B.C. Lions kick off 2012 training camp in Kamloops this weekend

The road to the Grey Cup begins on Sunday (June 3) as the B.C. Lions set out to defend the title they won on home turf last November. Lions veterans report to the team's Surrey practice facility on Saturday (June 2) for physicals and the team will then bus to Kamloops where it will hit the field at Hillside Stadium on the campus of Thompson Rivers University.

Including rookies and free-agent hopefuls, 80 players have been invited to main camp.

Under the watchful eye of new head coach Mike Benevides, the Lions will conduct on-field workouts from 8:20 to 10:50 a.m. and will return to the turf from 4 to 6:15 p.m. each day. The Lions will be based in Kamloops for three weeks, returning to Vancouver for their first CFL preseason game on June 13. They will wrap camp on June 20 when they travel to Edmonton for their final exhibition game on June 21.

The Lions begin defense of their Grey Cup title at home against Winnipeg on June 29. For full training camp information and updated team rosters and depth charts, the Lions have a camp page on their website.