The Edmonton Eskimos will hope to begin a journey to redemption on June 28 in Vancouver, against the B.C. Lions.
The CFL released its 2014 schedule on Wednesday, with the Eskimos visiting the Lions to kickoff their season. The Eskimos will look to put 2013′s 4-14 season with no playoff appearance behind them, playing three of their first five games at home before taking their first of two bye weeks this year. Perhaps the most notable change to Edmonton’s schedule is the tweak to the Labour Day Classic. Calgary will visit Edmonton on Saturday, Sept. 6, instead of the usual Friday night re-match game. Coaches gain an extra day’s prep, while players get a much-needed day of rest, with the turnaround from the holiday Monday meeting being notoriously gruelling on them physically.
“We requested the Labour Day Rematch be held on a Saturday and I am thrilled to see the request was granted,” Eskimos President and CEO Len Rhodes said in a team release. “A Saturday rematch allows us to return the student voucher promotion back to the game where it belongs and to allow our young fans to help us fill the house.”
Other notable games on tap include the RedBlacks’ first game in Edmonton on July 11 and back-to-back games out East, with dates against Montreal on Aug. 8 and the Eskimos’ first trip to Ottawa at TD Place on Aug. 15. Eskimos head coach Chris Jones will face his Toronto Argonauts for the first time on Aug. 23 and will see another familiar opponent in the Stampeders for the Labour Day Classic. Jones will go back to Toronto as an opposing coach on Oct. 4.
The RedBlacks open TD Place on July 18, hosting the Argos. Ottawa travels to Hamilton on July 28 to help the Tiger-Cats open Tim Hortons Field.
The Eskimos will play their first game at Tim Hortons Field on Saturday, Sept. 20. The Eskimos’ second bye week falls the week of Oct. 25.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders will make their lone regular-season stop at Commonwealth Stadium on Sept. 26.
Ottawa’s return to the league led to a schedule shift where every team will pick up a second bye week through the season. As a result, the playoffs start a week later than previous years, with the Grey Cup taking place Nov. 30 at BC Place in Vancouver.
The full schedule is below, with all kickoffs Mountain Time.
Preseason
Friday, June 13: B.C. at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Friday, June 20: Edmonton at Saskatchewan, 7 p.m.
Regular season
Saturday, June 28: Edmonton at B.C., 4 p.m.
Friday, July 4: Hamilton at Edmonton, 8 p.m.
Friday, July 11: Ottawa at Edmonton, 8 p.m.
Thursday, July 17: Edmonton at Winnipeg, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 24: Calgary at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Bye week No. 1
Friday, Aug. 8: Edmonton at Montreal, 5 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 15: Edmonton at Ottawa, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 23: Toronto at Edmonton, 2 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 1: Edmonton at Calgary, 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 6: Calgary at Edmonton, 5 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 12: Montreal at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20: Edmonton at Hamilton, 5 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 26: Saskatchewan at Edmonton, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 4, Edmonton at Toronto, 2 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 13, Winnipeg at Edmonton, 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 19, Edmonton at Saskatchewan, 2 p.m.
Bye Week No. 2
Saturday, Nov. 1, B.C. at Edmonton, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8, Edmonton at Saskatchewan, 6 p.m.
Playoffs get underway Nov. 16, with the Divisional Finals on Nov. 23. The 102nd Grey Cup takes place on Nov. 30 in Vancouver.
