Halford & Brough in the Morning - BC Lions QB Nathan Rourke On The Season That Was

Episode Date: November 11, 2025

In hour two, Mike & Jason chat with CJOB Winnipeg's Jim Toth (1:34) about the latest around the Jets, who get set to take on the Canucks in Vancouver tonight, plus the boys speak with BC Lions star QB Nathan Rourke (25:57) about what was a memorable season, that saw them one win away from a Grey Cup appearance.  This podcast is produced by Andy Cole and Greg Balloch. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Seven o'clock on a Tuesday. Halford, Brough, Sportsnet, 6.50. Jamie died in for the vacationing, Jason Brough. And today and every day this week, you are listening to the Halford & Brough Show on Sportsnet 650. Halford & Brum for the morning is brought to by Sands and Associates. Score a debt freedom hat trick with Sands. One, no more interest, two much lower payments, and three financial peace of mind. Visit them online at Sands dash trustee.com.

We are now in our two of the program. Jim Toth is going to join us in just a moment here for a little Jets talk. Hour two of this program is brought to by Jason Hominoch at jason. If you love giving the banks more of your money, then don't let you. Jason, shop around to find the perfect mortgage for you. Visit them online at jason dot mortgage. We are broadcasting live from the Kintech studio, Kintech footwear and orthotics working together with you in step. It is a Canucks game night here on SportsNet 650.

It's the Canucks and the Jets 7 o'clock from Rogers Arena. You can hear the call right here on SportsNet 650. Our next guest will give us a preview from the Jets side of things. He's the host of Jets at noon and the Jim Tooth Show and C.J. OB-680. Winnipeg. Jim Toth joins us now on the Halford & Brough Show on SportsNet 650. Morning, Jim. How are you? Good morning, Mike. Good morning, Jamie. I'm doing good. How are you guys doing? We're well. Thanks for taking the time to do this. We appreciate it.

Lots of questions to ask you about a Jets team that, through no fault of our own, we just haven't paid a ton of attention to this season because there's been a lot that's been going on. So the Jets come in tonight, 9-6-0. Prior to this trip to California, though, they were 9-3-0. Got off to a very good start this season, but hit a bit of our. rut in California. So first question, big picture. What's the story of this jet season been

so far? And then what went wrong over those three games in California? Well, the big story so far is obviously Jonathan Taves and of course the expectation on this team. Coming out a training camp, they were not for the first time since I've been covering the 15 years of this organization, afraid to talk

Stanley Cup and mentioned it and that's the goal. And so that's how they sort of came in a training camp. And I think after finishing first overall last year in the National Hockey League and going to the second round, that that was okay with the organization. I sort of put that foot forward. And then they got off to a good start.

Like, they have some major injuries in Colper Freddie being out in Adam Lowry, who both came back this week. Lowry's been back for three games and Per Freddie won. And Dylan Samberg went down in training camp too in the last game of the preseason in Calgary. So it was at home against Calgary. Sorry, not the last game. But regardless, those are three big pieces being out. And I just kind of thought, well, this is a little ominous to miss those guys.

get off to a good start and then they did they were nine and three like you said and then they just stopped playing jets hockey so I don't want to discredit anything of the three california teams and i do want to emphasize that i think the canucks and the jets and everybody in the west have to sort of take notice that the gauntlet of 10 years ago but going through california might be coming back because i thought all three of those teams played really well but the jets just got away from their hockey the two-time defending jennings trophy winners they're not defending well I've not seen games like the one in San Jose in the second and third period or the entire game in Anaheim where they gave up so much off the rush and so much down the middle.

That's not Jets like. They push everything in the outside. They're the ones that sort of use their rush chances and create turnovers on the other team to get chances. And Anaheim just looked like the Winnipeg Jets of three or four years ago. And then the Jets just looked like somebody that didn't know how to defend at all. So they're struggling right now. The Canucks are getting him at a good time, although I thought that was going to be taking care of against Anaheim

because Scott or Neal, the head coach was not happy after the San Jose game and voiced it. And I think he was less happy after the Anaham game. So we'll see what happens in Vancouver. But they admit whether it's the players, whether it's the coaching staff, that it's self-inflicted wounds that have gotten them the three straight losses in California. You mentioned Jonathan Taves is, of course, one of if not the biggest story with the Winnipeg Jets coming into the season. and I think even outside Winnipeg league wide,

there was a lot of curiosity about what that would look like, especially with him slotting in so high up the lineup after a lengthy time off from the NHL. What has Jonathan Taves brought both on and off the ice to the Winnipeg Jets so far? Well, on the ice, he's brought a lot of humility to a team that is kind of some of them, like Perfetti said, I watched this kid, this guy growing up.

There's been a lot of Jets going. I'm so excited to play with him, I want to see him play, but he's come in in the way of, I heard a story that he even said when he was ready to come back to, I sign a PTO and that's how humble he was about trying to do this effort. But he's come in and been as advertised off the ice for sure. Like he's a professional. Scott Arneal told me at training camp when I went to a couple sessions that he's got

some grandchildren Arneal does in Minnesota and went down there where he was skating with the NHL players and had some cup of coffee with him a couple times and just saw how driven he was. And I actually had to tell him, just take it easy. It's, it's okay in the summer. We'll figure it all out. Like, he just was amped up to go. On the ice guys, it's what you would expect from a Captain Serious driven Jonathan Taves.

