Many of them come to Canada on a wing and a prayer, knowing little about this place and less about how long they’ll stay.
For the bulk of American CFL players, the vast land north of the 49th may as well be represented by a question mark instead of the Maple Leaf.
kAmp7E6C 2 r2?252 s2J AC24E:46 7@C E96 (:??:A68 q=F6 q@>36CD[ H6 564:565 E@ 2D< D6G6C2= A=2J6CD H92E E96J 6H[ H92E 92D DFCAC:D65 E96>[ H92E E9:D 4@F?ECJ >62?D E@ E96> ?@H 2?5 E96 36DE E9:?8 23@FE :E[ ?@H E92E E96JVG6 8@EE6? E@ @H :E]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(:==:6 y6776CD@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp ?2E:G6 @7 q62F>@?E[ %6I2D[ y6776CD@? 7:CDE 42>6 E@ r2?252 😕 a_`c[ D:8?:?8 H:E9 t5>@?E@?]k^Am
kAm“x 6H 23@FE E96 q=F6 y2JD[ x 6H 23@FE E96 #2AE@CD[ x 6H E96 4@=@FCD H6C6 C65 2?5 H9:E6 2?5 x 6H 23@FE E96 |2A=6 {627[” y6776CD@? D2:5] “%92E H2D 23@FE :E]”k^Am
kAmp 5@K6? J62CD =2E6C[ E96 bd\J62C\@=5 5676?D:G6 6?5 DE:== C6>6>36CD H92E DFCAC:D65 9:> E96 >@DE H96? 96 2CC:G65]k^Am
kAm“%96 3:886DE DFCAC:D6 H96? x 8@E FA 96C6 H2D E92E E96 A656DEC:2?D 86E E96 C:89E\@7\H2J H96? 4C@DD:?8 E96 DEC66E[” 96 D2:5] “xE H2D H6:C5[ 4@>:?8 7C@> E96 $E2E6D[ H96C6 H96? J@F H2=< 24C@DD E96 DEC66E J@F 92G6 E@ H2:E F?E:= E96 42CD A2DD]”k^Am
kAmp7E6C EH@ D62D@?D 😕 t5>@?E@?[ y6776CD@? DA6?E E9C66 😕 $2D<2E496H2? 367@C6 ;@:?:?8 E96 q@>36CD 😕 a_`h]k^Am
kAmr2?252 92D 4@>6 E@ >62? >@C6 E92? 7@@E32== 7@C E96 D:I\E:>6 ru{ 2==\DE2C 2?5 E9C66\E:>6 vC6J rFA 492>A:@?]k^Am
kAm“xEVD 2 =@E 23@FE 72>:=J[” 96 D2:5] “uC:6?5D9:AD[ E@86E96C?6DD]]] ;FDE 3F:=5:?8 C6=2E:@?D9:AD 2?5 7C:6?5D9:AD 2?5 2== E92E DEF77 H:E9 E96 8FJD xVG6 366? H:E9 @G6C E96 J62CD[ 7C@> t5>@?E@? E@ $2D<2E496H2? 2?5 E@ 96C6]k^Am
kAm“%9:D =628F6 :D?VE 3:8] *@F >FDE =62C? E@ 4@??64E]”k^Am
kAmy6776CD@? 92D 364@>6 6?EC6?4965 😕 E96 4@>>F?:EJ[ DA6?5:?8 >F49 @7 E96 J62C 😕 (:??:A68 H:E9 9:D 72>:=J]k^Am
kAmu@C 9:>[ E96 36DE E9:?8 23@FE r2?252 😀 r2?25:2?D]k^Am
kAm“w@H 7C:6?5=J :E :D[” 96 D2:5] “%92EVD 2 E6DE2>6?E E@ 2== E96 8FJD E92E xVG6 4@>6 24C@DD] r@2496D[ 72?D 😕 E96 4@>>F?:EJ]]] xVG6 366? 96C6 7@C x E9:?< `b J62CD ?@H 2?5 ;FDE 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ 3C:?8 >J D@FE96C? 9@DA:E2=:EJ 96C6 2?5 2=D@ C646:G:?8 E96 =@G6 7C@> >J 4@>>F?:EJ]”k^Am
Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson first came to Canada from Texas 12 years ago.
