Westshore Rebels receiver Kieran Poissant goes into the opening game of the sa国际传媒 Football Conference season today after having lived a dream this summer in returning to his home province to play in a Canadian Football League exhibition game for the sa国际传媒 Lions as a junior.
“We used to go to Roughriders games as kids and dream about playing at Mosaic Stadium. To get to actually do it in front of my family and friends was a priceless opportunity,” said Poissant.
Even if some family members, who hail from Regina, hedged their bets by wearing Rebels jerseys because nobody in deep and die-hard green Roughriders country would want to be caught dead in a Lions jersey.
“Green Pride is through the roof in Saskatchewan,” explained Poissant, who also played for the Lions against the Calgary Stampeders at sa国际传媒 Place.
Both Poissant and Rebels quarterback Te Jessie were invited to Lions camp, although Jessie didn’t make it into the exhibition games. Big things are expected of the potent Rebels pass-and-catch duo this season in the sa国际传媒 Football Conference, which begins with the Island derby today in Nanaimo against the Vancouver Island Raiders.
Both were enhanced as players and people by being in Lions camp.
“There are not enough words to describe what I learned at the pro level about the physical, mental and personality sides of the game and about leadership and conducting myself,” said Poissant.
“Pro is a very different game [than junior]. It’s fast but also like chess. For a receiver, you go to a space and the ball will be there. The experience pushed me to be better.”
Jessie agreed: “You see their attitude and the way they act on and off the field and you learn to act like a pro.”
“And the game is so much faster.”
Jessie grew up in that environment and had a Super Bowl and Grey Cup champion father, Tim Jessie, to learn from while growing up. The former NFL Washington and CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers running-back Tim Jessie also played in the backfield of the Auburn University Tigers with Bo Jackson.
“My dad was proud of me being invited to Lions camp and told me to have fun and take in as much as I can and bring it back to my Rebels team,” said Te Jessie.
Which is exactly what he will do as Jessie looks to find his favourite receiver Poissant to light up the BCFC this season. Aerial fireworks are expected from the pair after Jessie was named 2022 BCFC offensive player of the year with 169 completions, 2,864 passing yards and 28 passing touchdowns in 10 regular-season games, and Poissant the league’s top receiver last season with 49 catches for 811 yards and 10 touchdowns, as they led the Rebels to the BCFC championship game for the Cullen Cup before losing out to Okanagan Sun.
“Te is such a talented quarterback and our chemistry is growing and we look to be on the same page this year even more than last season,” said Poissant.
Right back at you, said Jessie: “[Poissant] is so versatile and can do anything as a receiver out there on the field.”
The derby opening-game today between the Rebels and Raiders in Nanaimo sets up the season. Even though Poissant is from Regina and Jessie from Winnipeg, both can feel the Island rivalry.
“This is a match-up that has been going on for years and matters a lot to both communities and to the Rebels players who came ahead of us,” said Poissant.
Other BCFC season-opening matchups today include the Okanagan Sun visiting Prince George to take on the Kodiaks, and the Langley Rams taking on the Valley Huskers in Chilliwack.
