The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with offensive lineman Geoff Gray, who was scheduled to become a free agent next month. Gray returns to the Blue Bombers for a fourth season in 2022. The Winnipeg native was a first-round selection of the Blue Bombers in the 2017 CFL Draft, eighth overall, and signed his first professional contract with the Green Bay Packers that year. He spent 2017 with the Packers, New York Jets and, finally, the Cleveland Browns before being released in late August of 2018. He joined his hometown Blue Bombers in October of 2018, suiting up for one game that season. Gray’s 2019 season with the Bombers was solid, as he dressed for 13 games, including 12 starts at guard. The club’s depth along the offensive line meant he dressed for five games in 2021. In his days with the University of Manitoba Bisons, Gray was named the Canada West Outstanding Down Lineman of the Year in 2017, a Canadian University First-Team All-Star and a Canada West All-Star.

 

The Winnipeg Ice added experience to their roster prior at the Western Hockey League trade deadline. On Monday the Ice acquired 19-year-old defenseman Tanner Brown from the Vancouver Giants in exchange for a first round pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. Brown was selected in the second round, 24th overall by Vancouver in the 2017 WHL Prospects Draft. Winnipeg also acquired 19-year-old forward Chase Wheatcroft and a fifth round pick in the 2022 Prospects Draft from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in exchange for forward Brayden Edwards, a fourth round pick in the 2023 Draft and a second round pick in the 2025 Draft. Wheatcroft has four goals and 13 assists in 22 games with the Hurricanes this season. The Brandon Wheat Kings did not make a move at the trade deadline.

 

The Winnipeg Goldeyes re-signed outfielder Tyler Hill on Monday. Hill batted .294 with six home runs and 45 RBI in 94 games for the Goldeyes last season. The Wilmington, Delaware native added 67 runs scored, 21 doubles, six triples, 20 stolen bases, and finished fourth in the American Association with 74 walks. The 25-year-old committed just one error while playing a career-high 71 games in centre field. Hill enters his eighth season of professional baseball, and is a lifetime .289 hitter with a .374 on-base percentage over 557 career games. Hill was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 19th round in 2014 out of Delaware Military Academy in Wilmington, and has won four championships at the professional level. Additionally, the Goldeyes officially signed left-handed pitcher Tasker Strobel to a contract. Strobel was acquired on December 2nd from the Frontier League’s Les Aigles de Trois-Rivieres after spending the 2021 season with the Gary SouthShore RailCats. The Goldeyes now have five players signed to contracts for the 2022 season. American Association clubs may carry up to 30 players during spring training, which begins May 5th.