Three McGill players selected for CIS East-West Bowl
Three members of the McGill University football team have been selected to play in the 11th annual CIS East-West Bowl which is set for May 11, 2013 at TD Waterhouse Stadium on the campus of Western University in London, Ont.
Running back Sean Murphy of Ottawa will represent the Redmen along with All-Canadian offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif of St. Hilaire, Que., and linebacker Jesse Briggs of Kelowna, B.C.
The East-West Bowl showcases – for the most part - CIS players who will be eligible for the following year’s CFL draft. The East side is comprised of student-athletes representing schools from the Atlantic and Quebec conferences, as well as Queen’s, Ottawa and Toronto. The West contingent is made up of players from Canada West and the remaining OUA universities.
Murphy, who measures 5-foot-10 and 199 pounds, rushed 30 times for 178 yards in nine regular season games, and led the team’s running backs with 5.9 yards per carry. The third-year management major also made 26 receptions for 229 yards and four touchdowns.
Duvernay-Tardif is a 6-foot-5, 280-pounder who started every game at right tackle but often played two ways, filling in on the defensive line. The third-year medical student posted solid defensive stats with 8.5 tackles in nine games, including three quarterback sacks (!) and one knockdown.
Briggs is a 6-foot-1, 222-pound weak-side linebacker, who registered 26 total tackles, including 21 solos, one QB sack and a knockdown. He is a physical and health education junior.
The McGill trio brings to five the number of McGill players invited to various elite competitions over the last two months.
Wide receiver Shaquille Johnson, the CIS rookie of the year from Brampton, Ont., and offensive lineman Jordan Medal of Winnipeg, represented the Redmen at the International Federation of American Football International Bowl in Texas, Feb. 7, 2013. Last month, Robert Ravensbergen of Montreal tested as the sixth best offensive lineman at the CFL combines draft evaluation camp in Toronto.
Western will be hosting the East-West game for the fifth straight year. The contest was previously held at McMaster (2008), Laval (2007, 2006) and Laurier (2005, 2004, 2003). Kickoff for the 2013 edition is scheduled for 1 p.m.
In addition to the game itself, the week-long event includes daily practices, the Under Armour Combine for participating players (May 7), the Free-agent Combine for players eligible to attend 2013 CFL training camps and not participating in the East-West Bowl (May 8), a coaches clinic featuring presentations by nine CFL coaches and two CIS mentors (May 10-11), as well as the annual Friday night banquet (May 10).
For the second year in a row, Laval’s Glen Constantin and McMaster’s Stefan Ptaszek will serve as head coach for the East and West teams, respectively.
Constantin will act as sideline boss at the spring classic for the third straight year and for a record sixth time overall. Last November, he guided the Rouge et Or to a remarkable sixth Vanier Cup title in 12 seasons at the helm of the Quebec City powerhouse.
Ptaszek has led his Marauders to back-to-back appearances in the CIS final, including the first Vanier Cup championship in program history in 2011.
Seven standouts who will take the field on May 11 – four for the East and three for the West - were named CIS all-Canadians last fall. Joining McGill's Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in that group is Laval centre Pierre Lavertu, Queen’s linebacker Sam Sabourin, Montreal defensive back Antoine Pruneau, Manitoba running back Anthony Coombs, Saskatchewan receiver Kit Hillis and McMaster kicker Tyler Crapigna.
The East roster also features Concordia linebacker Max Caron, who claimed the Presidents’ Trophy in 2011 as the best defensive player in CIS football.
Quarterbacking the East team at TD Waterhouse Stadium will be Queen’s Billy McPhee and Saint Mary’s Ben Rossong, while McMaster’s Marshall Ferguson and Windsor’s Austin Kennedy will be under centre for the West. McPhee and Kennedy both competed in the event a year ago. The Queen’s pivot completed eight of 16 passes for 90 yards, while his Windsor counterpart went 18-of-23 for 142 yards and one interception, and also rushed 10 times for a game-high 89 yards.
Official website (including ticket info): http://english.cis-sic.ca/eastwestbowl/2013/index
EAST-WEST BOWL NOTES: A few players are expected to be added to the rosters in the coming weeks... The complete coaching staffs will also be announced at a later date... The East has won the last three editions, including a 24-16 victory a year ago... The West leads the all-time series 6-4... Past East-West Bowl participants include Hec Crighton Trophy winners Kyle Quinlan of McMaster, Billy Greene of UBC, Brad Sinopoli of Ottawa, 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 current NFL players Cory Greenwood of Kansas City (Concordia), Vaughn Martin of Miami (Western) and Jon Ryan of Seattle (Regina), as well as former Calgary Dino Dan Federkeil, who earned a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Indianapolis Colts in 2007.
