Music: {allcanada} Kick Off

Jeremaine Copeland has been anxiously waiting for the 2010 CFL season to start.

The all-star receiver will open the 2010 campaign in Calgary, where he spent five seasons and won a Grey Cup before being dealt to Toronto in the off-season for receiver P. K. Sam. Copeland says he'll be out to prove a point when the Argonauts open the season at McMahon Stadium against the Stampeders on Thursday.

"Ever since I was traded I've circled this day on my calendar," Copeland said. "I loved being in Calgary and am looking forward to going up against my old friends. It's going to be competitive but it's going to be fun.

"Of course I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulders because of how it went down. I would love to go out there and win and start off our season 1-0."

The Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders officially kick off the 2010 campaign in Regina on Thursday. It will be a rematch of last year's Grey Cup, which the Alouettes won with a thrilling 28-27 decision, thanks in large part to the Riders taking a too many men penalty that allowed kicker Damon Duval a second shot at the game-winning field goal.

On Friday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Paul LaPolice will make his CFL head-coaching debut with the Bombers.

The opening week of the season concludes Saturday with the B.C. Lions in Edmonton to face the Eskimos.

The six-foot-two, 195-pound Copeland was a productive player in Calgary, three times surpassing the 1,000-yard receiving plateau. Last season was his best as a Stampeder, registering 81 catches for 1,235 yards and 12 TDs.

Those are enviable stats for an Argos offence that was ranked second-last in the CFL last year in passing (229.3 yards per game).

Copeland won't be the only former Stampeder returning to Calgary.

Head coach Jim Barker begins his second tenure in Toronto, leading the Argos to a 9-9 record and playoff berth in '99 before being swept up in the club's ownership change. Barker spent five seasons in the Stampeders' front office before returning to the sidelines with the Double Blue.

Barker was given the difficult task of revamping an Argos team that's missed the CFL playoffs the last two years and won just seven games combined over that span. Like Copeland, Barker is excited about the prospect of starting the season in Calgary.

"I've got a lot of friends and family there and it's just exciting to be able to go there," he said. "I think it's fitting that my first game back as a head coach is in Calgary.

"To be able to play a top team right out of the game and see where we're at is exciting for me."

Copeland and Barker both earned Grey Cup rings in 2008 with Calgary. Last year, the Stampeders finished second in the West Division behind Saskatchewan before losing the Riders in the conference final.

Copeland and Barker won't have to wait long for a rematch with Calgary. The Stampeders are in Toronto the third week of the season.

"I kind of like it that it's all early," Copeland said. "We've got them the first game, then the third game and then it's all over with and the rest of the season goes on.

"I don't think this could've worked out better. All the fans that are upset about it, we can all get it out of our head and put us in the past after the first three weeks."

Toronto will start CFL rookie Cleo Lemon at quarterback against Calgary although Lemon does have previous pro experience in the NFL. But Copeland says he's been busy sharing his knowledge of the Canadian game with Lemon.

"One thing about this league is you definitely know the difference between the NFL and coming to the CFL," Copeland said. "You've got to understand the size of the field and one thing I think what helps Cleo is he's got a strong arm so he can make that throw out and not have to worry about having it picked off going back for seven the other way.

"A lot of quarterbacks can't do that so he does have an advantage. I really think overall the thing to remember is to have an understanding of this league and not be afraid to dump the ball off five yards on second and 10 to your playmakers and let them make plays."

And that includes the quarterback not being afraid to make things happen himself.

"Sometimes the quarterback does have to use his legs to get downfield," Copeland said. "That's what (Calgary's) Henry Burris does best.

"He's going to get downfield and get about 20 yards out of you just on a quarterback draw or quarterback keep."

Throughout his CFL career, Copeland has been one of the more innovative players when it comes to unique touchdown dances. During his time in Calgary, he combined with flamboyant Nik Lewis to perform a "human bicycle" in 2005 and the infamous "bobsled" with an end-zone pylon in 2006.

So what does Copeland have in mind should he score Thursday?

"I've thought about it a lot but I don't know," he said with a chuckle. "I don't know what I'm going to do or how I'm going to act if I do get into the end zone.

"We'll have to see."