Redblacks coach worried about kids at Winnipeg game
Special teams boss’s son, daughter were at CFL game delayed twice by lightning
Even though he wasn’t in Winnipeg for the CFL season-opener between the Bombers and Edmonton Eskimos, the nasty weather — a thunderstorm light show and plenty of rain — gave Ottawa Redblacks special teams co-ordinator Bob Dyce a bit of a scare Thursday.
“It’s funny. My wife’s out of town and my son (Trysten) took our youngest daughter (Ava) to the game,” Dyce, who is from Winnipeg, said following Redblacks practice Friday. “They had parked the car where my wife works; they had almost a mile and a half walk. Through text messages, we were trying to co-ordinate how he was going to get her back to the car.”
The kids left during the second delay of Thursday’s game, just before the end of the first half, and returned to the car safely.
The thunder and lightning and rain was all so CFLish. A game that began at 8:35 p.m. ET finished at 2:17 a.m. — five hours and 42 minutes, with two weather delays in the second quarter. Edmonton won 33-30. Remarkably, it wasn’t the longest game in CFL history, and that record will be tough to top. The “Fog Bowl” 1962 Grey Cup game between the Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium lasted two days. Fog off Lake Ontario kept getting worse until officials suspended play in the fourth quarter. Winnipeg won 28-27 the next day.
“The storms (in Winnipeg) get pretty intense,” Dyce said. “When I coached there for eight years, we never had one game delayed like that. Since they’ve moved to the new stadium, they’ve had some challenges.”
Last September, a game in Winnipeg between the Bombers and Redblacks was delayed about 20 minutes because of heavy winds, pelting rain and a storm watch. In August 2016, a storm caused a 2 1/2-hour delay. The same thing happened last September in Hamilton, with the Toronto Argonauts in town.
“Maybe it’s a south-side thing where the stadium is,” Redblacks coach Rick Campbell said. “The storm they had when we were there was pretty bad. I’ve seen a few bad ones in Regina, too. A bad thunderstorm at old Taylor Field could get a little ugly. Lightning ’s really the only thing that will stop a game, that or maybe if there’s something like ice on the field. You can be in wind and rain and they ’re not going to stop it because of that.”
Despite the weather and soggy field, Thursday’s game had plenty of big plays. In other words, it was a typical CFL game, a roller-coaster ride for fans.
“I’m like the fans,” Dyce said. “I was excited for the first CFL regular-season game of the year, so it was a little disappointing I couldn’t stay up for the whole thing.” COMING BACK: Redblacks QB Trevor Harris, sidelined with left knee/ankle injuries from the team’s first pre-season game against the Montreal Alouettes, went through a full practice Friday. “He says he’s feeling good,” Campbell said. “It was good to see him out there.” Offensive lineman Nolan MacMillan took another step Friday, lining up with the first unit at right guard, while Evan Johnson (usually the left guard) shifted to right tackle in the absence of Jason LauzonSéguin. Alex Mateas was at centre and Jon Gott was at left guard, with SirVincent Rogers at left tackle. The Redblacks also worked first-round pick Mark Korte into the mix. “These two days, we’re not preparing for Saskatchewan,” Campbell said. “It’s a chance for us to move people around and see some different combinations. Guys have to learn multiple positions.” KLASSEN IMPRESSING: Defensive lineman Michael Klassen, who signed with the Redblacks as a free agent in the off-season, has been impressive. “Both him and (Daryl Waud) are going to be in the mix,” Campbell said. “We’re going to have a rotation going on the D -line, so we’ll see a mix of guys in there. (Klassen) has had a good training camp. He’s always been a guy that, when he’s healthy, he’s been a really good player. When I was the defensive co-ordinator in Calgary, he was at the University of Calgary and I liked him back then. He’s athletic and he can rush the passer.”
A KICKING CHANCE: When kicker Félix Ménard-Brière was cut by the Bombers last weekend, it didn’t take long for the Redblacks to offer him another opportunity. Ménard-Brière did some research of his own, calling former teammate and long snapper Louis-Philippe Bourassa, now with the Redblacks. With Lewis Ward (field goals) and Richie Leone (punts) already on the roster, Ménard-Brière is hoping to make an impact. In Winnipeg, he faced the daunting task of beating out all-star Justin Medlock. “I knew (Medlock) still had good years left in him, so I tried to take the most of my experience,” said Ménard-Brière.
THE END AROUND: The Redblacks added former Ottawa Sooners offensive lineman Dillon Guy on Friday, and they also released defensive lineman Harold Brantley and defensive back Aarion Penton.