It’s a mark that might not officially find a place in the Canadian Football League record book, yet will stand as one of the most unique accomplishments in the long and storied history of the three-down game.
Yes, let history show that one of the coolest moments of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2023 season came on a picture-perfect autumn Friday night in October at IG Field in what ultimately was a 45-25 win over the Edmonton Elks.
Seven minutes remained in the third quarter when Nic Demski pulled in a seven-yard pass from Zach Collaros to push him over the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the first time in his career. That alone is noteworthy, and especially so for Demski, but it was the significant side story to the achievement – with running back Brady Oliveira already having eclipsed the 1K rushing mark earlier in the year – which made it so special.
Until that moment, no two Canadians on the same team had recorded 1,000 yards receiving and 1,000 yards rushing in the same season. Making it even more compelling was this: both men were Winnipeggers playing for their hometown team and came from the same high school in Oak Park.
The historical significance of that moment comes in at #4 in our Year in Review top stories.
“It’s special,” Demski told bluebombers.com that night after the win. “We knew about (making CFL history) but when it happened and then when we were talking on the sidelines it still doesn’t really settle in.
“But just like the crowd applause and knowing how much it means to this city as well – especially two Winnipeg guys to do it together – I’m definitely taking it in now.”
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to get the ball in my hands and make plays and I never want to lose that. I’m thankful to be here with this organization and for them to have the trust in me and be with a great offensive line, great receivers, a great quarterback and running back.”
Demski would finish the year with 1,006 yards on 67 catches and six touchdowns while being named to the West Division All-Star team. Oliveira’s season – which will be highlighted later in our Year in Review series – was also sensational, as he led the CFL in rushing, went over the 2,000-yard mark from scrimmage and was named both a league all-star and the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian Player.
“I think now we’ll be able to sit back in the locker room over a couple of cold ones and really soak in how special this is,” Oliveira said the night he and Demski authored history. “We kind of talked about it on the sidelines near the fourth quarter. That’s crazy. That’s history. No one has ever done that, and this league has been around for years and years.
“So, it’s special, man. I’m so proud of Demski. I see how he works his butt off and how he attacks every single day. He’s a true pro and that’s a guy I look up to and a guy I looked up to when I came to this team.”
“He’s the definition of a pro and those are the guys you want in this locker room. Seeing him have so much success this year in his first 1,000-yard season, for him to be one of my best friends and for us to make history together and with us both being from Oak Park… it’s special, man.”
In a league that has its origins dating pre-World War II and the days of leather helmets, sometimes even the most fervent supporter can become numb to players breaking records or moving atop all-time lists. It happens every year in any one of the statistical categories tracked by the league.
Again, though, it was the uniqueness of the Demski-Oliviera 1K-1K feat – two guys from the same high school doing it with their hometown squad – that resonated throughout the locker room and across the CFL.
“That’s so cool,” said Collaros that night back in October. “I’m actually surprised it had never been done before. And for them to both be from the same high school? I always tell them I wish there was a pro team in my hometown (Steubenville, Ohio). It’s one of the coolest stories, one of the coolest things to be able to do this in front of family and friends, old coaches and teammates, mentors. Some of my closest friends still are from my hometown, so for them to be doing this here is really amazing.”
