Edmonton's Mark Kilam and BC's Buck Pierce will both make their CFL head-coaching debuts when the Elks visit the Lions for Saturday's season opener in Vancouver.

It also will be the CFL's first opening-week game since 1968 featuring two Canadian starting quarterbacks: Edmonton's Tre Ford and BC's Nathan Rourke.

If that weren't enough to get BC Place rocking, fans also will be treated to a pregame concert by legendary rapper Snoop Dogg.

"It's absolutely electric," Lions team president Duane Vienneau told the CBC. "We like kicking off the season with a big punch."

Both CFL West teams are hoping to show more fight than last season. The Lions went 9-9 and lost in the opening round of the playoffs, while the Elks finished 7-11 and haven't reached the postseason since 2019.

Kilam, 46, was n

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