Three Redmen picked to play in CIS East-West Bowl
[PHOTOS (left to right): Courtney Bishop, Ben Thompson and defensive back Patrick Bourgon]
MONTREAL - Three members of the McGill Redmen are among 89 football players named to participate in the eighth annual East-West Bowl, a showcase primarily for CIS players who will be eligible for the 2011 Canadian Football League draft.
Courtney Bishop, a 6-foot-2, 222-pound defensive end from Toronto, was named along with Redmen teammates Ben Thompson, a 20-year-old defensive tackle from Fredericton, N.B., and defensive back Patrick Bourgon, 21, of Pointe-au-Chêne, Que.
Bishop's, who transferred to McGill from Concordia last fall, is a 24-year-old public relations major. Thompson, who measures 6-foot-1, 272, is a marketing junior and Bourgon is a 5-foot-11, 196-pound economics junior.
The East-West Bowl, presented by Under Armour, will be played on May 8 at TD Waterhouse Stadium on the campus of The University of Western Ontario in London, Ont.
McGill and Acadia led all CIS teams with three defensive players apiece picked for the East team, comprised of student-athletes representing schools from the Atlantic and Quebec conferences, as well as from Queen's, Ottawa and Toronto. The West squad is made up of players from Canada West and from the remaining OUA universities.
Quarterbacking the East will be Concordia's Robert Mackay and Ottawa's Brad Sinopol, while Regina pivot Marc Mueller and Saskatchewan's Laurence Nixon will run the West offence.
Mackay set a single-season Quebec conference record in 2009 with 2,739 passing yards, led the nation with 328 pass attempts and tied for the CIS lead in both touchdown passes (18) and completions (201).
Sinopoli and Mueller were impressive in their first season as university starters after taking over from Gee-Gees and Rams greats Josh Sacobie and Teale Orban, respectively. Mueller led Canada West with 2,308 yards through the air, while Sinopoli also reached the 2000-yard plateau (2,084).
Pat Sheahan, head coach of the reigning Vanier Cup champion Queen's Gaels, will lead the East squad in London, while Calgary's Blake Nill will be in charge of the West contingent.
"This is a promising group of young athletes who all have aspirations of playing professionally in the years to come," said Sheahan, the former McGill and Concordia coach who guided the Gaels to a 33-31 come-from-behind win last November in Quebec City for their first national title since 1992. "This is an opportunity for them to showcase their talent and further develop their skills while playing with the best young football players in the country. It should be quite an event."
"In my opinion the significance of the East West Bowl has evolved over the past few years," said Nill, who last fall led the Dinos to their first Vanier Cup appearance since 1995 and who previously guided Saint Mary's to a pair of CIS titles. "It has now become a true showcase of the top CIS football talent, and it is something our student-athletes prepare for from their freshmen year in hopes of someday participating in it."
No less that 16 all-Canadians from 2009 will take the field on May 8 - seven on each side - including Laval wide receiver Julian Feoli Gudino, Queen's offensive tackle Matt O'Donnell, Laval guard Pascal Baillargeon, Montreal defensive tackle Gregory Alexandre, StFX linebacker Henoc Muamba, Acadia defensive back Mike Miller and Laval kicker Christopher Milo for the East, and Calgary running back Matt Walter, Calgary wide receiver Nathan Coehoorn, Wilfrid Laurier wide receiver Dillon Heap, Calgary inside receiver Anthony Parker, Western guard Matt Norman, Alberta defensive end Craig Gerbrandt and Alberta kicker Hugh O'Neill for the West.
Wide receiver Thomas Howes, linebacker Steve Laporte and defensive back Ben D'Andrea will also represent Vanier Cup champion Queen's.
In his third campaign as the Huskies number one pivot, Nixon completed at least 60 percent of his passes (62.5) for the third straight year while leading Saskatchewan to the Canada West final.
Western is hosting the event for the second straight year. The affair was previously held at McMaster (2008), Laval (2007, 2006) and Wilfrid Laurier (2005, 2004, 2003). Kickoff for the 2010 game is set for 1 p.m.
Last spring, the West team prevailed 16-7 to improve its all-time record to 6-1 in the series.
