The football season for CFL player Brendon LaBatte has now ended; he is a former Weyburn resident who plays for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers lost 34-23 to the B.C. Lions during the 99th annual Grey Cup.
The football season for CFL player Brendon LaBatte has now ended; he is a former Weyburn resident who plays for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers lost 34-23 to the B.C. Lions during the 99th annual Grey Cup.
"It was awesome to be part of the biggest show in Canada," said LaBatte after returning to Winnipeg. He noted that the week leading up to the Grey Cup was "busy and hectic, with a lot of work, but a great experience."
A four-year veteran with the Blue Bombers, this was the very first Grey Cup experience for LaBatte. "It was awesome to come out and play in that atmosphere, even if we didn't get the results we wanted."
"Coming from where we came from, it was a step in the right direction," added LaBatte. "Once the game got going, it was just another game."
Playing the Lions in their home field during the Grey Cup, the Blue Bombers fell behind 11-0 in the first quarter, and had a late comeback bid that fell short.
Making the Grey Cup game was deemed a success by LaBatte. He said for the last four years that he was with the team, "we got the same core of guys. We have had highs and lows, but everyone in here worked hard and we did it on our own."
Winnipeg selected LaBatte in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2008 CFL Canadian Draft.
In his rookie year, LaBatte was Winnipeg's nominee for the most outstanding rookie award in 2008. LaBatte started every single regular season game in 2008, except for one. He also started the east semi-final against Edmonton that same year.
During his second season in the CFL, LaBatte was Winnipeg's nominee for most outstanding offensive lineman in 2009. He was also named a CFL east division All-Star.
LaBatte continued to be a consistent lineman for the Blue Bombers in 2010, when he started 15 games at the guard position, and filled in at the tackle position during the Labour Day classic against the Roughriders. LaBatte was a unanimous selection for the team's outstanding offensive lineman award and was also named an east division All-Star for the second year in a row.
After completing his 2011 CFL season, for the third year in a row LaBatte was named a CFL east division All-Star and was the Blue Bombers' nominee for the outstanding offensive lineman award.
