BC Lions Talk and Cool Down on Frozen Fingers and Playing in the Cold

tomtidgewellNovember 9, 2022

The BC Lions will play in sub-zero Winnipeg in the Western Division Finals, throwing cold water on all talk that the weather is a factor.

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November 9, 2022 • 11 minutes ago • Read in 5 minutes • join the conversation

BC Lions’ TJ Lee, 6, clashes with Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Greg Ellingson, 2, after he interfered with his reception during a CFL game in Vancouver on July 9. . Photo by Darryl Dyke/THE CANADIAN PRESS /PNG

Let’s clear this up at the beginning of the week. The weather forecast for Sunday’s kickoff of the Western Division Finals in Winnipeg calls for a mix of sunshine and clouds, with temperatures likely around -9 degrees.

No more dome suite dome for the BC Lions as they head to Manitoba for their next “biggest game of the season” against the Blue Bombers on a cold IG field.

The Lions are a dome team. But there aren’t many players, whether in high school, college, or other professional teams, who haven’t had to face frigid temperatures.

The temperature at Leo’s practice facility on Wednesday was -1 degree Celsius and sunny. Great for preparation, said head coach Rick Campbell.

“I know it’s not that cold, but at least you have to wear a jacket or something,” he said with a smile. “[I was]talking to the guys. One of the things playoff football is all about is weather. If it doesn’t change, I don’t think it will have a big impact on the game.”

next game

Sunday | Western Finals

BC Lions vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers

1:30 pm IG field. tv set: TSN. wireless: AM730

The ground is harder and more unforgiving to tackle, and manipulating the ball, whether catching, kicking, or throwing, can be a dangerous proposition.

Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, who is attending a cold-weather game at Ohio University, joked Sunday that it might help numb his still-healing leg.

It’s even better when you’re playing. You don’t think much about it,” he said at Wednesday’s practice. “But yeah, your hands are definitely something you have to keep in mind. If it doesn’t, the quality of the ball may be more wobbly than you think, so we’re making sure that’s a priority.”

That means strap-on hand warmers to keep your fingers warm. This is the same thing punter Stefan Flinttoft rocks. The UCLA alumnus and Southern California native didn’t get much time to play in sub-zero games in college, but that’s not something he cares too much about.

“The ball is a little stiffer, but otherwise it’s the same. You can layer it up and get it done,” he said. “The CFL ball guys do a good job keeping them warm. .

“It’s like prepping for a side job, like keeping yourself warm. There are some tricks of the trade for that — I won’t give them, but they’re my personal ones.”

“So usually you rarely have to worry about football. Unless it’s cold and windy and it’s raining or snowing, playing in the cold is usually pretty manageable. Throw in a few more conditions. Once you start to do, you’ll have to make bigger adjustments, but it’s all minor, strictly for the cold.

Receiver Alex Hollins, who will be back in the starting rotation after Lucky Whitehead’s injury is unlikely to heal by Sunday, grew up about 50 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi (Yazoo City is a CFL trivia enthusiast’s city). Mississippi Snow isn’t common in his delta, but he gets his share of solid-state H20s in college (eastern Illinois) and his pro stops in Minnesota and Cleveland.

“They’re cool games, but they’re not fun. They’re games you just have to dig deep. Deep, deep, man…” said Rookie Sensation, who scored a touchdown last week. “You still have to go out to execute your game plan…you have to go out and play.

“But I hate the cold, yes,” he added with a laugh.

“I’m a Southerner from Mississippi. I like it warm. Play hard and try to win.”

If there’s one cold to worry about, it’s the cold welcome from the Bombers that have kept the Lions off the IG field since 2017. Flinttoft’s experience in Winnipeg has seen him lose two and go 69-9.

“It couldn’t have been better from the fans or from the league as a whole,” he said. “I’m happy to have another chance in Winnipeg. Last year, uh… the last two times I played there, the game was pretty brutal. It almost feels like a redemption game for us too.

“In playoff football, anything can happen. It’s like UCLA-USC in college…I went 3-9 in my last year in college and beat SC. Records don’t matter. All the hype. , it doesn’t matter, it can be a completely different game every year, and it feels kind of similar.

“I’m so excited to go to Winnipeg and play there. It’s a great place to play.

jadams@postmedia.com

twitter.com/TheRealJJAdams

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