He's gotten slowly better every single game. He is so hockey, smart, his intelligence on the ice and where to go and plays that are coming up. His intensity is still there as well. I don't think Jonathan Taves, and this is just my opinion, was ever blessed with a lot of speed. but his hockey knowledge on angles and positioning and everything carried him that way. He looks to be the same speed as he was when he walked away from the game two and a half years ago or was forced to. So that's something that I've been keeping an eye on.

But he's looked good. Like he has not been a problem. And I think that they're all waiting for it to just continue to get better because it clearly has. Like game in, game out. You know, it starts with one or two plays in that first game of the regular season where I'm like, wow, that's a smart play. and then there's three of them and then there's four of them and then he's dominant in the faceoff circle.

So I wasn't surprised that he wasn't going to do this and make it work and the Jets were doing a smart thing. What I was surprised is what you just mentioned is how high in the lineup and he looks like a solid second line center. I think they want more production out of him, but he's had a ton of chances like he's creating some things. He did a nice wraparound in Anaheim on Sunday that looked like they're going to be a wraparound

and the goal he played it that way and he was a pass out to Perfetti. He was streaking to the net and Perfetti hit the post. And even Profetti said in the post game, I'm really rusty. It's my first game. I'm trying to get up to speed.

But man, that passed. Like if I'm going to be playing with that all year, I'm excited. So he's come as advertised. And I think everybody's wondering, you know, how good he's going to be. And I think that's fair. But through the first 16, 17 games of the season,

I don't think there's any complaints about the level of play on or off the ice that he's an experience he's brought to this locker room. We're speaking to Jim Toad, both from C.J. OB Winnipeg here on the Halford & Brough show on SportsNet 650. Winnipeg in town tonight to take on the Canucks. 7 o'clock Rogers Arena, you can hear the call right here on SportsNet 650. Jim, I want to turn our attention to Mark Shifley.

Is he one of those rare athletes who actually gets better as he gets older? Well, that could be the story of the Winnipeg Jets guys. And Mike, I've been on with you guys before where I've told the Josh Morrissey story at 25 or 26 when he kind of had a breakout season. He was really solid, top-paring guy, and then he started putting up 70 points. And he told me a story about it. He goes, you know, I think that a lot of times in this league, you're 25, 26, and people think that's what you are and that you go home and you work out and you golf and you come back. And that's just who you are.

And he goes, I think what's lost in this league is a lot of people don't realize how we're all trying to get better, no matter how old you are in every off season. And he's a prime example of that. And so is Mark Schifley. Mark Schifley's last two to three years. He is a dominant center. Like I think that he is one of those guys that keeps getting better. and I have to throw Connor Hellebuck in there too. Like going into last year, I think it was on your guys' show and some other ones

and even our own show and I'm talking about and I said, is it just me or is he actually better? Like he's one of Vesna, he's won two of them now, but he's better than he's ever been. Is that the system in front of him? But I could see, you know, Hellebuck's positioning being less work for him to get to. It was just so smooth and transitional. It looked effortless. This is a group of guys that continuously to get better into their 30s and as they approach their 30s. And it's something that, you know, I've seen across the National

Hockey League once in a while in a player or two that, you know, hits 30 and gets a little bit of a bump. I've never seen so many guys really continue to develop at 31, 32 years old, like Halibuck and Shifley and that. I do know that Morrissey, Lowry, Shifley are really good friends. They spend a lot of time together in the off season. And, and like they go on trips together. I think they went on a golfing trip to Scotland this summer, but they spent a lot of time in Calgary working on their stuff and getting better and driving each. other and they really are. They're a core group that, you know, when the odd one was making all-star games, they're now in their 30s, they're approaching their 30s and an all-perennial

all-stars. So I give them all a lot of credit, but Mark's always been a hockey nerd. He loves the game. Andrew Kopp used to tell the story when he was a jet and living with him that, you know, he goes home and tries to watch football and do other things. And Mark's just watching other games and looking at analytics and studying it and all that. He's always driven to make himself better. and I give him a lot of credit he clearly has. He's had a last rough couple of games like the team has defensively. A lot of stuff that's come down the middle has been him, and that used to be him, you know, four or five years ago was the knock on him.

And he's really cleared that up the past two seasons. So again, tonight I'll be watching for that as well. But he's really well-rounded, developed, and continues to get better, which is something I don't know about you guys, but I rarely see that and this many individuals on the same team into the 30s. One more on Sheifley. Well, two more actually. Could he make the Olympic team and will he make the Olympic team?

