Recent posts

#21

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Zach will be our QB in 202...

Last post by Throw Long Bannatyne - Today at 06:58:39 PM

ZC8 and Bryant should retire. Willy and Neuf will not be retiring. Nichols my not be a Bomber but probably will not retire.

Jefferson 21DT, 6QS
Ceresna   18DT, 7QS.
Fletcher  18DT, 4QS
Reese     10DT, 1QS

Lawson    12DT
Gatkuoth   7DT, 1QS.
Schmekel   3DT.

Agree about Willie and Neuf, still doing what they're paid to do at a high level.  I think Fletcher has won a starting spot with his size and hustle, but was hoping to see more competition for Reese's spot, like Habba, Garbutt and Fox from the last 3 years he hasn't done much to stand out. Be nice to get another look at Dixon and Jaworski before year end.

It's a miracle of statistics that Cam Lawson isn't credited with any sacks, I've seen him run over QB's multiple times, he gets good penetration with his bull rush.

#22

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Who is untouchable with th...

Last post by Throw Long Bannatyne - Today at 06:40:43 PM

One thing I've noticed for a while now, is that we always seem undersized compared to the top teams.  You see their D operate and it's these hulking beasts that have no problem pushing OL to close run holes or collapse the pocket, or LBs that can stuff our run dead on first hit.  Then our D can't push anyone around, can't close run holes, and LBers aren't beefy enough to stop runners dead.

Similar thing on O, including the OL.

It's like the other teams took our players at like-for-like positions and added 25 lbs to every last one.  And it seems to be causing us a huge disadvantage.

Watch the MTL game and note MTL's run game.  Everyone is that much beefier and so Scott, who isn't very good, gets 10 on each carry.  Then watch Brady who has to move heaven and earth to get 7 and most often gets 1-3.  It's because everyone involved on our side is a bit weaker, and everyone on the MTL side is a bit stronger.

Extremely aggravating.

In theory you don't need to be the beefiest, as speed & brains can kill too, but on average it seems to be important -- especially when we aren't super fast or smart either!!

Maybe Chris Jones was right on all the teams he built here: just hire the biggest, tallest, beefiest, thuggiest guys you can and beat the tar out of the other team -- to heck with any other attribute.

My point?  I think, as we replace the aging-out players, we need to purposely seek out bigger guys, even at the expense of MOS-desired attributes.  I guess we made a small start with this with Daniels.  But we need to go further, especially on D, and especially as you get closer to the LoS.

They talked about the Als size on the CJOB pre or post game show, in addition to running 5 and 6 man O-lines in max protect, they have 2 huge TE's that they sometimes play together in addition to keeping the RB into block. 

In that scenario they might be down to 3 receivers on a passing play but Alexander is still able to complete passes with pinpoint accuracy. Now you knock out Alexander and put in Crumm and this scheme likely doesn't work so well.

[Preview: October 9-10, 2026: MANITOBA at U.B.C.]

#23

Offside Forum / Re: 2026-27 MANITOBA BISONS/US...

Last post by Hollywood - Today at 06:23:36 PM

Preview: October 9-10, 2026: MANITOBA at U.B.C.


MANITOBA BISONS (2025-26: 12-13-3, 6th in CW, 4-4-0, OHT35 #16)
U.B.C. THUNDERBIRDS (2025-26: 23-2-3, 1st in CW, 4-2-2, OHT35 #1)

Friday, October 9th at 7:00 PDT/9:00 CDT at Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver
Saturday, October 10th at 2:30 PDT/4:30 CDT at Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver

Live Links:
➤ Video: CanadaWest TV
➤ Hockey Tech Game Centre: Friday ∞  Saturday

Manitoba Links:
➤ GoBisons: Bisons Men's Hockey Focused on Competing for 60 Minutes in 2026-27
➤ CW: Stats ∞  Schedule/Results/Links

Other Links:
➤ UBC: 'Birds officially open new era Friday night vs Bisons
➤ YouTube: CBC YouTube Channel
➤ CW: Games of the Week on Telus and CBC ∞ CBC Sports Streaming Schedule
➤ USports: Men's Hockey Page ∞ Top 10
➤ USports: Schedule/Links ∞ Standings
➤ CW: Home Page ∞ Season Schedule
➤ CW Hockey Tech:   Daily Schedule
➤ CW: LeagueStat Media Access
➤ CW: Stats ∞  Schedule/Results/Links

Last series:
➤ Nov 7/25: UBC 8 UM 1: Game Centre
➤ Nov 8/25: UBC 7 UM 4: Game Centre

The regular season is finally ready to launch. Keep in mind that this is the 3rd and final season of the CW's failed experiment with two rotating divisions. The past two years, they had an East (always including the Man/Sask teams) and a West division (always including the BC teams). The Edmonton teams played one year in the East, then switched to West, and the Calgary teams did the reverse. This year, the four Alberta teams are in Division "A" and the Man/Sask teams join BC in Division "B".

