Blue Bombers, Argonauts touch down in Regina as Grey Cup week kicks into high gear

Grey Cup week in Regina kicked into high gear with Tuesday's arrival of the CFL championship combatants.

The Toronto Argonauts touched down in Saskatchewan's capital city an hour ahead of the two-time defending champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Bombers will pursue a three-peat Sunday at Mosaic Stadium, while the Argos are looking for their first title since 2017.

Winnipeg linebacker Adam Bighill's hands glittered with three Grey Cup rings. He won in 2021 and 2019 with the Blue Bombers and in 2011 with the B.C. Lions.

"It's a reminder of why we're here, how important this week is, how much hard work goes into these moments," Bighill said at the Regina airport.

"Playoffs, I always wear these just because of that reminder all the time. There's a lot that goes into getting one of these. It's time to sacrifice everything you have in this week. The difficulties that lie within it, you've got to make it work for you."

The last team to win three in a row was Edmonton during a run of five straight from 1978 to 1982.

"I think we're an underdog, any time you're playing the back to back Grey Cup champs right?" Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. "To be the best you've got to beat the best. The pressure is on them, not really necessarily on us."

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Regina is a Grey Cup host city for the fourth time since 1995, but it's the first time at the new Mosaic Stadium that opened in 2017.

Regina was to host in 2020, but that season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sunday's game will be the earliest Grey Cup since 2006 when Winnipeg hosted Nov. 19. The forecast is for a mix of cloud and sun and a high of minus-5 C.

Snow is predicted for Wednesday to Friday. While an indoor