CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Training camp underway

Published on May 22, 2004 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers News Release


WINNIPEG, MB – The 2004 CFL season has officially begun. The 2004 Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp opened today with players reporting for physical examinations and player photos. The first day of two-a-day practices begins tomorrow, Sunday, May 23 at 8:30 a.m.

All training camp practices take place at Canad Inns Stadium and are open to the public, with the exception of June 12 & 13. Practices on those two days are only open to those attending the Blue Bombers Market Place. For more information, please read the following (subject to change):

TRAINING CAMP ADDRESS

Canad Inns Stadium, 1465 Maroons Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3G 0L6, 204-784-2583 (phone), 204-783-5222 (fax).

ENTRANCE TO PRACTICE FIELD

Fans attending training camp practices must enter the stadium through the Bomber Store, which is located on the St. James Street side of the stadium. As the Blue Bombers now hold all practices on the new turf, fans are allowed to watch practice from the West Side Grandstands. Because of security and operations requirements, fans will not be allowed on the practice field at any time. Fans will continue to have the opportunity to meet players and get autographs at the conclusion of practice in the area between the West Side Grandstands and the locker room.

OFF LIMITS

The locker room, weight room, training room, team meeting room and equipment room are closed to the public & the media at all times during training camp. In order to cause as little disturbance as possible, no one is permitted to enter the football operations side of the Winnipeg Football Club offices unless escorted by a member of the football club staff. Please respect the work environment of football club members at all times.

CUTDOWN DATES

Sun., June 6 50 player roster limit deadline, excluding draft choices & juniors

10:59 p.m. CDT

Sat., June 12 40 player roster limit deadline

2:00 p.m. CDT

PRACTICES & GAMES – TIMES & DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

May 23-30 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. 1st Practice

10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Locker Room break

11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m. 2nd Practice

12:45 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Weights

May 31 & June 1 3:30-5:45 p.m. Practice

June 2-3 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. 1st Practice

10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Locker Room break

11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m. 2nd Practice

12:45 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Weights

June 4 7:00 a.m. CDT Air Canada Flight #6205 to Calgary

8:08 a.m. MDT Arrive in Calgary

12:00 Noon-12:45 p.m. Practice @ McMahon Stadium

12:45-1:00 p.m. Player Interviews on the field

1:00 p.m. Dave Ritchie News Conference

June 5 Game @ Calgary Stampeders @ McMahon Stadium

1:00 p.m. MDT (2:00 p.m. CDT) – Broadcast on CJOB

June 6 8:10 a.m. MDT Air Canada Flight #6260 to Winnipeg

11:05 a.m. CDT Arrive in Winnipeg

No Practice

June 7-8 3:30-5:30 p.m. Practice

June 9 10:15-11:00 a.m. Practice @ Canad Inns Stadium

11:00-11:30 a.m. Player interviews on the field

11:30 a.m.-12:00 Noon Dave Ritchie news conference

June 10 Game vs. British Columbia Lions @ Canad Inns Stadium

7:30 p.m. CST – Broadcast on CJOB

June 11 3:30-5:30 p.m. Practice

June 12 2:00-4:00 p.m. Practice

June 13 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Practice

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS FOOTBALL OPERATIONS STAFF

Brendan Taman General Manager & Vice-President of Football Operations Dave Ritchie Head Coach

Less Browne Defensive Backs Coach

Jim Daley Defensive Line Coach & Special Teams Coordinator

Bob Dyce Receivers Coach

Mike Gorton Assistant to the Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator

& Linebackers Coach

Ron Lancaster Offensive Coordinator

Donn Smith Offensive Line Coach

Nick Benjamin Guest Coach

John Chura Guest Coach

Marvin Coleman Guest Coach

Chris Cummings Guest Coach

Doug Hocking Guest Coach

Scott Norris Guest Coach

Dan Talbot Guest Coach

Richard Urbanovich Guest Coach

Ross Hodgkinson Director of Player Development & Logistics

Ian Heinl Athletic Therapist

Alan Couture Athletic Therapist

Dr. Brad Baydock Physician

Dr. Jan S. Brown Dentist

Dr. Bill Bohonos Optometrist

Dr. Neil Craton Physician

Dr. Bert Longstaffe Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. Peter MacDonald Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. Mike MacKay Physician

Brad Fotty Equipment Manager

Ashton Flint Equipment Assistant

Charlie Sammons Equipment Assistant

Jeff Woods Equipment Assistant

Daniel Yusim Equipment Assistant

Daniel Sutcliffe Video Coordinator

Andrew Lima Video Assistant Diane Hoeschen Administrative Assistant Shawn Coates Director of Media & Public Relations

Christina Kulbaba Media Assistant

Chris Melnyk Media Assistant

TICKET SALES

Fans and businesses wishing to buy season-ticket packages, Pick-10 packages, and/or group sales packages can do so at the Winnipeg Football Club offices, Canad Inns Stadium, 1465 Maroons Road, 204-784-2583 (phone), 204-783-5222 (fax). Individual game tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 204-780-3333. Fans may also buy individual game tickets by visiting www.ticketmaster.ca.

The Blue Bomber office is open for season-ticket purchases Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. People wishing to purchase season-tickets over the phone can call in their orders to the Bomber office at 204-784-2583.

2004 TRAINING CAMP SCENARIO

The Bombers enter their sixth season under veteran head coach Dave Ritchie – the CFL's Coach of the Year in 2001. The Blue Bombers placed 2nd in the CFL's West Division in 2003 after posting an 11-7 record. The club lost to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2003 West Division Semifinal.

General manager and vice-president of football operations Brendan Taman had a busy off-season, making many deals and signing several players. Here's a look at his activity:

RETURNING PLAYERS

Cornerback Boyd Barrett

Cornerback Ricky Bell

Defensive Back Tim Carter

Linebacker/Long Snapper Jason Congdon

Fullback/Long Snapper Chris Cvetkovic

Safety Geoff Drover

Defensive Tackle Denny Fortney

Wide Receiver Markus Howell

Centre Benedict Ibisi

Quarterback Stanley Jackson

Offensive Lineman Jermese Jones

Quarterback Khari Jones

Wide Receiver Reggie Jones

Linebacker Maurice Kelly

Linebacker Lamar McGriggs

Safety Joe Morgan

Defensive Back Corey Oaks

Defensive Tackle Jon Oosterhuis

Linebacker Travis Ortega

Linebacker Terry Ray

Runningback Charles Roberts

Safety Sebastien Roy

Offensive Guard Matt Sheridan

Defensive End Tyson St. James

Quarterback Brian Stallworth

Slotback Milt Stegall

Linebacker Ryland Wickman

Fullback Brad Yamaoka

Defensive End Stephen Young

RETURNING BOMBER FREE AGENTS

Defensive Tackle Doug Brown

Defensive Back Raheem Covington

Offensive Tackle Moe Elewonibi

Wide Receiver Robert Gordon

Offensive Guard Dan Gyetvai

Fullback Wade Miller

Offensive Tackle Dave Mudge

Wide Receiver Jamie Stoddard

Placekicker Troy Westwood

CFL VETERAN FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

Cornerback Eric Carter – from British Columbia

Wide Receiver Ricky Lloyd – from Calgary

Wide Receiver Kamau Peterson – from Calgary

NFL VETERAN FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

Offensive Lineman Orlando Bobo

Wide Receiver Darcey Levy

Wide Receiver Ramondo North

TRADE ACQUISITIONS

Centre Cory Annett – from Toronto

Fullback Randy Bowles – from Toronto

Quarterback Kevin Glenn – from Saskatchewan via Toronto

Wide Receiver/Kick Returner Keith Stokes – from Montréal

PLAYERS TRADED

Fullback Kojo Aidoo – to Hamilton

CANADIAN ROOKIE FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

Wide Receiver Gilles Colon

Defensive Lineman Nick Comly

Quarterback Tom Denison

AMERICAN ROOKIE FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

Defensive End Tom Canada

Cornerback Justin Coleman

Defensive Back Cedric Dickerson

Cornerback Rashad Faison

Linebacker Tony Ortiz

Linebacker Ed Smith

Cornerback Marcel Smith

Defensive Back Marcus Smith

Defensive Lineman Jerry Togiai

Defensive Lineman Jesse Warren

Wide Receiver Billy Wingfield

Offensive Lineman Cliff Woodruff

2003 CANADIAN COLLEGE DRAFT CHOICES

Offensive Lineman Todd Krenbrink – 3rd Round (22nd Overall)

Wide Receiver Cory Olynick – 5th Round (42nd Overall)

2004 CANADIAN COLLEGE DRAFT CHOICES

Punter Jon Ryan – 3rd Round (24th Overall)

Linebacker Neil McKinlay – 4th Round (33rd Overall)

Linebacker Ryan Folk – 5th Round (43rd Overall)

Safety John Sullivan – 6th Round (51st Overall)

SIGNED IN THE NFL

Fullback Mike Sellers – Washington Redskins

Offensive Lineman/Defensive Tackle Eric Wilson – Miami Dolphins

DEPARTURES

Quarterback Pat Barnes – Cut

Defensive End Daved Benefield – Saskatchewan

Defensive End Roylin Bradley – Unsigned

Defensive End Inoke Breckterfield – Cut

Offensive Lineman Andrew Carter – British Columbia

Linebacker Brian Clark – Calgary

Cornerback Marvin Coleman – Unsigned

Defensive Back Dave "Double-D" Donaldson – Cut, signed with Ottawa

Offensive Guard Scott Harper – Unsigned

Defensive Back Milo Lewis – Calgary

Defensive Back Harold Nash, Jr. – Cut, signed with Edmonton

RETIREMENTS

Safety Tom Europe

Linebacker Warren Muzika

PRE-SEASON BATTLES

Winnipeg begins its pre-season action Thurs., June 3, 2004 against the Calgary Stampeders @ McMahon Stadium in Calgary. The game kicks off at 8:30 p.m. CDT. The game can be heard on CJOB Radio 680. Bob Irving and Mitch Zalnasky bring you all the exciting Bombers action. The Bombers then return home for a battle with the British Columbia Lions @ Canad Inns Stadium, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. CDT. The game can be heard on CJOB Radio 680, where Hall of Fame punter Bob Cameron will also be part of the broadcast crew.

BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL

Several colleges and universities are well represented at the Blue Bombers 2004 Training Camp. The following is a list of schools that have more than one alumnus trying out for the Big Blue this year:

British Columbia Tyson St. James & Brad Yamaoka

Calgary Geoff Drover & Ryan Folk

Kansas State Ricky Lloyd & Jerry Togiai

Manitoba Boyd Barrett, Wade Miller & Matt Sheridan

New Hampshire Jon Oosterhuis & Kamau Peterson

Regina "Tombstone" Todd Krenbrink, Cory Olynick & Jon Ryan

Sacramento State Charles Roberts & Ryland Wickman

Simon Fraser Randy Bowles, Doug Brown & Neil McKinlay

BIRTHDAY BOYS

The following Blue Bombers will celebrate birthdays during training camp:

May 27 Matt Sheridan

June 5 Tyson St. James

June 10 Wade Miller

June 11 Stephen Young

June 12 Kevin Glenn

June 13 Jon Oosterhuis

Check out the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Statistics

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