The Hamilton Tiger-Cats would be forgiven if they entered this year with the team they finished with last season. Clearance Soccer Jerseys . The Henry Burris-led squad finished second in the East Division before advancing to the Grey Cup where they ultimately fell to the home field advantage wielding Saskatchewan Roughriders. For a team that finished 6-12 the previous year, and hadnt made a Grey Cup appearance since winning the trophy in 1999, that qualifies as progress, a significant amount. And more than that, you could argue the team was on the cusp of greatness, a couple tweaks away from finishing the job in 2014. But the Ticats opted against trotting out the same lineup – or a very similar one at least – to take another shot this season. Instead they went for a big shakeup at a key position, one that may lead to some immediate regression, but that could pay off handsomely in the future. Gone is Burris, one of the teams leaders the past two years, and his league-leading stats. After throwing for 10,292 yards and 67 touchdowns the past two years with the Ticats, head coach and general manager Kent Austin allowed Burris to leave in free agency where he signed with the Ottawa Redblacks. The team opted instead for promising youngster Zach Collaros, who proved he more than belonged in the league – and may offer a lot more with extended play – with the Toronto Argonauts last year while Ricky Ray was sidelined with a shoulder injury. Despite Burris taking the Ticats to the peak of the mountain last year, theres a perception hes maybe not the guy to get a team over the mountain, and the Ticats decided to cut bait and build with a quarterback they feel more confident in. For all Collaros heroics filling in and keeping the Argos in contention last season, hes still a young quarterback with just 298 CFL passing attempts to his name. While the Ticats are convinced theyre in for big things with Collaros at QB, and theyre not the only ones as evident by the mini bidding war that went on to secure his services, some growing pains should still be expected with a 26-year-old pivot, especially one learning a new offence. So while Burris may have been the better option for Hamiltons prospects in 2014, considering his age and difficulty winning the big one, going with Collaros upward trending career is the smarter move for ultimate success. Hamilton hopes theyre taking one step back to make two steps forward. This reasonability of this move is buoyed by the general strength of the roster surrounding Collaros. Hell be in the backfield with one of the most exciting running backs in the league in CJ Gable, who finished fourth in the league in rushing with 782 yards but was the clear frontrunner in highlight reel spin-o-ramas frequently seen on Sportcentre Honour Rolls. And the Ticats already robust receiving corps added more talent this off-season. Joining Andy Fantuz, Bakari Grant, and Greg Ellingson will be Cary Koch, an underrated threat who spent the first four years of his CFL career split between Saskatchewan and Edmonton, really breaking out with the Eskimos the past two years. And while the addition isnt likely to help Collaros directly, Craig Butler joins an improving defensive unit. Notes Expansion Draft The Tiger-Cats got off easy in the first two rounds of the expansion draft before a surprise pick in the third. Backup running back Chevon Walker and FB John Delahunt were grabbed in Round 1 and 2 before Marwan Hage, surprisingly still available, was taken by the Ottawa Redblacks in the third round. It was clear the Ticats were moving on from Hage after he was left available in the final round of the draft. Hage Retires Hages time in Ottawa wasnt lasting, and the affable offensive lineman did the right thing in returning to Hamilton to retire. It was as good an ending to a solid 10-year career that Tiger-Cats fans could have hoped for, not having to see him in another teams colours. Free Agency Its hard to argue the Ticats werent the winners of free agency after landing their quarterback of the present and future in Collaros, another weapon in the receiving corps in Cary Koch, a decent offensive line replacement in Steve Myddleton, front seven defensive help in Ted Laurent and Abraham Kromah, and a solid Canadian safety in Craig Butler. CFL Draft The Tiger-Cats took a chance on their second of two first round picks and paid for it when Manitoba defensive lineman Evan Gill, a player they traded up for, decided he would return to school and try his luck at an NFL tryout next season. Gill entered the draft a bit of a risk with a quad injury but the Ticats selected him anyway, perhaps opting for the long play. The team also selected Western LB Beau Landry, one pick before Gill in the first round, who later signed with the team. After the first, Hamilton didnt make another pick until the fifth round, taking Toronto LB Christopher Johnson. The Ticats wrapped the draft up