Homegrown CFL talent Get to know Canadians in the Grey Cup semifinals By: Joshua Frey-Sam Posted: 5:22 PM CDT Friday, Oct. 31, 2025

They are among the biggest homegrown talents playing in the CFL’s division semifinals this weekend. The Free Press received a peek behind the curtains with Canadians Chris Kolankowski, Tyson Philpot, Jevon Cottoy and Damien Alford.

 

Chris Kolankowski, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Hometown: Etobicoke, Ont.

Age: 33

Position: Centre

Height: 6-1

Weight: 307 pounds

Notable: The brain power of the Bombers’ offensive line, which paved the way for Brady Oliveira’s fourth-straight 1,000-yard rushing season

Favourite pre-game food?

I keep it simple. I have a big breakfast — not really picky on what it is — and a large smoothie that I make at home — strawberry, banana, blueberry, spinach, creatine, collagen, pineapple juice and coconut water. And then lunch, I’ll just pick up Freshii on the way, and I have a ritual where I’ll have like six bites, and then I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna save this for later,’ put it in our mini fridge we have in the change room, I forget it there for two weeks and we smell it and then I throw it out.

Go-to pre-game song?

This Is How It Goes by Billy Talent.

What’s your most impressive physical ability (can be strength or athleticism)?

I take a lot of pride in my squat — front squat, particularly. My body is just made for it. I can get 460, 470 (pounds). My goal is 500.

Do you have a hidden talent?

Sim racing. I’m an assassin on the race track.

What’s one thing people might find surprising about you?

I’m a pretty big family man outside of football. Out here is one world, and I go home, and I got a daughter, and I got another daughter on the way. I’m just a being a girl-dad outside of here.

Cats or dogs?

Dogs. That’s easy.

Favourite moment of your career?

The ’21 Grey Cup. Obviously, 2017 (with the Toronto Argonauts) was cool, but that was kind of a trajectory — got drafted, played, all that. But ’21 was the year after I was out… just coming back and then being able to play for that and win, that was like, ‘Holy s—t.’

One thing you can’t go on a road trip without?

Me and Gabe (Wallace), we’re roommates. We need a good movie. We need a TV in a hotel that you can AirPlay device, because when you don’t have that AirPlay, you’re both watching your own movie. Last road trip, we watched Armageddon.

If you could play another position — and have the physical ability for it — what would it be?

Running back. I can read the gaps. I think even at my physical ability, I can get four yards a carry — not taking away anything from Brady.

What is the most exciting play in football?

Wedge. Third-and-one wedge. What’s more electric? Just close your eyes, head-first, can’t lose. If you want big-on-big, football in it’s purest form, it’s wedge.

At what age did you know you wanted to play pro football?

Grade 10. I always played hockey more as a kid, but I started playing football in Grade 7 and eventually I liked hitting more than scoring goals. I didn’t really commit with the work ethic until after high school, when I got to university.

 

Tyson Philpot, Montreal Alouettes

Hometown: Delta, B.C.

Age: 25

Position: Receiver

Height: 5-11

Weight: 190 pounds

Notable: 2023 Grey Cup champion and Grey Cup Most Outstanding Player. Enjoyed a career year with the Montreal Alouettes, posting 61 receptions for 804 yards and five touchdowns.

Favourite pre-game food?

Definitely a pasta. There’s a little pasta bar in Montreal called Lulu’s, and they have the best five-minute pasta.

Go-to pre-game song?

Real Spill by Lil Baby. Me and Davis Alexander, we’re both huge Lil Baby fans, so we both kind of show each other the phone when we’re both listening to the song pre-game, because he’s the same as me. Gotta listen to him.

What’s your most impressive physical ability (can be strength or athleticism)?

It’s got to be my speed. I haven’t lost a lot of races. I’m up there, one of the fastest guys for sure on every team.

Do you have a hidden talent?

My cooking ability. I’m a big chef, I love to cook, and I’ve taken some cooking classes. Maybe looking at me, you wouldn’t know that.

What’s one thing people might find surprising about you?

One of my first loves was hockey. Even though pops was playing football, I loved hockey.

Cats or dogs?

Dogs for sure.

Favourite moment of your career?

It’s pretty generic, but probably the game-winning catch in the Grey Cup.

One thing you can’t go on a road trip without?

Probably my Nintendo Switch. I’m a big video game guy. Either Nintendo Switch or some kind of video game. I need something to keep my hands busy.

