BC Lions

BCLions.com Staff

The BC Lions Football Club announced this morning that import receiver Arland Bruce has signed an extension with the team. 

“Arland’s football resume speaks for itself,” said VP of football operations and GM Wally Buono. “He is an exciting player who helped make our offence even better in 2011. Having him sign an extension today helps us continue building a strong team for this season and beyond.”

“Arland was a fantastic addition last year and not only instantly gave our offence another dimension, but was also a catalyst in our coming together as a team, said head coach Mike Benevides. “Having him attend training camp in 2012 and fully immerse himself in Jacques Chapdelaine’s system is going benefit him, Travis Lulay and our entire offence.”

Coming to the Lions in early August through a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Bruce made an immediate impact on teammates both on and off the field with big plays and a unique approach to the game. In just his second game with the Lions, he rung up the Edmonton Eskimos for 129 yards and two touchdowns giving fans of the Black and Orange a preview of what was to come through 12 regular season games and a post season Grey Cup run.

Bruce finished the 2011 campaign with 58 receptions for 859 yards (49 catches, 755 yards with Lions) highlighted by a career-high 100-yard TD reception versus Saskatchewan on September 24th. He added four catches for 82 yards in the Western Final win over Edmonton and five more receptions for 73 yards and a TD in the club’s 34-23 Grey Cup win over Winnipeg.

“I could not be happier to sign this extension,” said Bruce. “I have fallen in love with football again since coming to the west coast and I’m very honoured to know that I will be given an opportunity to try and win another championship for our fans.”

Career Highlights and Rankings:

- Ranks 13th in all-time receiving yards with 10,171
- Ranks 12th in all-time receptions with 660
- Shares the CFL record for most receptions in a single game with 16 on July 31, 2010 for Hamilton
- Holds the 6th highest single-game receiving yards totals with 272 (the above game)
- Ranks 46th in CFL scoring and 13th in touchdowns with 87
- Has been named a division All-Star five times and to the CFL squad 3 times
- Played in three Grey Cup games winning two with Toronto in 2004 and BC in 2011
- Has scored nine post-season touchdowns and ranks 13th all-time with 841 playoff receiving yards