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.
“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.
RELATED
» Top prospects to watch at the East-West Bowl
» 8 NCAA prospects headed to the combine
» Idaho’s 6-foot-9 Woods more than just a big man
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
