VANCOUVER – Final season, the BC Lions have been simply 11 seconds away from advancing to their first Gray Cup since 2011.
A Trevor Harris move to Tommy Nield within the dying moments of the Western Last gave the Saskatchewan Roughriders a 24-21 victory. The Riders would go on to defeat the Montreal Alouettes for the CFL championship, whereas the Lions had a protracted winter to consider what might need been.
With a brand new marketing campaign approaching, B.C. defensive finish Mathieu Betts stated the Lions have moved on from final season’s heartbreak and are centered on what lies forward.
“In case you lose on the final play of the sport, otherwise you lose by 30 factors … we didn’t get it executed,” stated Betts, the primary Canadian to win the CFL’s Most Excellent Defensive Participant award twice. “To be that shut, it’s irritating.”
“For me, the motivation is to win the Gray Cup. It’s a clear slate. We’re transferring ahead. We all know we’ve to play good soccer constantly all year long, begin early and ensure we end quick.”
Buck Pierce, the Lions’ head coach and offensive co-ordinator, believes the group is constructing on final season’s progress.
“A few of the issues that we did all through the course of the season, the teachings we realized, the place we bought to, was good progress,” stated the previous CFL quarterback. “What I’ve been preaching to the fellows is that we’ve realized these classes final 12 months. We’ve bought to ensure we don’t repeat some errors.
“I believe there’s an understanding of what successful soccer must seem like, what our day by day course of must seem like. The expectations within the assembly rooms, the expectations for follow, I believe these are established now.”
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After an up-and-down first half of final season, the Lions gained their ultimate six video games to complete second within the West with an 11-7 report, then beat Calgary within the convention semifinal.
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B.C.’s high-octane offence led the league in web offence (7,743 yards), factors (559) and touchdowns (59), however the defence gave up the third-most factors (499) of any CFL group.
Quarterback Nathan Rourke was named the league’s Most Excellent Participant and Most Excellent Canadian after finishing 353 of 500 passes for five,290 yards, 31 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He comes into the season having signed an extension that can maintain him with the membership by 2028.
One among Rourke’s favorite targets final 12 months was Keon Hatcher Sr., who led the league with 102 catches for 1,688 yards. Canadian Justin McInnis was third total with 76 catches for 1,256 yards.
The Lions even have American Stanley Berryhill (54 catches, 715 yards) and nationwide Jevon Cottoy (55-681).
Whereas the Lions misplaced American receiver Ayden Eberhardt to free company, they took Mississauga, Ont., native Nate DeMontagnac from the College of North Dakota seventh total on this 12 months’s draft.
Operating again James Butler, who was third total final 12 months with 1,213 yards and 11 touchdowns on 229 carries, re-upped on a two-year deal.
“He’s a significant a part of our offence,” stated Pierce. “We’re persevering with to develop him in several aspects, to have the ability to do extra issues and make the most of him in a number of methods.”
In a transfer to stiffen their defence, the Lions dipped into free company for American linebacker Darnell Sankey, who spent final season with the Montreal Alouettes and former Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive lineman Casey Sayles.
Bettes stated Sankey, who had 101 tackles and two sacks final 12 months, is a confirmed veteran.
“He’s an elite linebacker,” stated Bettes, who led the league with 15 sacks final 12 months. “He’s coming in with the duty to study the defence. I really feel like he’s going to be actually good for us beginning with our first sport, however he’s solely going to enhance all year long.”
Final season served as a studying curve for each the teaching employees and gamers. Pierce and defensive co-ordinator Mike Benevides have been of their first years in these roles, introducing new terminology and processes.
Rourke stated everybody has a greater grasp of the playbook this season.
“I’m excited in regards to the alternative once more to work with Buck, take this offence to the following stage,” stated the 28-year-old Victoria native. “Hopefully to proceed to construct on what we did final 12 months.”
The Lions can even face an uncommon schedule to begin the season due to the FIFA World Cup. With BC Place internet hosting seven match matches, B.C. gained’t play in Vancouver till July 25 towards Toronto.
The Lions, who held coaching camp in Kamloops and performed an exhibition sport in Langford, will open the common season with highway video games in Regina on June 13 and Hamilton on June 18. They’ll host Calgary and Edmonton in Kelowna earlier than returning to BC Place.
Rourke stated the group might want to adapt.
“Guys love a routine at this stage,” he stated. “It’s going to be difficult. It’s important to be versatile.”
SEASON SNAPSHOT
2025 report: 11-7, second, West Division
Do you know?: Kelowna’s Apple Bowl is being expanded from its common capability of two,314 to greater than 17,000 for the Lions’ first two house video games on June 27 and July 4. BC Place is unavailable due to the World Cup.
Key additions: LB Darnell Sankey (Montreal); DL Casey Sayles (Hamilton); OL Joshua Donovan (Toronto); WR Nate DeMontagnac (College of North Dakota).
Key losses: OL Jarell Broxton (Winnipeg); WR Ayden Eberhard (Ottawa); LB Josh Wooden (Saskatchewan); LB Micah Awe (Montreal).
Gamers to observe: QB Nathan Rourke; RB James Butler; WR Keon Hatcher; WR Justin McInnis; DE Mathieu Betts; Okay Sean Whyte.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed June 2, 2026.