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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWinnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros (8) looks to throw the ball during first half Eastern semi-final action against the Montreal Alouettes, in Montreal on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Christopher Katsarov<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the ride over, I picked up (defensive tackle) Jake (Thomas) and that was one of the things we talked about briefly. Obviously losing and not coming to work today is difficult. Just the thought of having another team in your locker room is tough.\u201d<\/p>\n
The game that could have advanced the Bombers one step closer to leaving their stuff in their lockers and competing in a sixth consecutive Grey Cup was a roller-coaster ride.<\/p>\n
When it stopped, the Montreal Alouettes had defeated the visitors 42-33 in Saturday\u2019s CFL East Division semifinal.<\/p>\n
Winnipeg was down 25-3 late in the second quarter when Sergio Castillo kicked off a rally with a 37-yard field goal at 14:45.<\/p>\n
With the boost from a pair of Montreal turnovers, the Bombers added three touchdowns and led 27-25 at 6:16 of the third quarter. But the Alouettes, led by quarterback Davis Alexander, regained the lead and never let go.<\/p>\n
Montreal will travel to Hamilton to play the Tiger-Cats in Saturday\u2019s East final, while the Saskatchewan Roughriders are hosting the B.C. Lions in the West final the same day.<\/p>\n
The Bombers finished fourth in the West with a 10-8 record and had to cross over to play the Alouettes. They\u2019re now the 13th crossover team to fail to advance to the Grey Cup.<\/p>\n
Collaros, who entered the CFL in 2012 and is under contract for next season, was asked if the season was his most frustrating.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt probably was because of, just again, how high of expectations we had for the team and, obviously, the expectations for myself never changes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Collaros joined the Bombers in a trade in late October 2019. The team went on to win its first of back-to-back Grey Cups, but lost the last three.<\/p>\n
Knowing the Grey Cup was in Winnipeg didn\u2019t add pressure, but it was always in the back of players\u2019 minds, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know you\u2019re not going to make the Grey Cup every single year, you\u2019re not going to win the Grey Cup every single year, but it just never felt like we were moving kind of in that direction,\u201d \u00a0Collaros said.<\/p>\n
Veteran receiver Nic Demski described the season as \u201cdifferent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely a lot of ups and downs. A lot of adversity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Demski faced some of that adversity.<\/p>\n
Winnipeg\u2019s leading receiver injured his hamstring on Oct. 11 and missed the team\u2019s final two regular-season games. He was a game-time decision on Saturday, but his attempt during warmup to see if he could sprint didn\u2019t pan out and he watched from the sidelines.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the (hamstring), it\u2019s just a tough one,\u201d said Demski, who finished the season with 67 receptions for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns and is a pending free agent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey just linger on. You try to kind of find that sweet spot and I just couldn\u2019t find it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Winnipeg reportedly has 33 potential free agents, including star running back Brady Oliveira, who was unavailable to the media on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Go-to receiver Dalton Schoen also doesn\u2019t have a contract for next year. He tore his ACL on July 3, tried to rehab it instead of surgery, but was eventually shut down for the season in early September.<\/p>\n
Backup quarterback Chris Streveler injured his knee in Winnipeg\u2019s final regular-season game.<\/p>\n
Streveler said Sunday he re-tore the anterior cruciate ligament and the meniscus in his left knee. Last year, he had the ACL and medial collateral ligament repaired, plus the posterior cruciate ligament was damaged.<\/p>\n
\u201cThankfully, my MCL and PCL were intact,\u201d Streveler said of the latest injury. \u201cThat\u2019s the bright side of things. I don\u2019t even know if heartbreaking does it justice.\u201d<\/p>\n
He plans surgery soon and then rehab, but added he tried to get ready to play in the East final. When his knee swelled after running, he knew it was a pipe dream.<\/p>\n
Winnipeg\u2019s defence and special teams carried most of the load during the season, with rookie kick returner\/defensive back Trey Vaval emerging as a star.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n