Mattress Vancouver

The Lions have little to roar about this season, but one positive mid-season acquisition is giving them reason to hope that brighter days are ahead.

David Hyland, the young rookie out of Morehead State University, is impressing the Lions coaching staff and fans with his raw ability and patient, but explosive, defensive play.

After dominating in the Arena Football League’s 2010 regular season, with eight interceptions and 61 tackles, Hyland posted a YouTube video of his own highlights. The video was a savvy marketing tool and caught the eye of the Lions’ scouts.

On September 7th, Hyland signed a practice roster contract. He played his first game with the Lions on October 2nd, where he recorded an interception that led to the Lions only touchdown.

This past week Hyland laid a devastating hit on Edmonton receiver, Kelly Campbell. The Lions went on to lose the game, but the hit provided energy to a desperate football club. After the play, Hyland, showed his spiritual side by praying for Campbell’s healthy return.

“You like delivering those big hits. But you never want to end somebody’s career,” said Hyland. “This is such a precious game. And we have such precious bodies. I never want to end it for anybody.”

Hopefully Hyland’s defensive play can help the Lions make a push in the post-season.

Lion Cub

Interesting Fact: David Hyland has never had a sip of Pepsi-Cola. Not a drop. Ever. His father was a marketing executive at Coca-Cola for 28 years.

Watch Hyland’s Highlight reel video from the AFL:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE7FdTn4BSs&feature=player_embeddedhttp://

Check out Korey Banks Rookie Initiation Video featuring Hyland:

www.bclions.com/video/index/id/13981

The B.C. Lions fourth quarter debacle in Winnipeg on Monday ended with the release of quarterback Casey Printers.

Printers had returned to the Lions, just over a year ago, after leaving at the conclusion of the 2005 CFL season.

Printers’ departure in 2005 had coincided with a quarterback controversy between the up-and-coming Printers and the veteran Dave Dickenson. Wanting the starting role all to himself, Printers opted to tryout for the NFL and was eventually signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. He was moved up and down from the practice to the active roster, but never saw game time during the regular season.

Printers’ return to the Lions came with mixed reviews from fans and teammates.

After struggling with a knee injury and poor performances on the field, Printers was finally told on Wednesday that his services were no longer needed. The final catalyst to coach Wally Buono’s decision was an on-field tantrum that saw Printers toss his helmet and publicly reprimand a receiver. The childish display was caught on the TSN cameras.

“What happened at the end of the game unfortunately brought everything to a head,” said Buono.

Even his teammates, like veteran centre Angus Reid, saw the writing on the wall; “I think the real issue is when you have a guy that’s paid to be your leader, and he’s the one who ends up causing post-game problems – and I’m putting the performance aside – I think that’s when you have to say, well, we can’t have this guy as our leader any more.”

The Lions play this Saturday at 7:00 against the Edmonton Eskimos. Travis Lulay is expected to start in the quarterback position.

Casey Printers = Fail

Editors Note: Please Wally, let this be the last time. Even if Printers is willing to play for less than a hundred dollars a game, is it worth it…? Let’s move on. Now get some rest boys. We want to crush Edmonton on Saturday. GO LIONS!

Regular season hockey is just over a month away and Vancouver sports fans couldn’t be any happier. It has been a dreadful summer for the 1-7 B.C. Lions, as Wally Buono continues to tinker with a team that just can’t seem to get it done.

Mike Gillis Addressing the Media

Across town, Mike Gillis is assembling his crack squad of sports professionals for another successful regular season run (we won’t talk about the playoffs).  Part of that mix includes a specialist, whose job it is to analyze the schedule and make important decisions regarding the team’s movement.

This specialist, whose name we cannot print, is known as the ‘sleep doctor.’

The sleep doctor is a Gillis addition to the player management team. His/Her job is to determine whether it is better for the players to leave a city the night of the game or fly out the morning after.

These decisions are made using data collected from previous games. The Canuck players are asked to wear ’sleep bands’ which monitor the wearer’s sleep patterns, the length of their rest and the quality. The science behind the monitoring is referred to as ‘actigraphy.’

Cross-referencing the individual player data helps the sleep doctor determine the team’s optimal resting time.

It is then the sleep doctor who decides what time the team boards the jet for the next game.

Simmons Mattress Gallery hasn’t been able to reach the mystery man or woman, but we are sure the boys’ sleep could only be improved with a restful night on a Simmons mattress.

Buono, if you are reading this, the same applies for the Lions.