Zack Kassian finally returned to the Vancouver Canucks lineup Saturday, but his future with the team remained in doubt.
The winger drew into the lineup against the Detroit Red Wings after sitting out for more than a month. He was sidelined Nov. 25 with a broken finger, but was a healthy scratch in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, a team that plays a rambunctious physical style for which he is supposedly suited.
Although he was listed as injured in the other games, Kassian claimed he was healthy enough to play earlier. And, coach Willie Desjardins did little to suggest otherwise Saturday, all but confirming that Kassian was held out because of sub-par play rather than a sore pinky.
But Desjardins is looking for Kassian to beef up Vancouver’s inconsistent offensive production of late.
“The scoresheet’s not the most critical thing,” said Desjardins. “If you’re playing the right way, you’ll get on the scoresheet. He’s gotta get back to playing where he’s a good presence on the forecheck, he’s playing physical, he’s working hard both ways. If he’s not on there, it’s not like we’re necessarily unhappy with it, but he is a guy that has the potential to get on it, and he can play both ways.”
General manager Jim Benning has indicated publicly that he is willing to consider trades for Kassian, who has not lived up to expectations since he was acquired for then Canuck fan favourite Cody Hodgson from Buffalo. Former Canucks GM Mike Gillis billed Kassian as a “prototypical power forward,” but the 23-year-old Windsor, Ont., native, who was drafted 13th overall by Buffalo in 2009, has rarely proved himself to be one.
While Benning is willing to weigh offers, he also wants to be patient with the development of a young player. However, the extent of Benning’s patience could hinge on the quality of an offer that he receives for Kassian.
The winger was amused that he was subject to considerable speculation even when he was not playing. But he is taking the criticism seriously as he seeks to remain a Canuck.
“I think I can be a big part of this team,” said Kassian. “I believe in it, and I have to make others believe that I’ll do that.”
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Canucks keeping their eyes on world junior tourney as finals approach
It’s that time of year again.
The world junior hockey finals are approaching, and some Vancouver Canuck players are getting into betting mode.
“There’s been a few (bets) back and forth,” said Daniel Sedin after the Canucks held an optional morning skate Saturday before their game against the Detroit Red Wings at Rogers Arena.
“But we’ll see. If Sweden ends up playing Canada, it’ll be a lot of fun.”
In other words, the betting action in the Canucks dressing room will pick up considerably if Canada beats the Slovaks in a semifinal Sunday and the Swedes prevail over Russia. Captain Henrik Sedin is known for being quite active on the betting front whenever his native Sweden has a chance to go for junior gold.
“It’s a little bit more for dinners and stuff like that,” said Daniel Sedin of the stakes. “So it’s smaller things.”
But the wagers still hold considerable meaning for some Canucks, especially those, like the Sedins, who have played in past world junior tournaments. Some of the younger players, like rookie centre Bo Horvat, who played for Canada last year, are not up to speed on the traditional wagering.
But Horvat, a close friend of Team Canada winger Max Domi, is actively engaged in the tournament being held in Montreal and Toronto.
“Any time you can represent your country, it’s special and these guys are making Canada really proud right now,” said Horvat, 19.
The Rodney, Ont., native was not granted permission from the Canucks to play in the tournament, because management felt he was needed more with the NHL club, particularly in the face-off circle. Instead, he will have a chance to get in on the betting action in the Vancouver dressing room.
One Canuck has already been stung by his bets against the Canadian squad. Winger Jannik Hansen bet on his homeland of Denmark, which was trounced 8-0 by Canada in a quarter-final game Friday.
“It was pretty funny coming in this morning when (Hansen) was pretty upset, but I was happy for Canada,” said Horvat.
So far, Horvat has stayed on the sidelines, but it sounded like he will soon enter the action.
“I haven’t been a part of any, but I’m sure there are going to be a couple bets going around, especially with finals and semis and stuff like that,” he said.
Backup goaltender Eddie Lack hasn’t entered the fray yet, either, but he is already scouting for opponents.
“If Sweden and Canada go to the finals, I’m sure I’ll get a couple bets going,” said Lack, a 26-year-old Swede. “Zack Kassian is a big bettor, so I’m probably going to go to him. Now that Tommy (Sestito) has gone (to the minors) and U.S.A. is out, I don’t know who else (to bet).”
Horvat perhaps?
“I don’t know. He looks like kind of a cheap guy, so I don’t know if he wants to,” said Lack with a wry grin.
And what will Lack bet?
“I don’t know if I want to put that on the (Internet),” he said, chuckling. “It’ll probably be something fun, like a dinner on the road or something like that.”
Whatever the wager, Lack is looking forward to betting against his Canuck teammates. Bragging rights, in the event of a Swedish victory in the final, hold considerable meaning – along with the potential prize.
“It’s kind of weird, because I never got to play (in the world juniors), myself, but just being in Canada and seeing all the news and watching every day, it’s pretty exciting,” he said. “Obviously, you get dragged into it a little bit, too. It’s a really fun tournament and it’s a lot of fun to watch.”
The world junior hockey finals are approaching, and some Vancouver Canuck players are getting into betting mode.
“There’s been a few (bets) back and forth,” said Daniel Sedin after the Canucks held an optional morning skate Saturday before their game against the Detroit Red Wings at Rogers Arena.
“But we’ll see. If Sweden ends up playing Canada, it’ll be a lot of fun.”
