May 27, 2013

Lions come to terms with Fabien, secure class of 2013

CFL.ca Staff

VANCOUVER — The BC Lions announced today that it has reached contractual agreements with offensive lineman Kirby Fabien as well as all five eligible players from this year’s CFL Draft including receiver S.J. Haidara, defensive backs Matt McGarva, and Matt Walker along with offensive linemen Matthew Albright and Cameron Thorn.

Fabien was originally drafted by the Lions in May 2012 (1st round, 7th overall) and elected to return to school for the 2012 CIS season as a member of the Calgary Dinos. After another standout campaign last year, he earned the Dinos’ nominee for the J.P. Metras Award as the outstanding lineman in the CIS.
He also garnered Canada West All-Star status for the second year in a row and the third time in four seasons and capped the year with an invitation to play in the prestigious East-West Shrine Game.

“I am very pleased to have all six of these players under contract,” said Lions VP of football operations and GM Wally Buono. ”Each has an opportunity to make an impact on our club in years to come and the first step is just days away.”

All six first-year Leos will hit the field in Kamloops for a three-day mini camp beginning Thursday, May 30th running through Saturday, June 1st. The entire edition of the BC Lions will begin 2013 Training Camp presented by Sun Peaks Resort on Sunday, June 2 at Hillside Stadium.

The Lions kick off the 2013 campaign with a preseason tilt versus the Edmonton Eskimos on Friday, June 21 at 7:00 pm and begin their regular season home schedule on Thursday, July 4 at 7:00 pm versus the reigning Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts.