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THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Trey Vaval (left) and defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth celebrate with the Banjo Bowl trophy back in September. The special teams weapon made history Thursday when he was awarded the CFL Most Outstanding Player award for the second straight year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a heck of an honour, but for Vaval, he\u2019s just thankful to be playing the game he loves.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day is a highlight. Just waking up and being able to come to the facility \u2014 that\u2019s a highlight,\u201d Vaval told reporters after Thursday\u2019s closed practice. \u201cYou go into the hot tub in the mornings and everyone in the world doesn\u2019t get to do that. That\u2019s a highlight. Being around this group of guys is a highlight.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpecial teams coach Mike (Miller), Coach Osh, the trainers, everyone in this facility\u2026 that\u2019s my highlight. Coming to practice every day is a highlight. Being able to eat together with my teammates, food that I don\u2019t have to pay for is a highlight. Everything that comes for me is a highlight for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saskatchewan Roughriders legend Corey Holmes (2002 and 2005) is the only other two-time winner in the award\u2019s 27-year history.<\/p>\n
Vaval led the league with 2,868 total kick return yards, while averaging returns of 13.8 yards per punt and 24.2 yards per kickoff.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Vaval (centre), led the league with 2,868 total kick return yards.<\/p>\n The second-year pro notched two return majors on an 88-yard kickoff return and a 129-yard missed field goal return. He also had 13 big-play returns.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s just been exceptional for us. He produces big ones, but boy, just on a return-by-return basis, he\u2019s maximizing his yardage \u2014 he really does,\u201d said head coach Mike O\u2019Shea.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are just so pleased to have him on our team.\u201d<\/p>\n Vaval got the news at the end of practice. The Bombers media team had a few players participate in a \u201cGuess what\u2019s inside the box\u201d game where you reach inside without being able to see, feel around, and guess what it is you\u2019re touching. When it was Vaval\u2019s turn, it was the award. When he realized what it was, he was swarmed by his teammates in celebration.<\/p>\n The video was uploaded to social media.<\/p>\n \u201cJust very blessed that it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe were just playing some little game\u2026 I kind of just hit it, the trophy, and I don\u2019t know, I was surprised, shocked,\u201d said Vaval, a 26-year-old from Blue Springs, Mo.<\/p>\n \u201cSo much shock. Super cool to happen. Just very blessed that it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n The voting was conducted by 36 members of the local chapters of the Football Reporters of Canada and 20 national members.<\/p>\n Vaval finished with 133 points in the voting process, which was 39 more than Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard who finished in second.<\/p>\n Zach watch<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros is listed as questionable for Saturday\u2019s Eastern semifinal against the Toronto Argonauts.<\/p>\n Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros (ribs) was a limited participant at Thursday\u2019s closed practice.<\/p>\n Collaros did not participate in the first two days of practice. He is listed as questionable for Saturday\u2019s Eastern semifinal against the Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you know, I think he\u2019s feeling better today,\u201d said O\u2019Shea, who didn\u2019t provide any more information.<\/p>\n Five Bombers named all-stars<\/p>\n Five Bombers have been named to the West All-CFL squad. The league revealed the division all-star teams on Thursday.<\/p>\n Running back Brady Oliveira, offensive tackle Jarell Broxton, defensive tackle Jake Ceresna, defensive back Evan Holm and Vaval were all selected to the West All-CFL Team, following voting by members of the Football Reporters of Canada.<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Taylor Allen Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree\/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJOHN WOODS \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES <\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJOHN WOODS \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Reporter
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