Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira named outstanding player and top Canadian
“It feels great getting the recognition for all the work I put in coming from the injury and becoming a better version of myself this season,” said Milligan, who missed 14 games last season with torn toe ligaments.
“Once I realized I would be fine, it was just making sure that once I started training I had to lock back in and be who I am.”
Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Logan Ferland were runners-up in their categories — coach-of-the-year and offensive lineman — as voted upon by the Football Reporters of Canada. They lost respectively to Montreal Alouettes head coach Jason Maas and guard/tackle Ryan Hunter of the Toronto Argonauts, who will meet the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 111th Grey Cup game Sunday inside BC Place Stadium.
“It says a lot about the foundation and it says a lot about the guys who came before,” said Hus. “It’s a total team effort and we put a lot into it and I’m definitely not surprised that three years in a row Riders have won.
As the West representative, Milligan defeated Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette, the East finalist. After posting a league-high eight interceptions and recording 20 special teams tackles, Milligan was also chosen as Saskatchewan’s outstanding player and special teams player but didn’t advance through the second round of voting.
Milligan was the first Roughrider to be named the CFL’s top defensive player since defensive end John Chick in 2009. Milligan is the second DB to have been chosen as the outstanding defensive player, following Winnipeg’s Jovon Johnson in 2011
Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira was named the league’s outstanding player and top Canadian, an award he also won last year. Oliveira joins Jon Cornish, Russ Jackson and Tony Gabriel as the only players to win both awards in the same season.
As numerous teammates were felled by injuries, Ferland played all 18 regular-season games and four different positions along Saskatchewan’s offensive line
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