The ache will linger for the B.C. Lions, however so does the hope

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It was a sombre and subdued environment on the B.C. Lions’ facility on Monday. The damage from their loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was lingering — and can for awhile — for the gamers within the locker-room and halls.

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However the information that it was the final day that this explicit workforce can be collectively burned simply as a lot.

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There’s a protracted checklist of gamers eligible at no cost company who will get contract gives, and a protracted checklist of those that received’t. Some veterans will really feel the aches and pains of one other season, or are staring down the barrel of a protracted rehab, and really feel the scales tipping in favour of retirement.

However this explicit Lions’ workforce, whose season was ended by a 24-13 loss within the West Division last, received’t be the identical subsequent season. It may’t be.

“Now we have to evolve,” stated Lions co-general supervisor and director of soccer operations Neil McEvoy. “Proper now, we’re simply attempting to determine the way to beat the Bombers. Let’s name it what it’s … they’re the upper-echelon soccer workforce within the Canadian Soccer League. We are attempting to be them, and as we sadly noticed on Saturday, we’re not there but.

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“However I feel we’re shut. I feel we have now quite a lot of good items … (However) we have to be higher in every single place. I’d wish to preserve as many guys as I can; I feel this can be a strong workforce with a very good core of gamers, however in at this time’s world of free company, there’s going to be change. That’s simply the fact of it.”

Leos cornerback Garry Peters is aware of this inevitability keenly, and was wistfully rewatching among the movies he’s taken of his teammates through the season.

“It’s form of unhappy, as a result of you understand the workforce received’t be the identical,” he stated. “A whole lot of guys can’t come again, some individuals outplayed their contracts. So we’ve acquired to pay these guys extra — and that cash has to return from someplace.

“I used to be simply going by way of my telephone; I document movies of my teammates simply strolling round doing goofy stuff. From camp to through the bye weeks, once we’re all taking journeys collectively, to now … you see the place we’ve grown as males, as soccer gamers, and to see that it’s all coming to an finish, it’s only a unhappy second.

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“The brotherhood and the bond that we constructed on this locker-room, you’ll by no means get it once more. You need to begin over and work out what’s the brand new identification of this workforce. In order that’s why I’m in all probability going to remain right here all day, and simply hang around. It simply feels superb with this workforce, and this bond, and also you don’t need it to finish … Everybody’s simply sitting round, relishing the second, earlier than all of us go our separate methods.”

The most important names on the free agent checklist for the Lions are Mathieu Betts and Keon Hatcher.

Betts, the Montreal-born defensive lineman, is a ratio buster, and after setting a document for sacks by a Canadian participant this season, can be a large goal for different groups.

Hatcher has developed into the workforce’s No. 1 receiver, and the impact of dropping their “massive brother” to an Achilles tear Saturday had a profound influence on the Lions’ psyche.

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Different notable pending free brokers on offence embrace receivers Alex Hollins, Jevon Cottoy and returner/extensive receiver Terry Williams.

Sione Teuhema emerged as one other influence participant on the defensive position, sitting third on the workforce in sacks, whereas Tibo Debaillie offers roster flexibility as a worldwide participant who can really play.

Linebacker Ben Hladik confirmed his value as a Canadian participant in his first season as a starter, and American Josh Woods additionally emerged as a expertise. Woods had 12 tackles in Saturday’s sport; no different participant — on both workforce — had greater than 4.

One other issue that can have an effect on how the Lions method their roster development this low season is the accidents to each Hatcher and defensive again T.J. Lee — each of whom suffered Achilles accidents in opposition to Winnipeg. The extent of the injury isn’t identified but, but when surgical procedure is required, rehab may imply six months to a 12 months.

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“We’re gonna must see what these medical doctors say on what it’s going to appear like and the way lengthy it’s going to be,” stated B.C. head coach Rick Campbell. “However each T.J. and Hatcher are clearly actually good gamers that we wish right here and need round right here. So if for some cause they’re not accessible, we’re gonna have to repair that, however we truthfully don’t know but.

“We’ll see what the timeline appears to be like like. (Therapy for these accidents) appears to be a bit of higher lately than even 10, 15 years in the past. Achilles (tears) was once a dying sentence for a participant, however T.J. has really already (tore his different one) in 2016 and clearly he’s been capable of proceed to play. A whole lot of occasions that didn’t used to occur.”

The loss to Winnipeg laid naked the areas the Lions want to repair: cross safety and physicality.

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The playoff-record 9 sacks conceded, whereas some will be attributed to quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. holding the ball too lengthy, additionally uncovered an inconsistent offensive line and operating backs who couldn’t block.

On the opposite aspect of the ball, the Lions got here into the sport figuring out they’d face a heavy dose of Brady Oliviera, however the Bombers’ operating again had cracked triple digits in yards dashing within the first half alone. The defensive position acquired tossed apart too simply, and the piles moved the fallacious method too typically, like Oliviera’s first landing of the night time, an eight-yard rugby maul.

“We have to be higher in every single place,” stated McEvoy. “These guys (Winnipeg) are relentless, these guys carry it. In case you make a single error, they’ll capitalize. We wish to be like that. And I really feel we have been like that in some unspecified time in the future.

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“You want guys with quite a lot of coronary heart to play defence. And I feel we have now most of these guys — we simply must play extra constant. You noticed spurts of us being dominant this 12 months on defence. We shut out groups to zero, which is absolutely robust within the Canadian Soccer League. However on the finish of the day, we simply must regroup and step up and be capable of beat the large boys.”

If there was a season to take the following step, clear the Bomber hurdle and make the championship sport, it’s 2024, when the Gray Cup can be at B.C. Place.

The group has taken big steps ahead, regardless of the previous two seasons ending in close to mirror-image losses to Winnipeg within the West last, and persevering with that development subsequent season would pay big dividends in group forex.

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“I’m completely satisfied that the bar has been raised round right here. We did the identical factor final 12 months,” stated Campbell.

“For me, it doesn’t imply something so far as a soccer coach,” he stated of the championship sport coming to B.C. Place.

“If somebody ever stated, ‘We’re gonna attempt more durable this 12 months as a result of the Gray Cup is in Vancouver,’ then I’d say, ‘What the hell are we doing this 12 months?’ Do I feel it’s particular that it’s in Vancouver? Completely. I feel it’s gonna be superior. I feel it’s gonna be nice. Can we wish to play in it? 100 per cent. However I hope we have now that perspective yearly.

“The B.C. Lions, on and off the sector, are in constructing mode and progress mode. And I’m actually completely satisfied that the bar is getting greater. This 12 months was not as satisfying as a result of we didn’t get to the Gray Cup … and I’m glad individuals really feel that method.

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“And the stuff getting individuals within the stands … that didn’t occur by magic. There’s lots of people which can be doing quite a lot of arduous work and our advertising and ticketing, and gamers being good guys and taking part in good soccer. I feel it’s gonna get highlighted through the Gray Cup. So I’m wanting ahead to the B.C. Lions being on show across the metropolis, as a result of there’s lots of people doing quite a lot of good work.”

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