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News June 19, 2025

48-Hour Primer | Demski’s Ascent

Nic Demski's first of two touchdown grabs in last week's 34-20 win over the B.C. Lions; photos by Cameron Bartlett

@EdTaitWFC

Nic Demski isn’t the type to thump his chest or hop up on a soapbox to boast about his numerous and growing personal achievements.

Oh sure, when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver has the ball in his hands in the end zone his celebrations can be epic — as we saw twice in last week’s win over the B.C. Lions.

But there’s a low-key approach he takes to his craft and his work between the white stripes, other than an occasional first-down motion when one of his catches positively move the chains. So, while the Winnipeg-born product — a proud alum of Oak Park High School and the University of Manitoba — isn’t big on self-promotion, please allow us to step in and blow the trumpet for him as the Blue Bombers head to Vancouver for Saturday’s rematch with the B.C. Lions.

Demski’s two TDs last week gives him 38 as a Blue Bomber and moved him past Tom Casey and Darvin Adams and into a tie with Jim Washington for the 13th most in franchise history (Milt Stegall is first at 147; Jeff Boyd holds down the 10th spot at 47 and next closest to Demski is Perry Tuttle at 41).

And last week he moved past Gerald Wilcox into 11th spot on the Blue Bombers all-time receiving yardage list at 4,612 — just 56 yards back from passing Adams and moving into the Top 10.

“That is cool. That is very cool,” said Demski when told of these numbers by bluebombers.com this week. “This is a city I grew up in and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were my team. So, to be moving into ranks like that with those names means a lot.

“I don’t pay close attention to that stuff, but I obviously know who No. 1 is — Milt Stegall — and I know Joe Pop (Poplawski) and James Murphy, big #21, is up there. But I don’t look at it much. That’s the stuff I’ll look at when my career is over but to be moving into a Top 10 is pretty damn cool.

“And to be close to passing Darvin, that’s a potentially big moment because he was that vet when I came here when I was 25 and just going into my second contract. He was the Big Dawg here and the leader. So, to see now that I’m the leader of our group makes it more of a full circle moment.”

Those who have followed Demski’s Canadian Football League career already know of his path home, but it’s worth repeating here for context. Drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the first round, 6th overall, in 2015, Demski played in 31 games over his first two years in the league before he became a free agent. Then offensive coordinator Paul LaPolice — and others on Blue Bombers management — loved his multi-faceted skill set as a receiver/running back/returner and made a serious pitch to bring him home in free agency.

Demski averaged 54 catches for 631 yards over his first four years with the Blue Bombers but has taken a massive step since then with 143 receptions for 2,036 yards — including a pair of 1K seasons — over 2023-24 while being named a West Division All-Star in each of the last four seasons.

“It’s pretty crazy when I think about things — this is my seventh year here and my 10th in the league and I still feel like I can play a few more years. I would love to,” he said. “I love playing for this organization and with this group of guys and I still feel like I’ve got a lot of good football left in me. Possibly moving into the Top 10 is cool but hopefully with more games, more production, more wins I can keep moving up that list.”

Yes, in many ways it could be said there’s a sense he’s still got so much to give at age 31.

“He’s still committed to the process of getting better,” said head coach Mike O’Shea this week. “If you watch him sitting there in the meeting, he’s really attentive, he’s asking questions, he’s making sure he’s going to go out and do the right thing and he’s not happy when it doesn’t look the way it’s supposed to look. He’s continually trying to get better all the time.

“You can’t be that good and never think you’ve arrived. He’s very smart. He understands the game and he sees it extremely well — you can ask him to do a lot of different things. His body type and athleticism is such that he could do a lot of different things for you, not only on offence but on special teams, too.

“… You’re very confident in his ability to go out there and get the job done and with a much deeper level of understanding than a lot of guys on how you win in the CFL — how you win your rep and how you play offence.”

BRADY O/BENSON OUT: Confirmed from the daily injury report: running back Brady Oliveira — who exited last week’s win over the Lions after the first drive — will not play on Saturday due to a shoulder injury. As well, long-snapper Mike Benson is also out. Expect more clarity on the roster when the depth chart is released Friday morning.

ROURKE WATCH: The Blue Bombers did not have a practice on Thursday and will travel to Vancouver Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, B.C. starting quarterback Nathan Rourke did not participate at practice for the Lions on Thursday. If he can’t go — the depth charts will be revealed Friday — the club can go with veteran Jeremiah Masoli or Chase Brice behind centre.

WALLET HIT: Blue Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson was one of three CFL players fined in Week 2. Jefferson was hit for ‘delivering a blindside block on BC long snapper Kyle Nelson.’

CFL announces fines following Week 2 action

NEW HARDWARE: The Blue Bombers will participate in the inaugural Stampede Bowl on July 3rd at McMahon Stadium in Calgary as the Stampeders launch their own signature game. And here is the unveiling of the new trophy, courtesy the Stamps media team: