LIVESTREAM PPV: CFL – Calgary Stampeders @Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Sat. July 13, 7p EDT (1a CEDT).
HAMILTON — The Ticats have been rolling, but a win on Saturday would end a long losing streak.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats and their league-best offence hope to extend their reign atop the East Division with a win over the West Division’s Calgary Stampeders Saturday at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. A win over the Stamps would be their first since Sept. 2011.
After winning their first three games of the season, the Ticats dropped a road game against the Montreal Alouettes in Week 4. Jeremiah Masoli threw a touchdown pass and added 401 yards through the air, but still lost 36-29. Otherwise their record is good enough for first place in the East, despite the fact they have yet to score a first quarter touchdown this season.
Ticats head coach Orlondo Steinauer stressed that having a good start and playing a full game was essential for his team.
“Just as important as starting on the right foot, it’s finishing on the right foot.” Steinauer said. “The name of the game is winning.”
» Depth Charts: CGY | HAM
Calgary’s last game was a 37-10 romp of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, with quarterback Nick Arbuckle leading the charge. The California native is filling in for an injured Bo Levi Mitchell behind centre. Arbuckle threw for two touchdowns and completed 19 of his 22 passes for 260 yards in the victory.
Since taking over for Mitchell, Arbuckle has been adjusting to being a starter and the attention that comes with it. The pivot was interviewed earlier this week for Global Calgary about how he and his wife worked tirelessly to put him in the position he is in today, and calls it a “blessing”.
“I was washing dishes in the school cafeteria. And cleaning pools for a pool servicing company. My wife was working three jobs,” Arbuckle said. “That way I could work two part-time jobs and still have time to train. It’s crazy, really. And it was a battle. We were just living paycheque to paycheque.”
Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson knows Saturday’s game will be tough, in part because Hamilton will be much more rested. Hamilton’s last game was nine days ago, while Calgary played last Saturday.
“They had a little bit of extra time with that loss,” Dickenson said. “I’m sure they’ve refocused those guys. They’re already a heck of a team so we’re going to have to go out there and play our best.”
The Ticats will be without one of their better offensive weapons in Sean Thomas Erlington, who reportedly had knee surgery earlier this week. The Montrealer suffered his injury against the Alouettes last week, but he hopes to return sometime this season. But Thomas Erlington’s absence means more carries and responsibility for the rest of the all-Canadian contingent of running backs, Maleek Irons and Anthony Coombs. Even national Jackson Bennett will dress.
“We work like a unit,” Irons said. “So we’re all in this together. We all get our responsibilities down. We get all the things we do down. So we work as a team.”
Canadian Offensive lineman Chris Van Zeyl will also miss Saturday’s game. He’s on the one-game injured list.
But, the Ticats will get receiver Bralon Addison back after a one-week stint on the injured list. The Texas native has three touchdowns and 15 receptions in three games this season. Canadian defensive back Jay Langa and Canadian defensive lineman Brett Wade have also been added to the roster, joining defensive back and kick returner Will Likely III and offensive lineman Will Palmer
Three Canadians have been added to the Stamps active roster for Saturday’s game, including newly signed Laval Rouge et Or alum running back Simon Gingras-Gagnon.
“I got the call on Sunday, got here on Monday. And since then I’ve been studying and learning as much as I can.” Gingras-Gagnon said.
Fellow Laval alum Vincent Desjardins was added to the roster, along with defensive back Abu Conteh. American offensive lineman Justin Renfrow was also added and he’ll back up Nila Kasitati at right tackle.
BY THE NUMBERS
14 — The Stampeders have won 14 straight over the Tiger-Cats dating back to September 2011. It’s the second-longest winning streak in a league head-to-head matchup.
21 — Calgary and Hamilton, combined, have had 21 different receivers catch a pass this season. The Stamps have had 11 different pass catchers to Hamilton’s 10.
4-1 — A Ticats win Saturday would give them a 4-1 record for the first time since 1998. That year, the Ticats made the first of back-to-back Grey Cup appearances.
86.4% — In Nick Arbuckle’s first ever start last week, he achieved an 86.4 per cent completion rate. It’s the second-best for a CFL quarterback making his debut. The best rate? Bo Levi Mitchell’s 87.9 per cent rate from his debut back in July 2013.
– With files from Stampeders.com/Ticats.ca
AFI, Yare Media and the CFL
American Football International is collaborating with Yare Media and the Canadian Football League to present 2019 CFL games live. This is more than a livestream. This is a stream of the top flight TSN network television broadcast.
LIVE STREAM: CFL – Calgary Stampeders @Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Sat. July 13, 7p EDT (1a CEDT).
