March 1, 2017

Laval to host 15th annual East-West Bowl on May 13

Kyle Rodriguez

TORONTO — Laval University will host the East-West Bowl in 2017 and 2018, U Sports announced Wednesday, as the showcase of Canada’s top prospects will take place on Saturday, May 13 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

The Rouge et Or, who will host the week-long event featuring U SPORTS football players heading into their Canadian Football League draft year, last welcomed Canada’s top university prospects in 2006 and 2007.

This year’s event, which kicks off on May 8, will mark the 15th in its history and also includes four days of practices, a combine for participating players, a CFL free agent camp as well as the traditional East-West Bowl banquet.

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“We are absolutely thrilled to host the East-West Bowl week again, and our wish is that players, coaches, CFL personnel and fans make the most of it,” said Laval head coach Glen Constantin. “It will be another great opportunity to showcase the top football players from coast to coast in a premium setting – a stadium that has been the venue to four national championship games and numerous outstanding contests, drawing year in, year out the biggest crowds in Canadian university football.”

Prior to a two-year run at McGill in 20015 and 2016, the East-West Bowl had been held in London for six straight years (2009-2014), as well as in Hamilton (2008), and Waterloo (2003-2005).

For the most part, the East team for the prospects game is comprised of players from the AUS and RSEQ conferences as well as Carleton, Ottawa and Queen’s, while the West contingent is made up of student-athletes from Canada West and the remaining OUA universities.

Last year, the West defeated the East 29-14 for its first win since 2013, extending its lead in the all-time series to 8-6.

A new event logo featuring U SPORTS Championship branding, along with the rosters for both teams were also announced on Wednesday. No less than 16 standouts who will take the field on May 13 have been named All-Canadians since the start of their U SPORTS careers.

Reigning Hec Chrighton Trophy winner Noah Picton of the Regina Rams, along with Kyle Siemens of the Saskatchewan Huskies will quarterback the West team. Laval’s Hugo Richard, MVP of the 52nd ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vanier Cup and Nate Hobbs of Queen’s will be under centre for the East side.

In his third season with Regina, Picton broke the U SPORTS record for passing yards with 3,186, while Richard threw for two touchdowns and rushed in the game-winning score to lead the Rouge et Or to a 31-26 victory over Calgary, the team’s ninth Vanier Cup title.

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Piper Sports Photography

Regina linebacker Daniel Nesbitt during a game in 2016 (Piper Sports Photography)

2017 U SPORTS EAST-WEST BOWL SCHEDULE

Monday, May 8                      

18:00-18:30      Introduction meeting

20:00-21:30      Meetings

Tuesday, May 9

9:00-11:30        Combine for participating players (Telus Indoor)

14:00-16:00      Practice East & West (TELUS-UL Stadium)

18:45-20:30      Meetings

Wednesday, May 10   

9:30-11:30        Practice East & West (TELUS-UL Stadium)

13:00-14:00      Meetings

15:00-17:00      Practice East & West (TELUS-UL Stadium)

19:15-20:45      Meetings

Thursday, May 11      

9:30-11:30        Practice East & West (TELUS-UL Stadium)

13:00-14:00      Meetings

15:00-17:00      Practice East & West (TELUS-UL Stadium)

17:30                East-West Bowl banquet

19:15-20:45      Meetings

Friday, May 12

9:30-11:30        Practice East & West (TELUS-UL Stadium)

13:00-14:00      Meetings

15:00-16:00      Practice East (TELUS-UL Stadium)

16:00-17:00      Practice West (TELUS-UL Stadium)

Saturday, May 14

12:30-15:30      East-West Bowl Game (TELUS-UL Stadium)

 

EAST ROSTER

*Former U SPORTS All-Canadian

Name Position School
Nate Hobbs QB Queen’s
Hugo Richard* QB Laval
Christopher Amoah RB Laval
Jordon Socholotiuk* RB StFX
Chris Reid* RB Mount Allison
Leonardo Mantuila RB Saint Mary’s
Joel Houle H-Back McGill
Tanner Green H-Back Concordia
Benoît Gagnon-Brousseau WR Laval
Michael Nelson WR Bishop’s
Régis Cibasu WR Montreal
Dashaun Smellie SB Bishop’s
Bryce Vieira SB Ottawa
Tyrone Pierre SB Laval
Antony Dufour SB Laval
Matthew Ouellet De Carlo OT Bishop’s
Keiler Cherry OT Acadia
Auguste Sylvestre OT Montreal
KC Bakker OG Carleton
Nolan McGreer OG Carleton
Jacob Czaja OG StFX
Marc-Antione Sévigny C Concordia
Zacary Alexis CB Montreal
Jason Shamatutu CB Queen’s
David Polynice CB McGill
David Fortier HB Sherbrooke
Mandella Loggale HB Saint Mary’s
Gabriel Ouellet HB Laval
Alexandre Renaud HB Concordia
Brandon Jennings* FS Acadia
Matthew Nettle SAM Acadia
Nate Rostek SAM Mount Allison
Mickael Côté LB Concordia
Kene Onyeka LB Carleton
Adam Kuntz LB StFX
Jackson Bennett LB Ottawa
Nelkas Kwemo LB Queen’s
Sébastien Chénier-Dionne LB Sherbrooke
Ousmane Guindo Jr. DE McGill
Rémy Deschamp DE Sherbrooke
Jonathan Boissonneault-Glaou* DE Montreal
Tresor Buama-Mafuta DT Saint Mary’s
Mathieu Breton DT Bishop’s
Jeremy Rioux DT Carleton

 

 WEST ROSTER

*Former U SPORTS All-Canadian

Name Position School
Noah Picton* QB Regina
Kyle Siemens QB Saskatchewan
Atlee Simon RB Regina
Tyler Chow* RB Saskatchewan
Alex Taylor* RB Western
Mitch Kernick H-Back Waterloo
Dallas Boath WR Calgary
Tyler Ledwos WR Calgary
Noah Akharoh WR Windsor
Richmond Nketiah SB Waterloo
Will Watson SB UBC
Mitch O’Connor SB McMaster
Dan Petermann SB McMaster
Ryan Sceviour* OT Calgary
Ryan Breadner OT Saskatchewan
Mark Korte OT Alberta
Justin Lawrence OG Alberta
Dakoda Shepley OG UBC
Andrew Pickett OG Guelph
Darius Ciraco* C Calgary
Sam MacMillan C Toronto
Godfrey Onyeka* CB Wilfrid Laurier
Robbie Yochim* CB McMaster
Rees Paterson CB York
Lekan Idowu HB Windsor
Isaiah Guzylak-Messam HB Wilfrid Laurier
Jayden McKoy HB Manitoba
AJ Blackwell HB UBC
Nick Parisotto* FS Guelph
Houston Rennie SAM Manitoba
Paul Kozachuk SAM Toronto
Royce Metchie SAM Guelph
Boston Rowe SAM Calgary
Jean-Gabriel Poulin* LB Western
Daniel Nesbitt LB Regina
Micah Teitz* LB Calgary
Eric Mezzalira LB McMaster
Courtney Ellis DE Windsor
Matthew Skoko DE York
Rashari Henry DE Wilfrid Laurier
Matt Kozun DT Saskatchewan
Brett Wade DT Calgary
Hassan Barry DT McMaster
Eric Wicijowski DT Regina
Gabriel Ferraro* K/P Guelph

 

EAST-WEST BOWL LOCATIONS & RESULTS:

2016 (at McGill): West 29, East 14

2015 (at McGill): East 29, West 21

2014 (at Western): East 19, West 12

2013 (at Western): West 18, East 17

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