It will be a kind of homecoming today for Canadian Football League players who developed on Island fields, as well as those from other parts of the province, who once challenged those players as rivals.
“This game is extra special for me because I have family on the Island and it seems I spent my whole life coming here for baseball and other sports tournaments,” said the Lions’ CFL all-star kicker Sean Whyte who hails from Surrey.
“I used to hate Island fans because they would always show up more to support their teams in rugby than Mainland fans,” he quipped.
But today, probably 90-per cent-plus of the sold-out crowd of 14,000 at an expanded Royal Athletic Park for Touchdown Pacific at 4 p.m. will be cheering for Whyte and the Lions against the Ottawa Redblacks.
“It’s going to be a great atmosphere in one of the most beautiful places in the world,” said Whyte.
Defensive-end Christian Covington, who played seven seasons in the NFL and spent another two years on NFL practice squads before joining the home-province Lions this year, grew up in Vancouver and remembers well the games against Island youth football teams.
“I haven’t been here since I was 16 years old so it’s been a long time coming for me. It’s as beautiful as I remember it. For me to be here playing on hometown [provincial] soil, and being back on the Island, is a blessing in itself and I’m happy to be here,” said Covington, who was named CFL defensive player of the week.
“I always knew this day [playing for the home-province Lions] would eventually come. To be out here doing this in my 10th year — and I know I use this word a lot — has truly been a blessing.”
The Touchdown Pacific game sold out in less than an hour, which is no surprise to Covington: “People love this sport. People love this league. It’s tremendous to have fans who are passionate and love this game and who want to see us do well in the province of British Columbia. This is a huge thing for the league and for us as a team. I’m proud to be out here and am excited for this game. I know we are going to put on a great game for these fans. They deserve it. We are going to be doing everything in our power and capability to pull out a win for them.”
Offensive-lineman Sukh Chungh from Port Coquitlam is another 乌鸦传媒 player on the home-province Lions and the importance of this week to the team isn’t lost on him, either, as the Leos play the first home game in the 70 years of franchise history outside 乌鸦传媒 Place, Empire Stadium or Empire Field.
“All the support we have been getting here on the Island is awesome. Every day we are here we soak it in more and more,” said Chungh.
“We understand this is a huge deal, opportunity and event and we have to go out there Saturday and perform. That’s the first thing on our priority list.”
Among the players in Touchdown Pacific who played on the Island are Lions receiver Kieran Poissant, a graduate of the junior Westshore Rebels, and Langford-raised Ottawa Redblacks offensive lineman Dontae Bull, the Belmont Secondary Bulldogs graduate, and first overall selection in the 2023 CFL draft.
“This is surreal to return to Victoria to play as a pro in the CFL but it’s also a privilege for me to be part of this game,” said Poissant, whose catches led Westshore to two Cullen Cup 乌鸦传媒 Football Conference championship games, a league title, and appearance last year in the Canadian Bowl national junior final.
“My time in Victoria with the Rebels got me to where I am now. It was such a great experience that not only prepared me to become a pro but also to become a man.”
Those lessons were well absorbed by Poissant and he uses them when he goes up against CFL corners and safeties who are seasoned pros out of NCAA football factories: “Everybody up here is good. It comes down to who is willing to work the hardest to separate themselves.”
Poissant and the free-falling Lions are 5-6 after a 5-1 start while Bull and the Redblacks are off to the second best start in Ottawa’s CFL history, dating back to the days of the Rough Riders, at 7-2-1.
“We know how the record looks and how the standings look. We’re not going to push the panic button unless it’s truly time to panic. Everything is still in front of us,” said Covington.
“This beautiful game of football comes with its highs and lows and a lot of wins and a lot of losses. It takes a strong group of men to handle adversity and ride the waves when it’s not going your way. Saturday is a stepping stone. We know what we have and that we are talented. We know we just have to do what we are capable of. We’re looking forward to the challenge Saturday.”
So is a charged-up Island football fan base.
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