Savvy vets impart post-season wisdom on Bombers’ playoff rookies

It’s one of those memories Nic Demski can unlock on demand.

His first playoff game in the Canadian Football League.

“It was cold, it was in Saskatchewan, it was in the new stadium. I remember it came down to the wire, but it was a hard-fought game for sure,” the Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver recounted after Friday’s practice.

While Demski’s stat line in that 2018 West Division Final against the Roughriders was admittedly modest — two catches for 12 yards — the most memorable part, he said, was the 23-18 victory the Bombers earned over their Prairie rival at Mosaic Stadium.

In fact, that entire week is one of those moments Demski will not soon forget, much like his first touchdown or either of his two Grey Cups. The then-25-year-old playmaker was still relatively inexperienced and preparing to make his playoff debut in his hometown colours.

“There was a lot of nerves,” Demski said. “I remember the one that I didn’t play in (2017 semifinal as a member of the Riders) and I was still as nervous as ever on the sideline.

“It’s just the atmosphere. Guys, they know that this could be their last game this year, so guys are gonna come out with a different type of mindset — you’re going to see some dogs out there — but at the end of the day, it’s just football and that’s kind of what I tell myself. Of course, there’s going to be hype around the game; of course, you know what’s on the line, but at the end of the day it’s just another football game to go out there and be great for your teammates.”

Wise words from the nine-year veteran receiver, and an important piece of advice for the numerous Bombers players who will make their post-season debuts in next Saturday’s West Final at Princess Auto Stadium.

Based on Winnipeg’s game-day roster from its regular season finale, 13 players — nine starters — could see their first piece of professional playoff action.

For rookie defensive tackle Devin Adams, it’ll be his first playoff game since high school.

“It’s overwhelming. It’s a great feeling,” said Adams.

“It’s not so much nervous, just that you’ve been running. Your adrenaline is starting to go a week out. My blood is pumping, I’m ready to go. We’re film studying and getting ready for a team, we have to wait all week, so, it’s not so much nerves, just that adrenaline starting to pump.”

Linebacker Tony Jones is among the group of starters making his debut next week. Jones spent his first two seasons with the Edmonton Elks and, after being a late cut in training camp this year, was scooped up by Winnipeg where he has assumed the middle linebacker role in place of Adam Bighill.

“It’s a blessing to continue to play football in November,” said Jones. “You got a lot of other teams packing up to go home, but anytime you get a chance to continue playing ball in November, it’s playoff time so we take pride in that and we’re ready to take it to the next level.”

“Just the anticipation,” Jones said of his feeling with a week to go before he plays. “We feel it — it’s coming, it’s around the corner, but we’re just locked in on our job and what we’re supposed to do, and when the time comes we’ll be ready.”

Winnipeg is enjoying what has become an annual first-round bye. For a fourth consecutive season, the Bombers will host either the B.C. Lions or the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the right to advance to the Grey Cup.

There is hope some injured veterans with playoff experience could return for the game, such as weak-side linebacker Kyrie Wilson and safety Brandon Alexander. Receiver Drew Wolitarsky is another name to keep an eye on.

Regardless of who is on the field, experienced or not, the adrenaline is sure to be pumping as high as ever — something that could lead to mistakes, especially by younger players.

Head coach Mike O’Shea isn’t worried about harnessing those emotions.

“I think they all handle these situations differently,” said O’Shea. “By the time they get here, they’ve all played in big games. To all of them, it’s very important, they all care — that’s a big starting point. Obviously, they wouldn’t be here if they didn’t care.

“I think the main point is for them to understand how they handle these situations and that as long as they know how they deal with it, they’re going to be fine.”

Jones and Adams said their preparation will be all the more key to helping them succeed in a high-stakes contest, and that it will be equally important for them to lean on their veteran teammates for advice in the days leading up.

Willie Jefferson has already handed out a few golden nuggets of wisdom to the younger defensive players during the off-week, and there’s sure to be more during game week.

“As soon as the week started. We started preparing and watching film on teams. I’m telling the young guys like Devin and (Miles) Fox, and Ty (Garbutt), (Celestin) Haba, you don’t have to do much more but you need to lock in,” said Jefferson. “You need to be in the moment, you might not get another opportunity like this. You’re playing at home, you know how it is at home. You know how the weather is, you was out here last year so you know how the weather can be.

“Just be ready,” he continued. “Don’t let it shake you, because you’re going to have all the support that you need, you’re going to have everybody around you, the communication is going to be there, the physicality is going to be there, the crowd is gonna be in it — you’re going to have everything you need on the sideline to just make it through the game. Let’s just go out there and do what we do.”

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

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Joshua Frey-Sam
Reporter

Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He’s reported primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports and writes a weekly real estate feature for the business section. Read more about Josh.

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