During the second week of training camp, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and head coach Scott Milanovich are still looking for players to add. While training camp usually focuses on installing offensive, defensive, and special teams schemes, the underlying job is also evaluating players. Hamilton’s coaching staff assesses everything players do, making decisions about each player’s future with the team.
Coming into training camp in 2024, Milanovich mentioned that he would like to find a tight end to add to his offense in Hamilton. The Tiger-Cats have several tight-end prospects in training camp, but Hamilton’s coaches have not found the tight end they are still looking for before the 2025 CFL season. According to the CFL Transactions list, the Tiger-Cats have added National tight end Bruno LaBelle.
LaBelle is not new to the CFL. The tight end from Montreal spent time with the Toronto Argonauts before being released just a few days ago. Before Toronto, LaBelle also spent a few seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2022 and 2023. While playing for the Roughriders, LaBelle played in 29 games and caught one pass for 18 yards.
The 6’4″, 250-pound LaBelle as a tight end is considered a blocking tight end. Milanovich believes philosophically that by having a tight end, there are more points of attack that the Tiger-Cats running game can exploit. The Tiger-Cats will play their first pre-season game for 2025 this Saturday, and we will soon find out whether LaBelle will have an opportunity to be a contributor to the Tiger-Cats offense. On the other hand, LaBelle could be a camp body that gives the Tiger-Cats veterans a person to compete against.
Before coming to the CFL, LaBelle played college football at the University of Cincinnati, where LaBelle played in 46 games. During that time, LaBelle caught 20 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns. If LaBelle can become an excellent blocker for the Tiger-Cats and still catch a couple of passes. Hamilton fans’ first chance to see LaBelle play will come on Saturday as the Tiger-Cats face the Toronto Argonauts.
In addition to adding LaBelle, the Tiger-Cats have also released American wide receiver Dimitri Stanley.
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