In other words, the betting action in the Canucks dressing room will pick up considerably if Canada beats the Slovaks in a semifinal Sunday and the Swedes prevail over Russia. Captain Henrik Sedin is known for being quite active on the betting front whenever his native Sweden has a chance to go for junior gold.
“It’s a little bit more for dinners and stuff like that,” said Daniel Sedin of the stakes. “So it’s smaller things.”
But the wagers still hold considerable meaning for some Canucks, especially those, like the Sedins, who have played in past world junior tournaments. Some of the younger players, like rookie centre Bo Horvat, who played for Canada last year, are not up to speed on the traditional wagering.
But Horvat, a close friend of Team Canada winger Max Domi, is actively engaged in the tournament being held in Montreal and Toronto.
“Any time you can represent your country, it’s special and these guys are making Canada really proud right now,” said Horvat, 19.
The Rodney, Ont., native was not granted permission from the Canucks to play in the tournament, because management felt he was needed more with the NHL club, particularly in the face-off circle. Instead, he will have a chance to get in on the betting action in the Vancouver dressing room.
One Canuck has already been stung by his bets against the Canadian squad. Winger Jannik Hansen bet on his homeland of Denmark, which was trounced 8-0 by Canada in a quarter-final game Friday.
“It was pretty funny coming in this morning when (Hansen) was pretty upset, but I was happy for Canada,” said Horvat.
So far, Horvat has stayed on the sidelines, but it sounded like he will soon enter the action.
“I haven’t been a part of any, but I’m sure there are going to be a couple bets going around, especially with finals and semis and stuff like that,” he said.
Backup goaltender Eddie Lack hasn’t entered the fray yet, either, but he is already scouting for opponents.
“If Sweden and Canada go to the finals, I’m sure I’ll get a couple bets going,” said Lack, a 26-year-old Swede. “Zack Kassian is a big bettor, so I’m probably going to go to him. Now that Tommy (Sestito) has gone (to the minors) and U.S.A. is out, I don’t know who else (to bet).”
Horvat perhaps?
“I don’t know. He looks like kind of a cheap guy, so I don’t know if he wants to,” said Lack with a wry grin.
And what will Lack bet?
“I don’t know if I want to put that on the (Internet),” he said, chuckling. “It’ll probably be something fun, like a dinner on the road or something like that.”
Whatever the wager, Lack is looking forward to betting against his Canuck teammates. Bragging rights, in the event of a Swedish victory in the final, hold considerable meaning – along with the potential prize.
“It’s kind of weird, because I never got to play (in the world juniors), myself, but just being in Canada and seeing all the news and watching every day, it’s pretty exciting,” he said. “Obviously, you get dragged into it a little bit, too. It’s a really fun tournament and it’s a lot of fun to watch.”
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Dorsett's game against former Rangers club memorable even before face-off
Things just keep getting better for Derek Dorsett in his first season with the Vancouver Canucks.
Dorsett’s 2014-15 NHL campaign improved even before he faced his former New York Rangers team Saturday at Rogers Arena. A day earlier, he became a father for the first time as his wife gave birth to a baby boy, Dylan.
“(She) got pregnant when we were playing in New York, and it just so happens that (she) gave birth when New York is in town,” he said after the Canucks morning skate in advance of the game against the Rangers.
The Canucks acquired Dorsett, a 27-year-old Kindersley, Sask., native, in a June trade which sent a 2014 third-round draft choice to the Rangers. He was scheduled to help Vancouver assistant coach Doug Lidster with some pre-scouting Friday, but plans quickly changed.
“I got to the rink in the morning (for practice) and I was just getting undressed, and my wife called and said it was time to get to the hospital,” Dorsett recalled. “So I ran back home and we (welcomed) our baby in the afternoon. At about 3:30, we brought him into the world. I went back to hospital (later) and my wife was feeding him around midnight and I got her into bed and I then I went back home, got home around 1 (a.m.) and got a good night’s sleep.”
Along with other off-season acquisitions, Dorsett has helped Canucks fans sleep better as he and the team have enjoyed a strong start to the season following the disastrous one-season tenure of former coach John Tortorella, when they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Heading into Saturday’s contest, Dorsett had already exceeded the eight points that he mustered in 51 games with the Rangers last season.
The fourth-liner is on pace for a career high 28 points – and almost halfway there.
“It’s worked out for both sides,” he said. “I didn’t get as much playing time over there. We talked it out and I ended up moving. It’s part of the business that we’re in. I’m happy to be a Canuck now, and I really enjoyed my time as a Ranger.”
Dorsett was dealt to New York in 2012-13 from his first NHL club, the Columbus Blue Jackets, who drafted him in the seventh round (189th overall) after he excelled under current Canucks coach Willie Desjardins with the Medicine Hat Tigers.
“I had him in junior for three years,” said Dorsett. “So being familiar with the coach, obviously, has helped.”
The uber-pest helped the Tigers win a WHL championship and reach the Memorial Cup final, where they lost to the host Vancouver Giants in 2007. He was denied a Stanley Cup championship last season with the Rangers as they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the finals. Although he is gone from the Rangers, he still cherishes the finals berth.
“It was a great accomplishment and, obviously, we fell up a little short, but it was a lot of fun,” he said.
According to Canucks captain Henrik Sedin, the winger, and other Vancouver newcomers, are also helping to create a more enjoyable atmosphere in Vancouver just by enabling Desjardins to roll four lines consistently. Although Desjardins juggled his forward trios Saturday for the first time this season, he has stuck to his plan of giving each line a fair share of ice time, and that makes a difference, said Sedin.
