Perry Lefko

Perry Lefko keeps you connected to all the news in the CFL on Sportsnet.ca.

Dave Stala

What's the deal with Winnipeg and its kickers? For the longest time it was Bob Cameron, who was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame last week, and Troy Westwood. It's been a revolving door of punters and kickers the last few years for the Bombers, but what has happened this season, in particular last Friday, is beyond belief, even by CFL standards.

Rookie head coach Paul LaPolice replaced struggling kicker Alexis Serna with Louie Sakoda, who had been cut as the punter by the Saskatchewan Roughriders and replaced by onetime Toronto Argonaut Eddie Johnson. Sakoda's specialty is field-goal kicking, which he didn't do in Saskatchewan, but LaPolice, who worked last year in Riderville, saw Sakoda's kicking in practice on a daily basis. LaPolice's confidence in Sakoda didn't last long when the kicker pulled up lame during the pre-game warm-up, forcing punter Mark Renaud to handle the kickoffs. Fortunately, he didn't have any field-goal attempts.

So now the Bombers are auditioning Warren Kean, Justin Palardy and Ryan Elaschuk to kick during Thursday's game against Montreal. Kean, the second pick overall in the 2007 draft, spent part of the 2008 season with Bombers. Palardy began the season with Hamilton as a punter, but was cut because of various problems. Elaschuk spent some time with Saskatchewan on their practice roster.

Meanwhile in Hamilton, the Ticats have signed import punter Matt Fodge, presumably to replace Eric Wilbur, who replaced Palardy. Wilbur was knocked down by a Winnipeg player and limped off the field. Dave Stala, who did some punting with the Als, replaced Wilbur for one boot and hoofed it 44 yards. We dare say the best boot this year by Stala came after a touchdown in Hamilton. Stala celebrated the touchdown by booting the ball out of the stadium. Of course, that didn't count in the game stats, but did earn him a penalty, though we're not sure why. Was it for excessive celebration, delay of game, or taunting? What's the difference when a player catches a touchdown and throws it into the stands?

THE HIT BRIGADE: Ticats linebacker Jamall Johnson had two great hits in the Bombers' game, one on Winnipeg quarterback Steven Jyles on a third-and-one attempt that fell short and the other on an official, who was woozy and had to leave the field but later returned. Johnson showed his class by later checking on the injured official.

BOMBERS FANS: We're not sure if Bombers' head coach Paul LaPolice was influenced by the raucous Winnipeg fans when he opted to challenge a catch that was ruled incomplete, which clearly was. For the first time this season, the Bomber fans booed the team. You'd think it was Mad Mike Kelly coaching the team again.

SPEAKING OF CATCHES: Bombers' receiver Terrence Edwards almost made an amazing one handed catch against the body of Ticats' defender Jason Shivers but Shivers grabbed control of the ball when the two players hit the ground, and it quickly became one hell of an interception.

THE KISS CAM: It is a ritual at Argo home games to encourage patrons to kiss when their images are shown on the giant screen. It is also a ritual to focus on the opposing team, which typically produces no reaction because generally the players don't even know their images are being displayed. Against the Als, however, one of the offensive linemen noticed the big screen and gave what can best be described as a kiss-off.

QUOTE, UNQUOTE: "I got penalized, I hurt the team for it but you're in the moment. It was a canoe and I was rowing it trying to get back to Hawaii."

-Argonaut receiver Chad Owens, who is from Hawaii, on his touchdown celebration with some teammates, who collectively imitated a group of rowers. The Argos were flagged for 15 yards.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Offence: Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo: Completed 37 of 49 passes for 450 yards, including three touchdowns and one interception. Runnerup: Toronto receiver Chad Owens, six catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Defence: Hamilton linebacker Markeith Knowlton: 10 tackles, one sack. Runnerup: Saskatchewan defensive lineman Jerrell Freeman: Special teams: Edmonton returner Kelly Campbell: Six punt returns for 162 yards and touchdown: Runnerup: Toronto kick returner Ryan Christian, one kickoff return 110 yards for a touchdown.