Also, playoff berths were (and are) allocated on a divisional basis. The 2nd and 3rd place teams cross-over in the quarter-finals, with the winners also doing a cross-over with the 1st place teams in the semi-finals. So if you're confused as to how Alberta made the playoffs yet was 7th, and Manitoba missed and was 6th, this was how.

This year, the Bisons get a break. They need to finish in the top three of a division which includes UBC, Sask, Regina, and Trinity. I have a hunch that the Bisons will be hunkered down in 3rd place fairly early without much chance of moving up or down. 

Before the pre-season, I had UBC and Sask set to fight in out for top spot in this division.  The T-irds had a great regular season last year (23-2-3), before losing to Sask in the semi-finals. But they have stumbled in this pre-season, going 3-2-2 against CW teams. They are just one OTL short of last year's loss record. One unique thing is that they lost games where they outshot their opponent, then did the vice versa against MRU. They started with a shoot-out loss against Holy Trinity, then beat U-Vic in a BCIHL game to salvage the opening weekend. They did show progress each weekend, going from no wins to one win then to two wins.

One concern is with the shrinking Bison roster, now down to 23 players. Two previously announced recruits (goalie Austin Dubinsky and defenceman Cole Unger) never appeared on the exhibition roster. Returning forward Miguel Bouvier played in the home games against Regina, but then left the roster. Now, recruit London Hoilett has left the roster. He did not dress for the home series against Regina, but then played in Regina. They did add a 3rd goaltender, Justin Perreault. None of the departed players have surfaced elsewhere. In fact, Hoilett is still listed as a Bison at Elite Prospects.


ELSEWHERE IN THE CW


TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS (2025-26: 4-21-3, 9th in CW, 6-0-0, OHT35 #33)
REGINA COUGARS (2025-26: 6-22-0, 8th in CW, 1-4-1, OHT35 #32)

Links:
➤ TWU: This Week in Sparta
➤ UofR: Team Website

These teams finished last in their respective divisions the past two seasons, so now at least one will be assured of escaping the cellar this year. Holy Trinity has been last overall in the CW every year since joining in the Covid-cancelled 2020-21 season. Their point totals have gone from 5 to 7 to 9 (twice) to a record 11 last year.

Meanwhile, the Banjo-Cats have made the playoffs twice in the last 12 seasons, in 2022 and 2023. In the race for 8th with Trinity, they split their last three series, against Sask, Manitoba, and Trinity, to avoid the basement.

The Spartans have two marquee players in Mikhailo Simchuk (28 GP, 16 G, 14 A, 30 Pts) and Christian Lowe (26 GP, 11 G, 19 A, 30 Pts). Regina does not have the equivalent. In fact, they lost their veteran scoring talent due to graduation. In person, they looked fairly organized and could present as a difficult opponent. In 6 games against Manitoba and Sask, they had just one loss beyond a one-goal difference.



CALGARY DINOSAURS (2025-26: 19-8-1, 4th in CW, 3-2-0, OHT35 #5)
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (2025-26: 19-7-2, 3rd in CW, won playoffs, 7-2-0, OHT35 #7)

Links:
➤ UofC: Team Website
➤ UofS: USask Huskies Celebrate 2025-26 Academic All-Canadians
➤ Huskie Fan: Huskies host Calgary for Thanksgiving weekend hockey

This could be the best match-up of the weekend. These teams were 3rd and 4th last year, and the Banjo-Mutts won the playoff championship. They met in the pre-season, with Sask winning 8-0 and Bedrock U rebounding to win 5-4. Calgary did lose their top scoring forward and defenceman, and one of their goaltending tandem, but they have returned 22 players. Sask returns 19 players, though they have taken a hit with their top three scorers graduated. These are among the most veteran-heavy rosters in the country.