“(The atmosphere) was good last year, too,” he said. “We were in a good spot around this time as well, but I think everyone feels important to the team. You have to have the so called third or fourth-liners. They get a chance, each and every night, to make a difference and that’s really good, I think, for a team to have.
“It means, when you come in, you have a good feeling. If you didn’t get a chance to contribute or make a difference, I think it’s tough. But if you come in every day for a practice or a game and you feel that you have a chance to do something good for the team, it’s going to make you work harder.”
That situation also eases the burden on Vancouver’s star players, because everyone feeds of the success of the so called lesser lights.
“Dors and Bo (Horvat) and Jannik (Hansen) and (Shawn) Matthias, they’ve all been great,” said Sedin. “That’s what we need as a team to be successful.”
Dorsett’s 2014-15 NHL campaign improved even before he faced his former New York Rangers team Saturday at Rogers Arena. A day earlier, he became a father for the first time as his wife gave birth to a baby boy, Dylan.
“(She) got pregnant when we were playing in New York, and it just so happens that (she) gave birth when New York is in town,” he said after the Canucks morning skate in advance of the game against the Rangers.
The Canucks acquired Dorsett, a 27-year-old Kindersley, Sask., native, in a June trade which sent a 2014 third-round draft choice to the Rangers. He was scheduled to help Vancouver assistant coach Doug Lidster with some pre-scouting Friday, but plans quickly changed.
“I got to the rink in the morning (for practice) and I was just getting undressed, and my wife called and said it was time to get to the hospital,” Dorsett recalled. “So I ran back home and we (welcomed) our baby in the afternoon. At about 3:30, we brought him into the world. I went back to hospital (later) and my wife was feeding him around midnight and I got her into bed and I then I went back home, got home around 1 (a.m.) and got a good night’s sleep.”
Along with other off-season acquisitions, Dorsett has helped Canucks fans sleep better as he and the team have enjoyed a strong start to the season following the disastrous one-season tenure of former coach John Tortorella, when they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Heading into Saturday’s contest, Dorsett had already exceeded the eight points that he mustered in 51 games with the Rangers last season.
The fourth-liner is on pace for a career high 28 points – and almost halfway there.
“It’s worked out for both sides,” he said. “I didn’t get as much playing time over there. We talked it out and I ended up moving. It’s part of the business that we’re in. I’m happy to be a Canuck now, and I really enjoyed my time as a Ranger.”
Dorsett was dealt to New York in 2012-13 from his first NHL club, the Columbus Blue Jackets, who drafted him in the seventh round (189th overall) after he excelled under current Canucks coach Willie Desjardins with the Medicine Hat Tigers.
“I had him in junior for three years,” said Dorsett. “So being familiar with the coach, obviously, has helped.”
The uber-pest helped the Tigers win a WHL championship and reach the Memorial Cup final, where they lost to the host Vancouver Giants in 2007. He was denied a Stanley Cup championship last season with the Rangers as they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the finals. Although he is gone from the Rangers, he still cherishes the finals berth.
“It was a great accomplishment and, obviously, we fell up a little short, but it was a lot of fun,” he said.
According to Canucks captain Henrik Sedin, the winger, and other Vancouver newcomers, are also helping to create a more enjoyable atmosphere in Vancouver just by enabling Desjardins to roll four lines consistently. Although Desjardins juggled his forward trios Saturday for the first time this season, he has stuck to his plan of giving each line a fair share of ice time, and that makes a difference, said Sedin.
“(The atmosphere) was good last year, too,” he said. “We were in a good spot around this time as well, but I think everyone feels important to the team. You have to have the so called third or fourth-liners. They get a chance, each and every night, to make a difference and that’s really good, I think, for a team to have.
“It means, when you come in, you have a good feeling. If you didn’t get a chance to contribute or make a difference, I think it’s tough. But if you come in every day for a practice or a game and you feel that you have a chance to do something good for the team, it’s going to make you work harder.”
That situation also eases the burden on Vancouver’s star players, because everyone feeds of the success of the so called lesser lights.
“Dors and Bo (Horvat) and Jannik (Hansen) and (Shawn) Matthias, they’ve all been great,” said Sedin. “That’s what we need as a team to be successful.”
Friday, November 28, 2014
Grigsby cherishes chance to play for Grey Cup after release from Bombers
It’s a good thing Nic Grigsby’s first season in the CFL did not go as planned.
After starting the campaign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and then going unwanted, the 25-year-old Los Angeles native now finds himself in the 2014 Grey Cup. The rookie running back will suit up for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday against the Calgary Stampeders.
He wound his way to Hamilton after the Blue Bombers released him Oct. 21 after an apparent dispute between the players and management.
“It means a lot (to be in the Grey Cup),” he said after a practice Friday at BC Place Stadium. “I love being able to prove everybody wrong and being able to perform with the wrong kind of adversity. It’s harder for a running back because, running backs, you can’t just come in and just run. It takes time. You’ve gotta get your fits. You gotta get your feel for the game. It takes a lot of patience to be able to come out and perform the way you wanna perform.”
Grigsby helped the Tiger-Cats get into the Grey Cup by rushing for 93 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries in their Eastern Final win over Montreal last weekend. During the regular season, he ran for 146 yards and a touchdown for Hamilton on 30 carries.
He also racked up a respectable 744 yards with Winnipeg. But the Bombers decided to release him after he rushed 14 times for only 55 yards against Ottawa, which crushed Winnipeg 42-20. The contest was a must-win affair for the Bombers, who missed the playoffs.
