THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — The B.C. Lions have agreed to terms on a new contract with offensive lineman Kelly Bates, the CFL club announced Thursday.
"Kelly took his game to a new level in 2007 and we expect the same kind of performance going into next season," Lions GM and head coach Wally Buono said in a statement. "Signing Kelly will keep the same offensive line intact that we have had a lot of success with over the past three seasons and that’s very important moving forward."
Bates, a native of Humboldt, Sask., was named a West Division and CFL all-star last year for the first time in his six-year pro career.
"I was excited to be drafted by the Lions seven years ago and I am equally thrilled to be returning to the Lions today," said Bates. "We have a solid nucleus of veteran players and I know we’ll be very competitive next season."
Bates was a fourth-round pick of the Lions in the 2001 Canadian college draft. He has appeared in 97 regular-season games as well as six postseason contests and two Grey Cup games with the B.C. club.
Bates played collegiately at the University of Saskatchewan, helping the Huskies win a Vanier Cup in 1998.