EAST WEST BOWL RESULTS:
2012 (at Western): East 24, West 16
2011 (at Western): East 34, West 27 (OT)
2010 (at Western): East 12, West 9
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
2013 EAST WEST BOWL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (all times ET):
Monday, May 6
Arrival day & meetings
Tuesday, May 7
9:00-12:00 (BMO Centre): Under Armour Combine (participating players)
15:30-17:30 (TDW Stadium): Practice
Wednesday, May 8
9:30-11:30 (TDW Stadium): Practice
15:30-17:30 (TDW Stadium): Practice
16:00-20:00 (TDW Stadium): CFL Free Agent Combine (non-participating players)
Thursday, May 9
9:30-11:30 (TDW Stadium): Practice
15:30-17:30 (TDW Stadium): Practice
Friday, May 10
9:30-11:30 (TDW Stadium): Practice
12:00-22:00 (TDW Stadium): Coaches Clinic
14:00-15:00 (TDW Stadium): East Walk-Through
15:00-16:00 (TDW Stadium): West Walk-Through
18:30 (Perth Hall – Western University): Banquet
Saturday, May 11
8:00-16:30 (TDW Stadium): Coaches Clinic (including game)
13:00 (TDW Stadium): East West Bowl
2013 EAST WEST BOWL ROSTERS
EAST TEAM
Pos. Name University HT WT Hometown
Offence
QB Billy McPhee Queen’s 6-3 195 Burlington, Ont.
QB Ben Rossong Saint Mary’s 6-3 210 Sackville, N.S.
RB Sean Murphy McGill 5-10 199 Ottawa, Ont.
RB Pascal Lochard Laval 6-0 215 Montreal, Que.
RB Jordan Botel Mt. Allison 5-10 195 Prince George, B.C.
RB Jean-Christophe Beaulieu Sherbrooke 6-3 220 Trois-Rivières, Que.
RB Zack Clarke Acadia 5-10 190 Sackville, N.S.
REC Francis Lapointe Sherbrooke 5-11 170 Mt. Tremblant, Que.
REC Jordan Catterall StFX 5-10 163 Oakville, Ont.
REC Devon Bailey StFX 6-5 202 Mississauga, Ont.
REC Alex Pierzchalski Toronto 6-5 216 London, Ont.
REC Adam Thibault Laval 6-0 205 Quebec City, Que.
REC Josh Blanchard Mt. Allison 5-10 175 Oromocto, N.B.
REC Kristopher Bastien Concordia 6-3 211 St. Lambert, Que.
REC Alexander Fox Bishop’s 5-9 190 Montreal West, Que.
REC Nathan Heather Bishop’s 6-1 190 Oromocto, N.B.
OL Pierre Lavertu Laval 6-3 289 Quebec City, Que.
OL Terry Hart StFX 6-3 295 Barrie, Ont.
OL Adam Valchuck Ottawa 6-4 281 Stoney Creek, Ont.
OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif McGill 6-5 280 St. Hilaire, Que.
OL David Foucault Montreal 6-7 305 LaSalle, Que.
OL Aaron Wheaton Toronto 6-5 290 Ajax, Ont.
OL Karl Monjoie Laval 6-1 295 Montreal, Que.
Defence
DL Derek Wiggan Queen’s 6-1 247 Toronto, Ont.
DL Jean-Christophe Gagnon Sherbrooke 6-2 260 Trois-Rivières, Que.
DL Nigel Romick Saint Mary’s 6-5 240 Thunder Bay, Ont.
DL Mathieu Girard Montreal 6-4 275 Laval, Que.
DL Quinn Smith Concordia 6-1 321 Scarborough, Ont.
DL Quinn Everett Mt. Allison 6-3 305 Glen Haven, N.S.
DL Kirby Fletcher Acadia 6-3 300 Grimshaw, Alta.
DL Martin Pesek Acadia 6-3 250 Toronto, Ont.
LB Sam Sabourin Queen’s 6-1 223 Stittsville, Ont.
LB Pier-Yves Lavergne Ottawa 6-0 210 Gatineau, Que.
