QUFL PREVIEW: McGill opens 129th season vs Carabins, Thursday
Montréal - Fall is in the air and that means it's time to kick off another exciting season of Quebec Student Sport Federation university football! The 2009 season begins on Thursday night when the visiting McGill Redmen will open their 129th season against the Montreal Carabins.
It is a historic season for the QSSF, as the conference will host the Vanier Cup for the first time on November 28, 2009 at Université Laval in Quebec City. 2009 will also feature a new official broadcaster for the association, as the French service of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Société Radio-Canada) will air a ‘Game of the Week' on its television network and website, giving fans coverage like they've never seen before.
Teams from the QSSF football league have captured three of the past five Vanier Cups and had seven players drafted in this year's Canadian Football League (CFL) draft, including three in the first round, a testiment to the quality of players coming out of the conference.
From Coast-to-Coast
This year, fans across Canada can follow the exploits of their favourite QSSF teams as the French service of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio-Canada, will broadcast eight (8) regular season games on television and internet including an interlock game between the Montreal Carabins and the Acadia Axemen. SRC Sports will also broadcast all Quebec conference playoff games beginning with the semi-final round on November 7, followed a week later by the Dunsmore Cup on November 14. Radio-Canada will also broadcast the Mitchell Bowl national semi-final game between the Ontario and Quebec champions on November 21 before wrapping up the season with the Vanier Cup on November 28.
Jean St-Onge will call the action, while former University of Montreal and current CEGEP du Vieux Montreal head coach Jacques Dussault will provide colour commentary during all SRC telecasts.
Quebec City will be the backdrop for the first broadcast by Radio-Canada on September 6 at 2 p.m. when the Rouge et Or host the Concordia Stingers in a rematch of the 2008 Dunsmore Cup. All other broadcasts on SRC will be played on Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Another first occurs at the end of November when the Vanier Cup will be played for the first time in La Belle Province. The five-time and defending Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) champion Rouge et Or will host the next two title matchs at PEPS Stadium.
Rivalries Abound!
With each passing season, more and more fans come through the turnstiles at Quebec University Football League (QUFL) games and this season should be especially exciting as all six teams have a legitimate shot at hoisting the Dunsmore Cup as QUFL champions come mid-November.
Rivalries such as Laval-Montreal, Sherbrooke-Bishop's and Concordia-McGill will have fans sitting on the edge of their seats all season long. Fans of Bishop's and Sherbrooke will kick the season off in style with the fourth annual Mayor's Cup game in week 1. The Carabins and Rouge et Or will face each other twice in 2009, first on Saturday September 19 at PEPS Stadium with the rematch set for October 3 at CEPSUM.
Players to watch
Several career records could be shattered this season by Laval pivot Benoit Groulx (Montreal, Que.) and McGill receiver Charles-Antoine Sinotte (Trois-Rivieres, Que.).
Groulx, the 2008 Hec Creighton Award winner as the CIS most valuable player needs 16 touchdown passes to break McGill almnus Matt Connell's record of 63. Groulx, in his final year of eligibility threw 12 touchdown passes a year ago.
For his part, Charles-Antoine Sinotte is 45 receptions shy of breaking former teammate Éric Galas' record of 194 career catches. Sinotte hauled in 50 catches last season.
On the defensive side of the ball, Bishop's Nick Poloniato (Hamilton, Ont.) is 8 picks from setting the new QUFL career interceptions standard. Anthony Lukca of the McGill Redmen needs 74 tackles to break the current career mark of 253.5 set by former Gaiter Francis Bellefroid. He made 73 tackles a year ago.
Regular season and broadcast schedule:
http://www.sportetudiant-stats.com/universitaire/football/
Fierce Competition expected in '09
Bishop's Gaiters
The Bishop's Gaiters enter 2009 hoping to rebound from an up-and-down 2008, where they were in and out of the CIS rankings, but ultimately finished one win short of the playoffs. The departures of All-Canadians Jamall Lee and James Yurichuk to the professional ranks have made this a year of change for the Lennoxville squad. While the Gaiters are a veteran squad-with 17 starters among the 60 returning players-it is an understatement to say that there are significant losses to overcome.
2008 was a season of inconsistency for the Gaiters, as they posted a 3-5 record while facing six nationally-ranked opponents, good for in fifth spot in the QUFL. Jamall Lee's record-setting performance at McGill and a homecoming win over Sherbrooke put Bishop's into the 9th spot nationally, but a loss at Sherbrooke in the return match sent the Gaiters to the periphery of the Top Ten. Needing wins in their last two games to make the playoffs, Bishop's gritted out a 33-25 win over Concordia, but fell to Montreal to end the year.
