Hometown Heroes: Five Homegrown Canadians

With Canada Day on the near horizon this Sunday, we thought we would count down five of the most local players in the Canadian Football League.

The following are players who have played both university and professional football in their hometown, and feature prominently in their local community.

1. Zack Evans, Saskatchewan Roughriders

The 27-year-old defensive lineman rejoined his hometown Riders this season after four years in the nation’s capital with the REDBLACKS, and fiercely proud of his Saskatchewan heritage.

A Regina native, Evans played his junior football locally with the Thunder and understands what it means to bleed green:

 

2. Nic Demski, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The 25-year-old receiver returned home this February, when he inked a contract with the Blue Bombers.

Now his fourth season in the CFL, Demski starred in university with the Manitoba Bisons after attending Oak Park High School.

Naturally, Demski is a hockey fan and loved the Winnipeg Jets’ run to the conference final this season.

 

3. Hugh O’Neill, Edmonton Eskimos

The 28-year-old Eskimos punter grew up (Ross Sheppard High School), played college football (Alberta) and now punts the pigskin professionally in his hometown of Edmonton.

O’Neill is involved in a number of local community initiatives.

 

4. Brendan Gillanders, Ottawa REDBLACKS

The 27-year-old fullback is Ottawa through and through; he began in high school with Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary, graduated to the University of Ottawa and is now into his third season as a member of the REDBLACKS.

Like the other players on this list, he features prominently in Ottawa’s community initiatives.

 

5. Jamal Campbell, Toronto Argonauts

The 24-year-old offensive lineman’s journey from the Jane & Finch neighbourhood to the Toronto Argonauts has been well-documented — exceptionally well by the Argos’ Crossroads short doc.

From C.W. Jefferys C.I. to a standout career on the line at York University through his time in double blue, Campbell has consistently led by example off the field.