The B.C. Lions are bringing two Tri-Cities boys home.
On the opening day of Canadian Football League free agency the Lions announced they have signed Terry Fox grad Sukh Chungh, a six-foot-four, 300-pound offensive lineman to a three-year contract. Chungh, 26, has played 69 games in four seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after being drafted second overall in the 2015 CFL draft. He was named a CFL West all-star this past season.
"We believe the identity of our football team will be significantly defined by the style of play of our offensive line and Sukh represents everything we want our offensive line to be in 2019," said Lions GM Ed Hervey in a press release. A player of his experience and ability had numerous options in free agency and the fact he has chosen to return home to Vancouver speaks volumes about the team we're building right now."
Sukh is known as being edgy and gritty, some even describing him as a "nasty piece of business" playing the guard position. The release said he is a technically sound run blocker and pass protector.
"British Columbia is my home and this is a dream come true to be able to play in front of my family and friends," said Chung.
The Lions also signed Lemar Durant, a Centennial secondary grad, who was named the most valuable Canadian in the 2018 Grey Cup. He had four catches, including one for a touchdown, for 30 yards, and also had a run of 22 yards as the Calgary Stampeders defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 27-16 in Edmonton.
He has played four seasons in Calgary after getting drafted in the second round, 18th overall, in 2015. In 2018, Durant made 33 receptions for 395 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games. In his CFL career, the 26-year-old Simon Fraser University pigskin product has caught 102 passes for 1,280 yards and eight TDs.
"I am excited to be returning to B.C. to join my hometown team," said Durant in a Lions press release. "It's not often you get to do that as a professional athlete."
Their signings, however, were overshadowed by B.C.’s signing of veteran Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly, a former Lion, to a four-year $2.9 million deal.
ggranger@tricitynews.com
