Demski having a grand season

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This article was published 01/08/2023 (825 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers haven’t had a Canadian receiver go for 1,000 plus yards in a season since 1995 when Gerald Wilcox accomplished the feat.

Wilcox did it for three straight years between 1993-95, and before him, the Blue and Gold saw Joe Poplawski (1981, ‘85, ‘86), Rick House (1981-‘82), Bob Larose (1971) and Ken Nielsen (1967-1968) all reach the milestone.

At the end of the 2023 campaign, there might be a sixth name added to that list: Nic Demski.

The 29-year-old product of the University of Manitoba is ninth in the CFL in receiving yards with 435 on 28 catches through seven weeks of play. Demski missed Week 4’s 17-3 win in Montreal due to the birth of his first child, a girl named Raia, but is averaging 72.5 per contest which puts him on pace for 1,232 yards.

The closest Demski has come to 1,000 is the 772 yards he had in 2022 in just 13 games.

Demski and the Bombers (5-2) host the B.C. Lions (6-1) Thursday at IG Field with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

“I think any receiver out there would be lying if that wouldn’t be a milestone of theirs. But it’s not really something I write on my goal list to do or something like that,” said Demski after Tuesday’s closed practice.

“I work to be consistent to stay on the field, and I believe if that’s the case, then yeah, it’s possible. It’d be a pretty nice thing to be one of the Canadians to do it and the first with the Bombers since 1995.”

Demski, who was drafted sixth overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2015 before signing with his hometown club in 2018, has gradually gotten better year after year. Teammate and fellow Winnipegger Brady Oliveira has a theory as to why.

“Right when we’re off the field, he might grab a bite to eat and then he goes straight to the meeting room and starts breaking down the practice tape. He’s one of the first people in the room breaking down that tape and that just says a lot about the guy, right? That’s the thing, people see the work we do on the field, but it’s behind the scenes with stuff like that,” said the running back.

“And I’m a guy where I’m in here and I see him go in the meeting room and it’s like, ‘Wow, he didn’t even have a moment to relax from that hot practice outside.’ He’s in there finding out how he can get better and help this team win more football games. I’ve got nothing but love and respect for him. He’s one of the true leaders in the locker room and we need more guys like that.”

Wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky has been in Winnipeg for Demski’s entire tenure with the Bombers. He feels the numbers don’t tell the full story when talking about Demski’s impact.

“He’s been a guy that has continuously grown because he’s earned that. He didn’t always get everything given to him at first, like he’s really had to work over the seasons and get a lot of plays,” said Wolitarsky.

“He’s really made it for himself, and I’d just say he’s a very hardworking guy, a very humble guy, and a deep loving guy. He’ll have us over for barbecues, he’ll cook for us, like he’ll have everyone over at his house. He’s a very communal guy and a family guy.”

Demski isn’t the only one in the middle of a career year. Oliveira leads the CFL in rushing yards (526) and carries (103).

“I’m not even near my ceiling or in my prime yet,” said the 25-year-old Oliveira.

As for finishing No. 1, it’s not something the tailback thinks about.

“I’ve said it time and time again and I’ll continue to say it because it’s what I truly believe: I want to be available for my teammates every single week and play all 18 games. My teammates deserve that from me,” said Oliveira.

“If you can play and last an entire CFL season, the rest will take care of itself.”

Oliveira has seen what goes into being the league’s leading rusher as he was a rookie backup to Andrew Harris in 2019 when the veteran topped the CFL with 1,380 yards. Harris, now 36 and in his second year with the Toronto Argonauts, was the rushing king for three of his five seasons in Winnipeg.

“Brady’s just a guy that takes care of his body the right way. He really watches what he eats and it almost seems every year he’s changing his diet in different ways just to kind of accommodate his style of play,” said Demski. “I have nothing but good things to say about Brady. Since his rookie year in 2019, he’s definitely come a long way in improving his IQ as a total football player as well.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31