I think he should and I think he will. We in Winnipeg on Jets at noon kind of call this. Is this the Olympic Bowl when they were in San Jose two games? He would see if Celebrini or Sheifley would go. And Celebrity looked good. He had that breakaway goal that he beat Hellebuck on as well. But look, I mean, it all depends on the roster, right? But I think I know for a fact he took it.

personally when he didn't make the Four Nations Cup team. And I know that for a fact is when Sweeney and the Bruins came in, I think, three games later, whenever that was after the team was decided, he absolutely pounded them and was all over them. And went on a streak of like the next 15 games after not making the roster

had like 18 or 19 points or something like that. I'm just throwing numbers up, but they was high. So I do think he deserves it, and I do think he will. I think that, you know, and this is just kind of me judging how I'd put a team together, but But there's nothing to dislike about Celebrini. And to me, Celebrini and the Bedards, they make this team when the Marchans and

the Crosbys are too old. I think that's how the transition goes. If I'm putting this team together and I can count on a guy to be a 200-foot player and play in the bottom six, but if there's an injury and I need to put somebody in the top six, I'm doing it with Mark Sheifley. And I think that he does make the team and I think he should make the team. And I think his play out of the gate dictates that too and shows that, you know, he came ready and this is something he wants desperately.

And I think that he should make it and I think he will. Jim, you mentioned at the beginning of the season this team was open about talking about going for the Stanley Cup in Winnipeg what do people view as the window for this team

and how long it's going to remain open? I mean, as you talked about a lot of guys to their credit have found ways to not just maintain their level but get better even going in to their early 30s, but you know you do have a lot of the key players on the team. going into their early 30s, there's veterans there like Nino Nieder Rider and Tanner Pearson who are well into their 30s. Does it feel like the clock is ticking a little bit for this

version of the Winnipeg Jets? It does for sure. And the thing that's surprising about how they're getting better guys is they kind of have to, right? Like this core has to kind of stay together where the jets aren't going to attract equal quality players. Two years ago, if Shaisley or Hellebuck left, I don't know a free agent that's going to sign here in Winnipeg that's of that caliber. So it's kind of weird how they've kind of all gotten better together, but they've kept this core together and where the window is because they have to. Like everybody who comes here always resigns here, but they come via trade or they're

drafted, right? Kyle Conner's another prime example that I, how sought after would he have been on the free agent market, but he stayed. So this is a group that's together, but they've been together for 10, 11, 12 years. Mark Sheifley's in his 15th season with the organization. So the window is closing a little bit. And Nick Eler's bolted in free agency. He was another drafted guy that had been here 10 seasons.

But the window is now, and Jets fans feel that. I think the window would be different if they'd gotten out of the first round a couple of times before last year. But right now, it's always about winning the Stanley Cup. Like I know right now that if they go to the third round this year and get knocked out, fans will call it a disappointment because they've been together for so long. It's like, you know, it's kind of boring. And Kevin Chevaldeoff likes boring. He likes to pile up wins and take a run at the playoffs

and keep the guys that he has because he knows he can't attract free agents and go this route. But if you're a Jets fan, I can also understand there's been no major free agent signing other than Jonathan Taves in the 15 years. No big star has willingly come here other than via a trade. They have to grow these guys through the draft. They have to make trades that come and then re-sign guys like Niederrider and Domestikov to make it go.

But the window is there right now. But again, these guys aren't going to continue to get better. And maybe I should knock on wood when I look at Sidney Crosby, but I don't think they're going to continue to get better at 35, 36, 37. Like the window is now in the next two years. And I think that they have Brayne Yeager coming up. Brad Lambert's played some games for them this year. That's the next, you know, guys to come in and push to maybe rid of the

Nemesnikovs and the Niederwriters in two or three years and round out this into a higher score in bottom. six but those guys are top six players right it's it's now they they want to win now and um any indication is this three game road trip when we open the phone lines on friday the sky was falling and shovel day off needed to be fired and and um it's and it's all driven from and i we had a filling co-host and i was telling them i go this is all driven from it's been 15 years they want to see it happen because these guys have been here 12 13 10 years we're speaking to jm from C.J. OB Winnipeg here on the

Halford & Brough show on SportsNet 650. It's funny. We're 15 minutes into the hit, and now we finally get around to talking about the reigning NHL MVP and Vezna winner for top goalie, Connor Hellebuck. But I do think maybe it's reflective of where Hellebuck's at. It's that you just expect greatness from him. When he's

playing really well, there's not much more to say than, yeah, that's Hellebuck doing the Hellebuck thing. And, you know, plus 920 save percentage, a bunch more wins. Has anything changed on that front, or is it still the same Connor Hellebuck that we've seen throughout previous regular seasons anyway, where he's the best goal in the National Hockey League. Yeah, it's the same.

And now I'm already after the San Jose game going, okay, like last year I said, can he actually get better than being the best goal in the world? And he did. He won the MVP and had a better season than I'd ever seen him have, even though he just won his third Vezna. He looks like he might get better guys. I don't know how to explain it. But that game in San Jose, I know they lost by a goal.

he was sensational and he started the year I remember the first game of the year I'm trying to remember who they played it was Dallas and one of our analysis I was working in the broadcast that game and the other analysis

leaned over to me and he said when was the last time you saw a four on three in a power play or a five on three power play in the NHL and I'm like yeah for two minutes and he was sensational in that game

they lost that game to Dallas but I think he faced two penalty kills five on three for over a minute and he absolutely robbed everybody it looks like he's just as good as he ever was and ever will be and he might have to the game in San Jose I thought I mean he's taking it up again a little bit

it's not much like he unless you watch him every night you probably wouldn't notice it but I just see him making little saves and stuff and it's so effortless we had him on the show I think it was two years ago and asked him what his offseason looks like and he said well it's this compact he's not a big talker right

And I said, what's your off season like these days? And he said, it's compact. And I go, what does that mean? He goes, I'm not searching for anything in my game anymore. I'm not spending the off season doing my 90 minutes and then spending another 30, 40 minutes going, okay, I really want to get this better, get that better. And that was two years ago. And then he went back-to-back Veznes.