According to reports, Grigsby asked for his release after learning he would be replaced in the next game. But Grigsby contended otherwise – without elaborating – Friday.
“I didn’t fall out of favour,” he said. “It wasn’t about playing time. I’m not even going to get into that. They wanted to do some things that I didn’t agree with. I’m only a player. A player doesn’t run anything. I just do my job. They all decided to do what they wanted to do, and we all got together, me and (general manager) Kyle (Walters) and (coach Mike) O’Shea, and it was the best decision for all of us. They let me go and they opened up a lot of doors for me. I just took my opportunity and ran with it.”
But he could have trouble Sunday against a Stampeders team that ranks first in defence against the run. Hamilton general manager and coach Kent Austin, said the contest will feature extremely complicated offensive and defensive schemes from both clubs.
In other words, Grigsby will have to work extremely hard to gain every yard that he can get. But Austin has no complaints about Grigsby's work ethic.
“He’s helped us a lot, quite a bit,” said Austin. “He’s had close to 100 yards the last couple games, and he had a lot to learn in our offence. He’s come to work every day, he’s prepared hard and he’s played hard, and he’s gotten better each game. I think it’s just because his understanding is better. He’s able to play faster, because there’s a little bit less thinking, and I think you’ve seen that, especially in the last game.”
As with all players, the next game will be Grigsby’s most important contest, and none are more important than this one.
When the 102nd Grey Cup begins, some will likely wonder what might have been if Grigsby had stayed with the Blue Bombers as he expected at the outset of the season.
“I was preparing for a Grey Cup, just like everybody else, with Winnipeg, and we all came out and we started off really hot,” he recalled. “A lot of injuries came up and things started going south down there. Everything happens for a reason.
“Still, at the end of the day, everybody’s goal is to get to a Grey Cup, and I’m here today.”
After starting the campaign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and then going unwanted, the 25-year-old Los Angeles native now finds himself in the 2014 Grey Cup. The rookie running back will suit up for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday against the Calgary Stampeders.
He wound his way to Hamilton after the Blue Bombers released him Oct. 21 after an apparent dispute between the players and management.
“It means a lot (to be in the Grey Cup),” he said after a practice Friday at BC Place Stadium. “I love being able to prove everybody wrong and being able to perform with the wrong kind of adversity. It’s harder for a running back because, running backs, you can’t just come in and just run. It takes time. You’ve gotta get your fits. You gotta get your feel for the game. It takes a lot of patience to be able to come out and perform the way you wanna perform.”
Grigsby helped the Tiger-Cats get into the Grey Cup by rushing for 93 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries in their Eastern Final win over Montreal last weekend. During the regular season, he ran for 146 yards and a touchdown for Hamilton on 30 carries.
He also racked up a respectable 744 yards with Winnipeg. But the Bombers decided to release him after he rushed 14 times for only 55 yards against Ottawa, which crushed Winnipeg 42-20. The contest was a must-win affair for the Bombers, who missed the playoffs.
According to reports, Grigsby asked for his release after learning he would be replaced in the next game. But Grigsby contended otherwise – without elaborating – Friday.
“I didn’t fall out of favour,” he said. “It wasn’t about playing time. I’m not even going to get into that. They wanted to do some things that I didn’t agree with. I’m only a player. A player doesn’t run anything. I just do my job. They all decided to do what they wanted to do, and we all got together, me and (general manager) Kyle (Walters) and (coach Mike) O’Shea, and it was the best decision for all of us. They let me go and they opened up a lot of doors for me. I just took my opportunity and ran with it.”
But he could have trouble Sunday against a Stampeders team that ranks first in defence against the run. Hamilton general manager and coach Kent Austin, said the contest will feature extremely complicated offensive and defensive schemes from both clubs.
In other words, Grigsby will have to work extremely hard to gain every yard that he can get. But Austin has no complaints about Grigsby's work ethic.
“He’s helped us a lot, quite a bit,” said Austin. “He’s had close to 100 yards the last couple games, and he had a lot to learn in our offence. He’s come to work every day, he’s prepared hard and he’s played hard, and he’s gotten better each game. I think it’s just because his understanding is better. He’s able to play faster, because there’s a little bit less thinking, and I think you’ve seen that, especially in the last game.”
As with all players, the next game will be Grigsby’s most important contest, and none are more important than this one.
When the 102nd Grey Cup begins, some will likely wonder what might have been if Grigsby had stayed with the Blue Bombers as he expected at the outset of the season.
“I was preparing for a Grey Cup, just like everybody else, with Winnipeg, and we all came out and we started off really hot,” he recalled. “A lot of injuries came up and things started going south down there. Everything happens for a reason.
“Still, at the end of the day, everybody’s goal is to get to a Grey Cup, and I’m here today.”
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Dickenson pours coldd water on speculation about Lions coaching job
Dave Dickenson has ruled himself out as the next coach of the B.C. Lions, but it probably won't take long for other candidates to emerge.
Just when speculation on the likelihood of the Calgary Stampeders offensive co-ordinator replacing the fired Mike Benevides was heating up, Dickenson threw cold water on it.
“I’m going to be back in Calgary next year,” said Dickenson during a Stamps luncheon Thursday in advance of Sunday’s Grey Cup against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“That’s my answer to that question – and it’s going to be the same answer tomorrow, the same answer next week.”
