Regrets? He hopes there were a few

You would expect Davon Coleman to head into last weekend highly motivated. And he did.

You would expect the same on Saturday afternoon when Coleman and the B.C. Lions arrive at Tim Hortons Field for a return match with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The 27-year-old defensive tackle, who played for Hamilton last year in his CFL debut season before being traded west this spring, made a massive contribution to the Lions’ improbable double-overtime 35-32 victory over the Ticats in Vancouver Saturday night.

“I wouldn’t say that I had something to prove, but I definitely wanted them to regret trading me,” Coleman told The Spec from the left coast early this week. “That’s not a very high pick they got for me, but I’m definitely happy B.C. got me for that.”

The Ticats received B.C.’s fourth-round choice in next June’s Canadian draft in exchange for the former NFLer and Hamilton’s 2019 sixth-rounder.

The fourth-rounder sent to the Ticats becomes a third-rounder should B.C. re-sign Coleman, which — his ascending statistics suggest — would seem likely.

Coleman had 41 defensive tackles and five quarterback sacks for Hamilton last year.

Coleman already had 45 tackles and seven sacks — fifth in the league — for a rush-oriented Lions defensive front which also boasts Odell Willis and Shawn Lemon with eight apiece.

Against his old team, Coleman was credited with three sacks and eight tackles, second overall in the game to Ticat Larry Dean’s 11. In the first overtime, he tackled John White on second down after three yards when the Ticats needed four, prompting a short, successful, Lirim Hajrullahu field goal.

In the second overtime, Coleman knocked down a pass on first down, and one play later Hajrullahu was obliged to try another, longer, field goal, which he missed.

After Wednesday’s Ticat practice, head coach June Jones credited Coleman for his work. “He played well,” Jones said, then said it again. “He played well.”

It was also Jones who agreed to trade Coleman away during training camp, 24 hours after a blisteringly hot and tense session during which there had been a succession of confrontations between offensive and defensive teammates, one of them involving Coleman.

“It seemed like he didn’t want to be here,” Jones said bluntly Wednesday. “The fights were not the issue. It was the effort. As a pro coach, when guys do that they’re kind of telling you that they don’t want to be in Hamilton any more.”

For his part, Coleman said he was initially taken aback by the trade.

“It’s kind of hard to put it into words,” he said Tuesday.

“I was surprised. I liked my situation there and I had to move everything and go to a new team.

“At first, I was definitely disappointed. But I love my situation now, love my coaching staff, love my team. I feel closer to the front office and coaching staff here than I did there.”

Nevertheless, he’s looking forward to returning to Hamilton’s east end.

“It feels good to come back, it’s a great place to play,” he said. “I always liked the environment at Tim Hortons Field.

“I love the fans in Hamilton. It feels like I am coming home a bit, even though I wasn’t there that

long. I think I connected with them.”

NOTES: Ticat receiver Brandon Banks took first team reps at full speed Wednesday, and coach

June Jones expects him to play against the Lions on Saturday after missing two games with a groin injury: “I think he’ll be fine. His cardio will suffer, though.” ... Receiver Terrence

Toliver is progressing through concussion protocol and will probably be a game-day decision. ... Defensive end Adrian Tracy, coming off a good game in B.C., has a bruise on his upper leg but Jones hopes he’ll practise Thursday . ... Defensive linemen Jamaal Westerman and Jason Neill, injured in B.C., won’t play.