May 12, 2017

Preview: 15th annual East-West Bowl showcases top prospects

Piper Sports Photography

QUEBEC CITY – The CFL Draft is in the books but for evaluators across the country, scouting is a year-round job.

The calendar has flipped and a new draft year has kicked off in Quebec City with a week of events culminating in the 15th annual CIS East-West Bowl on Saturday, May 13 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

The 15th annual prospects game, which features, for the most part, U SPORTS players heading into their Canadian Football League draft year, will take place at Laval University’s TELUS-UL Stadium and will be streamed live on the Rouge et Or YouTube channel.

“The U SPORTS Valero East-West Bowl is a great opportunity to showcase the 2018 draft class and a real opportunity for each of the schools and players to represent themselves in a highly competitive game,” said Wayne Harris Jr. who, along with Gary Waterman, was introduced Tuesday as head coach of the West and East team respectively.

Harris Jr.’s Calgary Dinos defeated Waterman’s StFX X-Men 50-24 in the Mitchell Bowl to advance to the 52nd ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vanier Cup.

“It’s a very exciting time for players going into their senior year of football and I know that we all look forward to seeing the high level of skill they’re bringing to camp and the game culminating on May 13,” added Harris Jr.

“The annual U SPORTS Valero East-West Bowl is always a great event and it should be an exciting week as our game is once again showcased at a high level,” said Waterman. “I am thrilled for the opportunity to work with some of the top student-athletes and coaches in Canadian university football.”

 

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Additional Information:

» Laval to host 15th annual East-West Bowl

» 10 prospects to watch at the East-West Bowl

» Team Rosters

» All-Time Results

 

Valero was also introduced as the event’s title sponsor in 2017 and 2018 – with both years being hosted by Laval.

The East team 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.

All players took part in combine testing Tuesday morning, with the first practice scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Two practices were held throughout the rest of the week. The full U SPORTS Valero East-West Bowl Week schedule is available here.

Sunday night, 56 U SPORTS standouts were selected out of 71 total picks (78.9 per cent) during the 2017 CFL draft, with 36 having been invited to last year’s East-West Bowl, including all six first round picks. Over the course of the week, eight representatives from CFL coaching staffs have been on hand to assist the sides and get an early look at the 2018 draft class.

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.

Queens University

Queen’s linebacker Nelkas Kwemo is among CFL.ca’s players to watch this weekend (Queen’s University)

“It’s very exciting to be a part of the U SPORTS Valero East-West Bowl knowing that you’ll be playing with – and against – the very best players that Canada has to offer,” said Regina’s Noah Picton, who will quarterback the West Team after winning the Hec Crighton Trophy last season, thanks to U SPORTS-record 3,186 passing yards.

“I expect it to be a very competitive atmosphere, but also a great opportunity to meet and interact with different players and coaches from around the league.”

Hugo Richard will be under centre for the East Team after being named Vanier Cup MVP last November. Richard threw for two touchdowns and scoring the game-winner in the Rouge et Or’s 31-26 victory over Calgary.

“Being selected to play in the U SPORTS Valero East-West Bowl is something special,” said Richard. “It’s going to be a great experience to be with the best players in the country for a week and see them in action. It will be interesting to collaborate with coaches other than ours.

“I’m really happy that this event is in Quebec City because I will be in an environment where I am comfortable,” he added. “I trust that our fans will take advantage of this unique opportunity to watch football in early summer to start the 2017 season on the right foot and by creating a good atmosphere, like they always do here in U Laval.”

East Team Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Gary Waterman (StFX)

Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks: Benoit Groulx (McGill)

Defensive Coordinator: Jon Svec (StFX)

Receivers: AJ Tufford (Saint Mary’s), Cherif Nicolas (Bishop’s)

Running backs: Sebastien Levesque (McGill)

Offensive Line: Jeff Cummins (Acadia), Dave Van Den Heuvel (StFX), Mickey Donovan (Concordia)

Defensive Line: Mathieu Lecompte (Sherbrooke)

Linebackers: Shad McLachan (Acadia), Claude Gauthier (Sherbrooke), Kevin Regimbald (Sherbrooke)

Defensive Backs: Jermaine Lewis (Concordia), Scott Brady (Mount Allison)

Special Teams: Ryan Bechmanis (Carleton), Ben D’Andrea (Queen’s)

East Roster Changes

Added: Removed:

Wesley Mann, DB (Queen’s)

David Mackie, RB (Western)

Kiel Ambursley, RB (Mount Allison)

Vincent Dubé, K (Bishop’s)

Jason Shamatutu, DB (Queen’s)

Jonathan Boissonneault-Glaou, DE (Montreal)

Gustave Sylvestre, OT (Montreal)

Chris Reid, RB (Mount Allison)

 

West Team Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Wayne Harris Jr. (Calgary)

Offensive Coordinator: Ryan Sheahan (Calgary)

Defensive Coordinator: Dwayne Cameron (Laurier)

Quarterbacks: Mark McConkey (Regina)

Receivers: Mark Surya (Toronto)

Running Backs: Tom Flaxman (McMaster)

Offensive Line: JF Joncas (Guelph), Irv Daymond (Laurier)

Defensive Line: Matt Berry (Calgary), Darrell Adams (Waterloo)

Linebackers: Warren Muzika (Saskatchewan)

Defensive Backs: Vince Flamia (Windsor)

West Roster Changes 

Added: Removed:

William Maxwell, WR (UBC)

Ian Lawrence, DB (York)

Ben Koczwara, OL (Waterloo)

Étienne Moisan, WR (Laval)

Tyler Ledwos, WR (Calgary)

Rees Paterson, CB (York)

Andrew Pickett, OG (Guelph)

 

CFL Coaching Staff

Montreal Alouettes: Greg Quick (senior defensive assistant), Billy Parker (defensive assistant), Jason Hogan (defensive assistant)

Saskatchewan Roughriders: Craig Dickenson (special teams coordinator), Craig Davoren (defensive assistant)

B.C. Lions: Dan Dorazio (offensive line coach), Mike Lionello (assistant running backs Coach) Calgary Stampeders: Brent Morrison (linebackers coach)