WINNIPEG, MB., January 13, 2022 The Winnipeg Blue Bombers agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with Canadian offensive lineman Chris Kolankowski and a one-year contract extension with Canadian fullback Mike Miller.
Kolankowski who attends at The six-foot-one and 305-pounds was selected in the sixth round, No. 49 overall, by Toronto Argonauts in the 2016 CFL draft.
Kolankowski spent his amateur career at York University where he won the Mike Benevides Lineman of the Year Award in 2015 and the Tom Arnott Award for Hard Work and Character in 2013.
In February of 2020 Kolankowski signed with the Blue Bombers, but had to wait to make his debut with the club following the cancellation of the CFL’s 2020 season due to the pandemic. Kolankowski was added to the club’s practice roster after the 2021 training camp. Kolankowski would make his debut on November 6th in Montreal against the Alouettes.
Kolankowski dressed for two regular-season games in 2021 and then was on the roster for the 108th Grey Cup victory in Hamilton.
Special teams Ace Mike Miller will be returning for his fifth season with the blue and gold.
Miller spent four years with the Acadia Axemen where he finished his amateur career with 133 defensive tackles which is third all-time in school history. Miller was also named second-team CIS All-Canadian and AUS All-Star in 2009.
Undrafted out of Acadia Axemen, Miller first broke into the league with Edmonton in 2011 and played six seasons there before joining the Blue Bombers as a free agent in 2017.
Since becoming a member of the Blue Bomber, Miller has played in every game totaling 94 special team tackles and one touchdown. In the 2021 season, Miller became the league’s all-time leader in special-teams tackles in Toronto on August 21st, moving past Jason Arakgi, the long-time linebacker with the B.C. Lions. Miller now has 210 career special-teams tackles after leading the league with 25 in 2021.
Millers’ consistent high-level performance has led him to be named West Division All-Star, CFLPA All-Star, West Division Most Outstanding Special Teams Player, Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Canadian, and the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Special Teams Player all in the 2019 season.