If you could play another position — and have the physical ability for it — what would it be?

A defensive end, for sure. If I get to choose my body type, I’m being Shawn Oakman. That’s my ideal, dream scenario.

What is the most exciting play in football?

A missed field goal return. I think those are some of the most electric plays, especially when you have a good return or two.

At what age did you know you wanted to play pro football?

Six years old.

 

Jevon Cottoy, B.C. Lions

Hometown: Calgary

Age: 28

Position: Receiver

Height: 6-6

Weight: 235 pounds?

Notable: Enjoyed a career year in 2025, hauling in 55 passes for 681 yards and six touchdowns as a trusted receiving threat in the Lions’ offence.

Favourite pre-game food?

I have a ritual. I eat Subway before every single game — chicken rancher with a red Gatorade and two chocolate chip cookies — and fun fact, I don’t eat the chocolate chip cookies until after we win the game. If we don’t win the game, I throw it out.

Go-to pre-game song?

Faneto by Chief Keef.

What’s your most impressive physical ability (can be strength or athleticism)?

Moving as well as I can at 250 pounds. On Wikipedia, it says I’m 230.

Do you have a hidden talent?

I don’t think so. I don’t have any cool tricks up the sleeve.

What’s one thing people might find surprising about you?

I was actually born in a third-world country. I got my Canadian citizenship from my dad, who came here first. I was born in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, it’s a small little island close to Barbados and Saint Lucia. It’s the population of Red Deer. I moved here when I was eight.

Cats or dogs?

Hate cats. Dogs all the way.

Favourite moment of your career?

That first touchdown I caught back in 2019 in Saskatchewan from Mike Reilly. I just remember how happy my dad was. Just battling all the injuries before — the ACLs, MCLs — and still making into the CFL and catching my first touchdown, I remember calling him after the game and he was just ecstatic for me having some success in the CFL.

One thing you can’t go on a road trip without?

I have this crazy obsession of chocolate-covered peanuts, specifically the Joe’s (Tasty Travels) brand from Walmart. So I would have to have at least four or five packs of those every single road trip.

If you could play another position — and have the physical ability for it — what would it be?

I’d play quarterback. I played quarterback in high school. I would play quarterback and throw myself the ball every time.

What is the most exciting play in football?

A trick play on a kickoff return. I’d say that’s pretty exciting.

At what age did you know you wanted to play pro football?

You know when you go to (elementary school) and they ask, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ I actually said a professional football player. So I would say nine or 10 years old.

 

Damien Alford, Calgary Stampeders

Hometown: Montreal

Age: 24

Position: Receiver

Height: 6-6

Weight: 224 pounds

Notable: No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 CFL draft. Alford was dominant at times, recording 20 grabs for 407 yards and five touchdowns for the Stamps.

Favourite pre-game food?

Lately, it’s been a sub. I’ve been going to Subway and getting a little sub — whatever I’m feeling that day.

Go-to pre-game song?

Honestly, I don’t have a favourite pre-game song because I have a French playlist, so I listen to as many songs as I can during my warm-ups, and that’s pretty much it.

What’s your most impressive physical ability (can be strength or athleticism)?

My height and speed combination. I feel like, because I’m tall, I get perceived as not fast, until they actually see my running.

Do you have a hidden talent?

Not really. I don’t think I do.

What’s one thing people might find surprising about you?

I’m a goofy person. You may look at me and think that I’m always serious and everything, but once you get to know me, I’m actually very open-hearted and I laugh a lot.

Cats or dogs?

Dogs. One hundred per cent.

Favourite moment of your career?

I’m gonna have to go back to college and say my game-winning catch versus Virginia Tech, just because of how everything played out, the adversity I had to get past to actually make that play.

One thing you can’t go on a road trip without?

My moose stuffy. That just got brought up this year. I got it gifted to me, so I bring it with me every game.

If you could play another position — and have the physical ability for it — what would it be?

Probably quarterback. I tried it when I was younger. I played it for a year, but after that I was like, ‘Yeah, this is not for me.’

What is the most exciting play in football?

A game-winning touchdown. Or just a touchdown to seal the game.

At what age did you know you wanted to play pro football?

When I left home at 17 to go to Florida — that’s when I realized that my life can change. That’s when I fully committed myself to football, and I saw not the opportunity I had, but the talent I had, so I just went full force towards it.