B.C. Lions acquire Canadian centre Tim O’Neill from Tiger-Cats

Victoria native Tim O’Neill is coming home to the B.C. Lions thanks to a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The Lions announced they acquired the Canadian centre in exchange for the Lions’ fifth-round 2016 CFL Draft selection.

“Tim is an experienced centre who helps us change the ratio on offence and further solidifies that position group,” said GM and head coach Wally Buono.

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O’Neill is coming home after a career spanning nine seasons. Most recently he spent four seasons with the Tiger-Cats,  playing in 72 straight regular season games and appearing in two Grey Cup games in 2013 and 2014.

Originally a third-round CFL Draft selection (22nd overall) of the Edmonton Eskimos in 2005, O’Neill spent a year on the practice roster before deciding to return to school in 2007 with the University of Calgary Dinos, where he was honoured as an all-Canadian.

O’Neill returned to the CFL in 2008 with the Calgary Stampeders and spent four seasons with them, winning the Grey Cup with the squad in 2008.

The Lions also announced that international offensive lineman Jason Foster has been released. Foster started all 18 regular season games as well as the Western Semi-Final at centre for the club in 2015.