Ex-Ticats still playing in post-season
Sunday was a great day for the 2011 Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Six members of that particular former Ticats squad — quarterback Kevin Glenn, running back Marcus Thigpen, offensive lineman Peter Dyakowski, receiver Bakari Grant, defensive tackle Eddie Steele and assistant coach Jason Shivers — are now with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who won the Eastern semifinal 31-20 over the Ottawa Redblacks.
“We’ve got the team back together, but we’ve made a few key additions,” said Dyakowski, tongue forever planted in his cheek. “Overall, though, mostly the same roster.”
They were hardly the only Ticats to see playoff action, however. Former running back C.J. Gable, traded to Edmonton in October for two negotiation list players, racked up 107 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the Eskimos’ 39-32 win over former Ticat kicker Justin Medlock’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Veteran defensive end John Chick, dealt to Edmonton in August for draft picks, collected a sack.
The Riders also feature former Ticats Ed Gainey, Chad Owens, Mike Edem and Josh Bartel; while the Eskimos have defensive backs Neil King and Johnny Adams, linebacker Alex Hoffman Ellis as well as offensive lineman Joel Figueroa and Simeon Rottier. Ottawa had receiver Greg Ellingson, linebacker Taylor Reed and defensive end Arnaud Gascon-Nadon. In addition to Medlock, the Bombers have Canadian receiver Matt Coates.
This Sunday’s games will also feature Toronto Argonauts defensive backs Cassius Vaughn and Rico Murray, as well as Calgary receiver Marquay McDaniel, all former Hamilton players as well.
It’s a long list, but Dyakowski is unquestionably the most synonymous with the Black and Gold, after spending the first nine years of his CFL career here.
But the 33-year-old offensive lineman was released last winter, his reign as the longest-tenured Ticat coming to a sudden and inglorious end. With younger, more affordable players in development, the Kent Austin regime decided Dyakowski
was expendable, the latest in a string of longtime Ticats to be shown the door or allowed to depart without much fanfare.
Dyakowski quickly caught on with the arch rival Argonauts, signing with them just hours after his release from Hamilton. Then, as training camps were set to open this spring, he was dealt to Regina.
So now Dyakowski will travel with his new team to face his old team, the Argos, in the Eastern Final at BMO Field.
“I have a really big chip on my shoulder against that Marc Trestman guy, I’m looking forward to giving him a good thumping,” he said, again joking.
Dyakowski took some good natured ribbing from former Ticat teammates — and faced the legitimate ire of some fans — after signing with the archrival Argos
“It was a very interesting episode, a several-month interlude this off-season that I do not acknowledge. I’m looking forward to playing the game against that team of which I have never been a part.”
The move was perfectly understandable on many levels. First, he needed a job. Second, his wife had recently given birth to their first child, a daughter.
“I knew it was going to be a challenge. The reason I made that terrible misjudgment, and signed with Toronto, is because I wanted to make it easier on the family, be able to stay home,” he said. “But going out to Regina worked out. I went with a very positive attitude, I wanted to make the most of the chance that the Riders were giving me.”
Dyakowski started all 18 games this season as Saskatchewan posted a 10-8 record, good enough for a crossover spot in the East. As he heads to Toronto to take on the Argos, he hopes old allegiances will come back to pay dividends.
“I think everyone in Hamilton will be cheering for Toronto to get beat, so hopefully that energy will give us a boost,” he said. “At least for me personally. I don’t know if anyone else is thinking about the Ticat fans. There’s lots of people on this team for Hamilton to pull for, so tell them to buy tickets.”