The opening act of our Divisional finals, provides more than a few bad feelings and a dash of intrigue as the Hamilton Tiger Cats take on the Eastern Division champs the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at the final game to be played at Canad Inn Stadium.
The Cats arrived in the Eastern Final after last weeks thriller in Montreal, where they eliminated the Grey Cup Champions and put out the final word on that long running CFL dynasty.
And while the game already had more than a few sub plots to make things interesting, the Cats added some more fuel for a CFL fire, when they added former Blue Bomber Terrence Jeffers-Harris their squad, even if he can't play in the Eastern Final.
Jeffers-Harris became available after a number of Blue Bomber code of conduct violations, a situation that seemingly left the Bombers with little recourse but to cut him adrift, only to watch him be picked up by their Sunday competition.
The Bombers see the Ticats behaviour as treacherous, the Cats just say they outsmarted their genial hosts for the weekend.
It's a strange little rule that perhaps the CFL should investigate a little further for future years, leaving the league open to a bit of embarrassment over the prospect of a player leaving one team for another just prior to the biggest game of the year for both, maybe bring a peek at the playbook or maybe not.
At any rate, it's made for an interesting distraction over the week and sets up a fascinating sub plot to Sunday's game.
As for the actual product on the field, the Cats with their explosion on offence of last week clearly remember how to score now, though their defence perhaps could use a bit of work on stopping the other team's efforts a little more diligently.
They bring their offensive display led by former Blue Bomber Quarterback Kevin Glenn into the home of one of the toughest of defences in the CFL.
The Bomber on the other hand will once again have Buck Pierce back in the lineup, looking for a chance to move on to the Grey Cup and the chance to return to Vancouver and show his former team his skill set is still strong as field leader of the Bombers.
Sub plots, duplicity and some good old fashion life and death football it all sets the stage for what could be a fairly entertaining Eastern Final
Game Time Noon MT ( 10 AM PT, 1 PM ET) TSN
Pre Game
Winnipeg Free Press-- Buck's heart Blue - Bomber Blue, that is
Winnipeg Sun-- Bombers aren't worried about T. J.
Hamilton Spectator-- Playoff savvy Thigpen a real danger for Blue Bombers
Globe and Mail-- Bombers' Pierce ready to step up in CFL East final
National Post-- Bombers' Brown has one more chance to get it right
Quick Snaps Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Quick Snaps Hamilton Tiger Cats
Post Game
Hamilton 3 at Winnipeg 19
Attendance-- 30,051
Winnipeg Sun-- Bombers all-out blitz: A fine stadium send off
Winnipeg Free Press-- Garrett lifts Blue Bombers to 19-3 win over Hamilton in East Division Final
Hamilton Spectator-- Bombers freeze out Ticats, 19-3
Globe and Mail-- Blue Bombers bound for Grey Cup
National Post-- Defensive battle sends Blue Bombers to Grey Cup over Ticats
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