Bombers, Alouettes keep veterans off the field in pre-season game

By: Paul Wiecek Posted: 4:43 PM CDT Wednesday, Jun. 15, 2011

MONTREAL -- Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice disappointed the local media here Wednesday with the very first sentence he spoke.

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MONTREAL -- Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice disappointed the local media here Wednesday with the very first sentence he spoke.

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MONTREAL — Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice disappointed the local media here Wednesday with the very first sentence he spoke.

“The name is LaPolice,” the Bombers head coach responded when he was asked hopefully by a reporter if he spoke French, “but I never learned (the language).”

LaPolice held a 15-minute session with reporters at Percival Molson Stadium Wednesday afternoon in advance of Thursday night’s pre-season game between the Bombers and Montreal Alouettes.

Paul Wiecek / Winnipeg Free Press
Bombers quarterback Alex Brink gets in some work at Percival Molson Stadium Wednesday afternoon. — Paul Wiecek / Winnipeg Free Press Bombers quarterback Alex Brink gets in some work at Percival Molson Stadium Wednesday afternoon.

It will be the first test of the year for both clubs and both will field rookie-laden lineups as both head coaches keep key veterans — like starting quarterbacks Anthony Calvillo and Buck Pierce — off the field.

“Most of the faces are going to be new. We left a lot of people at home,” said LaPolice.

That will provide a golden opportunity for men like Alex Brink to shine. Brink is fighting to be Pierce’s backup this season and will see action Thursday night, but only after his rival Joey Elliott — who will start — gets the hook.

Brink was asked if he’s nervous about the audition. “Not at all,” said Brink, who saw limited regular season action last season before his season ended with a broken collarbone Oct. 23 against Toronto.

“I don’t think one game makes much of a difference, honestly. I think it’s more a body of work, a collection of everything you do during training camp. But it will be another thing for the resume.”

Pierce did not even make the trip to Montreal. The Als, who have their training camp two hours away in Lennoxville, did not stage a walk-through at Molson Stadium on Wednesday but did make Calvillo available by telephone.

Calvillo has a chance this season to eclipse Damon Allen’s all-time passing yards league record (he needs 4,221 yards to surpass Allen’s mark of 72,381) but Calvillo said he’s more interested in another mark — a three-peat for the two-time defending Grey Cup champions.

“We’ve got a great nucleus but we have a lot of new guys too,” said Calvillo. “Those guys are going to have to buy into the system the same way the other guys did. And that’s going to be the challenge this season.

The Bombers flew from Winnipeg to Montreal on Wednesday and then went directly to the stadium for a brief on-field walk-through under a blistering sun.

Montreal has been gripped by unseasonably warm temperatures this week and the trend is expected to continue on game day, with a high of 30 C and an extreme UV forecast.