Standing on guard are they

Canadians want to show they got game on Canada Day

By: Adam Wazny Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Tuesday, Jun. 29, 2010

Special teams dynamo Shawn Gallant would like to offer this warning to his American teammates:

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Special teams dynamo Shawn Gallant would like to offer this warning to his American teammates:

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/06/2010 (5640 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Special teams dynamo Shawn Gallant would like to offer this warning to his American teammates:

There might be a moment right before Friday’s game at Canad Inns Stadium, quite possibly during the national anthem, when you’ll be standing on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ sideline wondering why the guy next to you is a little more emotional than usual.

The answer: Canada Day weekend is a big deal for the Canadian-born CFL player.

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Shawn Gallant says the timing of Friday's game -- the day after Canada Day -- is as key as its season-opener status. — TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Shawn Gallant says the timing of Friday's game -- the day after Canada Day -- is as key as its season-opener status.

"This one of the best games on the schedule — maybe even the best game," explained Gallant, a Windsor, Ont.-product who will embark on his 11th season when the Bombers host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. "I remember when I played for Ottawa (2002-04), and there would be a million people on the streets. Canadian flags were everywhere in the crowd, the jets were flying over top at the start.

"It was one of the best atmospheres I’ve ever been a part of. You really get a sense of Canadian pride in this game, like it means something a little more than just a football game, you know? Every day is great when you’re playing, but that day is the greatest."

The 2010 CFL regular season actually begins on Canada Day (Thursday), when the defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Toronto Argos take on the Calgary Stampeders. Winnipeg and Hamilton actually join the party the next night (7 p.m.), but the Red and White flag should still be waving both strong and free for the Canadians on the Blue and Gold.

Brendon LaBatte — now there’s a Great White North surname — is entering his third season with the Bombers. The Weyburn, Sask.-product is listed at 6-foot-4, and over 300 pounds, but admits to feeling like a little kid on Christmas Eve when it comes to the Canada Day kick-off.

Anticipation mode has already settled in for LaBatte.

"Goosebumps, adrenaline — those kinds of things," he said when asked what the feeling is for a Canadian player playing on Canada Day weekend. "I can’t wait to come out of that tunnel and start things for real. It’s just a rush, where everyone is watching and you don’t want to disappoint anyone. You want to put on a show, and show people that we (Canadians) can play this game.

"It’s an exciting time for everyone, especially the Canadians on the club."

There’s a suggestion that a CFL club is only as strong as its Canadians; that when you strip away all the American parts what you have left will determine how far you’ll play into November. Brock Ralph, an Alberta-born slotback entering his eighth CFL season, doesn’t buy into that theory, but he doesn’t discount the local angle, either.

"I wouldn’t put it all on us," he said. "Depth in your Canadian talent is an important piece, but it’s all about the collective group, in my opinion. Canadian, American, offence, defence, special teams — the one thing I’ve realized playing this game is that you have to be good across the board.

"It doesn’t matter where you’re from."

For wide-out Cory Watson, tying a national celebration to the start of a CFL season is a whole new ball game. The 26-year-old from just outside of Montreal is scheduled to make his pro debut on the outer edge for the Bombers Friday, and the week leading up to it is already starting to take on significant meaning.

Sprinkle in some maple sugar, and it could be sweeter than advertised.

"I’m trying to look at it as just another game, but it’s going to be a big event," Watson said.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

The Canadian Way

Winnipeg has 25 Canadians kicking around the club these days. Some are on the active roster, with a few on the practice squad on various injured lists.

In no particular order they are: No. 25 S Brady Browne, No. 22 S Shawn Gallant, No. 31 S Ian Logan, No. 29 DB Jerry-Ralph Jules, No. 19 LB Chris Smith, No. 47 LB Pierre-Luc Labbe, No. 97 DT Doug Brown, No. 93 DT Don Oramasionwu, No. 57 OL Brendon LaBatte, No. 65 OL Adam Bestard, No. 60 OL Obby Khan, No. 62 OL Steve Morley, No. 55 OL Ryan Donnelly, No. 61 OL Luke Fritz, No. 64 OL Chris Greaves, No. 67 OL Chris Kowalczuk, No. 80 SB Brock Ralph, No. 81 WR Cory Watson, No. 15 SB Aaron Hargreaves, No. 88 WR Jabari Arthur, No. 77 FB Jon Oosterhuis, No. 33 FB Andre Sadeghian, No. 24 FB Daryl Stephenson, No. 9 P Mike Renaud, and No. 50 LS Chris Cvetkovic.

Twenty Canadians dress for games, but only seven are required to be in the starting lineup. That is a hard number. Replace slotback Brock Ralph with an American receiver during the course of the game, and you’ll need to switch out an import for some homegrown talent somewhere else.