B.C. Lions look to build momentum for West semifinal after loss to Calgary

The B.C. Lions will finish their CFL regular season against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but their playoff path is set: they will host the West Division semifinal. B.C. lost 32-13 to the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday. The Lions, now 10-7, had already clinched second in the West after the Edmonton Elks beat Winnipeg the previous evening.

Player management was a focus in Calgary. Quarterback Nathan Rourke, the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player last season, was pulled after completing eight of 11 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Backup Kaidon Salter completed six of 14 passes for 113 yards and was intercepted once in the second half. B.C.’s top two receivers, Keon Hatcher Sr. and Justin McInnis, also sat out some snaps.

Head coach Buck Pierce was noncommittal Friday when asked how he would deploy players against Winnipeg, saying only, “We’ll see.” Salter sees Friday’s game as a chance to showcase his talent if he gets the opportunity. He said his performance should look no different from Rourke’s once he is in the game.

There is nothing at stake for B.C. against Winnipeg in the standings, but Pierce still wants a full effort to build momentum for the division semifinal in Vancouver on Oct. 31. He said the message to the team is that it needs to play better football down the stretch. The Lions have beaten the Blue Bombers in their only meeting so far this season, a 35-19 win in Winnipeg on July 30. Salter said the team should play together and to the best of its ability. He is focused on the regular-season finale before thinking about the playoffs.

B.C. has been the CFL’s hottest team after a 1-5 start, winning nine of 10 games heading into Saturday. The Lions are waiting to learn their semifinal opponent, which could be Winnipeg, Calgary or the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Calgary’s playoff hopes depend on a Blue Bombers loss, so the Stampeders and their fans will be cheering for B.C. on Friday.

Stampeders head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson hopes Pierce plays his starters. Dickenson said he would lobby Pierce, arguing the Lions would not want to enter the playoffs on a losing streak, especially a two-game skid. B.C. is seeking a home playoff win and another victory in the West final in Edmonton on Nov. 7 to reach its first Grey Cup since 2011, when the Lions won as the host team. Pierce said there is a lot to clean up and the team is excited to get back to work.

This report by The Canadian Press’s Sam Matheos was first published Oct. 18, 2026.