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Season 5 off-season notes
PF Changes
Calgary brings in a dedicated QB coach to try to help Tawnia Davis with her development (PF+1)
Saskatoon is seeing a locker room that’s “gelling” after last year’s strong season and hope (PF+1)
Coaching changes
Halifax’s Rick Kimball runs out time – looked for a moment like they would be able to turn the corner with his guidance but another season of regression costs him his job. Halifax turns to brash smash mouth college coach Alpha Bundy and his play action based scheme.
Vancouver (PF5/NC) (5-5)
Vancouver was disappointed by their season but there was more bad news to come in the off-season. WR Eunice Lave got tired of playing “second fiddle” to WR Tommie Kingston and departs for FA, while long time stalwart OL Ron Cornaire departs for retirement.
On defence, they lose perennial all-star Wai-ho Tao and his fellow big body Bert Farrall who tests FA. This team has their work cut out for them in the off-season…
Edmonton Elk (PF5/NC) (5-4-1)
Mixed bag of an off-season for Edmonton. They get better on offence, with OL Marketta Porthen taking her place beside Saskatoon’s Sam Smith as a “perfect” OL – but see regression from Zaire Willis on X-factor and HB Alexandria Humphries loses a step in the pass game.
The main disappointing news is the regression of DB Tyreek Grimes, who will almost certainly be cut after a long and storied career and the shock departure of DB Griffith Herman, who made many big plays for Edmonton over the past 4 seasons.
Calgary Gunslingers (PF5/+1)(4-6)
Pretty even split between steps forward and steps back – most disappointing would be the regression of QB Tawnia Davis. With the off-season hiring of a QB coach, virtually certain Calgary will be looking to fill that spot with a more reliable (or high potential) option.
Toronto Blizzard (PF4)(5-3-2)
Nothing but good news for Toronto’s offense as WRs Walton Sweeney / Roy Neilson and QB Dean Suchanek round into form. Toronto has a tonne of talent on paper and are very young….a team to keep close tabs on.
Ottawa Aces (PF4)(4-6)
League legend Ronnie MacDonald decides to retire after 12 years. Sidelines by Avis Short in year 3, he continued to happily play a supporting role, grinding out tough yards and supporting the team. He was absolutely dominant in the first 2 seasons. On defence, age is starting to catch up with wanderer Alice Hibbs, who will lose some physicality vs the run.
Ottawa will also be disappointed by the regression of QB Dylan Henderson, who’s likely to have played his last game in the CGL.
Montreal Machine (PF5)(9-1)
What happens when the best get even better? The rest of the league will find out, as stars RB Jeremy Folland and DL Mitchell Jones reach peak performance at the same time. Defence will be the question mark as solid run stopping LB Zack Bernier choses FA and young DL Jake Thompson takes a step back that likely puts him out of the league.
Halifax Schooners (PF3/-1)(4-6)
New coach Alpha Bundy has his work cut out for him with this squad as they see rampant regression. He needs a reliable pass catcher to support Mark Harry and the defence is loaded with opportunities to improve…
Saskatoon Storm (PF5 / +1) (5-4-1)
Saskatoon comes into season 5 on a wave of optimism despite a crushing defeat in the S4 CGL championship game. There a sense of camaraderie and hope in the locker room, buoyed by the fact that a lot of the younger contributors on an already strong defence got better. They do have a gap to close on the DL as Ben Brown choses FA.
Regina Raiders (PF4) (5-5)
A strong late season push almost snuck Regina into the playoffs and likely saved them from QB Elroy Dawson choosing to seek a different team. They do lose WR Joey Heaton, who got sick of sharing touches with standout WR Brett Charron. Defensively DB Monty Lamb stepped up as a past defender and veteran DB Mile Hamler might be looking for work after losing a step.
Winnipeg Swarm (PF5) (4-6)
The happiness related to a really strong off-season overall is at least partially dampened by the decision of star DL Aaron Jarrett to leave the team. Jarrett was clear that he knows time is running out on his career and he will only “settle” for a team that has championship aspirations.
FA Phase 1
MTL releases DL Ira McGinn (retired)
MTL signs DL Aaron Jarrett (3-2-1-7)
SSK releases WR Dave Jones (2-1-0-3)
SSK signs WR Joey Heaton (3-1-0-3)
EDM signs UDFA Demetrious Alford (3-0-1-2)
TOR LB Kouya Yamada retires (1-2-0-8)
TOR signs LB Zack Bernier (1-2-1-5)
VAN signs DL Judah Roberts (2-2-2-6)
Regina signs WR Eunice Lave (3-0-0-3)
Calgary released DL Roger Douglas (retires)
Calgary sign DL Ben Brown (2-1-1-6)
Ottawa signs UDFA RB Lynda Coleman (1-2-2-1)
Winnipeg releases DB Asher Geddes (retires)
Winnipeg signs DB Griffith Herman (2-1-1-4)
Halifax signs DL Bertrand Farrall (1-2-3-7)
Draft releases
REG releases DB Miles Hamler (1-2-1-6)
TOR releases LB Paul Simmons (0-3-1-1)
HAL releases WR Bodsashka Faustov
OTT releases WR Norm Havens
REG releases OL Aline Popesciu
EDM release DB Tyreek Grimes
SSK release LB Cameron Cumming
MTL release DL Jake Thompson
Rookie draft round 1
HAL selects DL Ward Legault (2-2-2-0)
WPG selects DL Levy Venne (2-1-2-0)
OTT selects QB Alex St Amant (3-0-2-0)
CGY selects WR Keith Bryant (2-1-2-0)
REG selects DB Adam Harper (2-1-2-0)
VAN selects WR Abigail Sizemore (2-0-2-0)
TOR selects LB Javy Silva (1-2-2-0)
Saskatoon selects LB Ford McNeil (0-2-2-0)
Montreal selects LB George Nelson (0-2-2-0)
Rookie draft round 2
HAL selects WR Brian Acorn (2-0-0-1)
WPG selects DL Tyrese Merriweather (1-2-1-0)
OTT selects WR Jelani Stewart (2-0-0-0)
CAL selects RB Steffen Sisco (2-1-2-0)
REG selects OL Jules Phyillips (1-2-2-0)
VAN selects OL Jeff Bond (2-1-1-0)
TOR - PASS
EDM selects DB Lance Ervin (2-0-2-0)
SSK selects LB Dylan Engelen (0-2-2-0)
MTL selects DL Charlie Robinson (1-2-1-0)
Final FA pass
Calgary releases QB Tawnia Davis (1-1-1-1)
Calgary signs UDFA QB Dashawn Alsbrook (2-0-0-1)
Halifax signs LB Paul Simmons (0-3-1-1)
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