Dickenson’s comments came a day after Calgary general manager and head coach John Hufnagel hinted that the 41-year-old Great Falls, Mont, native would be his successor. Hufnagel pointed to a new three-year contract that Dickenson signed in November 2013.
Without getting into the specific job titles, Dickenson said he planned to honour the deal, which runs until after the 2016 season, while also pointing out that he loves being the offensive co-ordinator and getting a chance to call plays, like he did as a standout quarterback with the Stampeders and Lions.
Dickenson has a strong desire to be a head coach, but he also wants to make sure that he gets the right opportunity.
“I want to be a head coach, there’s no doubt about it, but I really just want to have fun,” Dickenson said. “I want to be part of a team, I want to work with people I like and enjoy, and be part of a system and a team that’s going to win. I think we work too hard to not enjoy things. I’m not going to coach if I’m miserable. A lot of stresses come with a head coaching position. It’d be a challenge, and I love challenges.”
Stressing that he is a loyal guy, Dickenson also, basically, ruled himself out as a candidate for the head coaching post at his alma mater, the University of Montana, following the retirement of Grizzlies field boss Mick Delaney.
“I love college — I think it’s great — and I love Montana, but for me, it’s about having stability with your family, making sure you have time with your family and, basically, don’t try to put yourself above what’s important,” Dickenson said.
“Sometimes, that’s what’s important, instead of just always trying to get to the top of the ladder.”
By ending some speculation, Dickenson has likely started more.
Many observers believe that former Winnipeg Blue Bombers coach Paul LaPolice, who is working the Grey Cup for TSN, has a chance to replace Benevides. During an interview with TSN 1040 Radio on Thursday, LaPolice said he also likes being an offensive co-ordinator.
He seems a better fit for that position with the Lions, although Khari Jones still has the OC post for now.
It says here that LaPolice is not a good fit as the next head coach of the Lions. He lacks natural ties to the organization that would attract fans when it is in danger of losing season ticket holders. While he led the Bombers to the 2011 Grey Cup, which the Lions won, LaPolice lost his job the next year and reportedly turned down a chance to become B.C.’s offensive co-ordinator last season.
Despite his increased profile due to his TSN gig, LaPolice does not stand out as an icon or exceptional leader the way Calgary’s Hufnagel, Hamilton counterpart Kent Austin and Lions general manager Wally Buono do. Austin, a former Lions quarterback, would be a better fit, but he is unlikely to leave Hamilton.
Recently, I suggested that Lions defensive co-ordinator Mark Washington could be a prime candidate, and fellow former defensive back Barron Miles, an assistant with Saskatchewan, might also get serious consideration. I still think Washington is in the running, and would be a good choice. So would Miles, but I’m starting to believe the Lions will lean more to an iconic type who is not necessarily a former B.C. player or coach.
On that note, I would not be surprised if, as some have suggested, former Stampeders quarterback Jeff Garcia, who was brought to the CFL by Buono, gets on the short list. Garcia joined the Montreal Alouettes in mid-season as an assistant of sorts and, tutoring quarterback Jonathan Crompton, helped the Als get to the playoffs and hammer B.C. 50-17 before they were ousted unceremoniously by Hamilton.
Although he does not have ties to B.C. or the team itself, Garcia is a high-profile type that the Lions need and, being the son of a coach, he understands the game thoroughly.
Another possibility seems unlikely, but makes at least some sense.
Former Lions receiver Geroy Simon, now an ambassador of sorts with Saskatchewan, has a desire to run a team within 10 years. He has strong ties to B.C., living here while commuting to work for the Roughriders. Despite his lack of coaching experience, he is used to mentoring young players – of which the rebuilding Lions have many. He is also a natural leader, a fan favourite, and extremely knowledgeable about the game. Simon would likely also be willing to keep most of the current assistants, he did commendable jobs in the face of considerable adversity this season, if he were allowed to choose one or two.
Alas, Dickenson threw cold water on speculation for a while, but it won’t take long to heat up again.
Just when speculation on the likelihood of the Calgary Stampeders offensive co-ordinator replacing the fired Mike Benevides was heating up, Dickenson threw cold water on it.
“I’m going to be back in Calgary next year,” said Dickenson during a Stamps luncheon Thursday in advance of Sunday’s Grey Cup against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“That’s my answer to that question – and it’s going to be the same answer tomorrow, the same answer next week.”
Dickenson’s comments came a day after Calgary general manager and head coach John Hufnagel hinted that the 41-year-old Great Falls, Mont, native would be his successor. Hufnagel pointed to a new three-year contract that Dickenson signed in November 2013.
Without getting into the specific job titles, Dickenson said he planned to honour the deal, which runs until after the 2016 season, while also pointing out that he loves being the offensive co-ordinator and getting a chance to call plays, like he did as a standout quarterback with the Stampeders and Lions.
Dickenson has a strong desire to be a head coach, but he also wants to make sure that he gets the right opportunity.
“I want to be a head coach, there’s no doubt about it, but I really just want to have fun,” Dickenson said. “I want to be part of a team, I want to work with people I like and enjoy, and be part of a system and a team that’s going to win. I think we work too hard to not enjoy things. I’m not going to coach if I’m miserable. A lot of stresses come with a head coaching position. It’d be a challenge, and I love challenges.”
Stressing that he is a loyal guy, Dickenson also, basically, ruled himself out as a candidate for the head coaching post at his alma mater, the University of Montana, following the retirement of Grizzlies field boss Mick Delaney.
“I love college — I think it’s great — and I love Montana, but for me, it’s about having stability with your family, making sure you have time with your family and, basically, don’t try to put yourself above what’s important,” Dickenson said.
