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13.06.2019 02:33
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VANCOUVER -- In the case of this years edition of the B.C. Lions, familiar faces can fool you. The veteran core remains intact and, for now, only two newcomers -- one on offence and one on defence -- have won jobs as starters. But the Lions have made several significant changes since they placed first in the West Division with a 13-5 mark and were upset in the 2012 West final by the Calgary Stampeders. "Theres a lot of different kinds of mixes, and its an entirely different team," said coach Mike Benevides. Most of the changes involve holdovers assuming new and expanded roles, including new positions, as Benevides and general manager Wally Buono follow through on their plan to make the team younger and stronger. "Right now, if I have to look at it and be honest, we have greater depth," said Benevides. "Theres more depth than we know about." The most prominent changes are on offence, where second-year quarterback Thomas DeMarco will back up starter Travis Lulay. DeMarco assumes Mike Reillys former backup role following his trade to Edmonton as a result of Lulays new contract. The Lions have also brought in former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Joey Elliott as quarterbacking insurance. In other prominent offensive revisions, slotbacks Nick Moore and Courtney Taylor replace all-time leading CFL receiver Geroy Simon (traded to Saskatchewan) and Arland Bruce (released and signed by Montreal). Wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux returns after two years in the NFL, giving the Lions a deep threat that they have lacked. Other changes on offence are less eye-catching but still significant because they involve an offensive line that was decimated by injuries at the guard position last season. Rookie Kirby Fabien, previously a tackle who was chosen seventh overall in the 2012 CFL draft but returned to the University of Calgary for another season, will start at right guard while Patrick Kabongo, 33, gets the call at left guard. Matt Norman, a second-year guard who is being groomed as Angus Reids eventual replacement at centre, could start the season in the middle as the veteran recuperates from a back injury. Norman is slated to move to the starting left guard spot once Reid is healthy. On defence, things are likely to be less animated following eccentric lineman Khalif Mitchells trade to the Toronto Argonauts. Key defensive-line changes include Keron Williams moving inside to Mitchells former tackle spot from defensive end, and second-year pro Jabar Westerman, the West Divisions top rookie in 2012, getting a starting job at end. The linebacking corps has also experienced change as 2012 CFL all-star Adam Bighill moves to the outside from the middle, where he ranked second in the league in tackles last season with 104. The move accommodates Solomon Elimimian, who returned from the NFL in the second half of 2012 and is more comfortable playing middle linebacker. Bighill is well versed in the outside spot, having played there as a rookie in 2011. The secondary has also undergone a shuffle as Korey Banks moves to nickelback, acting as a hybrid linebacker-defensive back from halfback, and J.R. LaRose takes over at safety. Cord Parks becomes the other newcomer to grab a starting spot at cornerback. In arguably the most dramatic change, veteran kicker Paul McCallum, the CFLs oldest player at 43, will focus on field goals in his 21st CFL season. Hugh ONeill, who spent the past two seasons serving as his understudy, is expected to handle kick-offs and possibly punts. "Certainly, there is tremendous value to having two (kickers) on the roster --for depth, for leg strength on kick-offs, for accuracy from (McCallums) placekicking, and punting," said Benevides. In another special teams adjustment, newcomer Korey Williams could feature prominently as a punt and kick-off returner. The Lions assigned him to active duty to prevent another club from plucking him off the practice roster. "Were a good, solid team," said McCallum. "Weve got a good core group of players. We work hard, are very