The most noticeable, and important, position on the field is quarterback. In Sunday’s Black and Gold Game what caught our eye—and those of the other thousand or more in attendance on a beautiful night at Hamilton Stadium—was Bo Levi Mitchell.
The Ticats’ No. 1 starter, coming off two of the three best seasons of his professional career, was absolutely on fire, with his accuracy and play command, and his mid-season-form enthusiasm and sideline communication sessions. He completed strike after strike into outstretched fingertips of receivers—among them Kiondré Smith and free agency acquisition Keric Wheatfall, two or three times—which were absolute “dimes” where the receiver doesn’t have to break stride. He also timed deliberate jump balls to Kenny Lawler and emerging running back Shane Watts, whose vertical leap belies his official 5-foot-9 stature.
“Probably best training camp I’ve ever had.”
His footwork and decision-making were consistent, and his arm looked strong and rested, particularly on deep corner patterns to the very corner of the end zone.
“I’m not going to put a label on it, man,” Mitchell said afterward. “But it’s probably the best training camp I’ve ever had. I learn everything I can from Scott (Milanovich, head coach) and I think the patience has really paid off. The timing and everything with the offence seems so much smoother, so much cleaner. We’ve had some big adds too, so I’m pumped to see some of these guys a bit more in the pre-season game (Saturday against the Argos, 4 p.m.)
“Scott’s a genius; we’ve got a pretty good offence. I’m blessed to be the guy throwing the ball. I love this game and it’s so fun to be out here with the boys and having a great time. When you’re playing well, it’s even more fun.”
Despite the loss of Tim White to free agency, there are several returning receivers, some important acquisitions and lots of tall or fast first-year CFLers; and the off-season additions of massive left tackle Trevor Reid and veteran centre Chris Kolankowski look seamless so far.
“The line has been outstanding,” Mitchell said. “I love the addition of Chris. He’s a beauty of a human, has been in this league and been in a lot of championships, understands the game and understands how to attack every day. Just a great guy to be around and every snap hit me right in the hands.
“Getting Q (right tackle Quinton Barrow) back and having Trevor here as well, it’s a helluva offensive line. The guys behind them are all ready to play too.”
There are lots of weapons, sideline to sideline, and the trite question is always whether there will be enough footballs to go around.
“That’s a good thing, if we’re going to be fighting to get targets for everybody,” Mitchell said. “We’ve got a helluva offence and again, we’re going in practice against one of the best defences, if not the best defence, in this league so I’m blessed to be able to be part of it.
“We had some big plays today but in scrimmage it’s a non-tackling, non-contact thing so a lot of things weren’t called. A lot of these balls probably wouldn’t be as far, or there might be sacks, so it goes both ways.”
The next progression in honing the offence for the June 4 home and CFL season opener against Montréal is the home exhibition game on Saturday against arch-rival Toronto, as the Cats seek to return Hamilton Stadium to more of its home-field-advantage fortress this season.
It’ll be a different reality than the Cat-vs-Cat motif of Sunday night.
“It’s just the execution,” Mitchell explained. “The timing with a real clock, penalties that actually affect you. I heard the ref say a couple of times to an O-lineman, ‘Hey I could have called you for holding there.’ Obviously, we have some things we have to clean up and the coach has some decisions to make but we have a helluva team.”
Windfall for Wheatfall
Wide receiver Keric Wheatfall showed why the Ticats targeted him in free agency.
He scored four TDs in Winnipeg last year, had 655 receiving yards and inhaled 42 passes. Sunday night, he ran excellent patterns, made some great catches and, with no open-field tackling, was held up as he neared the goal-line on another play.
“I definitely believe that that arm tackle is broken in a regular game and I’m in the end zone right there,” said the gregarious 27-year-old, who started at Fresno State in 2019, a couple of years after President of Football Operations, Orlondo Steinauer, left to return to the Ticats.
“It was nice to get out there with the guys. Bo’s got an arm on him and I love that. Can’t wait to get it started, man.”
Other notes about Sunday night
- Jake Dolegala threw some intelligent passes that only the receiver could get to, including one that was snared inches off the ground.
- It’s training camp for non-players too. The Ticats Dance and Cheer team, coached by Meagan Reid and assisted by coach Katie, introduced their five 2026 rookies to the 14-member squad: Allison, Jada, MacKenzie, Ella and Katana. For security reasons, team members are known only by their first names.
- The on-field officials were drawn mostly from Hamilton and Burlington with rookie Kevin Collins of Toronto being the one exception. Veteran Tom Vallesi of Hamilton was the head referee, overseeing a crew that included former Mac QB Ben Chapdelaine, Mark Cobb of Hamilton, Dave Gatza of Burlington and Ryan Middleboro, on loan from the OUA.
- After Monday’s day off, the turf for meetings, weightlifting, physical recovery and massage, the players return to McMaster’s field for a power (two-session) practice day Tuesday, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