“Sometimes, that’s what’s important, instead of just always trying to get to the top of the ladder.”
By ending some speculation, Dickenson has likely started more.
Many observers believe that former Winnipeg Blue Bombers coach Paul LaPolice, who is working the Grey Cup for TSN, has a chance to replace Benevides. During an interview with TSN 1040 Radio on Thursday, LaPolice said he also likes being an offensive co-ordinator.
He seems a better fit for that position with the Lions, although Khari Jones still has the OC post for now.
It says here that LaPolice is not a good fit as the next head coach of the Lions. He lacks natural ties to the organization that would attract fans when it is in danger of losing season ticket holders. While he led the Bombers to the 2011 Grey Cup, which the Lions won, LaPolice lost his job the next year and reportedly turned down a chance to become B.C.’s offensive co-ordinator last season.
Despite his increased profile due to his TSN gig, LaPolice does not stand out as an icon or exceptional leader the way Calgary’s Hufnagel, Hamilton counterpart Kent Austin and Lions general manager Wally Buono do. Austin, a former Lions quarterback, would be a better fit, but he is unlikely to leave Hamilton.
Recently, I suggested that Lions defensive co-ordinator Mark Washington could be a prime candidate, and fellow former defensive back Barron Miles, an assistant with Saskatchewan, might also get serious consideration. I still think Washington is in the running, and would be a good choice. So would Miles, but I’m starting to believe the Lions will lean more to an iconic type who is not necessarily a former B.C. player or coach.
On that note, I would not be surprised if, as some have suggested, former Stampeders quarterback Jeff Garcia, who was brought to the CFL by Buono, gets on the short list. Garcia joined the Montreal Alouettes in mid-season as an assistant of sorts and, tutoring quarterback Jonathan Crompton, helped the Als get to the playoffs and hammer B.C. 50-17 before they were ousted unceremoniously by Hamilton.
Although he does not have ties to B.C. or the team itself, Garcia is a high-profile type that the Lions need and, being the son of a coach, he understands the game thoroughly.
Another possibility seems unlikely, but makes at least some sense.
Former Lions receiver Geroy Simon, now an ambassador of sorts with Saskatchewan, has a desire to run a team within 10 years. He has strong ties to B.C., living here while commuting to work for the Roughriders. Despite his lack of coaching experience, he is used to mentoring young players – of which the rebuilding Lions have many. He is also a natural leader, a fan favourite, and extremely knowledgeable about the game. Simon would likely also be willing to keep most of the current assistants, he did commendable jobs in the face of considerable adversity this season, if he were allowed to choose one or two.
Alas, Dickenson threw cold water on speculation for a while, but it won’t take long to heat up again.
Bo Levi Mitchell has a chance to upstage Joe Theismann in Grey Cup
Bo Levi Mitchell does not think the pressure of being a first-year starter will get to him in Sunday’s Grey Cup.
The Calgary Stampeders quarterback will try to gain the upper hand, almost literally, against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Sunday’s CFL championship game here in Vancouver.
But Mitchell, 24, is used to excelling on football’s big stages.
“I think I’ve already dealt with (pressure),” he said Thursday following a Stampeders luncheon with media. “I’ve showed I can play the way I play, especially in the big games. I don’t really think there’s a game out there that’s too big for me. It’s the confidence that I have in the guys around me. It makes it so easy when I have guys around me that I know and trust.”
Still, Mitchell added, he can’t compare Sunday’s contest to his personal experiences.
“It’s a professional-level championship game,” he said. “Obviously, I’ve played in a state championship and won, I’ve played in a college championship and won, but you can’t compare it to anything, because it’s professional.”
Mitchell guided his hometown Katy, Tex., high school squad to the state title in 2007 and went on play collegiately at Southern Methodist and Eastern Washington. In 201, he led Eastern Washington to the NCAA Division I FCS national championship with a 20-19 come-from-behind victory over Delaware. It was Eastern Washington’s first-ever national crown in football.
After signing as a free agent with the Stampeders, he spent two seasons in third-string and backup roles. This season, he won his first seven games as a starter, tying former Stamp Jeff Garcia’s CFL record.
He has dressed for 17 games (14 starts), while battling injury, and completed 264 of 417 passes (63.3%) for 3,389 yards and 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He led all CFL quarterbacks with a 98.3 pass-efficiency rating while also carrying the ball 35 times for 232 yards and four touchdowns.
Pressure or no pressure Sunday, he feels very fortunate to be where he is.
“I’m very blessed to have the teammates that I do around me and my coaching staff,” he said. “I don’t think any guy in their first year as a starter has ever walked into the situation I’ve walked into.”
Actually, Mitchell was mistaken on that point.
In 1971, rookie Joe Theismann quarterbacked the Toronto Argonauts to the Grey Cup, when the game was also played in Vancouver, and the Stampeders happened to be the opposition. As you might have heard (countless times, depending on your age), it was a wet day, and Argos running back Leon McQuay fumbled the ball as he attempted to run it into the end zone for what would have been the winning touchdown in the game's closing moments.
As a result, the Stampeders prevailed 14-11, and a veteran quarterback named Jerry Keeling received the laurels instead.
Things still turned out all right for Theismann, though. The former Notre Dame star went on to a standout career in the NFL with the Washington Redskins and led them to a Super Bowl in 1982. But his CFL experience left him unfulfilled on the championship front.
