It’s award season in the Canadian Football League, a time when bouquets are tossed around to Most Outstanding Player Award nominees and all-stars and debates rage on about omissions and the voting format.
And while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are more than willing to participate in the bouquet stuff – 11 players were named to the West Division All-Star Team on Thursday, a day after Brady Oliveira, Jermarcus Hardrick and Mike O’Shea were all saluted as finalists for league hardware – this veteran group is also keeping its collective eyes squarely on the prize.
ELEVEN players from our roster have been named to the @CFL‘s West Division All-Star team. 👏 👏 👏
📝 » https://t.co/wF9oRPyEsS#ForTheW pic.twitter.com/iKbEnFwNd8
— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) November 2, 2023
“Obviously I’m honoured to be a West Division All-Star three times like that is awesome,” said receiver Nic Demski, who has now been named a division all-star in each of the last three years. “I never really imagined it, so for it to happen is amazing. At the end the day I’m more focused on getting the Grey Cup.”
Demski is joined on the West Division All-Star team by quarterback Zach Collaros, running back Brady Oliveira, receiver Dalton Schoen, offensive tackles Stanley Bryant and Jermarcus Hardrick, guard Pat Neufeld, defensive end Willie Jefferson, cornerback Demerio Houston, defensive back Evan Holm, and safety Brandon Alexander.
And, again, that’s all well and good, but the team’s focus during Thursday’s closed practice during this bye week wasn’t on any of the individual accolades. Right now, the club is prepping to face either the B.C. Lions or Calgary Stampeders – who meet Saturday in Vancouver in the West Semi-Final – on November 11th at IG Field in the West Final.
“We’ve gotten everything we wanted because of the work we’ve put in,” said veteran linebacker Adam Bighill. “You keep reminding guys that we’re here because you’ve put in the work – you deserve it, you’ve earned it. But that’s just another checkmark in the box. There’s more ahead here and we’ve put ourselves in a great position to go take it.”
“It’s right here and the fact is we’ve won the games we won because we stick to what we do. We’re trying to win this game in a week. During the week of prep, it’s outworking the opponent and paying attention to the things that win games… We’re right where we want to be and we’re doing what we want to do, which is working on getting better. We don’t have to worry on beating up on anybody this weekend. We get to keep improving ourselves and working on the little things we need to work on and put a high effort and energy into doing it because we can expend that energy knowing that we don’t have to play this weekend.
“That’s the big advantage of this week – allow it to be a week of sharpening and for some guys a week of healing – so that when it comes to the following week the prep is that much crisper and the game is that much more detailed and perfect.”
The Blue Bombers have been through this before, too, having hosted the West Final the last two seasons. With that experience, and the experience in the room, there’s a routine to all this now.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to be in this situation a time or two now, so we understand the importance of it,” said Collaros. “There’s a high expectations in our locker room to have good practices, to have good meetings, to make sure that we’re getting the lifts in, to make sure that we’re taking care of our bodies. We’re fortunate to have a veteran group that understands that and we’ve had a good week so far. We need to finish strong. (Friday) is an off day, but I’m sure the entire team will be in here doing something at some point.”
SALUTED:
A look at the 11 Blue Bombers named to the West All-Star team:
Zach Collaros earned divisional all-star honours for the third straight year after setting a career high with 4,252 yards passing and throwing for a league-high 33 touchdowns in 16 starts.
The Blue Bombers were 12-4 in his starts this year and now a remarkable 45-9 in games in which he has taken the first snap since his arrival at the trade deadline in October of 2019, including Grey Cup championships in 2019 and 2021. This past season he moved into the CFL’s Top 20 for all-time passing yardage.
Brady Oliveira led the CFL in rushing with 1,534 yards and 13 touchdowns (nine rushing, four receiving), averaging 85.2 yards per game and posting seven 100-yard contests. Oliveira also had 482 receiving yards on 38 receptions – both career highs – and his 2,016 yards from scrimmage (rushing and passing) led the CFL.
