CALGARY — Nik Lewis will run out onto McMahon Stadium as a Montreal Alouette for the first time Saturday, but it won’t be his first visit to his former home field.
The 33-year-old slotback hobnobbed with fans in the stands July 18 when the Calgary Stampeders were hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Lewis visited Calgary’s dressing room after that game to show off his baby daughter to his former teammates.
Lewis built a cult following in Calgary during his 11 seasons as a Stampeder. His pre-emptive return trip as a spectator two weeks ago reduced the weirdness he might otherwise feel Saturday.
"It took a lot of the pressure off," Lewis said Friday at McMahon. "That was the goal, to come get in the atmosphere and hang out and just see the game. I enjoyed the game.
"The only difference tomorrow than last week is I’ll only be drinking water."
Winner of two Grey Cups in Calgary and third all-time in Stampeder touchdowns with 67, Lewis’s popularity in Calgary was due to his performances both on and off the field.
A football showman who described himself as "an entertainer", his quips and opinions to the media occasionally got him into hot water. When asked about Lewis once at a news conference, Stampeder head coach John Hufnagel joked "what has he done now?"
Lewis was hampered by an ankle injury in 2014 and the Stampeders released him Feb. 10. He signed with Montreal as a free agent Feb. 25.
Never one to hold back with his thoughts or feelings, Lewis expects his emotions will run the gamut Saturday.
"I’m going to be pissed off for success and angry, and I’m going to be determined and I’m going to be smiling and happy when we win. And then, I might cry a little bit," he said and then laughed.
Lewis doesn’t blame the Stampeders for cutting him loose. The five-foot-10, 240-pound receiver conceded he was an older, expensive player who wasn’t playing much because of his ankle injury.
Calgary had several young receivers on its depth chart heading into training camp.
"I feel it ended the way it’s supposed to end," Lewis said. "We won a Grey Cup together and then went our separate ways. It wasn’t a bad split.
"This organization gave me a platform, they treated me well when I was here and I could do nothing but respect that."
Lewis has 191 yards from 15 receptions for the Als this season. He caught three balls for 65 yards and a touchdown in Montreal’s 29-11 win over the visiting Stampeders on July 3.
Calgary (3-2) is riding a three-game winning streak at home. The Stampeders fell 29-26 in overtime to the Redblacks in Ottawa last week.
The Alouettes (2-2) are coming off a bye week having beaten Hamilton 17-14 on July 16. Als rookie quarterback Rakeem Cato threw three touchdowns and completed 80 per cent of his passes in his CFL debut against Calgary in Week 2.
"He’s gaining experience every time he steps out on the field," Montreal head coach Tom Higgins said. "This will be his fourth game and we’d like for him to be three and one as a starter."
Montreal’s defence won’t have to worry about Stampeder star running back Jon Cornish, who broke his thumb in Ottawa and is on the six-game injured list.
Calgary’s defence won’t have to contend with all-star slotback Fred Stamps, who is in Louisiana on a personal family matter. Dobson Collins will draw in for Stamps, while Calgary product Matt Walter will start in Cornish’s absence.
Higgins reiterated that defensive end Michael Sam will make his CFL debut "in August" but it’s not expected to be Aug. 1 in Calgary.
"He’s worked really hard to get himself in shape and he’s in much better shape than he was during training camp," Higgins said.
Lewis looked forward to verbal sparring with Calgary middle linebacker Juwan Simpson.
"We used to go at it in practice a lot and Huf used to tell us to shut up," Lewis recalled. "Now he won’t be out there telling us to shut up."
Said Simpson: "You can’t avoid it. He’s a talker. He always wants to put on a show. He always wants to be in the spotlight. It’s up to us to stop that tomorrow."
