CFL.ca Staff
TORONTO — Fan favourite Noel Prefontaine will once again don the double blue as the Toronto Argonauts have completed a trade with the Edmonton Eskimos. The deal sends the #2 overall pick in 2009 CFL Canadian Draft DL Etienne Legare and the negotiation rights to import DB Damaso Munoz to the Esks in exchange for non-import punter/kicker Prefontaine.
“It’s a pleasure to be back in the place where my career started and I’m looking forward to continuing to build the strong relationships I have with many of the coaches, players and fans in Toronto,” said Prefontaine
Noel Prefontaine played 10 seasons (1998-07) and 171 regular season games for the Argonauts. He is the club’s second-leading scorer all-time (935 points), second-leading punter (57,246 yards), and the team’s all-time kickoff yards leader (36,265 yards). The 2004 Grey Cup champion entered the CFL in 1998 with the Argonauts, as a punter, and blossomed into an all-star at both punter and kicker. ‘Pre’ was acquired by Edmonton from Toronto in exchange for the Eskimos’ first round selection in the 2009 CFL Canadian Draft (later traded to B.C., who drafted LB James Yurichuk, for non-import LB Jason Pottinger) and a conditional pick in the 2010 Canadian Draft.
Toronto Argonauts’ Head Coach Jim Barker remarked, “The opportunity to acquire arguably the best Canadian punter/kicker in the League was too good to pass up. Etienne Legare is a fine, young player and we wish him the best in Edmonton. Hopefully, this is a trade that helps both teams.”
The Toronto Argonauts also announced today the import kicker Justin Medlock has been released.
Eskimo General Manager Eric Tillman said, “We want to thank Noel for his many contributions to the Edmonton Eskimos and wish him every success in Toronto. Noel will always be part of the Eskimo family. This trade has four dynamics for the Eskimos: In Etienne Légaré we are getting a promising Canadian defensive lineman; in Damaso Munzo we are getting a young and very athletic linebacker whose skill set is perfect for this league; it also allows us to pass the torch to Derek Schiavone who has earned this opportunity; and lastly, there is a significant financial component which gives us very valuable cap flexibility for 2011.”
Légaré appeared in eight games as backup defensive tackle for the Argos and recorded one defensive tackle. The Quebec native was originally drafted by the Argonauts in the first round (2nd overall) of the 2009 CFL Canadian Draft. Etienne appeared in 17 games with the double blue during his rookie campaign where he recorded three defensive tackles and three special teams tackles.
Munoz played college football at Rutgers where he racked up a total of 195 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. He signed a practice roster agreement with the Argos on October 6, 2010. The Miami native also attended training camp with the Hartford Colonials of the UFL but was released as a final cut.