Past East West Bowl participants include Hec Crighton trophy winners Benoit Groulx of Laval, Daryl Stephenson of Windsor, Andy Fantuz of Western, Jesse Lumsden of McMaster and Tommy Denison of Queen's.
Other notables include former Sherbrooke Vert & Or Samuel Giguère and Calgary graduate Dan Federkeil, both members of the 2010 Super Bowl finalist Indianapolis Colts, as well as former Mustang Vaughn Martin, who played his first season with the San Diego Chargers after being selected in the fourth round in the 2009 NFL Collegiate Draft.
Official website (including ticket information): http://english.cis-sic.ca/eastwestbowl/2010
Previous East West Bowl results:
2009 (at Western): West 16, East 7
2008 (at McMaster): East 25, West 12
2007 (at Laval): West 22, East 19 (OT)
2006 (at Laval): West 34, East 26 (OT)
2005 (at Laurier): West 34, East 16
2004 (at Laurier): West 21, East 12
2003 (at Laurier): West 10, East 5
2010 EAST WEST BOWL ROSTERS
EAST TEAM
Pos. Name University HT WT Hometown
Offence
QB Robert Mackay Concordia 6-2 218 Port Dover, Ont.
QB Bradley Sinopoli Ottawa 6-4 200 Peterborough, Ont.
RB Walter Cariazo Toronto 5-10 205 Scarborough, Ont.
RB Kyle Exumé Bishop's 5-10 198 Brooklin, Ont.
RB Craig Leger Saint Mary's 5-9 185 Salmon River, N.S.
SB Liam Mahoney Concordia 6-1 197 Lachine, Que.
SB/WR Michael Prempeh Toronto 6-0 190 Toronto, Ont.
WR Frank Bruno Montreal 5-9 165 Montreal, Que.
WR Julian Feoli Gudino Laval 6-1 210 San José, Costa Rica
WR Thomas Howes Queen's 6-5 220 Parham, Ont.
WR Steve Hughes Ottawa 6-4 200 Ottawa, Ont.
WR Olivier Mongeau Bishop's 6-2 190 Sorel, Que.
WR Youssy Pierre Montreal 6-0 180 Montreal, Que.
G Pascal Baillargeon Laval 6-5 315 St-Anselme, Que.
T Anthony Barrette Concordia 6-5 308 Verdun, Que.
C Chris Munn Mt. Allison 6-0 300 Fredericton, N.B.
OL Matt O'Donnell Queen's 6-11 310 Kingston, Ont.
OL Yannick Sage Sherbrooke 6-4 300 Sherbrooke, Que.
T Sébastien Taché Montreal 6-4 270 Montreal, Que.
G Stewart Walsh StFX 6-1 298 Antigonish, N.S.
Defence
DT Gregory Alexandre Montreal 6-2 270 Montreal, Que.
DE Courtney Bishop McGill 6-2 222 Toronto, Ont.
DE Marc-Antoine L. Fortin Laval 6-4 237 Quebec City, Que.
DL Brandon Lowe Ottawa 6-4 275 Etobicoke, Ont.
DT Steve Paquette Sherbrooke 6-2 266 Lahr, Germany
DT Junior Turner Bishop's 6-3 230 Brampton, Ont.
DT Ben Thompson McGill 6-1 272 Fredericton, N.B.
LB Ben Halpern Mt. Allison 5-11 227 Halifax, N.S.
LB Ryan King Saint Mary's 6-0 210 Sherwood Park, Alta.
LB Tom Labenski Acadia 6-0 220 Oakville, Ont.
LB Steve Laporte Queen's 6-1 220 Ottawa, Ont.
LB Henoc Muamba StFX 6-0 223 Mississauga, Ont.
LB Kevin Régimbald Sherbrooke 6-2 215 Rouyn-Noranda, Que.
DB Patrick Bourgon McGill 5-11 196 Pointe-au-Chêne, Que.
DB Ben D'Andrea Queen's 5-11 195 Calgary, Alta.
DB Michael Miller Acadia 6-1 205 Riverview, N.B.
DB Mike Rostance Acadia 5-10 195 Orillia, Ont.
DB Willie Sharpe Toronto 6-1 190 Renfrew, Ont.
CB Bradley Daye Mt. Allison 5-10 170 Halifax, N.S.