The 1971 Grey Cup was played at since-demolished Empire Stadium, an outdoor facility. It has been raining again this week in Vancouver, but the game will be played at BC Place Stadium and, if necessary, the roof will be closed.
Therefore, Mitchell won’t have to worry about wet or cold conditions, and he will have a better chance to accomplish what Theismann could not.
The Calgary Stampeders quarterback will try to gain the upper hand, almost literally, against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Sunday’s CFL championship game here in Vancouver.
But Mitchell, 24, is used to excelling on football’s big stages.
“I think I’ve already dealt with (pressure),” he said Thursday following a Stampeders luncheon with media. “I’ve showed I can play the way I play, especially in the big games. I don’t really think there’s a game out there that’s too big for me. It’s the confidence that I have in the guys around me. It makes it so easy when I have guys around me that I know and trust.”
Still, Mitchell added, he can’t compare Sunday’s contest to his personal experiences.
“It’s a professional-level championship game,” he said. “Obviously, I’ve played in a state championship and won, I’ve played in a college championship and won, but you can’t compare it to anything, because it’s professional.”
Mitchell guided his hometown Katy, Tex., high school squad to the state title in 2007 and went on play collegiately at Southern Methodist and Eastern Washington. In 201, he led Eastern Washington to the NCAA Division I FCS national championship with a 20-19 come-from-behind victory over Delaware. It was Eastern Washington’s first-ever national crown in football.
After signing as a free agent with the Stampeders, he spent two seasons in third-string and backup roles. This season, he won his first seven games as a starter, tying former Stamp Jeff Garcia’s CFL record.
He has dressed for 17 games (14 starts), while battling injury, and completed 264 of 417 passes (63.3%) for 3,389 yards and 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He led all CFL quarterbacks with a 98.3 pass-efficiency rating while also carrying the ball 35 times for 232 yards and four touchdowns.
Pressure or no pressure Sunday, he feels very fortunate to be where he is.
“I’m very blessed to have the teammates that I do around me and my coaching staff,” he said. “I don’t think any guy in their first year as a starter has ever walked into the situation I’ve walked into.”
Actually, Mitchell was mistaken on that point.
In 1971, rookie Joe Theismann quarterbacked the Toronto Argonauts to the Grey Cup, when the game was also played in Vancouver, and the Stampeders happened to be the opposition. As you might have heard (countless times, depending on your age), it was a wet day, and Argos running back Leon McQuay fumbled the ball as he attempted to run it into the end zone for what would have been the winning touchdown in the game's closing moments.
As a result, the Stampeders prevailed 14-11, and a veteran quarterback named Jerry Keeling received the laurels instead.
Things still turned out all right for Theismann, though. The former Notre Dame star went on to a standout career in the NFL with the Washington Redskins and led them to a Super Bowl in 1982. But his CFL experience left him unfulfilled on the championship front.
The 1971 Grey Cup was played at since-demolished Empire Stadium, an outdoor facility. It has been raining again this week in Vancouver, but the game will be played at BC Place Stadium and, if necessary, the roof will be closed.
Therefore, Mitchell won’t have to worry about wet or cold conditions, and he will have a better chance to accomplish what Theismann could not.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Buono does not let loyalty interfere with championship quest
Wally Buono proved – again – Thursday that he does not play favourites or adhere to longstanding loyalties.
The B.C. Lions general manager made the “very difficult” decision to fire coach Mike Benevides four days after the CFL team suffered a humiliating 50-17 playoff loss to the Montreal Alouettes. The setback came after a disappointing 9-9 regular season in which the Lions expected to do much better while seeking the chance to host the Grey Cup at home.
“Our football team experienced a very tumultuous season,” said Buono in a news release. “Still, we believe as an organization that the team we had assembled was capable of more than what we accomplished in the regular season and in the playoffs. In short, we underperformed and failed to meet both our own expectations and the expectations of our fans.”
Perhaps a hint of Buono’s decision came Monday when he was asked whether the team was spiralling downward. He noted that the Lions had gone from 13 to 11 to nine victories in the past three season under Benevides and added “simple math” indicated they were. Clearly, Buono does not friendships or loyalty interfere with the quest for a championship.
The timing of the firing is, perhaps, the biggest surprise because it came so soon after the conclusion of the Lions’ season. (Unlike the NHL, the CFL apparently has no qualms about teams making major announcements during the playoffs.) But the dismissal re-affirmed Buono’s decisive nature and willingness to make moves for the better of the team, even if they might make him look bad.
Benevides, who compiled a 33-21 record as a head coach, had worked with Buono for more than a decade in B.C. and Calgary. Buono gave him his first coaching job, an assistant’s position which earned no pay because of the Stampeders’ financial difficulties. Then Buono brought Benevides with him to B.C.,and promoted him through the ranks before promoting him to head coach after stepped down following the Lions’ 2011 Grey Cup victory.
He also gave Benevides, who aspired to be the team’s GM one day, a two-year contract extension prior to this season.
If any coach deserved the benefit of the doubt for a sub-par season, Benevides did. The Lions suffered numerous injuries to key players, including running backs Andrew Harris and Stefan Logan, and receiver Courtney Taylor, and their valiant, but injury-riddled offensive line was a patchwork quilt at the best of times. Most significantly, starting quarterback Travis Lulay missed most of the season after he was slow to recover from off-season shoulder surgery was injured again in the lone game he played – a storm-interrupted 7-5 win over Ottawa. Then Lulay suffered another relapse during the warmup before Sunday’s debacle in Montreal.
