It was a heartbreak that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have become used to over the past three years.
For the fifth straight year, the Blue & Gold made the Grey Cup. They won their first two trips to the Canadian Football League's (CFL) championship game but have now lost the last three years. This time it was the Toronto Argonauts that got the best of Winnipeg in a 41-24 victory.
Stanley Bryant has had some time to think about the loss.
"It was disappointing of course, we always wish that we could have done better," said Bryant. "Things just didn't go the way that we planned. It's always a tough way to end the season, we worked so hard to get there."
For Bryant, there was speculation that this past season would be his last. Set to turn 39 in May, that is not the case as the all-star has signed a one-year contract extension to remain in Winnipeg for the 2025 season.
A future Hall of Fame left tackle, Bryant is a four-time winner of the league's Most Outstanding Lineman Award (2017, 2018, 2021, and 2022). This past season, he was named to the All-CFL team for an eighth time while manning the left side of an offensive line that helped running back Brady Oliveira capture his second consecutive rushing title with 1,353 yards, and quarterback Zach Collaros throw for a career-best 4,336 yards.
Stanley began his CFL career with Calgary in 2010 and signed with the Bombers as a free agent in 2015. He has played 219 career games, 186 of which have come with Winnipeg. He is a three-time Grey Cup champion. He won with Winnipeg in 2019, 2021 and in 2014 with Calgary.
While Bryant will turn 39 before next season begins, he knows what he is still capable of.
"I feel that I am still 100 percent, I won't discredit myself and think that I can't play to a high standard," said Bryant. "I still believe I am the best at my position in the league."
Bryant says he still has a passion for the game and a fire burning in his belly. He also says he couldn't go out after losing the league's championship game for the third straight season. Preparations for the 2025 season are well underway and Bryant believes general manager Kyle Walter will field another very competitive team.
"I believe we will be a great squad. We had some young guys step in last year and had great years," offered Bryant. "We had some older guys that battled injuries and they will come back ready to go next season. With what we have now and what could be added in free agency, I'm very confident that it will be a solid year for our group."
What the Bombers do know is that they will be without two key personnel next year. Buck Pierce has been hired as head coach of the BC Lions and Ted Goveia has been hired as general manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The Bombers also know that the Grey Cup will be played at Princess Auto Stadium next season. Winnipeg will play host to the championship game. That means if Winnipeg can make their sixth straight Grey Cup, they'll do so on their home field.
Bryant knows that will be a driving factor for the team to go all in.
"That would be a match made in heaven, the city would love it, the fans would love it, and the organization would love it," ended Bryant. "It would be a beautiful thing. That's what we're pushing for, it would be very special."