Oliveira’s rushing total is the second most by a Canadian in league history, behind only the 1,813 Jon Cornish amassed in 2013 as a member of the Calgary Stampeders, and the sixth highest total in Blue Bombers history. This is his first berth on the West Division All-Star Team.
Nic Demski cracked the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the first time in his career, pulling in 67 passes for 1,006 yards and six touchdowns, adding another 136 yards rushing on 16 carries. This is Demski’s third divisional all-star berth, having been also selected in 2021 and 2022.
Dalton Schoen followed up his sensational rookie campaign with a stellar 2023 season, finishing with 71 receptions for 1,222 yards and 10 touchdowns. In just 34 games as a member of the Blue Bombers, last year’s CFL Most Outstanding Rookie Player has 141 receptions for 2,663 yards and 26 touchdowns. His 10 touchdowns in 2023 led all receivers.
Stanley Bryant, the four-time CFL Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman just keeps getting it done on the left side of the Blue Bombers line. This is his eighth divisional all-star award after also being selected in 2013-14 and 2017-22. The 37-year-old vet was part of an offence that led the CFL in scoring, had the league’s rushing champ in Oliveira and the leading touchdown passer in Collaros while surrendering the second-fewest sacks.
Jermarcus Hardrick, the Blue Bombers’ nominee this year for the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman and the representative for the award from the West Division, has been named a divisional all-star for the fourth time in his career after previously being selected in 2017, 2021 and 2022. Hardrick is now in his sixth season with the Blue Bombers.
Pat Neufeld has earned his third divisional all-star berth in his 12th CFL season, the last nine with the Blue Bombers. A fixture at the right guard spot, Neufeld is an integral part of the team’s leadership core and played a crucial role in the success of the offence.
Willie Jefferson was named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Defensive Player for a third time last week and has earned a spot on the West Division All-Star team for the sixth consecutive season after previously being named from 2017-19 and 2021-22. Jefferson posted a team-leading 11 quarterback sacks, three forced fumbles – tied for second in the CFL – and 13 pass knockdowns, most in the league, and 21 defensive tackles.
Demerio Houston led the CFL in interceptions this year with seven, despite missing three games. A dangerous ball-hawk, he also had a critical pick-6 in a close win over Calgary in August and finished with 50 defensive tackles and three fumble recoveries.
Evan Holm has been named a divisional all-star for the first time in his career and in his second season as a Blue Bomber. He finished second on the club to Adam Bighill with 64 defensive tackles, adding four more on special teams, while registering two sacks and two interceptions. His 12 pass knockdowns tied for second in the league with teammate Deatrick Nichols – one behind Jefferson.
Brandon Alexander has been named a divisional all-star for the second time in his career after being named a West and CFL All-Star in 2021. The veteran safety finished with 41 defensive tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery for the Blue Bombers and remains one of the most important voices in the locker room.
WELCOME ABOARD:
The Blue Bombers welcomed veteran receiver Markeith Ambles this week, as he was added to the roster for depth. A two-time Grey Cup champion with Calgary (2018) and Toronto (2022), he spent the first six games of this season in the injured list with an ankle issue, was released and then landed back with the Stamps where his CFL career began.
“Being released, I guess it was a good thing – it got me here,” said Ambles with a grin after practice on Thursday. “I was itching to play. Still watching football, still working out so I’m super excited to play.”
The uncertainty over the injury to Dalton Schoen prompted the move, and others in the receiver room like Rasheed Bailey and Greg McCrae are also dealing with knocks.
Ambles, who has 50 games of CFL experience to his name and is coming off a season in which he posted career-best numbers – 72 receptions for 737 yards and five touchdowns – is now diving into the Blue Bombers playbook.
“I’m just trying to learn as much as I can about each position and wherever I can fit in, if the opportunity is there,” he said. “I’m just going to be ready for that. I think a lot of teams do things similar, you’ve just got to lock in and get all the verbiage down and study hard. You’ll get it if you really want to play.”