with sixth-round defensive linemen Mathieu Girard (Montreal) and Stephen Mawa (UBC), and seventh-round defensive lineman Martin Pesek from Acadia. Tim Hortons Field After a successful campaign at the University of Guelph last season, the Ticats return home to Hamilton for 2014, to the same location Ivor Wynne Stadium once stood. Tim Hortons Field projects to be ready for Hamiltons home opener in Week 5 against the Redblacks. Cheap Soccer Jerseys . The defending champions sent their preliminary list to FIFA on Tuesday, with coach Vicente del Bosque to announce the final 23-man squad on May 25. Costa is set to lead the attack in his native Brazil, with Atletico Madrid teammate David Villa and Chelseas Fernando Torres also included, while David de Gea replaces injured goalkeeper Victor Valdes. Replica Soccer Jerseys . Kerber will next play Estonias Kaia Kanepi, who beat American qualifier Victoria Duval 6-1, 6-3. In other first-round matches, Lucie Safarova beat 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 6-4 and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands had a 6-4, 6-3 win over Canadas Eugenie Bouchard. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ .C. - Steve Clifford isnt exactly singing his teams praises after the Bobcats won for the sixth time in seven games.RED DEER, Alta. - Curtis Lazar scored twice and added two assists as the Edmonton Oil Kings blanked the host Red Deer Rebels 4-0 on Friday in Western Hockey League play. Tristan Jarry stopped all 21 shots he faced for his seventh career WHL shutout. Mitchell Moroz and Griffin Reinhart also scored for the Oil Kings (5-5-1), who have earned at least one point in three straight contests, while Ashton Sautner chipped in with two assists. Patrik Bartosak turned away 41-of-45 shots for the Rebels (6-6-0), who have dropped back-to-back games. Edmonton went 1 for 2 on the power play while Red Deer failed to score on four chances with the man advantage. --- Blades 4 Ice 2 CRANBROOK, B.C. — Troy Trembley made 38 saves as Saskatoon doubled up Kootenay. Collin Valcourt, Nick Zajac, Cory Millette and Clayton Kirichenko scored for the Blades (6-5-2), who trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. Jeff Hubic and Austin Vetterl supplied the scoring for the Ice (5-5-1). Wyatt Hoflin stopped 26-of-29 shots in defeat. --- Pats 3 Tigers 2 (OT) REGINA, — Chandler Stephenson scored twice, including the winner, as the Pats slipped past Medicine Hat. Patrick DAmico also scored for Regina (6-5-0) while Dyson Stevenson tacked on two assists. Curtis Valk and Tommy Vannelli scored for the Tigers (7-1-2) and Dylan Bredo assisted on both. Dawson MacAuley made 29 saves for the win as Marek Langhamer turned away 42 shots in defeat. --- Winterhawks 5 Broncos 4 PORTLAND, Ore. — Alex Schoenborn, Nicolas Petan and Brendan Leipsic each had a goal and an assist as the Winterhawks squeezed past Swift Current. Dominic Turgeon and Oliver Bjorkstrand also scored for Portland (6-3-1) and Derrick Pouliot had two assists. Tanner LeSann, Connor Sanvido, Coda Gordon and Graham Black scored goals for the Broncos (6-5-1). Brendan Burkee made 35 saves for the win as Eetu Laurikainen stopped 43 shots in defeat. Soccer Jerseys China. --- Chiefs 4 Silvertips 2 SPOKANE, Wash. — Mitch Holmberg led the Chiefs over Everett by scoring twice in the first period. Jacob Cardiff and Adam Hascic also scored for Spokane (10-2-0) while Reid Gow had two assists. Patrick Bajkov and Manraj Hayer had goals for the Silvertips (6-2-2). Eric Williams made 17 saves for the win. Austin Lotz turned away 25 shots in a losing effort. --- Americans 4 Royals 2 KENNEWICK, Wash. — Tri-Citys Eric Comrie stopped 37 shots en route to defeating Victoria. Rodney Southam scored twice for the Americans (5-7-1) while Brian Williams and Lucas Nickles added a goal apiece. Brett Cote and Luke Harrison supplied the offence for the Royals (8-6-0). Patrik Polivka made 19 saves in defeat. --- Giants 5 Blazers 1 VANCOUVER, — Brett Kulak scored one and set up two others as the Giants beat Kamloops. Ty Ronning, Alex Baer, Tim Traber and Dalton Thrower also scored for Vancouver (2-7-2). Aspen Stertzer scored the lone goal for the Blazers (4-8-0). Payton Lee made 23 saves for the win. Bolton Pouliot started in goal for Kamloops, however he left the game after only seven minutes, stopping 5-of-6 shots in the process. Taran Kozun recorded the loss after allowing four goals on 32 shots in relief. --- Cougars 5 Thunderbirds 4 (SO) KENT, Wash. — Jordan Tkatch scored the shootout winner as Prince George downed Seattle. Jansen Harkins and Troy Bourke had a goal and an assist each for the Cougars (6-6-1) while Klarc Wilson and Chase Witala scored the others. Riley Sheen, Erik Benoit, Ethan Bear and Roberts Lipsbergs scored for the Thunderbirds (8-3-1). Ty Edmonds made 40 saves for the win while Seattles Danny Mumaugh stopped 46 shots in a losing cause. --- ' ' '