And so his summers are compact. When he's on the ice working on his game, he knows what works for him. And he works at it to maintain it and make sure it gets better. And then he's off. And he's not looking for little things like, oh, I've got to get my glove up higher. I've got to go post to post. We'll see tonight, guys, on how challenging the Canucks are and how he moves.

But if you want, watch how he moves around and it looks effortless. He reads a play and goes to where the pass is going before the pass is actually getting there. And it's an amazing thing to watch if you study him. And I don't know how he does it. It's natural talent and all his work, too. But I do think he might even be just as good as ever.

Well, he is as good as ever, and I might think he might be taking even a step further this year. Part of the brilliance of Hellabuck, of course, is not just what he does when he's in. net, but the fact that he can be in there so many nights during the regular season. He's maybe the last true workhorse guy like that left in the

NHL. And you look at this year, we all expect him to, of course, be there for Team USA and likely play a huge chunk of those games for them. Is there any thought in Winnipeg of trying to dial back the number, not dramatically, not, you know, a 1A, 1B situation with Comrie

or anything like that, but to try to maybe just dip it under 60 in an effort to keep him a little fresher for the playoffs. Well, that's a great point because Scott Arniel, I thought it was strange last year. Two weeks into the season, he was talking about Four Nations and rest and all this. And he was talking about Connor Hellebuck, right? And we all know he went and they lost on the gold medal to Canada, but he was managing that. And so I'm very interested in this year with the Olympics and potentially being more games and a longer tournament, how he's managing

it. But they are. We're looking at the schedule and kind of pick where Comrie might play. and I think the other reason I think he's going to get rested is because Eric Comrie in this system plays really well. Like this is a guy who's even when he couldn't get a win in six straight games was phenomenal and lost one goal games and stuff last year. And this year he's off to a great start as well. So I think having Comrie in the system is going to give him some more rest. But the Comrie starts that have come have surprised me a little bit.

They're not just on back-to-backs. They're not on road travel days when we get somewhere or come. come home. He played on this three-game road trip, and they had a day or two off in between every game. So I do think they're looking at that, and I do think they're keeping them fresh, but I also think it's their, you know, when they play their Jets hockey, which they didn't in California, goalies look good in this system. They defend well. They won two straight Jennings trophies. So I do think they're going to manage it. I do think they're watching it, but I don't think it's going to be to the tune of 50, 53 games. I think it's going to be in and around 60s,

the magic number. If they can get it to 58, they'll probably be happy with that. But also, Connor Hellebuck thrives on that, right? Like, Connor Hellebuck, if he gets lit up in a game and he hasn't been pulled in so long, he gets right back in there. And I know all goalies want to play all the time, but he is adamant about that. He would like to play every game. He's about to, even in the preseason, he's banging on his door and going, can I play more? So he's also, that's a dangerous slope, right?

Like, there's a lot of fans who want him to play 50, 55 games and let him get rested for the playoffs. I don't think you'll see a good Connor Hellebuck then. He's a rhythm guy. He's a, he's a routine guy. He likes to play. He wants to play all 82 games. And I think that's because he knows he plays his best when he's playing a lot. So that's a difficult thing for them to manage.

I do not know what their plan is, but I do think they are going to keep an eye on it like Scott or Neal did last year for the Four Nations. Jim, this was great, buddy. Thanks for taking the time to do this today. We really appreciate it. Enjoy the game tonight. It should be a good one. We'll do this again later on in the season.

Yeah, always a pleasure, guys. Thanks for having me. All the best see out in Vancouver and enjoy the game as well. Thanks. Appreciate it, Jim. That's Jim Toth from C. Winnipeg here on the Halford and Brough show on SportsNet 650. A note

off that, Connor Helweck didn't play the Jets last game, the 4-1 loss in Anaheim. That was a Comrie game, so I would fully expect to be Hallibuck tonight. It is, of course, a Canucks game night, so I should mention that everything about Canucks

game night circles around the fine folks at Panago. Panago, go for the win, buy two medium Panago pizzas and score free cheesy bread. Use promo code at Canucks deal at panago.com. You should pan to go for it. Restrictions apply

game day only. Panago.com. Okay, also, now this is big. Ooh. It's big. I'm just going to say the powers of Limitless AVs one to watch are very well established by now on the Halford & Breft Show on Sportsnet 650.

