CFL NOTEBOOK: BOMBERS STILL CELEBRATING

WINNIPEG – Cheers bellowed from the stands as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers coaches and players loaded into the back of pickup trucks and paraded the Grey Cup in front of fans during a long-awaited back-to-back championship celebration on their home field.

The Bombers fans were ecstatic after the team clinched a tight win Sunday over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

It kept the trophy and the glory in Winnipeg for fans who’d been wanting the team to defend their 2019 championship for nearly two years after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the Canadian Football League’s regular season.

“This looks a little different than a parade,” Bombers’ head coach Mike O’Shea told the crowd of a few thousands at IG Field on Wednesday evening.

“This is phenomenal. We really appreciate all of you.”

When the Bombers’ ended a 30-year drought and finally brought the Grey Cup home in 2019 a massive parade filled the streets of downtown Winnipeg.

With the COVID-19 pandemic and the Omicron variant spreading, the team decided to hold a different kind of celebration following the 2021 victory.

Fully vaccinated fans came to the team’s stadium to watch highlights from Sunday’s championship game and see their team finally let loose after a hard-fought season.

“Epic. Fantastic,” Sean Kavitch said excitedly about the team’s season and clutch of a second cup.

“With the true blue, it’s fantastic.”

The snow and cold didn’t stop the players from ripping off their uniforms, riding bare-chested in the back of trucks on the field and holding the Grey Cup high in the air as roars echoed from the stadium seats above.

Kathy Dowd said she’s been a Bombers fan her entire life and she remembers too clearly all the years of losses. Winning two CFL titles in a row – even with a pandemic-related pause – is cause for celebration, she added.

“Having them win and everything going their way is awesome,” Dowd said, wearing a Bombers’ mask and bundled in blue winter gear.

Neil Ferguson said even though there isn’t a parade, as long as the fans are together it’s always a great time.

“To be back here again this year, it’s a real special feeling that we aren’t taking for granted,” Ferguson said.

It was a sentiment not lost on the team either.

Before celebrations took off Wednesday evening, quarterback Zach Collaros said the pause in play and challenges of a pandemic had been difficult.

It made bringing back the Grey Cup to their fans even more meaningful, he added.

“It’s going to be really special for us to be out there with our fans.”

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TORONTO – Quarterback Zach Collaros of the Grey Cup champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers headlined Wednesday’s list of Canadian Football League all-stars for the 2021 season.

Collaros, the league’s most outstanding player, guided Winnipeg to a 33-25 overtime victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in last Sunday’s championship game.

He was one of 11 Blue Bombers to be recognized with all-star selections in voting by the league’s head coaches and members of the Football Reporters of Canada.

Teammate Kenny Lawler took one of five all-star receiver nods. The others were Eugene Lewis and Jake Wieneke of the Montreal Alouettes and Lucky Whitehead and Bryan Burnham of the B.C. Lions.

The running back honour went to Montreal’s William Stanback. Winnipeg’s Adam Bighill and Hamilton’s Simoni Lawrence were the linebacker picks.

The Tiger-Cats had four selections, one more than the Alouettes and Calgary Stampeders. The B.C. Lions, Ottawa Redblacks and Toronto Argonauts had two selections apiece.

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EDMONTON – The Edmonton Elks signed defensive back Aaron Grymes to a two-year contract extension on Wednesday.

The seven-year CFL veteran had 51 defensive tackles and one interception in 13 games last season.

Over 95 career CFL regular-season games with Edmonton and B.C., Grymes has 286 defensive tackles, 19 special-teams tackles and 13 interceptions.

The Elks also signed wide receiver Diego Viamontes, defensive lineman Tibo Debaillie and offensive linemen Peter Kourtis and Emanuel McGirt to new deals.

Terms weren’t disclosed.

(Canadian Press/Photo: Winnipeg Blue Bombers)