MACEWAN GRIFFINS (2025-26: 12-11-5, 5th in CW, 6-0-0, OHT35 #21)
MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS (2025-26: 20-6-2, 2nd in CW, 2-3-1, OHT35 #4)

Links:
➤ MacU: Team Website
➤ MRU: How Swede it is: Building a home away from home

The Bluegars have lost a lot of scoring punch (4 of top 6 forwards), plus Clay Hanus with Bobby Orr-level scoring numbers from the blueline. Their uploaded story covers their Swedish recruits. They may not finish 2nd overall, but they will still be a strong team expected to challenge for first in their division. They were 1-2-0 against CW teams in pre-season.

The Family Guys showed they could dominate the OUA in pre-season (3-0-0) but they were 0-2-0 against Alberta in their only CW match-up. They finished ahead of those Evil Monkeys last year, and must do so again this year if they want a playoff berth from the new Saudi Alberta Division. Their goaltending and forwards look to be solid, but they took a hit on defence. They lost their top four offensive defencemen.



ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS (2025-26: 11-13-4, 7th in CW, 7-1-0, OHT35 #25) 
N.A.I.T. OOKS (2025-26: 11-1-0-12, 3rd in ACAC, 2-2-0)

Links:
➤ UofA: Team Website
➤ NAIT: Team Website

The Evil Monkeys start with a bye week, and slotted in a non-conference match-up against NAIT, in a second consecutive Battle of Edmontown. Many observers thought that there was a severe banana shortage in Edmontown, after they finished 7th overall a year ago. They have replaced all three goaltenders. They have returned two of their top six defencemen. Only one of their top six scorers has returned. Their recruiting class includes a mixed bag of WHL, transfers from NCAA, U-Sports, and ACAC, and Junior A. After last years mass roster-raid, they have had to dip into alternative sources for players. They might be better on ice than on paper. They were 5-1-0 against CW teams in the pre-season.

NAIT have swept two games against Portage College, then were shut-out by Holy Trinity twice last weekend. I guess we'll see if Trinity is better than expected or if the gap between the CW and ACAC is growing.


COMPLETE SCHEDULE

Fri Oct 09 Calgary at Saskatchewan 7:00 CST/8:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 Trinity Western at Regina 7:00 CST/8:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 MacEwan at Mount Royal 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 Manitoba at U.B.C. 7:00 PDT/9:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 N.A.I.T. at Alberta 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Trinity Western at Regina 5:00 CST/6:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Calgary at Saskatchewan 5:00 CST/6:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Manitoba at U.B.C. 3:00 PDT/5:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Mount Royal at MacEwan 5:00 MDT/6:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Alberta at N.A.I.T. 6:00 MDT/8:00 CDT

OUT EAST


Fri Oct 09 Brock at Laurier 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 Queen's at U.Q.T.R. 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 Carleton at Ottawa 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 Toronto at Western Ontario 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 Nipissing at Concordia 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 York at Waterloo 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 Toronto Metropolitan at Guelph 7:30 EDT/6:30 CDT
Fri Oct 09 Lakehead at Windsor 7:30 EDT/6:30 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Nipissing at McGill 3:00 EDT/2:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Queen's at U.Q.T.R. 4:00 EDT/3:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Toronto Metropolitan at Brock 6:00 EDT/5:00  CDT
Sat Oct 10 Ontario Tech at Ottawa 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 York at Laurier 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Waterloo at Western Ontario 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Lakehead at Guelph 7:30 EDT/6:30 CDT
Sun Oct 11 Ontario Tech at Carleton 3:00 EDT/2:00 CDT
Sun Oct 11 McGill at Concordia 7:00 EDT/6:00 CDT

Exhibition Game
Sun Oct 11 R.M.C. at Army West Point (NCAA) 2:00 EDT/1:00 CDT


Fri Oct 09 New Brunswick at St. F.X. 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 Moncton at Dalhousie 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 U.P.E.I. at Acadia 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 U.P.E.I. at Saint Mary's 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 New Brunswick at Dalhousie 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Moncton at St. F.X. 7:00 ADT/5:00 CDT

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


OUT WEST


Exhibition Games
Thu Oct 08 UA-Augustana at Red Deer Poly 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 Concordia-Edmonton at Portage College 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Fri Oct 09 Briercrest College at Minot State (ACHA) 7:30 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Portage College at Concordia-Edmonton 1:30 MDT/2:30 CDT
Sat Oct 10 S.A.I.T. at Red Deer Poly 7:00 MDT/8:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Briercrest College at Minot State (ACHA) 7:30 CDT
NOTE: NAIT plays an exhibition series against Alberta.


