Tachinski takes charge of Herd

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This article was published 14/08/2023 (1098 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Say hello to the new face of the Manitoba Bisons football team: Jackson Tachinski.

Training camp kicked off Saturday and Tachinski, a third-year player out of Vincent Massey Collegiate, is now the one under centre with the starters. The last seven training camps saw Calgary native Des Catellier, who graduated from the program after last season, in that role.

The Bisons start the season Sept. 1 against the Saskatchewan Huskies at IG Field.

“It’s pretty cool to come to camp as the starter. It just feels really good being the main leader of these guys and just being someone that the guys can come to whenever they want,” said Tachinski, 21.

“Obviously, with leadership I need to pick things up, but I think I’ve done a pretty good job at that.”

The expectations for Tachinski, a dual-threat pivot that can also use his legs, are high as he’s already proven he can play at the U Sports level. Back in 2021, Catellier tore his ACL and meniscus in Week 1, leading to the young backup being thrust into the spotlight for the remainder of the year. Tachinski not only helped keep the team afloat, but led them to the Hardy Cup final.

He played so well that season — completing 74-of-132 passes for 804 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions — that last training camp was an open competition between him and Catellier.

Tachinski is also a member of the U of M’s basketball team but is leaning towards stepping away from the hardwood so he can focus on the gridiron game.

“If he wins the Hec Creighton (national player of the year), I wouldn’t be surprised because I believe in him that much,” said fourth-year receiver AK Gassama.

“And I know the whole team believes in him and that he believes in himself. Just the work that he puts in alone, and again, as a rookie when we had the unfortunate circumstance with Des going down, he took us to a Hardy Cup and that was two years ago. So, imagine the work that he’s done in two years. And with not much of the team changing, man, it’s going to be a scary sight.”

He played so well in 2021 — completed 74-of-132 passes for 804 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions — that last year’s training camp was an open competition between him and the senior passer.

With Catellier leading the way the Herd went 4-4 before getting stomped 37-9 by Saskatchewan in the Hardy Cup playoffs.

“He’s worked for this opportunity. He’s taken on a tremendous leadership role on the team. To be honest with you, that leadership role was almost literally passed from Des Catellier to Jackson as he was chomping on the bit to be that guy,” said head coach Brian Dobie.

“You can’t buy experience, you can only garner experience, and I think that year (2021) is showing up big right now… And then he took that into last year and duked it out with Des for the starting spot. And when I say duked it out, we had to work for it in terms of making a decision. It was that close. Des won it by a hair.”

Across the board the Bisons look like a team that can make noise in 2023. Gassama — an All-Canadian in 2022 — leads a strong receiving corps that also features Birhanu Yitna, De Shawn Le Jour, Brendt Adams, and Michael O’Shea Jr.

All five starters on the offensive line — tackles Gio Vaccaro and Halem Hrizai, guards Matt Stokman and Ryder Klisowsky and centre Matteo Vaccaro — are all back, and so are running backs Breydon Stubbs and Noah Anderson who combined for over 800 rushing yards.

Defensively, it’s the d-line that jumps off the page with fourth-year defensive tackle Collin Kornelson, who was chosen in the fifth round of the 2022 CFL Draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and top recruit Lamar Goods — a former member of the Florida Gators.

The team also has a big name returning at linebacker in fifth-year senior Nick Thomas. Thomas, a former all-Canadian, suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in Week 2. The Saskatchewan Roughriders still picked him in the seventh round.

“The sky is the limit. I think we’re 100 per cent capable of winning a national championship and that’s always the goal — the Vanier Cup,” said Tachinski.

“That’s what we’re capable of. I’ve been through a bunch of training camps here and I feel like this team feels like the most ready out of all those other teams. I’m pretty excited about where we’re headed.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31