The Gaiters revamped their coaching staff in the off-season, as Perry Marchese was named the team's new Offensive Co-ordinator. Marchese spent several years in the CFL with Toronto and Hamilton, and worked most recently with the Ontario U-19 team. He replaces Tony Addona, who remains as an offensive consultant. Steven Mabee, whose five seasons in Gaiters colours ended last year, joins the staff as an offensive line assistant, while ex-Gaiter David Marticonette will assist with the defensive line.
Information and interview requests :
John Edwards, sports information officer, Bishop's Gaiters, 819-822-9600 ext. 2507, jedwards [at] ubishops.ca
Concordia Stingers
There are more questions than answers when in it comes to the 2009 edition of the Concordia Stingers football team.
Can the Stingers build on their 5-3 win-loss record and second-place Quebec finish in 2008? Can the experienced and skilled offence hold the fort, while the young defence gets its legs under it? How will the team perform with quarterback Rob Mackay back at the helm? And how will 2007 CIS Rookie of the Year Liam Mahoney adapt now that he's moved from pivot to receiver?
On offence, Mackay returns from an injury suffered midway through the 2007 season. He is the most prominent of the nine returners on offence. He has a spectacular set of receivers and highly skilled running backs at his disposal. The only losses come on the offensive line as the Stingers have graduated three starters. The team feels it has the experienced bodies to fill the spots.
On defence, only six starters return. The Stingers lost four fifth-year seniors - two defensive ends and two linebackers. Then Ricky Zieba, the immensely popular young linebacker who was expected to play a big role in 2009, died in a car accident in June. However, there is some great talent returning to guide the newcomers, including two all-stars - linebacker Cory Greenwood, who is in his draft year and has garnered CFL and NFL attention, and safety Nicholas Arsenault-Hum.
As usual, a strong kicking game is a hallmark of any team with head coach Gerry McGrath at the helm. Rene Paredes, the 2007 Quebec all-star kicker, is back on duty.
Information and interview requests :
Catherine Grace, sports information officer, Concordia Stingers, 514-848-2424, ext. 3862, cgrace [at] alcor.concordia.ca
Laval University Rouge et Or
The Laval Rouge et Or went a perfect 12-0 for the first time in school history last season and looks to repeat as Canadian Interuniversity Sport champions in this, its 15th campaign.
Despite the departure of several key players, head coach Glen Constantin is confident that the Rouge et Or's depth and recruiting class will keep the team on target for a title defence in 2009. 80 players, including 20 recruits make up the 2009 edition of the Laval side that will be lead into battle by last season's Hec Creighton award winner, quarterback Benoit Groulx.
Renowned for its potent air game, the Rouge et Or will feature a solid ground attack that will keep opponents on its toes in 2009. Wide receiver Julian Feoli-Gudiño (San Jose, Costa Rica) the most valuable player in the 2008 Vanier Cup game returns for his third season as well as ball carrier Sébastien Lévesque (Quebec, Que.).
In addition to it's first perfect season in school history, Laval set a defensive record allowing just 60-points against in 2008. Five defensive backs including first-team All-Canadian Maxime Bérubé (Valleyfield, Que.), Olivier Turcotte-Létourneau (Quebec, Que.), Jonathan Laliberté (Varennes, Que.), Samuel Lajoie (Québec, Que.) and Alex Surprenant (Farhnam, Que.) return for 2009. Second team All-Canadian defensive lineman Marc-Antoine Beaudoin-Cloutier (St-Basile, Que.) enters his fourth season with the Rouge et Or while last year's Vanier Cup defensive player of the game Marc-Antoine L. Fortin (Quebec, Que.) and fifth year veteran Jean-Philippe Gilbert (St-Victor-de-Beauce, Que.) anchor the d-line.
Information and interview requests :
Jérôme Pelletier, sports information officer, Laval University Rouge et Or, 418-656-5292, jerome.pelletier [at] sas.ulaval.ca
McGill Redmen
Head coach Sonny Wolfe returns for his third year at McGill University and his Redmen have embarked on the 129th season of football. "I expect us to field a much-improved squad in 2009, with significantly more size, strength, depth and experience," said Wolfe.
The roster features 28 freshmen, 26 sophomores, nine juniors and eight seniors. After dressing between 19 and 23 freshmen for every game last year, Wolfe is expected to be dressing closer to half a dozen rookies this year.
The offence is highlighted by eight returning starters, led by receiver Charles-Antoine Sinotte, a 2007 all-Canadian from Trois-Rivieres, Que., who was hobbled by injuries for most of last year. Despite the graduation of two-time all-conference quarterback Matt Connell, the position appears in good hands. Ryne Bondy, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound sophomore from Richmond Hill, Ont., is expected to battle with 6-foot-5, 240-pound freshman Jonathan Collin of Greenfield Park, Que., who led Champlain College to an undefeated season.