I think the the quidre was when I anointed Atu-Ratu as the one to watch last week. ahead of, and what game was that? That was the loss to Chicago, I want to say, where it was 4-0, and then Ratu scored a meaningless but important goal

in a 4-2 loss to Chicago because it was his first goal of the year. Prior to that game, we said, let's use the limitless AV-1-to-watch powers for good and trying to annoy one of these Canucks that needs to get off the Schneid. Well, since that's happened, Ratu scored and not one to watch, but Lina's Carlson

also scored. So, who's left? Well, there's one that really stands out, so congratulations, to Archdeep Baines, you are now the Limitless AV one to watch tonight as the Canucks take on the Jets at Rogers Arena. 17 games played for Baines so far

this year. No goals yet, Jamie Dodd. And I say yet because he is the Limitless AV one to watch tonight as the Jets take on the Canucks at Rogers Arena. Limitless AV Vancouver's most trusted audio visual integration experts specializing in seamless video

conferencing solutions and hybrid workspaces. Book your personalized tour of their experience center today at limitless a.v.ca. So if Baines scores tonight, some might call you a hero for putting him in the one-to-watch spotlight. I look at it the other way. And I'll say, well, why on earth didn't you do this before? Mike? Why did you withhold the power of the one-to-watch bump from R.D. Baines for so long? That's a valid question. Someone shouted me out on Twitter yesterday for giving it to Connor McDavid. I was like, I feel like Connor McDavid probably could have found the sheet without being the

limitless A.V. One to watch. However, McDavid did score twice. That's the limit. You really play yourself out there on that one was for him. One was for limitless A.V. All right, we got a lot more to get into on the Halford and Brough show on SportsNet 650. Coming up on the other side of the break, we're going to pivot to the Canadian Football League in the

BC Lions, and we're going to talk to the starting quarterback of the BC Lions. Nathan Rourke is going to join the program. Finalist for the CFL's most outstanding player. We'll look back on that disappointing loss to Saskatchew. win in the Western final on Saturday and also look back on a year where Rourke played some excellent football, obviously, with his MOP finalist nomination and also became a very

outspoken advocate for the Canadian game. We will talk to Nathan coming up in about six minutes time. Don't go anywhere. Nathan Rourke is coming up next year listening to the Halford and Brough Show on Sportsnet, 650. Hey, it's Big Nazar. Have your say and join me on the People's Show with big takes and even bigger bets, weekdays, three to four on Sportsnet 650, or wherever you get to podcast. 731 on a Tuesday. Happy Tuesday, everybody,

Halford Brough, SportsNet 650. Jamie Dodd is in for the vacationing, Jason Brough. Yesterday, today, and every day this week, we are in Hour 2 of the program. With the midway point of the show, Nathan Rourke, B.C. Lions, starting quarterback, is going to join us in just a moment here. The highlight of our 2.

Hour 2 of this program is brought to by Jason hominock at Jason.morgage. If you love paying too much for your mortgage, then don't let Jason shop around to find the perfect mortgage for you. Visit them online at jason.morgage. This entire show, the whole thing is brought to you by Sands and Associates. Only a licensed insolvency trustee

can cut your debt by up to 80% with no upfront fees to learn how visit them online at Sands dash trustee.com. To the phone lines we go, our next guest is the starting quarterback for the BC Lions in Canadian Football League, most outstanding player finalist. Nathan Rourke joins us now on the Halford & Brough Show on SportsNet 650.

Morning, Nathan, how are you? I'm doing well, guys. Thanks for having us. Thanks for coming on and taking the time. We appreciate it. I know the loss is probably still fresh and there's probably still a lot of feelings about what happened in Saskatchewan on Saturday. So I guess my first question is, have you had time to fully process everything that went down in that nail biting but ultimately disappointing Western final? Yeah, I think we're still going through it, right? I think there's, you know, a lot of emotions you're still feeling. I think that's going to take some time.

I can't say at this point you're fully processed. and all of them. What particular moments do you look at in that game? And I guess we can maybe fast forward right to the fourth quarter giving everything that happened in that quarter. Are there any particular moments, plays, drives that stand out for you is ones maybe that you'd like to do differently? Yeah, I mean, I think outside the fourth quarter, you know,

starting a little bit faster on offense. You know, I can't, I thought a defense played really well, you know, limiting them to only, you know, four points in the first half. You know, we got to do more as an offense, and I believe that we can do that. But, yeah, in the fourth quarter, we had two out at the end of the game. Obviously, we had a second and three that would really have changed how much time they had to go down on their last drive. And so that's what we look at in the offense, is trying to put out ways to stay on the field. Yeah, just digging a little deeper there on that second and three.

Can you walk us through exactly what you saw and what happened, and then I guess what transpired? Yeah, I mean, it was a quarterback draw. You know, we had a lot of people in the box, and you call it draw to try to get an advantage with numbers with the quarterback running it. And so, yeah, it was, you know, you always appreciate the opportunity to carry the ball at that time, and you want to ball in your hand as a competitor.

