The Ottawa Redblacks have signed Canadian kickers Michael Domegala and Keiran Burnham to the practice roster after Lewis Ward suffered a torn pectoral muscle. The veteran kicker will undergo surgery to repair the injury, ending his season.
Ward has made 34-of-40 field goal attempts for the Redblacks this season (85 percent) along with all 21 of his convert attempts. The veteran kicker missed a 50-yard attempt late in the club’s 41-37 loss to the B.C. Lions this past week, which was returned 126 yards for a touchdown by Terry Williams.
“Minor bump in the road! We’ll be back stronger and better,” Lewis wrote on social media. “Wouldn’t be where I am without my teammates, coaches and everyone who has supported and believed in me.”
Domagala made 19-of-26 career field goal attempts (73.1 percent) over two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2021-22). He also made 12-of-14 convert attempts and punted 90 times for an average of 44.4 yards.
The 27-year-old originally went unselected in the 2017 CFL Draft out of Carleton University. He returned to school for his final year of U Sports eligibility in 2018 before signing with the Ticats the following year, though he did not make the final roster. Domagala signed with the Edmonton Elks this past off-season but was released after training camp.
Burnham was selected by the Calgary Stampeders in the seventh round of the 2020 CFL Draft out of St. Francis Xavier University. The 28-year-old spent his first two professional seasons with the Stamps, though he did not dress for any regular season games. He signed with the B.C. Lions ahead of the 2023 season but was recently released from the team’s practice roster.
Ottawa (3-10) is scheduled to host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-7) on Friday, Sept. 22 with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. EDT.
