June 3, 2009
OUA FOOTBALL PLAYERS ATTEND CFL TRAINING CAMPS
HAMILTON, Ont. - A number of OUA student-athletes are ready to chase their dream of playing professional football as Canadian Football League training camps open across the nation.
Ten OUA football players that were selected in last month's CFL Canadian Draft are expected to be in attendance, including Queen's Gaels defensive lineman Dee Sterling (Kingston, Ont.), who was the first OUA athlete selected in the draft, going in the second round (12th overall) to the Edmonton Eskimos. He made a significant impact in 2008 with 33 defensive tackles (26 solo), 7.5 sacks, two pass knockdowns and one forced fumble. He was named a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) all-Canadian and was an OUA first-team all-star. He will be joined by Western Mustangs linebacker Jason Kosec (Mississauga, Ont.) who was chosen in the sixth round (44th overall).
Due south of Edmonton, Sterling's defensive teammate from Queen's Osie Ukwuoma (Mississauga, Ont.) has just signed his first professional contract with the defending Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders. Ukwuoma, the 2008 OUA lineman of the year, was selected in the fifth round (40th overall). Ukwuoma recorded 9.5 sacks and 25 total tackles in 2008. He also earned first-team all-Canadian honours along with being an OUA first-team all-star for the second straight season.
On the Pacific coast, Windsor Lancers offensive lineman Matt Morencie (Windsor, Ont.) is set to begin his first training camp with the B.C. Lions. The 2008 OUA first-team all-star was selected in the third round, 21st overall by the club. One player will go from one pack of Lions to another, as York long snapper David Mills (Abbotsford, B.C.) will join camp as a territorial exemption. The CFL Lions will hold their training camp in Abbotsford.
Not surprisingly, the Toronto Argonauts have brought in a handful of home-grown talent. Offensive lineman Zachary Pollari (Guelph, Ont.) of Western was selected in the fourth round (26th overall) by the Boatmen, while defensive back Brad Crawford (Hamilton, Ont.) of the Guelph Gryphons was chosen in the sixth round (43rd overall). In four seasons Crawford played five different positions, showing his versatility. Crawford was third on the Gryphons with 34 tackles in 2008.
The Boatmen will have two other student-athletes that were drafted in previous years, but returned to their university programs for the 2008 season. McMaster Marauders slotback Mike Bradwell (Toronto, Ont.) played in only four games due to a hamstring injury, but caught passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran once for 21 yards. He was selected by the Argos in the second round (13th overall) in the 2008 version of the draft. Offensive lineman Richard Zulys (Toronto, Ont.) of Western, an OUA second-team all-star, will also join the Scullers in camp after being a fifth-round selection in 2008. Undrafted offensive lineman Scott Evans (Cambridge, Ont.) of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks will be attending his third training camp with the Argos. He was selected an OUA first-team all-star for the third straight season.
Another undrafted offensive lineman, Daniel Bederman (Toronto, Ont.) of Queen's, will be up the QEW trying out with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was named an OUA first-team all-star last season.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers also have fresh OUA talent on display in the Manitoba capital. All-time CIS rushing champion Daryl Stephenson (London, Ont.), the 2006 Hec Crighton Award winner as the nation's top university football player, returns to the team that drafted him in 2008. After playing out his university eligibility with the Lancers, Stephenson signed with the Blue Bombers last October and had his first nine carries in his CFL career which produced 19 yards. He will be joined by Windsor teammate Kyle Sleightholm (Chatham, Ont.), who has made the transition from the defensive line to offence.
Also on the Blue Bombers are a pair of Golden Hawks, including offensive lineman Adam Bestard (Sarnia, Ont.) going 27th overall in the fourth round last month, and fullback Peter Quinney (Belleville, Ont.) being chosen in the fifth round (35th overall). Bestard played in all 10 of Laurier's games in 2008, while Quinney started in nine of 10 games compiling 201 rushing yards and 506 receiving yards. Thaine Carter (Nanaimo, B.C.) was chosen in the sixth round (45th overall) by Winnipeg. The linebacker was named the nation's best stand-up defensive player after leading the Gaels in tackles for the second straight season with a total of 42.5, including 33 solo, while also racking up three quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries in eight outings.
Queen's teammate Mike Giffin (Kingston, Ont.) will return to the Montreal Alouettes after joining the team the end of last season. Giffin is the reigning OUA most valuable player earning his second consecutive OUA rushing title in 2008, running for 1,061 yards during the regular season. He averaged just over seven yards per carry. Giffin also led OUA and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) in touchdowns with 14 touchdowns, with 12 coming on the ground. Ottawa Gee-Gees offensive lineman and long snapper Ryan Mousseau (Ottawa, Ont.) was chosen in the sixth round (47th overall) by the Alouettes last month.
