ GoBisons: Team Website
➤ CW: Stats ∞  Schedule/Results/Links


Other Links:
➤ UNO: Schedule & Results & Live Links
➤ UMD: Schedule & Results & Live Links
➤ Video: 1997 Complete Game: Manitoba at Omaha
➤ USports: Men's Hockey Page Top 10
➤ USports: Schedule/Links Standings
➤ CW: Home Page Season Schedule
➤ CW Hockey Tech:   Daily Schedule
➤ CW: Stats ∞  Schedule/Results/Links


Last series:
➤ Oct 6/24: UMD 7 UM 2: Boxscore
➤ Dec 29/24: UNO 5 UM 0: Game Report


Merry Christmas, everyone!

The holiday exhibition season is upon us. The Viking Cup has no CW teams, but its return to the hockey calendar is nice for those of us who remember the old days. It starts on December 28th.

The Bisons faced both Minnesota-Duluth and Omaha last year. Minnesota-Duluth was part of an early season trip which included St. Thomas (who they also played this year in a "scrimmage"), and Omaha was part of a holiday quartet of games, which also included Minnesota State, North Dakota, and Bemidji.

There are no preview stories on either Bison game just yet.


ELSEWHERE IN THE CW


BRIERCREST CLIPPERS [5-7-0, [color=#80808]6-12-0[/color], ACAC #5)
REGINA COUGARS (2-14-0, 3-16-2, OHT35 #33) 

Links:
➤ Briercrest: Team Website 
➤ UofR: Team Website
➤ UofR: Cougar Rewind: Dec. 5/6


Briercrest was once an ACAC doormat, but in recent seasons have become a contender. They have slipped a little this year. The Banjo-Cats are simply playing spoiler this season, so a non-conference game is as "important" as any other.


 
CALGARY DINOSAURS (15-3-0, 19-4-1, OHT35 #3)
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS (8-7-3, 11-10-3, OHT35 #13)

Links:
➤ UofC: Team Website
➤ UofA: Team Website


The current CW schedule format has the Edmonton-based teams playing the Calgary-based teams just one series per season the last two years. So it makes sense that these traditional rivals from Saudi Alberta would add a non-conference holiday game.


 
MACEWAN GRIFFINS (7-8-3, 9-12-3, OHT35 #17)
N.A.I.T. OOKS (3-9-0, 6-13-0, ACAC #6)

Links:
➤ MacU: Team Website
➤ MacU: U SPORTS Academic All Canadians: 77 Griffins student-athletes earn honours for 2024-25 season
➤ NAIT: Team Website


These former ACAC rivals meet in another Battle of Edmontown. Just before The Family Guys changed conferences, these were usually the top two teams in the ACAC. In 2017, 2018, and 2019 MacEwan finished 2nd to NAIT every year but won the championship final series. In 2020, NAIT was 1st and MacEwan was 3rd. MacEwan won their quarter-final series just before the season was cancelled by Covid. After many years of dominance, the Ooks have slipped in the ACAC standings to the point where they are now 6th out of 7 teams.



TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS (3-14-1, 7-16-1, OHT35 #32)
VICTORIA VIKINGS (7-2-0, 10-3-0, BCIHL #2)
VANCOUVER ISLAND MARINERS (9-1-1, 10-4-2, BCIHL #1)

Links:
➤ TWU: Team Website
➤ TWU: Spartan Male Athlete of the Week I Connor Farren
➤ UVic: Team Website
➤ VIU: Team Website


The out-of-town scoreboard is a bit tentative right now.

It seems that the BCIHL teams developed a universal dislike for interlocking games after the schedules were announced. A host of games where they were to host ACAC teams in September were cancelled. Now I cannot find a listing for their previously announced games against Holy Trinity and the UQO Torrents from the RSEQ Division 2. Originally, four teams (TWU, UVI, UVic, and UQO) were to converge on Nanaimo in January. I will keep an eye out for some sort of an announcement.



The Bluegars don't play, but they have uploaded a few new links since their last game.

Links:
➤ MRU: Players Bench Athletes of the Week: Dec. 1-7
➤ MRU: 85 Cougars Athletes Honored with U SPORTS Academic All Canadian Awards  
➤ MRU: Vaughn Watterodt: Prairie tough beyond the ice  




The T-irds also have no games. However, their website links to a CW story about Sasha Mutala being WHL Grad of the Month. He's one of the big reasons for UBC looking stronger as the season has progressed.

Links:
➤ CW: Sasha Mutala named WHL Grad of the Month for November/December   



COMPLETE SCHEDULE

Tue Dec 30 Manitoba at Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) 7:00 CST
Fri Jan 02 Manitoba at Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA) 7:00 CST
Fri Jan 02 Briercrest College (ACAC) at Regina 7:30 CST
Fri Jan 02 Trinity Western v Victoria (BCIHL) (at Nanaimo) time TBA
Sat Jan 03 MacEwan at N.A.I.T. (ACAC) 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 Calgary at Alberta 7:00 MST/8:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 Trinity Western at Vancouver Island (BCIHL) time TBA


OUT EAST

OUA Conference Games
Sat Jan 03 Brock at Windsor 7:30 EST/6:30 CST
Sun Jan 04 Guelph at Toronto 2:00 EST/1:00 CST
Sun Jan 04 Brock at Windsor 4:00 EST/3:00 CST

AUS Conference Game
Sat Jan 03 Dalhousie at Saint Mary's 2:00 AST/12:00 CST

Non-Conference Games
Wed Dec 31 Guelph (OUA) at Niagara (NCAA) 2:00 EST/1:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 McGill (OUA) at New Brunswick (AUS) 2:00 AST/12:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 McGill (OUA) at New Brunswick (AUS) 2:00 EST/1:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 R.M.C. (OUA) at Union College (NCAA) 5:00 EST/4:00 CST
Sun Jan 04 McGill (OUA) at Moncton (AUS) 1:00 EST/12:00 CST



The RSEQ Division 2 All-Stars beat the CEGEP All-Stars 8-3 on December 14, 2025. All I saw was an Instagram picture of the Concordia players chosen for the game.

Links:
➤ OUA: Daily Schedule
➤ AUS: Schedule & Results



OUT WEST



Viking Cup
Sun Dec 28 Midland University v SJHL All-Stars 12:00 MST/1:00 CST
Sun Dec 28 Czechia University Selects at Augustana 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
Mon Dec 29 Midland University v S.A.I.T. 12:00 MST/1:00 CST
Mon Dec 29 Czechia University Selects v SJHL All-Stars 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
Tue Dec 30 Czechia University Selects v Midland University 12:00 MST/1:00 CST
Tue Dec 30 S.A.I.T. at Augustana 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
Wed Dec 31 SJHL All-Stars at Augustana 2:00 MST/3:00 CST
Thu Jan 01 S.A.I.T. v Czechia University Selects 12:00 MST/1:00 CST
Thu Jan 01 Midland at Augustana 6:00 MST/7:00 CST
Fri Jan 02 S.A.I.T. v SJHL All-Stars 12:00 MST/1:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 3rd v 4th 12:00 MST/1:00 CST
Sat Jan 03 1st v 2nd 6:00 MST/7:00 CST



The only ACAC holiday season exhibition games are the NAIT and Briercrest games against the CW noted above, and the Viking Cup games for SAIT and Augustana.

The BCIHL games, as explained, appear to have been scrubbed.

Links:
➤ ACAC: Schedule & Results
➤ BCIHL: Schedule & Results
➤ BCIHL: YouTube Channel