Bolduc has more ink with a story to tell
Late grandfather subject of tattoo
Jean-Philippe Bolduc lost his No. 1 fan in February.
His grandfather Roger Tousignant, from Hawkesbury, died of colon cancer.
But with a verse from his grandpa inked on to his left arm, one of four tattoos the 27-year-old linebacker/special teams ace got during the off-season, Bolduc is ready to roll into his third CFL season.
He got his latest tattoos from season-ticket holder Nate Macdonald’s Barnstormer Studio at 591 Bank St.
“I didn’t want to rush it, but I had free time in the off-season,” said Bolduc.
“I believe tattoos need to have a meaning, they relate to something I’ve been through. They all have important messages for me.”
Bolduc spent the off-season in Ottawa where he was roommates with safety Antoine Pruneau. He went to Florida for a couple of weeks in December, hanging out with Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Antony Auclair and celebrating former teammate Patrick Lavoie’s 30th birthday.
He also got a chance to hang out with his dad Jacques in Pompano Beach.
Last month, he took a vacation to Nashville and also checked out Graceland.
Now it’s back to business with the Redblacks playing their final pre-season game Thursday in Guelph against the Toronto Argos. Bolduc said there’s plenty of spirit within the locker-room.
“To be honest, coming off backto-back Grey Cup (appearances), we had some pressure last year — the game was in Ottawa — and we were really focused on that,” Bolduc said.
“This year, some of the guys look lighter, we seem faster in camp. It’s a happy locker-room, having Kyries (Hebert) on defence — he’s a great leader.
“As a linebacker, you’re a sponge, you listen to everything he says.”