LB Jesse Briggs McGill 6-1 222 Kelowna, B.C.
LB Max Caron Concordia 6-2 232 Kingston, Ont.
LB Adrian Clarke Bishop’s 6-3 235 Mississauga, Ont.
LB Christopher Johnson Toronto 5-10 215 Scarborough, Ont.
DB Andrew Lue Queen’s 6-2 205 Markham, Ont.
DB Eric Black Saint Mary’s 6-2 175 Toronto, Ont.
DB RJ Cornish Saint Mary’s 5-11 185 Winnipeg, Man.
DB Randy Williams Ottawa 5-11 175 Ottawa, Ont.
DB Antoine Pruneau Montreal 6-1 190 Montreal, Que.
DB Trevor Harvey Toronto 5-9 175 Toronto, Ont.
DB Charlton Elliott StFX 6-0 185 Pickering, Ont.
DB Christopher Lavaud Laval 5-9 175 Montreal, Que.
Special Teams
K/P TBA
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Glen Constantin, Laval
Assistant coaches:TBA
WEST TEAM
Pos. Name University HT WT Hometown
Offence
QB Marshall Ferguson McMaster 6-2 200 Kingston, Ont.
QB Austin Kennedy Windsor 5-10 205 Windsor, Ont.
RB Anthony Coombs Manitoba 5-9 190 Winnipeg, Man
RB Tyrrel Wilson Laurier 5-11 185 Hamilton, Ont.
RB Rob Farquharson Guelph 5-9 210 Niagara Falls, Ont.
RB Zack Davis York 6-1 240 Niagara Falls, Ont.
RB Brandon Deschamps UBC 6-0 195 Prince George, B.C.
REC Brian Marshall Western 6-0 200 London, Ont.
REC Andrew Smith Manitoba 6-2 200 Nanaimo, B.C.
REC Evan Pszczonak Windsor 6-0 160 Amherstburg, Ont.
REC Kit Hillis Saskatchewan 5-9 175 Saskatoon, Sask.
REC Landon Buch Regina 6-0 200 Regina, Sask.
REC Jay Smith Regina 6-0 200 Regina, Sask.
REC Paul Cecile Waterloo 5-11 185 Azilda, Ont.
OL Branden Stevens Calgary 6-2 290 Winnipeg, Man.
OL Michael Massel Laurier 6-5 260 London, Ont.
OL Jeremy Deneau Laurier 6-5 260 Amherstburg, Ont.
OL Lane Bryksa Saskatchewan 6-2 265 Saskatoon, Sask.
OL Ethan Schnell UBC 6-5 275 Kamloops, B.C.
OL Aaron Picton Regina 6-3 280 Regina, Sask.
Defence
DL Dylan Ainsworth Western 6-3 225 Delta, B.C.
DL Evan Gill Manitoba 6-4 275 Winnipeg, Man.
DL Steven Giang Alberta 6-1 280 Edmonton, Alta.
DL Stephon Miller Windsor 6-3 235 Pickering, Ont.
DL Jeff Finley Guelph 6-3 260 St. Catharines, Ont.
DL Adam Dickson McMaster 6-4 325 Niagara Falls, Ont.
LB Beau Landry Western 5-11 201 Kitchener, Ont.
LB Cory Roboch Calgary 6-1 220 Calgary, Alta.
LB Richard Zacharias Saskatchewan 5-10 227 Hague, Sask.
LB Vivie Bojilov UBC 5-11 210 New Westminster, B.C.
LB James Tuck York 6-1 220 Aurora, Ont.
LB John Rush Guelph 6-1 223 Niagara Falls, Ont.
DB Steven Ventresca McMaster 6-0 184 Hamilton, Ont.
DB Allan Dicks McMaster 5-9 185 Abbotsford, B.C.
DB Adam Ballingall Calgary 6-2 185 Kamloops, B.C.
DB Josh MacDougall Alberta 6-0 200 Oakville, Ont.
DB Josh Burns Windsor 6-1 170 LaSalle, Ont.
DB Christian Mahler Waterloo 5-11 175 Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
DB Curtis Good Waterloo 6-1 185 Kitchener, Ont.
DB Simon Bahru Western 6-1 194 London, Ont.
Special Teams
K/P Tyler Crapigna McMaster 5-7 164 Nepean, Ont.
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Stefan Ptaszek, McMaster
Assistant coaches:TBA
