Official Game Day Thread - Hamilton @Winnipeg, June 11, 2026

[ModAdmin]

Home Opener and a near sell out crowd again!  The first bye next week so the plan is to go into the bye with and 2 and 0 record!

First, the Injury List as of June 9 follows:



A key for this game will be to keep the pressure on on Bo-Levi Mitchell and, based on the previous game, we seem to have the players to accomplish that.

Ed Tait's 48-Hour Primer covers another key area where out focus should be, our Offensive line anchored by Stanley Bryant...

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/06/09/48-hour-primer-home-opener/

A large crowd will maked life unsettling for the Ti-Cats so be there and be loud and proud!

Let's go Bombers!

[Tecno]

If they don't sell this game out then that will basically prove the theory that Johnston's moves have shed the 5% who said they were quitting.  (And brought in no one new.)  All 3 week-1 venues were less filled than last season week 1.

And this would break our streak.  Bummer.

C'mon Winnipeg, buy the casuals and fill the place!  Half the stadium is under cover so it won't be too wet.  Everyone call your friends!

Has WFC released the STH number so we can compare '25 to '26?

[Jesse]

If they don't sell this game out then that will basically prove the theory that Johnston's moves have shed the 5% who said they were quitting.  (And brought in no one new.)  All 3 week-1 venues were less filled than last season week 1.

And this would break our streak.  Bummer.

C'mon Winnipeg, buy the casuals and fill the place!  Half the stadium is under cover so it won't be too wet.  Everyone call your friends!

Has WFC released the STH number so we can compare '25 to '26?

[/b]

As far as I know, they never do. Another closely guarded CFL secret.

As for attendance, the season starts keep getting earlier and the weather reports are not ideal. I wouldn't assume that n=1 on any direct cause. We're still gonna sell out all our warm summer games.

[Tecno]

... We hope!

We shall see. Soon.

In the meantime can someone please fix these stupid tornado alerts. I've gotten 28 today, and that's with reminders disabled. They are coming fast and furious right now, with about one every 3 minutes.

[markf]

I suspect 2/3 of the people going to the game couldn't list any of the changes made.

Bomber home games are more than a sporting event now.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I suspect 2/3 of the people going to the game couldn't list any of the changes made.

Bomber home games are more than a sporting event now.

More than 2/3rds.

[Tecno]

I suspect 2/3 of the people going to the game couldn't list any of the changes made.

Casuals, yes. STH are more knowledgeable, and those are the ones that 5% threatened to leave. And in a place like Wpg, the vast majority in the stands are STHs.

I really hope I'm wrong. I'd love to see Yoy increased attendance in all cities by week 2 or 3 when the earlier season effect has ended.

[gobombersgo]

[gobombersgo]

Nic Demski good to go for Winnipeg Blue Bombers against Hamilton
by John Hodge  June 10, 2026

Nic Demski will be in the starting lineup for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers when they take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday night. The team released its official depth chart (below) on Wednesday morning.

The five-time All-West Division selection missed practice on Tuesday due to an ankle injury and was officially listed as questionable. He has not only been listed in the starting lineup, but he does not have a game-time decision designation, which means he's officially good to go.

Demski made two catches for 28 yards in the team's season-opening 30-28 win over the Calgary Stampeders last week. Over 153 regular-season CFL games, the 32-year-old native of Winnipeg has made 496 catches for 6,313 yards and 42 touchdowns.

The Blue Bombers have made three changes to the roster, moving Canadian linebacker Jaylen Smith to the one-game injured list and American defensive lineman De'Shaan Dixon and American linebacker Jaiden Woodbey to the six-game injured list. Smith (head) was a full participant in practice this week, while Dixon (hamstring) and Woodbey (calf) were non-participants.

The three players who have been elevated to the active roster include American defensive linemen David Reese and Michael Fletcher, and Canadian linebacker Charles-Elliott Bouliane.

Reese finished his collegiate career at Syracuse University in 2025, where he made 27 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three pass knockdowns, and two fumble recoveries over 12 games. The six-foot-two, 250-pound native of Fort Pierce, Fla. spent the previous two seasons at California, where he tallied 58 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, five forced fumbles, and five pass knockdowns.

Fletcher was a collegiate standout at Appalachian State University, where he recorded 40 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, nine sacks, two fumble recoveries, one pass knockdown, and one forced fumble in 23 games. The six-foot-six, 275-pound native of Flint, Mich. attended training camp with the New York Jets in 2025 and made two tackles, one pass knockdown, and one quarterback hit during preseason action.

Bouliane was the team's third-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft out of the Université de Montréal. The five-foot-eleven, 229-pound defender made 78.5 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, one interception, and one pass knockdown over 29 collegiate games, earning a first-team U Sports All-Canadian selection in 2023.

