A sold-out crowd of more than 6,000 fans filled Starlight Stadium in Langford on Saturday as the BC Lions returned to Vancouver Island for another pre-season game. The Edmonton Elk built as the game went on, taking a 17-10 lead into halftime before pulling away in the second half to win 34-16. There were still some bright spots for the Lions’ younger players. 2026 seventh overall pick, Nate DeMontagnac caught two passes for 39 yards and made a strong sideline catch before leaving the game with an apparent arm injury. Quarterback Chase Brice was accurate in limited action, completing eight of 10 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown. “That’s a great thing for the team, to have that many guys making plays is amazing to see,” said Lions receiver Kieran Poissant in a post-game interview. West Shore’s Kieran Poissant also had a moment in front of the home crowd, making a catch near the sideline that got a big reaction from fans. He said he felt the love from the crowd. “I love being here and I love playing here. It’s a really special place to me,” he said. The day had a full game-day feel around the stadium, with fans arriving early for pre-game activities, food and music. Victoria musician Caitlin sang the national anthem, and The Timebenders performed at halftime.