But these factors did not sway Buono, whose decision came after fans were quick to blame Benevides for the mediocre regular season and playoff mauling.
Now, Buono must find a successor, and he has one readily available in defensive co-ordinator Mark Washington, who built a standout defence that dominated for most of the season before struggling late in the season. Fatigue, from being on the field too long as the offence failed to put up points consistently, and injuries undoubtedly explained part of the defence’s woes.
Washington is widely expected to become a head coach somewhere in the not-too-distant future, and Buono stressed earlier in the week that’s it’s critical to have continuity in the club. The defensive co-ordinator’s promotion would allow for that continuity, and he would likely keep most of the assistants, who did a commendable job under the circumstances. Offensive co-ordinator Khari Jones appears likely to depart after the offence continued to show a lack of creativity that was evident under his predecessor Jacques Chapdelaine.
Former Lions defensive back Barron Miles, an assistant with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, could be another worthy candidate, and Lions running backs coach Kelly Bates might also merit an interview.
Some media types have speculated that Calgary offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson, a former Lions quarterback who was brought to the CFL by Buono, could be a frontrunner for the position. But Dickenson has strong family ties in Calgary and appears the likely successor to general manager and coach John Hufnagel. Dickenson’s promotion could be expedited if the Stampeders do not parlay their 15-3 regular season into a playoff berth.
Buono has ruled out returning to the coaching ranks, because he believes that the CFL’s version of football is a young man’s game. So the new Lions coach will likely be in his 30s or early 40s. He will also likely have an existing relationship with Buono, who prefers to hire people he knows.
But the new coach should not expect any longstanding ties with Buono to enhance his job security.
The B.C. Lions general manager made the “very difficult” decision to fire coach Mike Benevides four days after the CFL team suffered a humiliating 50-17 playoff loss to the Montreal Alouettes. The setback came after a disappointing 9-9 regular season in which the Lions expected to do much better while seeking the chance to host the Grey Cup at home.
“Our football team experienced a very tumultuous season,” said Buono in a news release. “Still, we believe as an organization that the team we had assembled was capable of more than what we accomplished in the regular season and in the playoffs. In short, we underperformed and failed to meet both our own expectations and the expectations of our fans.”
Perhaps a hint of Buono’s decision came Monday when he was asked whether the team was spiralling downward. He noted that the Lions had gone from 13 to 11 to nine victories in the past three season under Benevides and added “simple math” indicated they were. Clearly, Buono does not friendships or loyalty interfere with the quest for a championship.
The timing of the firing is, perhaps, the biggest surprise because it came so soon after the conclusion of the Lions’ season. (Unlike the NHL, the CFL apparently has no qualms about teams making major announcements during the playoffs.) But the dismissal re-affirmed Buono’s decisive nature and willingness to make moves for the better of the team, even if they might make him look bad.
Benevides, who compiled a 33-21 record as a head coach, had worked with Buono for more than a decade in B.C. and Calgary. Buono gave him his first coaching job, an assistant’s position which earned no pay because of the Stampeders’ financial difficulties. Then Buono brought Benevides with him to B.C.,and promoted him through the ranks before promoting him to head coach after stepped down following the Lions’ 2011 Grey Cup victory.
He also gave Benevides, who aspired to be the team’s GM one day, a two-year contract extension prior to this season.
If any coach deserved the benefit of the doubt for a sub-par season, Benevides did. The Lions suffered numerous injuries to key players, including running backs Andrew Harris and Stefan Logan, and receiver Courtney Taylor, and their valiant, but injury-riddled offensive line was a patchwork quilt at the best of times. Most significantly, starting quarterback Travis Lulay missed most of the season after he was slow to recover from off-season shoulder surgery was injured again in the lone game he played – a storm-interrupted 7-5 win over Ottawa. Then Lulay suffered another relapse during the warmup before Sunday’s debacle in Montreal.
But these factors did not sway Buono, whose decision came after fans were quick to blame Benevides for the mediocre regular season and playoff mauling.
Now, Buono must find a successor, and he has one readily available in defensive co-ordinator Mark Washington, who built a standout defence that dominated for most of the season before struggling late in the season. Fatigue, from being on the field too long as the offence failed to put up points consistently, and injuries undoubtedly explained part of the defence’s woes.
Washington is widely expected to become a head coach somewhere in the not-too-distant future, and Buono stressed earlier in the week that’s it’s critical to have continuity in the club. The defensive co-ordinator’s promotion would allow for that continuity, and he would likely keep most of the assistants, who did a commendable job under the circumstances. Offensive co-ordinator Khari Jones appears likely to depart after the offence continued to show a lack of creativity that was evident under his predecessor Jacques Chapdelaine.
Former Lions defensive back Barron Miles, an assistant with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, could be another worthy candidate, and Lions running backs coach Kelly Bates might also merit an interview.
Some media types have speculated that Calgary offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson, a former Lions quarterback who was brought to the CFL by Buono, could be a frontrunner for the position. But Dickenson has strong family ties in Calgary and appears the likely successor to general manager and coach John Hufnagel. Dickenson’s promotion could be expedited if the Stampeders do not parlay their 15-3 regular season into a playoff berth.
Buono has ruled out returning to the coaching ranks, because he believes that the CFL’s version of football is a young man’s game. So the new Lions coach will likely be in his 30s or early 40s. He will also likely have an existing relationship with Buono, who prefers to hire people he knows.
But the new coach should not expect any longstanding ties with Buono to enhance his job security.
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