James Carey Lauder
kAmkDEC@?8m$6C8:@ r2DE:==@k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm{:<6 y6776CD@?[ r2DE:==@ 92:=D 7C@> %6I2Di {2 y@J2[ 😕 E96 D@FE9]k^Am
kAm%96 <:4<6C 5:5?VE H2?E 2?J A2CE @7 r2?252 2E E96 DE2CE @7 9:D 42C66C] w:D >:?5 H2D D6E @? E96 }u{]k^Am
kAmqFE 96 C6>6>36CD 9:D <:4<:?8 4@249 2E E96 E:>6 E6==:?8 9:> 96 4@F=5 62C? Sd_[___\A=FD ?@CE9 @7 E96 3@C56C]k^Am
kAm“x 4@>6 7C@> ?@E >F49[” r2DE:==@ D2:5] “p?5 xV> =:<6[ V~9[ E92EVD 2 =@E @7 >@?6J]V”k^Am
kAm$@ 96 E@@< E96 A=F?86 😕 a_`d[ @H:?8 ?6IE E@ ?@E9:?8 23@FE H96C6 96 H2D 8@:?8]k^Am
kAm“x 76=E =:<6 x H2D 8@:?8 E@ 2 5:776C6?E H@C=5[” 96 C642==65] “p?5 E96? H96? x 8@E 96C6[ x H2D =:<6[ VxEVD ;FDE ?@CE9 @7 E96 3@C56C]V”k^Am
kAm}@H bd[ r2DE:==@ 925 2 3C:67 DE:?E H:E9 E96 q@>36CD E92E 7:CDE J62C[ ~EE2H2 E96 ?6IE] w6 7:?2==J D6EE=65 :?E@ 7F==\E:>6 H@C< H:E9 w2>:=E@? 😕 a_`f[ 2?5 92D D:?46 366? E@ q]r][ 324< E@ (:??:A68 7@C 2 J62C[ t5>@?E@? 7@C @?6[ E96? 324< E@ E96 q@>36CD 7@C E96 =2DE 7@FC]k^Am
kAm%96 |6I:42?\p>6C:42?VD 3:886DE DFCAC:D6 H96? 96 7:CDE 42>6 E@ r2?252i ?@E 6G6CJ3@5J =@@<65 E96 D2>6]k^Am
kAm“xEVD ;FDE >@C6 5:G6CD6[” 96 D2:5] “(96? J@FVC6 😕 D@FE9 %6I2D[ 2 3F?49 @7 |6I:42?@D[ {2E:?@D] (96? J@FVC6 😕 p>2C:==@[ :EVD >@C6 r2F42D:2?] *@F 4@>6 @G6C 96C6[ :EVD 2 >6=E:?8 A@E]”k^Am
kAm|@C6 E92? 2 564256 =2E6C[ E9:D 4@F?ECJ C6AC6D6?ED E96 A@E @7 8@=5 2E E96 6?5 @7 r2DE:==@VD 7@@E32== C2:?3@H[ H:E9 D@ >F49 H2C>E9 2?5 4@=@FC 6?G6=@A:?8 :E]k^Am
kAm“x7 x 42? 86E A2:5 7@C <:4<:?8 E96 7@@E32==n %92EVD H92E r2?252[ E96 ru{[ 92D >62?E 7@C >6[” 96 D2:5] “xEVD 8:G6? >6 ?@E @?=J E96 DE23:=:EJ E@ AC@G:56[ :EVD 2 D64@?5 9@>6] xVG6 >6E D@ >2?J A6@A=6[ 925 D@ >2?J >6>@C:6D]”k^Am
kAm%9@D6 :?4=F56 EJ:?8 E96 C64@C5 7@C E96 =@?86DE 7:6=5 8@2= 😕 =628F6 9:DE@CJ[ 2 eb\J2C56C =2DE D62D@?]k^Am
kAmr2DE:==@ C2?36CD 7C2?49:D6] }@E 325 7@C 2 8FJ H9@ 5:5?VE 6G6? =:<6 7@@E32== F?E:= 9:D D64@?5 J62C @7 4@==686]k^Am
kAm%96 36DE E9:?8 23@FE r2?252[ E9@F89[ 92D =:EE=6 E@ 5@ H:E9 9:D ;@3]k^Am
kAm“xV> 2446AE65 7@C H9@ x 2>] x 766= C:89E 2E 9@>6] |J 72>:=J 766=D C:89E 2E 9@>6] tDA64:2==J (:??:A68] (6 =@G6 (:??:A68 2 =@E]”k^Am
Blue Bombers kicker Sergio Castillo.
