The Montreal Alouettes dip into CFL free agency to add five players with Quebec roots

MONTREAL — It was another busy day in CFL free agency for Montreal Alouettes GM Danny Maciocia.

Montreal signed five players Wednesday after reaching agreements with six Tuesday, the first day of CFL free agency. Among those to join the Alouettes on Wednesday were long-snapper Pierre-Luc Caron, linebacker Alexandre Chevrier, receiver Regis Cibasu, defensive back Kerfalla-Emmanuel Exume and offensive lineman Jason Lauzon-Seguin.

All are Quebec natives.

“We have always said that it is important for us to give our local players the opportunity to proudly wear the Alouettes’ uniform,” Maciocia said in a statement. “Today, on top of giving them just that, we have acquired talented players that will make our team better.”

The six-foot-two, 220-pound Caron appeared in 71 games over four seasons with the Calgary Stampeders. The Montreal native played collegiately at Laval.

Chevrier, of Pointe-Claire, Que., had 12 special-teams tackles in 18 games last season with Saskatchewan. The Roughriders selected Chevrier in the seventh round, No. 55 overall, in the 2017 CFL draft out of the University of Sherbrooke.

The six-foot-three, 232-pound Chibasu appeared in 16 games with the Toronto Argonauts in 2019. He was taken in the third round, No. 20 overall, by the Double Blue in the 2018 CFL draft out of the University of Montreal.

Exume was a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Grey Cup-winning team in 2019, registering 25 special-teams tackles. The 26-year-old Montreal native also played at the University of Montreal.

The six-foot-four, 300-pound Lauzon-Seguin appeared in two Grey Cup games in three seasons with Ottawa, winning in 2016 as a CFL rookie. The former Laval star, a native of Pointe-Claire, appeared om 54 career games with the Redblacks and was a 2017 East Division all-star.

Ticats re-sign Canadian receiver Jones

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats re-signed Canadian receiver Brian Jones on Wednesday.

The six-foot-four, 233-pound native of Enfield, N.S., has appeared in 43 career CFL games with the Toronto Argonauts (2016-18), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2018) and Hamilton (2019). Jones has registered 14 catches for 148 yards and a TD.

Jones has also recorded 18 special-teams tackles, one blocked punt and three kickoff returns for 15 yards.

Edmonton Football Team signs receiver Shaw

EDMONTON — Kenny Shaw is back with the Edmonton Football Club.

The veteran American receiver signed with Edmonton on Wednesday. Shaw joined the club in 2019 but missed the season due to injury.

Shaw has also spent time with the Toronto Argonauts (2015-16), Ottawa Redblacks (2017) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (2018). He has registered 94 catches for 1,223 yards and five TDs in 25 career games.

Veteran punter Ryan re-signs with Roughriders

REGINA — Veteran punter Jon Ryan re-signed Wednesday with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Ryan, a Regina native, became a CFL free agent Tuesday.

Ryan registered a 48.8-yard punting average with Saskatchewan last year, his first with the CFL club following 12 years in the NFL. The 39-year-old was the Roughriders 2019 nominee for the league’s outstanding special-teams player as well as a West Division all-star.

In 2014, Ryan became the first Saskatchewan native to win a Super Bowl when the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8.

Redblacks sign free-agent receiver Petermann

OTTAWA –The Ottawa Redblacks signed Canadian receiver Daniel Petermann on Wednesday.

The five-foot-11, 210-pound native of Stoney Creek, Ont., reunites with Ottawa head coach Paul LaPolice. Petermann spent two seasons with Winnipeg, the team LaPolice served as the offensive co-ordinator with before joining the Redblacks.

Petermann had 25 catches for 272 yards and two TDs in 36 career games with Winnipeg.

Blue Bombers agree to terms with receiver Mitchell

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers agreed to terms Wednesday with American receiver Bryant Mitchell.

The six-foot-two, 200-pound Mitchell spent the last two seasons in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Prior to that, he played three CFL seasons with the Edmonton Football Team.

Stampeders sign American defensive back Lampkin

CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders re-signed American defensive back Ashton Lampkin on Wednesday.

Lampkin signed with Calgary on March 20, 2020 but opted out of his CFL team Aug. 26 after the league cancelled the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The six-foot, 190-pound Lampkin played collegiately at Oklahoma State.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 10, 2021.

The Canadian Press