B.C. Lions re-sign wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux through 2017 season

VANCOUVER – The B.C. Lions have signed wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux to a contract extension through 2017, the club announced Thursday.

The 28-year-old finished with 76 catches for 1,151 yards last season to earn his first CFL all-star nod.

Arceneaux’s nine touchdown receptions tied for third in the league and he sits just 87 yards short of 5,000 for his career.

“Manny is an important part of our offence and leader in our dressing room,” B.C. head coach and general manager Wally Buono said in a statement. “This is a critical signing for the club.”

Arceneaux just completed his fifth season in the CFL with the Lions and could have become a free agent in February.

“There was only one place I wanted to play and that’s in B.C. for Wally and Lions fans,” said the native of Alexandria, La. “We’re going to be back in a big way in 2016 and I can’t wait to get started.”

Buono resumed head coaching duties earlier this month following Jeff Tedford’s resignation to pursue opportunities in U.S. college football after just one disappointing 7-11 season with the Lions.

B.C. re-signed Canadian offensive lineman Kirby Fabien to a two-year extension earlier this week, but the team still has a host of veterans set to become free agents, including running back Andrew Harris and quarterback Travis Lulay.