The running game is expected to be much-improved with Concordia transfer Andrew Hamilton, a shifty, 6-foot, 198-pound back. Also in the mix is senior Chris Hayes of Winnipeg, freshman Lenn Gittens out of the St. Leonard Cougars junior program and speedy rookie Galen Flaherty, the top athlete at Trinity College School last year.
The defensive unit boasts 10 returning starters led by two-time all-star cornerback Anthony Lukca of St. Laurent, Que., who needs 57 tackles to break the school's career record and 74 to snap the conference mark. Another key will be Concordia transfer Modibo Sidibe, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., and two-time all-Canadian cornerback with the Stingers.
Information and interview requests :
Earl Zukerman, sports information officer, McGill Redmen, 514-398-7012, earl.zukerman [at] mcgill.ca
University of Montréal Carabins
Up and down, that's the best way to describe 2008 for the Montreal Carabins. After a season opening loss to the Rouge et Or, the Carabins won an inter-lock game against St. Francis-Xavier University before falling to Sherbrooke in Week 3. After a record-setting 58-7 victory over the McGill Redmen, Montreal found itself with its back against the wall after losing to the Conordia Stingers on the final play of the game in Week 5. The Carabins ran the table, winning their final three games to finish the season 5-3 and assure themselves of a berth in the QSSF playoffs. But, their playoff run was short lived as they were routed 32-7 by the Laval Rouge et Or in the league semi-final.
The 2009 edition of the Carabins looks particularly interesting on the defensive side of the ball. Montreal finished last season with the most quarterback sacks in Canada with 35. "We're betting on the experience of our defence this season," says head coach Marc Santerre. He underlines that most of last year's starters are returning in 2009 and adds that, "We are counting on our players being faster and more athletic than our opponents. Our front four is particularly dominant and we're not intimidated by anyone."
On the offensive side of the ball, the Carabins look to build upon the success of a year ago when they set a number of school records. "We're going to rely upon an experienced quarterback to lead a balanced attack this year," states Santerre. "We want to improve our ground game and take advantage of the skill set of our receivers."
As for the key to the 2009 season?
"Preparation," says Santerre. "We need to be well prepared for each and every game because we play in an extremely tough conference."
Information and interview requests :
Benoit Mongeon, sports information officer, University of Montreal Carabins, 514-343-6458, benoit.mongeon [at] umontreal.ca
University of Sherbrooke Vert & Or
The Vert & Or are coming off of their best season in history, winning five of eight games in 2008 and that has fans hoping for bigger and better things to come.
Several starters from last year's squad have graduated including all-star wide receiver Alain Dorval, ball carrier Joseph Mroué, defensive backs Sébastien Jalbert and David Vaillancourt as well as offensive lineman Mathieu Lefaivre.
Young veterans and rookies such as first year running back Gabriel Bernard-Perron (Cégep de Sherbrooke), full-back Vincent Carrière-Garwood (Cégep de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu) and defensive back Olivier Dauphinais (Cégep Édouard-Montpetit) will attempt to fill the gaps left by the aforementioned departures.
In 2009, the Sherbrooke offence will be led by a pair of experienced quarterbacks Jean-Philippe Shoiry and Charles St-Martin as well as a veteran o-line headed up by Francis Daneau who attended the Hamilton Tiger-Cats training camp in June. Full-back Benoît Boulanger also returns to the Vert & Or with CFL training camp experience after spending time with the Montreal Alouettes. It goes without saying that fans should be on the look out for veteran ball carrier Pascal Fils as well as receivers Jonathan Massé-Simard, Alexandre Beaudoin and Charles Croisetière.
On defence, second year linebackers Filipe Fonseca and Kevin Régimbald-Gagné continue to develop into quality CIS players which bodes well for the front four as does the presence of veteran Vincent Auger who lead the team last season with 42.5.
"It's been a long wait for the start of the 2009 season," says head coach André Bolduc. "After the success of last season, we can't wait to take to the field. Coming into a season, the Vert & Or have never had this much depth at all of the positions which lead to a very competitive training camp. We are starting to see the stability in our program pay dividends."
Information and interview requests :
Pascal Morin, sports information officer, University of Sherbrooke Vert & Or, 819-821-8000 ext. 62599, Pascal.Morin [at] USherbrooke.ca
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Source : Mylène Vézina - Quebec Student Sport Federation
mvezina [at] fqse.qc.ca - 514-252-3300, ext. 3453 - www.sportetudiant.com