Kris Bastien waiting for go-ahead before playing his first CFL game with the Bombers

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This article was published 25/06/2015 (3758 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kris Bastien is more than excited to start his first Canadian Football League game on Saturday night in Regina, but before he can play, he needs a few things to go his way.

The rookie receiver, who was originally drafted in the third round by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2014 – and spent the whole season on their practice roster last year – will have to wait on the status of fellow Canadian receiver Rory Kohlert, who missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with an lower body ailment.

Oh, and head coach Mike O’Shea will have to give him the go ahead.

“It’s not my decision,” Bastien said. “I’m going to keep my head down and just keep pushing forward.”

Bastien, a Concordia University alum, spent the better part of the Bombers’ practice week leading up to Saturday’s season opener taking first team reps from starting pivot Drew Willy.

“He’s done a good job with us all training camp. I’ve been very impressed with him,” Willy said. “He’s in there asking me questions all the time. He’s doing the right things on the field. They’ve moved him around a lot, playing the inside slots or the ‘Z.’ I think he’s feeling more and more comfortable each day and he’s finding a role for himself.”

Bombers field general Mike O’Shea has been equally impressed with the Saint-Lambert, Que. native.

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“The guy just took every rep he possibly could and took them at a high level, at a high rate of speed,” O’Shea said. “He showed toughness coming into the box to block. He had a really good camp.”

Whatever happens, start or no start, Bastien’s going to enjoy his trip back to Saskatchewan.

“It’s going to be fun, either way,” he said. “It’s been great to come out here and get an opportunity. From Day 1, you feel welcome here and you feel that you’re wanted. It helps a whole lot with confidence and I feel it’s translated onto the field.

For what it’s worth, his mom will be in attendance at Mosaic Stadium, taking a break from a local school board conference in Saskatoon in hopes of seeing her son make his first CFL catch.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.