James Carey Lauder
kAmkDEC@?8my2>:6D@? $96292?k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmr2DE:==@VD CF??:?8 >2E6 😕 E96 <:4<:?8 82>6 4@F=5?VE 92G6 4@>6 7C@> 2?J 7FCE96C 2H2J]k^Am
kAmq6?5:8@[ pFDEC2=:2[ 😀 H96C6 $96292? H2D 3@C?] w6 8C6H FA @H:?8 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 23@FE r2?252 E92? 9:D 4@F?E6CA2CE 7C@> %6I2D]k^Am
kAm“%96 r@>>@?H62=E9] (6 2== DFAA@CE 6249 @E96C[ C:89En” $96292? D2:5] “x 6H r2?252 H2D 2 362FE:7F= A=246] p =@E @7 pFDEC2=:2?D 8@ E@ ‘2?4@FG6C[ :>>:8C2E6 E@ 2?5 =:G6 😕 ‘2?4@FG6C]”k^Am
kAmx?:E:2==J 2? pFDD:6 CF=6D 7@@E32== A=2J6C[ $96292? EFC?65 2 D49@=2CD9:A 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r2=:7@C?:2 :?E@ EH@ 568C66D 2?5 76== 😕 =@G6 H:E9 E96 }@CE9 p>6C:42? G6CD:@? @7 E96 82>6]k^Am
kAm(96? E96 q@>36CD A:4<65 9:> 😕 E96 a_ab v=@32= sC27E[ 96 D@@? 7@F?5 9:>D6=7 @? r2?25:2? D@:=]k^Am
kAmw:D 3:886DE DFCAC:D6nk^Am
kAm“w@H D:>:=2C r2?25:2?D 2C6 E@ pFDEC2=:2?D[” $96292? D2:5] “#62==J H6=4@>:?8[ 7C:6?5=J[ =2:5\324< A6@A=6] xEVD 2 =:EE=6 5:776C6?E 😕 E96 $E2E6D] $@ :E H2D 4@>7@CE:?8 E@ 766= =:<6 9@>6 😕 E6C>D @7 E96 A6@A=6]”k^Am
kAm$96292? H@? E96 ;@3 2D AF?E6C E92E 7:CDE J62C 2?5 92D?VE =67E] r2?252 5@6D?VE 766= =:<6 E96 @E96C D:56 @7 E96 H@C=5 2?J>@C6]k^Am
kAm“xEVD 2==@H65 >6 E@ <66A A=2J:?8 7@@E32==[ H9:49 😀 :?4C65:3=6] xEVD 8:G6? >6 2 ;@3[ :EVD 8:G6? >J 72>:=J 7:?2?4:2= DE23:=:EJ] x =@G6 (:??:A68]k^Am
kAm“xE 567:?:E6=J 766=D =:<6 9@>6 ?@H]”k^Am
kAm$96292?[ ah[ 92D 2? 62DJ 2?DH6C 7@C E9@D6 324< 9@>6 H9@ 2D< H92E 96 =:<6D 36DE 23@FE E9:D 4@F?ECJ]k^Am
kAm“x E6== E96> 23@FE E96 q@>36C 82>6D 2?5 D2J 9@H :?4C65:3=6 E96 72?D 2C6[” 96 D2:5] “qFE E96? x 2=D@ E6== E96> 23@FE 9@H H6=4@>:?8 :E 😀 😕 E96 4@>>F?:EJ]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%@?J y@?6Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmvC@H:?8 FA 😕 ~C=2?5@[ u=2][ y@?6D 6H =:EE=6 23@FE E96 vC62E (9:E6 }@CE9]k^Am