Fri Oct 09 Okanagan at Thompson Rivers 7:00 PDT/9:00 CDT
Sat Oct 10 Thompson Rivers at Okanagan 5:45 PDT/7:45 CDT

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

#24

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Who is untouchable with th...

Last post by dd - Today at 06:19:44 PM

One thing I've noticed for a while now, is that we always seem undersized compared to the top teams.  You see their D operate and it's these hulking beasts that have no problem pushing OL to close run holes or collapse the pocket, or LBs that can stuff our run dead on first hit.  Then our D can't push anyone around, can't close run holes, and LBers aren't beefy enough to stop runners dead.

Similar thing on O, including the OL.

It's like the other teams took our players at like-for-like positions and added 25 lbs to every last one.  And it seems to be causing us a huge disadvantage.

Watch the MTL game and note MTL's run game.  Everyone is that much beefier and so Scott, who isn't very good, gets 10 on each carry.  Then watch Brady who has to move heaven and earth to get 7 and most often gets 1-3.  It's because everyone involved on our side is a bit weaker, and everyone on the MTL side is a bit stronger.

Extremely aggravating.

In theory you don't need to be the beefiest, as speed & brains can kill too, but on average it seems to be important -- especially when we aren't super fast or smart either!!

Maybe Chris Jones was right on all the teams he built here: just hire the biggest, tallest, beefiest, thuggiest guys you can and beat the tar out of the other team -- to heck with any other attribute.

My point?  I think, as we replace the aging-out players, we need to purposely seek out bigger guys, even at the expense of MOS-desired attributes.  I guess we made a small start with this with Daniels.  But we need to go further, especially on D, and especially as you get closer to the LoS.

You can't get much bigger than Gabe Wallace, the guys huge, but slow. Patty Neufeld isn't the biggest guy on the planet but man he plays a mean and nasty game. Bryant is sloooooooow, so when you pair him with Wallace, you have a really slow left side of the line, any wonder teams are attacking us there??

Simple solution is to move Broxton to LT and Stan to RT, but apparently that isn't as simple as one would think, we should have done this 3 games into the season not with the playoffs on the line.

#25

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Who is untouchable with th...

Last post by Waffler - Today at 06:19:26 PM

Over paying for Kelly would be a mistake imo, he is good but he will get top $ and better of letting Ottawa do that.

QB is the one place you have to overpay unless you have developed a guy in your own system.

I see the next 6 Grey Cups: 2 for Rourke, 2 for Alexander and 2 for Kelly (provided he doesn't waste his career in Ottawa). I see zero for anyone else. That's why I would over pay and be happy.

I recall Cal Murphy over paying for Dunigan. No cups but we were in the mix every year and arguably should have won one.

#26

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Calgary @ Winnipeg Pre-gam...

Last post by Blueforlife - Today at 06:15:49 PM

Free Press: Starting quarterback Zach Collaros is a full participant at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice on Thursday.

One last time, one last time, throw only dimes, throw only dimes, don't hear the chimes LOL

Being serious I worry about his health, hopefully he is well enough to take a few licks.

#27

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Calgary @ Winnipeg Pre-gam...

Last post by Waffler - Today at 06:14:35 PM

Free Press: Starting quarterback Zach Collaros is a full participant at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice on Thursday.

#28

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Who is untouchable with th...

Last post by Blueforlife - Today at 06:13:23 PM

Over paying for Kelly would be a mistake imo, he is good but he will get top $ and better of letting Ottawa do that.

I think Techno has made some good points in the other discussions here.

#29

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Who is untouchable with th...

Last post by Waffler - Today at 06:05:11 PM

Unless the Bombers fix their Offensive Line woes, it won't matter which QB they poach - they won't be able to provide the required 3 seconds of protection, and any of these QB's performance would dropoff unless they had a super-quick release (on every play?) or were extremely scrambly (which increases their chances of injury).

Does Walters say "we can't sign a QB, the oline isn't ready for that"? I picture Kelly throwing balls all over PAS. In that picture I see two more Grey Cups and I feel happy inside. 

#30

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Trade Brady?

Last post by Blueforlife - Today at 05:40:28 PM

It's interesting that you think you can call me an anti Canadian fan. I'm not anti Canadian. I'm anti handing any player a roster spot determined by his nationality and setting a ratio to accomplish that. The same goes for global players.

I've continually challenged why some imports are on the roster by a type of default.

You can't seem to see that difference which I have made clear for years.

I wasn't talking about you. I know where you stand.  Sorry if I made it out like I was taking about you...

I know you position and it's nice that you have summarized it.