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CFL/NFL Flag Football Tourney Returns in 2018: Maritimes Stop Added

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New regional tournament added in Atlantic Canada; CFL NFL Flag Championship to take place during Grey Cup week in Edmonton; winner to compete in the NFL FLAG Championships during Pro Bowl Week

TORONTO, ON/NEW YORK, NY (June 20, 2018) – Following the success of the inaugural CFL NFL Flag football tournaments in 2017, the Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL) announced that the joint flag football initiative will continue in 2018 and expand to 10 stops across the country including Atlantic Canada.

The 10 regional tournaments will be held across Canada and will bring together young athletes, CFL stars and alumni, football professionals, parents and communities. A championship will be held in Edmonton, Alberta the week of the 106th Grey Cup presented by Shaw as part of the festivities. The winner of this tournament will travel to the NFL’s Pro Bowl Week to participate in the NFL FLAG Championships.

The program, which is open to 10- and 11-year olds (those born on or after January 1st, 2007), is a way to highlight and showcase flag football as a method of instructing players on football fundamentals, sportsmanship and teamwork while promoting physical activity.

Last year’s inaugural tournament saw the Junior Riders of Saskatchewan put together an overall record of 11-0-1 between regionals and the championship. They outscored opponents 266-47, including a 20-7 win over the Surrey Tigers of BC during Grey Cup week. The win earned them a trip to Pro Bowl Week in Orlando, where they went 2-2, beating two teams from China and falling to Mexico and the United States.

“Last year’s tournament saw hundreds of young football players across the country turning out to learn, play and lead,” said Vanessa Morbi, Vice President, Marketing and Digital, Canadian Football League. “We’re proud to continue our commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle and growing the game alongside our partners at the NFL.”

“The NFL is proud to partner again this year with the CFL, to continue to grow the game of football in Canada,” said David Thomson, Managing Director, NFL Canada.  “Flag football is a fun, exciting and easy way for youth to get into the game, and can develop important life skills including teamwork, commitment and the value of leading a healthy, active lifestyle.”

Each regional tournament will feature twelve teams with a maximum 10 players each. Participants will interact with current CFL players, meet mascots, and enjoy football-themed games and activities alongside their matches. The top team from each regional tournament will win a trip to Edmonton to play in the CFL/NFL Flag Football Championship during Grey Cup Week.

UPCOMING REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS:

  • BC: June 24th at the BC Lions Training Facility in Surrey, BC
  • Winnipeg: July 8th at Investors Group Field
  • Saskatchewan: September 16th at Mosaic Stadium
  • Calgary: September 22nd at McMahon Stadium
  • Toronto: September 22nd at Birchmount Stadium in Toronto, ON
  • Montreal: October 7th at Percival Molson Stadium
  • Hamilton: October 14th at Tim Hortons Field
  • Ottawa: October 14th at TD Place
  • Edmonton: October 20th at the Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium
  • Atlantic Canada: October 28th at Mount Allison’s Alumni Field in Sackville, NB

Championship TOURNAMENT:

  • Edmonton, Alta..: The week of the 106th Grey Cup Presented by Shaw.

Those interested in registering for the program can find more information at cflnflflag.ca Both the CFL and the NFL will continue to invest in youth football programming and promote physical activity.

The BCLionsDen.ca Pawdcast: Episode 104

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A look back at the Lions disappointing loss to the Ticats and we chat with Jeannine Ritchot about this year’s Grey Cup Festival in Ottawa.

Kevin McDonald, CFL VP of Football Operations and Player Safety joins us to chat about this weekend’s CFL/NFL regional flag football tournament in Abbotsford.



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This show was recorded on September 20th, 2017

The BCLionsDen.ca Pawdcast – Episode 45

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In Episode 45 Lions beat writer Lowell Ullrich joins us for a BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes Eastern Semi-Final preview, and we start getting ready to Roar On the Shore when 2014 Grey Cup Festival General Manager Jamie Pitblado joins the show to give us the scoop on this year’s festivities in Vancouver.

To stay up to date with our podcasts, blogs and other Lions news, follow us on Twitter @BCLionsDen Please leave us a comment on the site and let us know how we’re doing. You can also leave us a ranking and a review on iTunes, we would really appreciate it!

You can follow our guests on Twitter: Lowell Ullrich: @Fifthqtr – Jamie Pitblado @JamiePitblado – Grey Cup Festival: @GreyCupFestival

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An Important Message for Tailgaters

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On Saturday June 28th, BC Lions fans enjoyed another great Tailgate party in Tailgate Empire, otherwise known as Easy Park Lot 16 at Quebec and Terminal. Rain didn’t dampen our spirit and a great time was had by all.

Following last weekend’s game, I was contacted by Easy Park who has asked me to relay a reminder to all tailgaters that each stall you use must be paid for. On Saturday because of the weather, several tailgaters brought pop up canopies and set them up in the stall next to their vehicle, but only paid for the spot their vehicle was in.

