Strong support for Vandervoort
Rookie receiver talks about getting drafted and making first catch as a Lion
Danny Vandervoort celebrated his first career CFL catch in that Week 5 thriller versus the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Now, the rookie receiver goes one-onone with Cam Tucker in the B.C. Lions Blitz Q&A, where they discuss the emotions of draft night, that first catch for the Leos, the craziest fishing experience Vandervoort has ever had and his love for the Toronto Raptors:
Q: What was draft day like for you and did you have a draft party?
A: Draft day is a mix of emotions. You’re excited to finally take the next step in football, but at the same time you’re nervous about where you’re going to go. We had a little draft party in Barrie (Ont.) … just a mix of family and friends, people that have supported me over the years. It was good to have everyone there that was around me when I played football. Yeah, it was a nerve-racking thing. In the end it worked out, I came to B.C., and I couldn’t be happier to be here.
Who called you from the Lions, and what was going through your head when you received that call?
Basically, B.C. was on the clock and I was kind of waiting around. I felt my phone vibrate and I was like, ‘Oh my God, is this really happening?’ I picked up my phone and it was Neil McEvoy (director of football operations and player personnel). He gave me a call and basically said, ‘You’re a B.C. Lion.’ I walked out of the room because everyone was talking — I couldn’t really hear. When I came back in, and everyone was looking at me. I just screamed, ‘I’m a B.C. Lion!’
I heard your mom was quite emotional?
My whole family, actually. They all were emotional. My mom, as soon as I saw her, she burst into tears. She couldn’t be more excited. She’s all over social media posting about me and just sharing. It sucks that they’re so far away, so we’re going to see if they can come down for a couple of games, just check it out.
When the Lions were in Toronto, there was a group from your hometown there to support you. How many people were there and what was that like?
It was cool. We were staying in Burlington (Ont.) so my parents were going to try to come see me, but unfortunately they couldn’t because we were so busy with meetings. But there was probably about 20 or 30 people — they actually got a group discount because there were so many people coming out to that game. It was good to see them. I haven’t seen them in a couple of months and I miss being around them. I went out to dinner with them afterward and it was good to just have a good laugh with the family.
Your first catch, what was going through your mind when you saw the ball coming for you?
That was awesome. So many years of hard work and dedication put into this game to finally pay off, really. As soon as I went in, I knew exactly what I was going to run. I was running down the field and I see Travis Lulay going through his reads, looks at me and starts to cock back his arm. I was like, ‘Is this ball really coming to me?’ I made the catch and looked up at the screen. It’s me jogging off and I was like, ‘Wow, it’s really happening.’ It was a cool feeling. Did you get to keep the ball?
No. They asked me if I wanted to keep it, but I said my first touchdown. Catches come and go. But I feel like a touchdown would be more meaningful.
You like to fish. What is the best fish story you have ever told?
I was fishing up in northern Ontario, in the Muskoka area, and I had a little kid’s rod — I think I was … maybe five or six years old — and I’m reeling in a walleye and while I’m reeling it in, my dad is like, ‘Oh, nice catch.’ It’s a little fish. And then a pike comes out of nowhere and starts eating the fish. And my rod couldn’t handle it, so it’s bent over. My dad actually grabs the rod and helped me reel it in. But it snapped my line. That was probably the craziest fishing experience I’ve ever (had) in my life. I’m a big outdoors guy. I like to go hiking and fishing. Especially from Barrie, it’s cottage country.
I see you’re a big fan of the Toronto Raptors. What has the last three years meant to you as a Raptors fan?
It’s really cool to see them develop over the years. Five years ago, no one in Toronto or anywhere kind of followed them. But I did. They’re slowly getting better. Each year they keep going farther. I think over the next couple of years they could make it to a championship. Just gotta beat Cleveland, really. The (Eastern Conference) is tough. It looks like Cleveland is kind of falling apart right now, so Toronto can make a good push in the next couple of years.