The 2017 Canadian Football League (CFL) season begins on Thursday, June 22 with the Manitoba Bisons football program continuing to contribute numerous alumni throughout the professional league.

There is ten former Bisons (continuing a trend of double digit numbers in the CFL – 12 Bisons at start of 2016; 11 in 2015) on CFL rosters plus one former Bison staff member as a CFL coach while two former Bisons are in the NFL (National Football League) with the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers for the start of the upcoming 2017 season.  

Overall, there are former Bisons players in five of the nine teams in the CFL league. The Saskatchewan Roughriders have the most Bison alumni with three players on their roster while the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers have two former Bison players on their roster. There is also one Bison player on the Montreal Alouettes roster.

At the beginning of the 2017 season, the ten Bisons on CFL rosters are linebacker Thomas Miles in his fourth CFL season and first with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. On Saskatchewan, wide receiver Nic Demski begins his third season with the Roughriders along with defensive lineman Eddie Steele, in his seventh CFL season (first with Sask.) and running back Kienan LaFrance is in his third season. Offensive lineman Landon Rice starts his fifth CFL season plus defensive lineman Evan Gill in his third year, both with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Running back Anthony Coombs starts his fourth CFL season with the Toronto Argonauts. The Montreal Alouettes have defensive tackle Don Oramasionwu, in his ninth CFL season (first year with Montreal),

In their rookie CFL season, wide receiver Derek Yachison starts his first season on the practice roster with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers while defensive end Evan Foster was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in 2017 and will commence his first CFL season on their practice roster.

"It is always proud to watch former Manitoba Bisons make a lasting impact on several CFL rosters. I am happy to see so many Bison student-athletes graduate into the professional ranks after a successful career at Manitoba," said Bison Football head coach Brian Dobie.

Bison Notes: For the start of the CFL seasons, the former Bisons on CFL rosters were 12 in the 2005 season, 11 in 2006, ten in 2007, eight in 2008, seven in 2009, eight in 2010, five in 2011 and 2012, six in 2013, nine in 2014, 11 in 2015 and 12 in 2016.


Former Manitoba Bisons Currently Playing Professional Football (as of June 21/17)
(LB) Thomas Miles            - Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL)
**(WR) Derek Yachison     - Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL)
(WR) Nic Demski               - Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL)
(DL) Eddie Steele              - Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL)
*(RB) Kienan LaFrance    - Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL)
(DT) Evan Gill                    - Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL)
(OL) Landon Rice             - Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL)
(RB) Anthony Coombs     - Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
**(DE) Evan Foster            - Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
(DT) Don Oramasionwu    - Montreal Alouettes (CFL)


Bob Dyce                           - Ottawa REDBLACKS (CFL coach)
David Onyemata                - New Orleans Saints (NFL)
Geoff Gray                         - Green Bay Packers (NFL)

* - 1 game injured list        ** - practice squad