Wishes fulfilled.
Michael Couture, a two-time Grey Cup champion with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, is looking to win a third Canadian Football League (CFL) title and hopes to do so with his hometown team.
The Coquitlam high-school grad of 2012 signed with the BC Lions this week — a two-year deal that'll keep him in orange and black until the end of the 2024 campaign.
By then, Vancouver will be hosting the Grey Cup, so the 29-year-old offensive lineman will be looking to close out his contract by potentially hoisting the prestigious trophy inside BC Place.
"This team is headed in the right direction and I'm ready to help take the next step towards bringing a Grey Cup home to BC. I am thankful for Coach Campbell, Neil McEvoy and the entire organization for giving me the chance to join such a great group of players."
Couture, who's from Burnaby but suited up for Centennial Secondary's varsity football team, is closing in on 100 career CFL regular-season games.
He's logged 93 starts in six seasons, plus six playoff appearances, as Winnipeg's first-line centre. He joined the league a few short years after getting drafted by the Blue Bombers 10th overall in the 2016 draft.
In 2019, Couture's protection helped Winnipeg to an 11-7 campaign, but the team rallied in the playoffs to claim its first Grey Cup in nearly 30 years.
He earned his second championship ring in 2021 as part of one of the best offensive lines in CFL history.
Couture's instinct and awareness helped Winnipeg led the league in scoring, rushing and fewest quarterback sacks that year.
The Blue Bombers reached the final once again in 2022, but lost to Toronto. Couture suffered an arm injury that limited him to seven regular-season games, but he recovered to play in their two playoff matches.
Prior to turning professional, Couture was a centre and tackle with Simon Fraser University (SFU) in NCAA Div. II football from 2012 to 2015.
He joins Port Coquitlam's Sukh Chungh as two Tri-Cities bred athletes joining the Lions' pride under two-year deals.
BC's season begins June 8 on the road in Calgary.