kAm%92E 492?865 😕 4@==686[ H96? 9:D 286?E >6?E:@?65 r2?252 😀 2 A=246 96 >:89E H2?E E@ 4@?D:56C]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 2 DE:?E 😕 E96 x?5@@C u@@E32== {628F6[ 96 H@F?5 FA 😕 %@C@?E@]k^Am
kAmw6 H2D :>>65:2E6=J E2<6? 2324< 3J E96 6IEC2 >2? @? E96 7:6=5 – 2?5 E96 6IEC2 <:?5?6DD @7 E96 A6@A=6 @77 :E]k^Am
kAm“x H2D >2J36 a_ J2C5D 2H2J 7C@> 2 5@@C 2?5 D@>6 8FJ H2D 9@=5:?8 :E 7@C >6[” y@?6D C642==65] “yFDE =:EE=6 E9:?8D =:<6 E92E 8@ 2 =@?8 H2J] p?5 2?@E96C @?6 H96C6 xVG6 D66? ;FDE C2?5@> WA6@A=6X H2=<:?8 5@H? E96 DEC66E 2?5 A:4<:?8 FA E96 EC2D9[ 2?JE9:?8 E92EVD @? E96 8C@F?5] %9:?8D =:<6 E92E[ :E ;FDE 8:G6D 2 A@D:E:G6 @FE=@@<] yFDE >2<6D J@F H2?E E@ 36 36EE6C]”k^Am
kAmy@?6D 8@E 36EE6C[ >2<:?8 9:D ru{ 563FE H:E9 t5>@?E@? 😕 a_aa[ E96? ;@:?:?8 E96 q@>36CD EH@ J62CD =2E6C]k^Am
kAm{2DE D62D@? 96 C64@C565 `_a E24<=6D[ D64@?5\36DE 😕 E96 =628F6 2?5 E96 D6G6?E9 q@>36C E@ 6G6C 4C24< E96 46?EFCJ >2C<]k^Am
kAm(92E E9:D 4@F?ECJ >62?D E@ 9:> E@52J 649@6D H92E D@>6 @7 9:D E62>>2E6D 92G6 D2:5 23@FE =:G:?8 E96:C 5C62>]k^Am
kAm“p?JE9:?8 E@ A=2J 7@@E32==[” 96 D2:5] “p?5 6G6C D:?46 4@>:?8 @FE 96C6 :EVD 366? 2 3=6DD:?8] %96JVG6 8:G6? >6 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ[ 2=>@DE DE23:=:EJ[ 😕 2 D6?D6[ 36:?8 23=6 E@ AC@G:56 7@C >J 72>:=J[ 2?5 4@>6 @FE 96C6 2?5 4@>A6E6 2?5 D9@H42D6 >J E2=6?ED] xE >62?D 2 =@E]”k^Am
kAmu@C y@?6D[ E96 36DE E9:?8 23@FE r2?252 42?VE 36 >62DFC65 😕 E24<=6D[ D24
kAm“tG6CJE9:?8 23@FE r2?252 😀 ;FDE DFA6C 7C:6?5=J[” 96 D2:5] “p? 6?G:C@?>6?E E92E J@F 42? E9C:G6 😕 2?5 36 2C@F?5 2 =@E @7 8C62E A6@A=6[ 8C62E 72?D] xEVD 2 =@E 5:776C6?E H96C6 xV> 7C@>]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms62EC:4< }:49@=Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmvC@H:?8 FA 😕 |:2>:[ }:49@=DV @H=6586 @7 r2?252 H2D CF5:>6?E2CJ]k^Am
