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That means Dennis and Bergman’s experience will be even more important than it normally is as they try to shape a dominant unit that can give Bo Levi Mitchell the time he needs to find receivers downfield.

“I think the group is a little younger than it normally was in the past, but I think that’s good,” Dennis said. “There’s enough guys in the room who have been around Pat who know what needs to be done, so we just need to help the younger guys, try to help catch them up.”

HE’LL PLAY

Sometimes it’s best to double-check your information before questioning Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson’s memory.

When Dickenson was asked about Mitchell taking some snaps at QB during his team’s pre-season opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, he confirmed that his starter will be playing and pointed out that Mitchell normally plays in both pre-season games.

This particular reporter had a different memory of how that played out last year, but to the surprise of absolutely no one, Dickenson was 100% correct.

Dickenson did acknowledge that Mitchell probably won’t see a tonne of gametime Friday night, but fans at McMahon Stadium will at least get a small sneak preview of the reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player.

ALL WATCHING

Yes, the Stampeders are as hooked on the Raptors as the rest of Canada.

While Bay Area natives like Brandon Smith are firmly on the side of the Golden State Warriors heading into the NBA Finals — and we can’t blame Smith for that, as much as we’d like to — it’s sounds like it’s a decidedly pro-Raptors dressing room.

“Of course, growing up in Mississauga, the GTA as we call it back home, I grew up a Raptors fan,” said Stamps receiver Juwan Brescacin. “I’ve been threw all the ups and downs. A lot of downs, but I actually can’t even believe that we’re in the finals right now.

“And I say ‘we’ because I’m a part of the team.”

It’s not just Toronto-area guys, either.

Rookie receiver Hergy Mayala is a Montreal native, but he’s been just as locked-in to the Raptors run as anyone.

“That’s Canada’s team,” Mayala said. “If they win, we all win.”

daustin@postmedia.com

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