Notebook: Redblacks no slouches
No fluke
My heartiest congratulations to former Crescent Heights High School Viking Connor McGough and his family. Drafted fourth last month by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the defensive lineman and former University of Calgary Dino made the team. Not the practice roster or one game injury list — the team.
Wearing No. 93, McGough stood out on special teams in the club’s 3215 loss to Toronto. He joins fellow Viking, five-year CFL veteran long snapper, No. 47, Aaron Crawford in Steeltown. Further, I am delighted that Hat High Mohawk Dan Federkeil (No. 65) is back at starting right tackle with the Stampeders.
The first Gas City gridder to be drafted was McCoy Colt Ryan Folk in 2004 by Winnipeg. A linebacker, Ryan played for Montreal and the Bombers from 2004-06. Then came Federkeil drafted in 2006 by Toronto, signing with Calgary in 2013 after winning a Super Bowl as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Hat High’s Nate Coehoorn in 2011 by Edmonton, and Crawford in 2012. Dan and Nate were each picked fifth in the first round. They have six Grey Cup appearances among them, two rings. Their success is a great credit to Medicine Hat football coaches and other volunteers, as well as the dedication of their parents.
It’s time to put to rest the notion that 8-9-1 Ottawa’s Grey Cup win over 15-2-1 Calgary last year was either one of the greatest upsets in CFL history or a fluke. Three of the last four times the teams have met, they went into overtime. Both games in Ottawa ended in ties. Calgary had a chance to win those contests but snatched victory from the jaws of defeat each time. The Rodney Dangerfields of the CFL, the Redblacks don’t get the respect they deserve.
But they aren’t as good as Calgary, so how are they doing it? During the Grey Cup game, Redblack Canadian receiver and former Stampeder Brad Sinopoli had six catches for 94 yards while Greg Ellingson caught seven for 85. Last Friday Sinopoli grabbed eight throws for 88 yards while his receiving mate had eight for 66.
In 2013, Stampeder coach John Hufnagel told Sinopoli he wasn’t ever going to be his starting quarterback, but would he like to play receiver? The University of Ottawa grad said “Sure.” When the Redblacks were born, Hufnagel facilitated Sinopoli’s return home.
Ellingson is 6-foot-3, 197 pounds; Sinopoli, 6-4, 215. It’s not that Calgary can’t cover them — their corners are lighter and shorter. Perhaps the Stamps need to employ linebackers on them this Thursday night at McMahon.
East improves
The Eastern Division should be more competitive than it has in years. Ottawa is the choice of most pundits to finish first. All four teams are well-coached and have good quarterbacks. Alouette Darian Durant was all excited that he beat his old team the Roughriders the other night, overlooking the fact Saskatchewan lost because of a missed field goal on the last play. Trevor Harris played well for Ottawa against Calgary. In Toronto’s home opener against arch rival Hamilton, 37-year-old Ricky Ray had the best regular season day of his career with 506 yards at the helm of the Good Ship Argonaut. Too bad only 13,583 fans — many from down the 401 — were on hand to watch it. Ti-Cat Zach Collaros threw for 242 yards but no majors and was visibly frustrated throughout the game,
After two straight Grey Cup appearances under Kent Austin in 2013 and 2014, Hamilton seems stuck in neutral. They are short of receivers, haven’t replaced Andy Fantuz and running back C.J. Gable had a grand total of nine yards on Sunday. The secondary is being retooled. Fortunately they have their bye week now and can work on shortcomings before heading to Regina July 8.
Head coach Jacques Chapdelaine has restored a sense of discipline and purpose in Montreal while Jim Popp and Marc Trestman appear to have turned a sow’s ear into a silk purse almost overnight in Hogtown. They host B.C. Friday.
Some things haven’t changed since 2017. The Riders lost a heartbreaker, the Stamps can’t beat Ottawa, B.C. has trouble in the red zone. What’s new is how reliable place-kickers have developed cold feet.
Ottawa’s at McMahon Thursday evening. Should be a good one.
Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 45 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.