Players with remaining CIS eligibility may return to their OUA programs by August 15 but cannot participate in CFL regular season games.
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
Ten OUA football players that were selected in last month's CFL Canadian Draft are expected to be in attendance, including Queen's Gaels defensive lineman Dee Sterling (Kingston, Ont.), who was the first OUA athlete selected in the draft, going in the second round (12th overall) to the Edmonton Eskimos. He made a significant impact in 2008 with 33 defensive tackles (26 solo), 7.5 sacks, two pass knockdowns and one forced fumble. He was named a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) all-Canadian and was an OUA first-team all-star. He will be joined by Western Mustangs linebacker Jason Kosec (Mississauga, Ont.) who was chosen in the sixth round (44th overall).
Due south of Edmonton, Sterling's defensive teammate from Queen's Osie Ukwuoma (Mississauga, Ont.) has just signed his first professional contract with the defending Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders. Ukwuoma, the 2008 OUA lineman of the year, was selected in the fifth round (40th overall). Ukwuoma recorded 9.5 sacks and 25 total tackles in 2008. He also earned first-team all-Canadian honours along with being an OUA first-team all-star for the second straight season.
On the Pacific coast, Windsor Lancers offensive lineman Matt Morencie (Windsor, Ont.) is set to begin his first training camp with the B.C. Lions. The 2008 OUA first-team all-star was selected in the third round, 21st overall by the club. One player will go from one pack of Lions to another, as York long snapper David Mills (Abbotsford, B.C.) will join camp as a territorial exemption. The CFL Lions will hold their training camp in Abbotsford.
Not surprisingly, the Toronto Argonauts have brought in a handful of home-grown talent. Offensive lineman Zachary Pollari (Guelph, Ont.) of Western was selected in the fourth round (26th overall) by the Boatmen, while defensive back Brad Crawford (Hamilton, Ont.) of the Guelph Gryphons was chosen in the sixth round (43rd overall). In four seasons Crawford played five different positions, showing his versatility. Crawford was third on the Gryphons with 34 tackles in 2008.
The Boatmen will have two other student-athletes that were drafted in previous years, but returned to their university programs for the 2008 season. McMaster Marauders slotback Mike Bradwell (Toronto, Ont.) played in only four games due to a hamstring injury, but caught passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran once for 21 yards. He was selected by the Argos in the second round (13th overall) in the 2008 version of the draft. Offensive lineman Richard Zulys (Toronto, Ont.) of Western, an OUA second-team all-star, will also join the Scullers in camp after being a fifth-round selection in 2008. Undrafted offensive lineman Scott Evans (Cambridge, Ont.) of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks will be attending his third training camp with the Argos. He was selected an OUA first-team all-star for the third straight season.
Another undrafted offensive lineman, Daniel Bederman (Toronto, Ont.) of Queen's, will be up the QEW trying out with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was named an OUA first-team all-star last season.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers also have fresh OUA talent on display in the Manitoba capital. All-time CIS rushing champion Daryl Stephenson (London, Ont.), the 2006 Hec Crighton Award winner as the nation's top university football player, returns to the team that drafted him in 2008. After playing out his university eligibility with the Lancers, Stephenson signed with the Blue Bombers last October and had his first nine carries in his CFL career which produced 19 yards. He will be joined by Windsor teammate Kyle Sleightholm (Chatham, Ont.), who has made the transition from the defensive line to offence.
Also on the Blue Bombers are a pair of Golden Hawks, including offensive lineman Adam Bestard (Sarnia, Ont.) going 27th overall in the fourth round last month, and fullback Peter Quinney (Belleville, Ont.) being chosen in the fifth round (35th overall). Bestard played in all 10 of Laurier's games in 2008, while Quinney started in nine of 10 games compiling 201 rushing yards and 506 receiving yards. Thaine Carter (Nanaimo, B.C.) was chosen in the sixth round (45th overall) by Winnipeg. The linebacker was named the nation's best stand-up defensive player after leading the Gaels in tackles for the second straight season with a total of 42.5, including 33 solo, while also racking up three quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries in eight outings.
Queen's teammate Mike Giffin (Kingston, Ont.) will return to the Montreal Alouettes after joining the team the end of last season. Giffin is the reigning OUA most valuable player earning his second consecutive OUA rushing title in 2008, running for 1,061 yards during the regular season. He averaged just over seven yards per carry. Giffin also led OUA and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) in touchdowns with 14 touchdowns, with 12 coming on the ground. Ottawa Gee-Gees offensive lineman and long snapper Ryan Mousseau (Ottawa, Ont.) was chosen in the sixth round (47th overall) by the Alouettes last month.
Players with remaining CIS eligibility may return to their OUA programs by August 15 but cannot participate in CFL regular season games.
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