And, you know, we just wish what had done, you know, what would have been able to make somebody miss or, you know, be able to get a couple more yards there to at least give us a chance to think about sneaking it or, you know, get it outright. So, yeah, that's certainly a tough one right there. You kicked the ball back to Saskatchewan. They marched down the field

and they score the eventual game-winning touchdown on a catch with 11 seconds left. I got to ask you, when you're watching that in real time, did you think it was a completed catch in the end zone? Yeah, I mean, you know, I was on the sideline. I didn't see it, you know, they had a great view of it. Right. You know, watching on the Jumbotron, you know, too, I think it looked to me like, you know,

and with the catch, obviously, I saw some, you know, I read it on the line that, you know, that might have not been the case, but, you know, it's not like that you're going to be overruled at any point in the new future, right? So it's unfortunate either way, I think, you know, bottom line for me is that, you know, we want to be able to end the game on the field and an offense and not play our defense in that situation. We're speaking to BC Lions starting quarterback, Nathan Rourke here on the Halford & Brough Show on Sportsnet 650. Nathan, anytime someone suffers a disappointing loss, it's tough to ask them about the positives because it still stings and it's fresh.

It's only a handful of days removed. That being said, there were a lot of good things. things that happened for your football team this year and you personally as well with the accolades that you're receiving and the wards that you're up for. Are you able to look back on this season and consider it a positive overall because of the way that you guys ended the regular season, the wins that you went in, and how close you were going into a very difficult place to play in the Western final and nearly pulling that thing off? Yeah, I mean, I think there are positives you can take away from things to build on. But ultimately, I think, again, as a competitor,

you're not hoping to make it to the West Final and then we want to go all the way and we want to win it every year and it's hard. I wouldn't say things aren't necessarily a failure, but it certainly is a disappointment when you don't reach that goal. As Mike mentioned, your team got really hot towards the end of the season. You win a playoff game at home as well and obviously as you say you do fall short of the ultimate goal. But from that second half of the season in particular, what do you? you look at and say, all right, we can carry that forward to next year that's going to help us get closer or maybe even achieve that Great Cup goal? Yeah, I think at that point during the season, we started playing with a lot of confidence

and a lot of trust in each other and all different phases, trust in one another, but within each phase, offense, defense, special teams, a lot of trust. And I think that that's, you know, if we're able to bring as many people back as we're hoping, I think that there's a huge possibility for carrying that over and having trust within the coaching staff as well between the players. I think that's big for our first year head coach is earning that trust and certainly feel like buckering that as a seed in progress. We're speaking to Nathan Rourke, B.C. Lions QB here on the Halford & Brough Show on SportsNet 650. Nathan, this is sort of a bigger picture question and it's pretty open-ended, but I wanted to ask it to you anyway with everything that you were able to accomplish this year

and after, you know, you returned to the CFL and the heights that you've gotten to and everything that you said publicly this year, what does the Canadian Football League mean to you? Yeah, I mean, that is a word question. But it means a lot. It's been an opportunity for me to be able to continue to live out my dream

of being a professional quarterback. It's giving me an opportunity to do that. at home in my home country in front of family and friends and really play in a read that is passionate with a lot of passionate fans and in a game that I really, really love. And I think that's been really important for me, and it's been really meaningful to be able to represent Canadian in the Canadian football league. I think that's a big thing, understanding that this gives me a unique opportunity to share that with, you know, young people, young kids who are hoping to do the same thing and provide them. That's an example of someone who can do it and be Canadian and all the different type of stuff.

So that's just a, I just find a unique opportunity, and I'm very grateful for. And I know you've spoken this year about, you know, the differences between the Canadian. Football League. And I feel like sometimes Canadian Football League in the National Football League, sorry. I feel like sometimes we're always trying to compare and contrast the two or maybe at times pit one against the other. But it's interesting to the way you framed it this year because one of the things that, and correct me if I'm wrong, but my interpretation of it was that part of what you loved about the Canadian Football League is that the love of football. Like you love playing the game and you love the sport and competing, but you also love football. And this is a really good

platform for that. I'm curious if you could expand on that. a little bit, because I think it's important message to hammer home that this isn't a lifestyle thing so much as it is a love of the sport thing, which I think is admirable. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. You know, it's crazy to me, really, you know, when I went down to the NFL, you know, again, as a competitor, you always want to play, you know, at the top, the top of your sport, and you always want to play against the best and all that kind of stuff.

you obviously with the financial idea down there you think that that would be the highest level but when you go down there you find a lot of people who don't really love football they just love what football does for them and obviously with the financial differences here and the CFO were not paid as much you don't have you don't find that you find people who are playing it because they love it and this is what they want to do and it might not be super convenient for them. They don't have the finances to be able to, um, you know, live a luxurious lifestyle. I mean, we do fine. Don't get me wrong, but it's just not comparable. And you find, but you find people who just love the game and they're willing to do it, uh,

in front of less people with less notoriety, you know, the facilities aren't going to be a nice, um, but they, they love ball and they want to continue playing. And, and I just find so many more people who I can relate to in that regard. And it always just kind of shock me, you know, how many people just get by in the NFL who are just on talent. They don't really love it. And I'm grateful for the CFO in that regard, that it's truly a passion project for a lot of things,

for a lot of people and a lot of players. Nathan, you mentioned first year head coach Buck Pierce, earning the trust of the team, especially over the second half of the season. What did you learn working with Buck Pierce in your first year of a, a partnership with him as your head coach? Yeah, I mean, a lot of things.