Easy Park recently changed the metering system in our lot to a license plate registration system. Only one license plate can be registered for a given time period. I have been asked to tell tailgaters that if you need a second stall, you must purchase a second ticket using the number that is painted in the stall, and you must be prepared to show the attendant your ticket for that second stall if requested. You must purchase a ticket for the amount of time you wish to use the second stall.

Easy Park has been incredibly cooperative with us, allowing us to do what we love before BC Lions games, and to ensure we are allowed to continue to do so in the future, I ask that all tailgaters follow this rule, without exception. They will be speaking with their enforcement officers to let them know this will be the case.

I want to thank all of you who have joined us and continue to join us each game for following our few simple rules. The lot continues to be spotless after the game, and that is a testament to you the fans who value what we have built here.

I want to send thanks to Easy Park for working with us and for their patience with this matter. Let’s not let them down. I would also ask that if you’re parking downtown, please try to give this company your business, it’s the least we could do after all they have done and what they continue to do for us.

To refresh yourself on the other rules we follow, please visit our Tailgating Page.

Thank you,

Brian Wawryshyn

BCLionsDen.ca

Nuggets From the BC Lions Season Kick-off Event

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For a few hours the BC Lions and their fans got to forget about the labour negotiations that could be delaying the start of the game both sides love, and it felt like football season was about to begin. Club management, players and fans came to mingle, see the Grey Cup and get decked out in the latest BC Lions merchandise in preparation for the start of the Lions sixty-first season in the Canadian Football League.

The event was well attended and fans heard from the likes of Dennis Skulsky, Wally Buono and Mike Benevides, who introduced his new coaching staff.

Jamie Taras then hosted the annual fashion show of new Lions gear using the Felions and current Lions players. The players were asked to emulate famous female fashion models and the results were quite comical. Marco Iannuzzi could definitely have a career on the fashion runway when his football days are done.

After a rendition of ‘Roar You Lions Roar’ fans were invited down to the field for autographs and photos with the players in attendance as well as alumni Al Wilson, Brent Johnson, Nick Hebeler and Jim Young. There was also an opportunity to chat with the coaches and have your picture taken with the Grey Cup.

Here are a couple of nuggets from today’s event.

Impressive Tickets

ticketsOnce again the Lions thought out of the box with their season ticket packages this year, which come a nice cylinder container. The tickets themselves are very well done and are based off of some of the dark grey, highlighted orange posters you’ve seen around the city. The tickets feature star players in front of various Vancouver landmarks.

Also included in this year’s package, two 2 for 1 ticket vouchers, two stickers, two pocket schedules and a nice frame worthy poster of this years ticket designs.

An Apolgogy

Clearly the Lions were caught somewhat off-guard by the amount of fans that showed up today. As a result it took a long time to get everyone into the stadium, have them pick up their tickets and then line up for complimentary concessions items.

To the Lions credit, Dennis Skulksy apologized to the crowd and told the fans that it was the club’s job to deliver to their fans and that they could have done a better job of that on the day.

Credibility starts at the top and it was a classy gesture on the part of Skulsky and the Lions to acknowledge the complications. Part of the slow down was the fact that Skulsky and owner David Braley met and shook the hand of every season ticket holder coming into the building, so indeed their intentions were good.

Can’t Keep Them All Happy

While Paul McCallum was being asked if he prepares any difficulty for training camp today than he did for his first one, he appeared to be heckled from one fan in the crowd. I wasn’t sure what exactly was said, but McCallum replied “Not yet”, with a wry smirk on his face.

Khalif is Back

Khalif Mitchell received one of the loudest ovations of the day and it’s clear that those in attendance were happy he’s back in orange and black. The feeling was definitely mutual as Mitchell spoke about being back in Vancouver with his “friends, team mates and family”.

Survey Coming

The Lions are toying with the idea of using the inner draping system and asked those in attendance by a show of hands if they would approve of such a move. There seemed to more than few who thought it was a good idea. If you’re unfamiliar with the configuration, here it is in place at a Vancouver Whitecaps game:

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The Lions would leave one side of the upper bowl open and free of the drapes to accommodate those with tickets in the upper bowl and their family and Gemstone Grill sections. The thought is it would create a more intimate setting in the lower bowl. The club will be sending out a survey to fans and may experiment with the configuration in the pre-season.

Operation Orange

The Lions will continue with their popular Operation Orange fan trips this season with three dates in 2014.:

Saturday July 12th: BC at Saskatchewan – $1,099.00
Friday, September 5th: BC at Ottawa – $1599.00
Saturday, September 27th: BC at Calgary – $1099.00

Packages include:

  • Travel with the Lions on their team charter.
  • Stay in the team hotel.
  • Dinner with the team
  • Your own operation orange BC Lions jersey
  • Tickets to the game

All prices are plus GST and based on double occupancy. Call the Lions at 604-589-ROAR (7627).

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