HAMILTON - The Flyin' Hawaiian is a Hamilton Tiger-Cat.

The veteran receiver/kick-returner agreed to a one-year deal with Hamilton on Thursday. The five-foot-nine, 180-pound Owens had spent the last six seasons with the Toronto Argonauts before becoming a free agent Tuesday.

Owens, 33, is a four-time CFL all-star who in 2010 was named the league's top special-teams performer before being named its outstanding player in 2012. That season he had 94 catches for 1,328 yards and six TDs while accumulating a record 3,840 all-purpose yards.

Owens had offers from three teams but wanted to stay in Southern Ontario. The Argos did not offer Owens a contract.

Last year injuries limited Owens to just 13 games as he registered 55 catches for 570 yards and two touchdowns. But in Hamilton he'll combine with Brandon (Speedy) Banks to potentially give the Ticats a dangerous 1-2 special-teams punch.

"There isn't enough words to express the gratitude I have for the Toronto Argonauts!" Owens said in a tweet to Argos supporters. "It would've been nice to finish what we started together and paddle my last canoe in double blue, but life has a way of teaching us lessons on a daily and we must acknowledge those lessons, learn from them and ultimately become better people from them.

"Thank you and we love you!"

Owens began his CFL career with Montreal in 2009 before being traded to Toronto in June 2010.

The team also announced Thursday they have signed international defensive back Demond Washington and Scianitti is reporting they have signed Canadian defensive tackle Michael Atkinson to a new deal as well. Washington played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last year.