The rest of Winnipeg's lineup remains unchanged from last week's win over Calgary. Zach Collaros completed 17-of-28 pass attempts for 233 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the victory, while Brady Oliveira rushed 15 times for 113 yards and one score. Jake Ceresna was the standout on defence as he recorded five defensive tackles and three sacks in his Blue Bombers debut.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-0) will host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1) at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday, June 11, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EDT. The Tiger-Cats are coming off an overtime loss to the Montreal Alouettes, while the Blue Bombers got a walk-off game-winning field goal from Sergio Castillo to beat the Calgary Stampeders.

The weather forecast in Winnipeg calls for a high of 21 degrees and a 30 percent chance of rain. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in to the Ticats Audio Network in Hamilton and 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.

https://3downnation.com/2026/06/10/nic-demski-good-to-go-for-winnipeg-blue-bombers-against-hamilton/

[gobombersgo]

Braxton Hill to start for Hamilton Tiger-Cats against Winnipeg
by 3Down Staff June 10, 2026

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will have Braxton Hill in the starting lineup when they visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday night. The team issued its official depth chart on Wednesday morning.

The 26-year-old missed last week's loss to the Montreal Alouettes with a calf injury but will start at weak-side linebacker this week. The native of Anaconda, Mon. was a limited participant in practice on Sunday and Monday, then a full participant on Tuesday.

Hill played eight regular-season games with the Tiger-Cats in 2025, recording 16 defensive tackles, 14 special teams tackles, and two interceptions. The University of Montana standout previously spent time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Wynton McManis, Hamilton's star linebacker and big-name free-agent addition, will remain out with a bone bruise to his knee. Ryan Baker, a former fifth-round draft pick of the University of British Columbia who made one tackle last week, has been listed as the starter at middle linebacker.

Hamilton will also dress Devodric Bynum for the first time since signing him at the end of May.

The 26-year-old defensive back played 19 regular-season games over two seasons with the Edmonton Elks, making 40 total tackles, five interceptions, and one forced fumble. He attended training camp with the Calgary Stampeders but was cut before signing with the Tiger-Cats.

To make room for Hill and Bynum on the active roster, American linebacker Craig Young and American defensive back Kaleb Hayes have been moved to the practice roster.

The Tiger-Cats have also shuffled their offensive line for Thursday's game, moving Chris Kolankowski to a depth role at centre. The 34-year-old, who spent the last five seasons in Winnipeg before being released in January, was limited in practice all week due to a groin injury.

Liam Dobson, who is also a former member of the Blue Bombers, has been moved from guard to centre. Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay, a former first-round pick out of Université Laval, will start in Dobson's usual spot at right guard.

The rest of Hamilton's lineup remains unchanged from last week's overtime loss to the Alouettes. Bo Levi Mitchell completed 34-of-39 pass attempts for 307 yards and one touchdown in the defeat, while Mario Kendricks recorded the defence's lone sack.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1) will visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-0) at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday, June 11, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EDT. The Tiger-Cats are coming off an overtime loss to the Montreal Alouettes, while the Blue Bombers got a walk-off game-winning field goal from Sergio Castillo to beat the Calgary Stampeders.

The weather forecast in Winnipeg calls for a high of 21 degrees and a 30 percent chance of rain. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in to the Ticats Audio Network in Hamilton and 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.

https://3downnation.com/2026/06/10/braxton-hill-to-start-for-hamilton-tiger-cats-against-winnipeg/

[Blueforlife]

lineup looks solid, Woodbey will be missed, new DL faces will be hungry

[Jesse]

I like the looks of our DL - even with the Dixon injury. I'm a little scared at receiver. We were already thin with only Corcoran as depth, but Demki's clearly playing hurt already.

I'd like to see one of the DBs exchanged for a receiver.

[3rdand1.5]

That looks like a solid d-line.....

Pretty thin at receiver, but the roster looks good.....Va is more elusive and mobile if last week was an indication, even as fast as Bo gets rid of the ball we may just be able to slow him down a bit...

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

"Bo Levi Mitchell completed 34-of-39 pass attempts in aovertime loss to the Alouettes"

This will be a real test for the secondary, I hope they tighten up on the pass coverage from last week.

[Blue In BC]

I like the looks of our DL - even with the Dixon injury. I'm a little scared at receiver. We were already thin with only Corcoran as depth, but Demki's clearly playing hurt already.

I'd like to see one of the DBs exchanged for a receiver.

We don't have any Canadian receivers on our PR except the new kid signed recently. If we have an in game injury it probably means we see Chris-Ike get some reps and maybe Daniels.

Choices are limited.