Close X
Thursday, December 5, 2024
ADVT 
Sports

B.C. Lions Linebacker Solomon Elimimian Looking To Build On Standout Season

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Jun, 2015 12:01 PM
  • B.C. Lions Linebacker Solomon Elimimian Looking To Build On Standout Season
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Solomon Elimimian isn't close to being satisfied.
 
Sure he was named the CFL's outstanding player in 2014 — a first for a full-time defender — but the B.C. Lions had an otherwise disappointing campaign, stumbling to a 9-9 regular-season before an embarrassing playoff loss.
 
Coming off a record-breaking 143-tackle performance, the hard-hitting linebacker is eager to put in even more work to get both his team and himself back on top.
 
"I've got a lot left," the 28-year-old said at training camp this week. "I have high goals, personal goals, for myself and the team. We want to win the Grey Cup first, No. 1, but I also want to be the best player again.
 
"That's just something that's in my mindset and I'm going to work hard every day to accomplish that goal."
 
Lions head coach Jeff Tedford, who was hired in December, is getting his first look at Elimimian in person and sees what the rest of the league has known for a while.
 
"He's a great player," said Tedford. "He's very gifted, a great leader, runs to the ball, very smart guy, has great instincts to play the game."
 
Those instincts helped keep B.C.'s head above water for long stretches last year after a number of key injuries crippled the team's attack. That put a lot of pressure on a defence that was simply on the field too much and eventually crumbled, with the low point coming in that 50-17 playoff defeat to the Montreal Alouettes.
 
"The biggest thing for us is just to be great every game," said Elimimian. "We have a lot of goals for our defence and one is to be the best."
 
Along with fellow linebacker Adam Bighill, the Lions rewarded Elimimian with a contract extension through 2017 in the off-season. But that doesn't mean he feels comfortable.
 
"You always have to take this job very seriously because there's guys that always want your job," said Elimimian, who was also voted the CFL's top defensive player last season. "It takes hard work, it takes never being complacent and always striving for more."
 
Teammates feed off the six-foot, 225-pound Elimimian's passion and will look for him to assume an even larger leadership role as he enters his sixth season.
 
"He's not content with winning the most outstanding player," said veteran defensive back Ryan Phillips. "It would have been an ideal year if we had been able to win the Grey Cup as well, but since we didn't he wants to make sure we go out there and finish on the right note. That's not enough for him and I admire that.
 
"He wants to be the best player possible, but he also wants to be the best player for the team."
 
Elimimian admitted he was a bit naive after the Lions won a championship on home soil in 2011, believing they'd make a quick return. The opposite has been the case.
 
"I want more Grey Cups," he said. "I thought it would be easy. I thought we could win one every year and I haven't been back since. The more you play this game the more precious you realize those rewards are."

MORE Sports ARTICLES

Whitecaps FC announces intent to bring USL Pro Soccer to New Westminster

Whitecaps FC announces intent to bring USL Pro Soccer to New Westminster
Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the City of New Westminster have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking their intent to work towards the launch of a United Soccer Leagues (USL) PRO franchise to the community of New Westminster.

Whitecaps FC announces intent to bring USL Pro Soccer to New Westminster

Neymar coming to Kerala for ayurveda treatment?

Neymar coming to Kerala for ayurveda treatment?
TV channels in Kerala Tuesday went berserk, saying injured Brazilian footballer Neymar was likely to come to the state to undergo ayurveda treatment for his injured back.

Neymar coming to Kerala for ayurveda treatment?

2014 World Cup: Netherlands, Argentina to fight for World Cup final berth

2014 World Cup: Netherlands, Argentina to fight for World Cup final berth
Higuain's early goal against Belgium took Argentina into the 2014 World Cup semi-finals where they meet the Netherlands, who came through a shootout with Costa Rica.

2014 World Cup: Netherlands, Argentina to fight for World Cup final berth

Can Brazil win the World Cup without Neymar?

Can Brazil win the World Cup without Neymar?
News of a back injury that has ended Neymar's FIFA World Cup campaign prompted a national outpouring of grief in the streets of Brazil Saturday.

Can Brazil win the World Cup without Neymar?

Van Gaal's Krul masterstroke takes Netherlands into World Cup semis

Van Gaal's Krul masterstroke takes Netherlands into World Cup semis
Substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul produced two decisive saves in the penalty shootout to lift Netherlands 4-3 over Costa Rica after a scoreless 120-minute play in the last quarterfinal match of 2014 World Cup here on Saturday.

Van Gaal's Krul masterstroke takes Netherlands into World Cup semis

World Cup 2014 Quarterfinal: Argentina beat Belgium to reach Semis

World Cup 2014 Quarterfinal: Argentina beat Belgium to reach Semis
Argentina reached the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup, for the first time in 24 years, after a hard fought 1-0 win over Belgium at the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia here Saturday.

World Cup 2014 Quarterfinal: Argentina beat Belgium to reach Semis