Rookie safety Jackson Findlay says: \u201cHe really does love it here. He loves the guys here. He wants to win here.”<\/p>\n
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Published Nov 07, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n To help understand how T.J. Lee has helped with the B.C. Lions\u2019 turnaround, we take you back to a practice a little over a month ago.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Lions defence picked off consecutive Nathan Rourke passes during drills at Hjorth Road Park that afternoon, and bedlam ensued from that portion of the squad, with the celebrating undoubtedly heard by homes in the Surrey neighbourhood.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n B.C. was in the midst of its rebound from a slow start to the season. That was part of the reason for the mood. Defensive end Mathieu Betts also pointed out that one of those interceptions was snared by Lee, and the players \u201care so happy to have him back \u2026 everybody\u2019s cheering for him.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lions had opted against re-signing Lee, a 10-year veteran of the squad, when they started the season, and he remained at home in the Seattle area. B.C. changed course and inked Lee, 36, to a contract on Sept. 10 when they were 5-7 and looking like they were going nowhere fast and could well miss the playoffs altogether.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n B.C.\u2019s current seven-game winning streak started two days later.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Lions visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders Saturday (3:30 p.m.) in the Western Final,<\/a> with a spot in the Grey Cup on the line. There are a multitude of reasons for their resurgence. Lee\u2019s return is certainly among them, with the stabilizing force and poise the halfback has brought.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been a game changer,\u201d said safety Jackson Findlay, 21, who is one of two rookies in the Lions starting defensive backfield, along with cornerback Robert Carter Jr., 22. \u201cIt goes beyond the field. It goes into the culture. It goes into the film study, the intricacies of the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c(Lee) really does love it here. He loves the guys here. He wants to win here. The guys have bought into that. We want to win it for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n B.C. general manager Ryan Rigmaiden checked in regularly with Lee throughout the first half of the season. Lee also had talks with the Calgary Stampeders and Montreal Alouettes along the way.<\/p>\n B.C. players such as Rourke, defensive back Garry Peters and receiver Keon Hatcher remained in constant contact with Lee as well, and you get the feeling that helped sway him.<\/p>\n \u201cThe guys kept me in it the whole year. Guys texting, \u2018This is your team,\u2019 and, \u2018You need to come back.\u2019 And I was like, \u2018They have to write me a contract for me to come back,\u2019\u201d Lee relayed, chuckling all the while.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI was just trying to set up my life, so that I could leave my family and come back and play. I was just waiting for the right situation and it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n You could have understood if Lee felt jilted. He is one of B.C.\u2019s best-ever defenders. He is second in team history in defensive tackles, his 615 trailing only the 745 put forward by linebacker Solomon Elimimian (2010-18). Lee\u2019s a two-time All-CFL selection (2018, 2023). He ruptured his Achilles in 2023 West final and made it back ahead of schedule last season<\/a>.<\/p>\n But Lee being bitter about being left off the roster to start the season? You don\u2019t get a sense of that talking to him about it.<\/p>\n \u201cI try to accept change with everything,\u201d said Lee, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound Eastern Washington University product. \u201cEvery offseason I change my regiment and how I train.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not the season I expected to have, but the season of my destiny is what I\u2019m accepting. How it landed, it worked out the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Lee\u2019s 144 games played are second for the Lions, behind only kicker Sean Whyte\u2019s 240. Peters is next in line behind Lee with 139.<\/p>\n Lee finished with 31 tackles in his five regular season games, along with one sack and one interception. He had four tackles in B.C.\u2019s 33-30 win over the Calgary Stampeders in last week\u2019s Western semifinal<\/a>.<\/p>\n B.C. (11-7) wound up second in the West regular season and with home field against Calgary last week thanks to a 27-21 road win over first-place Saskatchewan (12-6) in the regular season finale on Oct. 25. Saskatchewan already had the first-round bye and rested several top players. Starting quarterback Trevor Harris only threw 11 passes that game, for instance.<\/p>\n The Roughriders won the first two games between the teams this season, taking a 33-27 decision at B.C. Place<\/a> on July 19 and a 37-18 outcome at home on June 28.<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Lions haven\u2019t been to the Grey Cup since winning it all in 2011 at B.C. Place<\/a> with a 34-23 decision over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. They have lost five straight West finals since. They fell 28-19 in the West semifinal last year to Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n Home teams have won nine of the past 10 West finals. The last home team to lose the West final was Saskatchewan in 2019, when they lost 20-13 to Winnipeg. Away teams have won three of the past four East finals, but had lost six in a row prior to that.<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n B.C. Lions head to Regina carrying long winning streak into Saskatchewan<\/p>\n![\"bc](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/fbo-cfl-stampeders-lions-20251101_299659322.jpg\")
B.C. Lions’ T.J. Lee (right) embraces Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. after B.C. defeated Calgary during the CFL western semifinal in Vancouver last Saturday. Photo by DARRYL DYCK \/THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.9.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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B.C. Lions defensive back T.J. Lee pauses while speaking during the team\u2019s end-of-season media availability on Nov. 4, 2024. Photo by Darryl Dyck \/THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n![\"Saskatchewan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1106-fbo-cfl-picks-1.jpg\")
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