I mean, you know, just, I just felt like I took, you know, some major steps as a quarterback, just the way that he thinks about the game and learning his process and, you know, obviously as a head coach and, sorry, the offensive coordinator, experienced an officer coordinator, quarterback coach, a quarterback from his time, his career, he has just a wealth of knowledge that he has. And I just really appreciated the time that I had. to work with them to be able to grow and to make mistakes, but learn from them.

And, you know, it was just a pleasure working with someone who has, who sees a game the way that he does, that great experience he does. But he also really, really loves a game, and he loves his players. And that's just a true privilege to be able to play for someone like that. Nathan, there was some interesting CFL news yesterday, which was that the league's board of governors said they're going to allow CFL players to participate in the flag football at the Olympics in L.A. in a few years, the 2028 Olympics. And of course, we haven't seen flag football at the Olympics before. And I know

there's been a lot of excitement from the NFL players. Now CFL players will have the chance to go as well. What's your reaction? Is there a chance that we're going to see Nathan Rourke on that stage representing Canada? Yeah, I mean, it's exciting to be able to have the, you know, the sport at that stage, I would love to be involved. I think the Olympics are kind of a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and that would be really, really cool. I'm not certainly going to, you know, make the argument that, you know, I'm the best suited to be able to do that. It's a different game. It is a really a different game. I would love the opportunity to try it and see, but

I think it's a different game and there's different unique challenges and stuff like that. I think you could do it, but I'm certainly not going to expect that I'm going to be the guy or expect that something's going to be given to me. I think it would be interesting to try, and I hopefully get the opportunity

to do that because that would be something that I'd be interested. Okay, Nathan, a couple things before we let you go here. One, thanks a lot for doing this today, and every time that you came on the show during the regular season, it was always great getting caught up with you throughout the Canadian Football League campaign. And two, congratulations on a great year and the MOP finalist nomination. Well-deserved honor.

I hope you win the award. But whatever the case, congrats on a awesome season and wish you the best of luck for next season as well. Thanks, guys. I appreciate it. Great talking with you as well. Yeah, thanks for coming on. We appreciate us. Nathan Rourke, BC Lions starting quarterback here on the Halford & Brough show on Sportsnet,

650. Before we pivot back to the Canucks stuff here, this year, was really interesting for Rourke off the field. Yes. Because we had him on the show a handful of days after he came out and passionately blistered Canadian Football League Commissioner Stuart Johnson, the rule changes that were mentioned midway through the season. And as the year went along, it became very clear that Nathan Rourke was going to publicly

and passionately speak whenever possible about his love of the Canadian football League, the opportunities of the league that's presented. And as the evolution of that, I don't want to call it a character, but that characteristic came out, there was very much there was a sense of a guy who saw the business side of football

and didn't like it, didn't love what it did to players, and found, I think, publicly especially, like, he found himself comfortable being around people that, like, loved playing football. And that was enough for him, which is a great thing.

Because, you know, I mean, you see how money in professional sports is corrupted in a variety of ways, the pure essence of the sport, which is going out and playing and loving it and competing. It is refreshing to see someone that's, you know, glommed on to that in the way that he has. Don't make, make no mistake, he could probably get another shot at the NFL if he wanted to. He is the best player in the Canadian Football League. I don't care who ends up winning the MLP if it's him or Bo Levi Mitchell. He's the best player in the CFL. He's the best quarterback in the CFL. he would get another look if he wanted to go try it again and maybe he will he didn't rule it out entirely when he was speaking in the post game media availability on the weekend he said it would take a lot for him to go down there but i think hearing him speak like you heard him speak right now there's some reservations there and like fair enough by the way that's why i love working in radio because i know no one's here for the love of the game that's it yeah no one's here just to get paid what i'm not here for the riches uh but it's fair to say is nathan rourke the face of the case of the

the CFL? Yes. Because it feels like he very much embraced that role. He recognized it and said, you know what? All right. I'll do it. I'll step up and fill that void because I love the league. And I love, as you said, he loves all the opportunities that's afforded him and the passion.

And there is something, I think, always admirable. But when a player recognizes that they're in that position and doesn't shy away from it, we're so used to hockey players backing away from the spotlight, right? They don't want to be the face of the team or the face of the league. and I think not that Nathan has that natural kind of super expressive personality but despite that he recognizes okay I'm in this position I'm a Canadian quarterback

who's playing at an extremely high level almost by default I'm the face of the league and there's certain things that come along with that and the even more interesting wrinkle to that is that as the face of the league he also directly defied the league this season it wasn't just carrying water for whatever was going on

and I do think that spoke to people at a real visceral level, right? I mean, a lot of it was like the no, don't tread on us. We don't want the Americanization of the game. Even though I personally don't think that the rules are geared to do that. I think it's to speed up the game and make it more aesthetically pleasing. But he appealed to a lot of different people with the way that he spoke and how passionately he spoke. And it was about what he felt and what he believed in and not being afraid, as you said, to go out there.