kAm“}@E E@@ >F49[” E96 5676?D:G6 324< D2:5] “}@E 6?@F89] x 6H :E H2D 96C6]”k^Am
kAm}:49@=D D2JD 96 2=D@ 6H 23@FE E96 3:8\4:EJ “DA@CED A2CE[” =:<6 %@C@?E@VD #2AE@CD 2?5 q=F6 y2JD]k^Am
kAm“qFE x 2=D@ 2=H2JD 6H 23@FE ru{[” 96 D2:5] “p=H2JD 6H E96C6 H2D 32== FA 96C6]”k^Am
kAmp7E6C <:4
kAm{:<6 y@?6D[ 96 H2D DECF4< 3J E96 5:776C6?46 C:89E 2H2J]k^Am
kAm“x H@F=5 D2J A6@A=6 36:?8 ?:46] ~A6?] tG6CJ3@5J @A6?\>:?565 2?5 86?6C@FD] *@F 8FJD 8@E D@>6 @E96C A6@A=6 @FED:56 @7 E96 3@I[ 7@C DFC6] qFE @G6C2== x 766= =:<6 6G6CJ3@5JVD 2=H2JD >2E49:?8 2?J3@5JVD 6?6C8J] x7 J@FVG6 8@E 8@@5 6?6C8J[ J@F H:== 86E 8@@5 6?6C8J]”k^Am
kAmu:G6 J62CD 2?5 2 A2:C @7 ru{ 2==\DE2C ?@5D =2E6C[ r2?252 92D 4@>6 E@ >62? 2 =@E E@ E96 72E96C @7 EH@]k^Am
kAm“tG6CJE9:?8[” 😀 9@H }:49@=D AFE :E] “xE 82G6 >6 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ DEC6E49 >J 5C62>[ 5@ H92E x =@G6 E@ 5@] (2<6 FA 2?5 6?;@J =:76]]] 2?5 2=D@ 96=A:?8 >6 E2<6 42C6 @7 >J 72>:=J] (96? J@F 92G6 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 J@FC 72>:=J 2E 2 =6G6= =:<6 E9:D[ J@F 42?VE 4@>A=2:?]”k^Am
kAm(96? 96VD 5@?6 A=2J:?8[ }:49@=D >:89E H2?E E@ 2AA=J E@ %@FC:D> r2?252] q642FD6 H96? 96 8@6D 324< 9@>6[ 96 D:?8D E9:D 4@F?ECJVD AC2:D6D]k^Am
kAm“xEVD 2 =@E @7 =2?5 2?5 2 =@E @7 E9:?8D E@ D66] q62FE:7F= A=246[” 96 D2:5] “x 2=H2JD C64@>>6?5 A6@A=6 4@>6 E@ r2?252] }:46 D:89E\D66:?8[ ?:46 A=246D E@ 8@[ ?:46 7@@5] tG6CJE9:?8]”k^Am
kAmw6 92D 9:D =:?6 😕 E96 D?@H[ E9@F89]k^Am
kAm“x E6== V6> ?@E H:?E6C] }@E H:?E6C] x7 J@F H2?E E@ 42E49 2 =:EE=6 3:E @7 D?@H J@F 42?] qFE ?@E9:?8 =2E6C E92? s646>36C]”k^Am
kAmk2 E2C86ElQ03=2?2:=E@iA2F=]7C:6D6?o<=6:?>65:2]42QmA2F=]7C:6D6?o<=6:?>65:2]42k^2mk^Am
kAm)i o7C:6D6?DF?>65:2k^Am
Winnipeg Blue Bombers punter Jamieson Sheahan at practice on Canada Day.
James Carey Lauder