talented, have lots of depth. So for me, if I have to say expectations as far as wins and losses, and expectations as far as going out and playing hard, we should be successful." The Lions will open the season Friday in Calgary, hoping for a chance at some revenge after last years West final loss. However, Benevides said the Lions have to put the bitterness of that setback behind them. "Really, lets make sure we learned some lessons," he said. "But, really, we cant live with that. This is a whole different team, a whole different year. The league is different. "So, for me, the approach is: Lets move on." ED Belfour Jersey . 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Chris Chelios Jersey .Y. - Major League Soccers independent review panel has taken back the fine and one-game suspension it placed on Toronto FC forward Luke Moore earlier this week.BATHURST, N.B. -- Francois Tremblay stopped 28 shots for his sixth-career shutout as the Victoriaville Tigres blanked the host Acadie-Bathurst Titan 5-0 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Angelo Miceli and Jean-Francois Plante each had a goal and an assist for the Tigres (26-19-6), who extended their win streak to 10 games, while Yan Pavel Laplante, Mark Tremaine and Carl Marois scored the others. Scott Oke and Matthew Boudreau led the Titan (17-31-5) with three shots a piece on Tremblay. Jacob Brennan turned away 26-of-31 shots for Acadie-Bathurst, which lost its ninth game in a row. --- SCREAMING EAGLES 5 WILDCATS 3 SYDNEY, N.S. -- Maxim Lazarev scored twice and Alex Bureau stopped 12 shots in relief as Cape Breton came from behind to defeat Moncton. Julien Pelletier, Cameron Darcy and Raphael Corriveau also scored for the Screaming Eagles (27-21-3), who trailed 3-0 after 20 minutes of action. Zachary Fortin allowed three goals on nine shots in 14 minutes of action before giving way to Bureau. Conor Garland had a pair of goals for the Wildcats (26-25-2) and Ivan Barbashev scored once. Monctons Alex Dubeau turned aside 38-of-43 shots in a losing cause. --- DRAKKAR 5 SAGUENEENS 4 CHICOUTIMI, Que. -- Felix Girard scored twice as Baie-Comeau edged the Sagueneens for its 10th win in a row. Valentin Zykov had three assists for the Drakkar (35-12-4), who also got single goals from Alexandre Ranger, Charles Hudon and Maxime St-Cyr. Simon Tremblay, Laurent Dauphin, Carl Tremblay and Victor Provencher replied for Chicoutimi (25-26-1). Philippe Cadorette had a big game for Baie-Comeau with 39 saves. Julio Billlia made 23 saves for the Sagueneens.dddddddddddd --- CATARACTES 6 OCEANIC 4 RIMOUSKI, Que. -- Gabriel Slight and Felix-Antoine Bergeron each scored twice as Shawinigan toppled the Oceanic. Brandon Gignac and Alexis DAoust also scored for the Cataractes (14-31-7) while Giovanni Fiore and Anthony Beauvillier tacked on three assists apiece. Anthony Chapados scored three times for Rimouski (29-15-7) and also set up Tyler Boland. Shawinigans Storm Phaneuf made 21 saves for the win as Olivier Tremblay stopped 30-of-36 shots for the Oceanic. --- ARMADA 4 MOOSEHEADS 3 (SO) BOISBRIAND, Que. -- Etienne Marcoux made 37 saves through regulation and overtime and another seven in the shootout as the Armada slipped past Halifax. Marcus Hinds scored the winner in the eighth round of the shootout for Blainville-Boisbriand (31-10-9) while Danick Martel had a pair of goals in regulation. Matthew Bursey also scored. Andrew Ryan, Jonathan Drouin and Brent Andrews scored for the Mooseheads (34-17-1), who sit three points behind the Armada for second spot in league standings. Halifaxs Zachary Fucale kicked out 19-of-22 shots in a losing cause. --- HUSKIES 6 SEA DOGS 1 ROUYN-NORANDA, Que. -- Marcus Power had two goals and an assist as the Huskies downed Saint John to end a five-game skid. Jeremy Lauzon scored once and set up two more for Rouyn-Noranda (27-18-5), Francis Beauvillier, Julien Nantel and Liam OBrien had a goal apiece and Jack Nevins had three assists. The Sea Dogs (16-31-4) got a goal from Matthew Highmore. Alexandre Belanger made 15 saves for the win as Chase Gaudet turned aside 41-of-47 shots in a losing cause. 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