S Nicholas Arsenault-Hum Concordia 5-11 190 Delson, Que.
S Jeff Hecht Saint Mary's 5-10 195 Edmonton, Alta.
S Jonathan Laliberté Laval 5-11 200 Varennes, Que.
Special Teams
K Christopher Milo Laval 5-11 195 Montreal, Que.
WEST TEAM
Pos. Name University HT WT Hometown
Offence
QB Marc Mueller Regina 6-0 190 Regina, Sask.
QB Laurence Nixon Saskatchewan 6-0 210 Richmond, B.C.
FB Jacob Appiah York 5-9 194 Etobicoke, Ont.
RB Dave Boyd UBC 5-9 195 Duncan, B.C.
RB Joey Nemet McMaster 5-11 200 Burlington, Ont.
RB Matt Walter Calgary 5-10 210 Calgary, Alta.
SB Clancy Doiron Manitoba 6-3 205 Winnipeg, Man.
SB Braeden George Saskatchewan 6-1 195 Calgary, Alta.
SB Anthony Parker Calgary 6-2 206 Okotoks, Alta.
SB Brenden Owens Regina 6-1 185 Regina, Sask.
WR Zach Bull Western 6-0 185 Port Colborne, Ont
WR Nathan Coehoorn Calgary 6-2 220 Redcliff, Alta.
WR Jedd Gardner Guelph 6-0 175 Niagara Falls, Ont.
WR Dillon Heap Laurier 5-10 175 Waterloo, Ont.
WR Mark McConkey Regina 6-2 195 Calgary, Alta.
WR Marcel Samuel Windsor 6-2 185 Mississauga, Ont.
WR Dustin Zender Waterloo 6-0 176 Waterloo, Ont.
G Reed Alexander Calgary 6-3 290 Medicine Hat, Alta.
G/C Nick Cicchini Windsor 6-3 270 Sarnia, Ont.
OL Thomas Fry Alberta 6-2 285 Edmonton, Alta.
T/G Ben Heenan Saskatchewan 6-5 250 Regina, Sask.
G Matt Norman Western 6-3 322 Montreal, Que.
OL Nicholas Ternovatsky Alberta 6-2 280 St. Albert, Alta.
Defence
DE Everton Black Manitoba 6-2 240 Toronto, Ont.
DL Steve Cecchini McMaster 6-2 248 Thorold, Ont.
DL Steve Cormack Laurier 6-1 280 Waterloo, Ont.
DL Roberto Filice McMaster 6-3 270 Stoney Creek, Ont.
DL Craig Gerbrandt Alberta 6-2 252 Sherwood Park, Alta.
DL Andrew Heeley Waterloo 6-2 235 Carlisle, Ont.
DT Serge Kaminsky UBC 6-3 245 Richmond, B.C.
DT Seamus Postuma Windsor 6-3 300 Thunder Bay, Ont.
LB Thomas Hall Manitoba 6-3 223 Winnipeg, Man.
LB Steve Reading York 6-0 232 Fenelon Falls, Ont.
LB John Surla Western 6-0 215 Niagara Falls, Ont.
LB Peter Thiel Saskatchewan 6-1 220 Regina, Sask.
DB Sebastian Howard Guelph 6-0 185 Niagara Falls, Ont.
DB Bashir Moallim Waterloo 5-10 177 Waterloo, Ont.
DB James Savoie Guelph 5-9 185 Niagara Falls, Ont.
CB / S Craig Butler Western 6-1 185 London, Ont.
CB Andre Clarke York 6-1 193 Mississauga, Ont.
CB Shane Herbert Laurier 6-2 180 Ajax, Ont.
S Alex Babalos UBC 6-0 195 Delta, B.C.
S Scott McCahill Laurier 6-0 190 Kingston, Ont.
S Mitch Nicholson Waterloo 6-3 218 Grand Haven, Mich.
S Daryl Townsend Windsor 6-1 190 Windsor, Ont.
Special Teams
K Hugh O'Neill Alberta 6-2 190 Edmonton, Alta.
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SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman, Communications Officer, McGill Athletics & Recreation (514) 398-7012
or
Michel Bélanger, CIS Communications Manager (613) 447-6334