And, I mean, I guarantee you he took some stick for what. what he said. I guarantee it. Now, I think that there's a larger dynamic at play in Brough and I have talked a lot about this that's going on in this Vancouver sports landscape right now. And it is, you can draw parallels or not, you can say it's unfair because they're on different planes, but you talk about Rourke with the Lions and you talk about Thomas Mueller with the white caps and what they do and the way that they speak and the way that they interact and especially in the case of Mueller, how much he has tried to.

learn and understand and ingrain himself into the community and how that is at times odds with the way the Canucks players and organization handles itself publicly. Now, some of you say it's an apples to bowling balls comparison because the Canucks are the major player in town and this is a, it's a Canucks market, it's not even a hockey market. It's a Canucks market first and foremost. I will say that if nothing else,

examples like Rourke and Mueller have shown that there can be a different way and there can be a different approach and maybe it's not necessarily a bad way to go out your business is to be open and transparent and honest and put yourself out there in at times a vulnerable way and not shy away from what some would consider

a media frenzy. To me it's been one of the most interesting subplots of, and it kind of overlaps, right? It goes back to even to last year. is Canucks season and then into the beginning of this year with the interest the white caps are generating the interest the lions have been able to recapture a little bit and with Rorke and Muller the other piece of this I'm really curious to see what the reaction is along these lines to the golden eyes who start playing in a couple of weeks here and they started their training

camp yesterday and there was a lot of media down to see what Pacific Coliseum looked like it looked great with their logo and look they're hockey players or are they as comfortable in the spotlight right? That that trait of hockey I think crosses gender boundaries but having said that they do have a player like Sarah Nurse who's very comfortable in the spotlight, very comfortable speaking to the media and I'm very curious to see just how much of an opening has kind of some of the malaise around the Canucks

given that team to they were always going to be a big deal in their first year there's a lot of excitement for it. Can they kind of take it to another level and capture even more attention as a result? It's a great point to bring up because one of the things that we've talked about here and part of the nature of having a show, it's on in the morning and it's like, it's not tied

to the Canucks, right? Is that there should be a larger sports landscape and people that are sports enthusiasts should be trying to indulge and engage with everything that's going on. And we've pushed that narrative a lot, especially this year, where if you want to

do it by extension, the Jays and the Mariners became a focal talking point. Yep. Okay? I think that's important. I don't think it needs to be in either or a proposition. Maybe some people in their lives, they only have enough bandwidth for one, so they got to follow one.

But I think too often we're caught up in, here's something else to do when you're not watching the Canucks. And I don't know if that's necessarily the right approach. I think a lot of this should be the further evolution of where this market is at in terms of important and, you know, provoking like sports content you need to be able to show up and invest and pay attention to it

I think it's good for everybody involved and more importantly it encourages more athletes to want to make this a place to come play owners buyers stadium builds all of it is on the idea of that this is beyond just being a Canucks market and I will like say that till I'm blue in the face and I almost am because I'm running out of breath but it's an important thing it is an important thing And I think the evolution of the White Caps this year is a... Huge. I don't want to call it a watershed moment, but there's never been anything like this. It has a chance to be.

Depending on what happens after this, it has a chance absolutely for us to look back at it as a real turning point. Two games where 50 plus thousand showed up to fill out BC place, right? You're talking Taylor Swift tour numbers in terms of attendance. For a team that you got to remember, it wasn't too long ago. They were playing in front of 10 to 12,000 people routine. because they were just sort of a non-factor. Mueller choosing to come here and then doing the things that he's done

to really connect with the market. Those are important things. And then you mentioned the Golden Eyes. I mean, this is an expansion franchise that is in a league where expansion franchise have done very well in terms of attendance and competitive nature because the league is designed that these entities

don't, they're not designed to come in and stink right away. No, they want to make this a good team. And by all accounts on paper looking at it, it's going to be a very good team. So these are all important things, and we're trying to address them as much as we can here on the Halford & Brough Show on SportsNet 650. We also have a lot to get into on the program today.

Two hours now in the books. Coming up in the final hour of the program, a quick reminder, for those listening on this day, send some what we learns in. We barely have any, and we have an entire half hour of the program dedicated to what we learns, okay? Dunbar-Lumber text line is 650, 650,

hashtag at WWL. Tell us what you learned over the last. last 24 hours in sports. For example, if you want to do anything NFL, we have not touched it yet. We have not mentioned the god-awful Monday night football game. If you like defense, I suppose you like that game, but it was gross. However, the Eagles did beat the Packers 10-7 on Monday night football. Also, New York Giants shortly after we got off the air yesterday, announced that Brian Daibel was out as head coach. So he's the second head coach to be fired this season. So if you want to weigh in on that, feel free. Dunbar number text line is 650, 6. 6.5.

Coming up on the other side of the break, we are going to talk to Landon Ferraro. He's going to join us at 8-10 as another preview for tonight's Canucks Jets game. This time we'll do things from the Canucks side of things. We'll ask him about Thatcher Demko. We'll ask him about the penalty kill.

We'll ask him if this team that scored eight goals over the weekend can keep the good times rolling offensively tonight against Connor Hellebuck and the Jets. So Landon-Farro at 8-10, what we learn is at 8.30. That's the final hour of the program. It's all coming up next on the Halford, Breft Show on SportsNet 650.