2009 Canada West Football Overview
Calgary is the defending Canada West champion and has an envious quarterback “controversy” thanks to former Saint Mary’s bench boss Blake Nill. The fourth-year Dinos head coach has recruited a number of former AUS Huskies to make their way west, including 2007 CIS MVP, third-year pivot Erik Glavic. He and incumbent Deke Junior will battle for a role that either would fill admirably. With a group made up mostly of veterans on both sides of the ball, Calgary is expected to compete for the Canada West trophy, and possibly the national championship.
The Saskatchewan Huskies just find a way to “git ’er done” year after year. Brian Towriss begins his second quarter century with the experience of Laurence Nixon at quarterback. Scott McHenry, Cory Jones and Travis Gorski form a star receiving corps, while senior Tyler O’Gorman will carry the load at running back with Dathan Thomas still on the mend. Taylor Wallace leads a defence that benefits from last year’s experience.
In 2008 the Simon Fraser burst onto the scene, surprising even the most generous of preseason analysts who expected little improvement from a squad that had lost 25 straight games entering last season. The Clan technically placed fourth despite a 5-3 mark in 2008 because of a three-way tie for second in conference play, but upset the top-notch Huskies in Saskatoon before falling hard to the Dinos in the 72nd Hardy Cup final. Austrian-born QB Bernd Dittrich and most of the offence are back, including wideout Spencer Watt and running back Gabe Ephard. Caleb Clark is on to challenge as starting signal-caller, but may need a year of CIS experience. Anthony DesLauriers is back and Hamilton Tiger-Cats draft pick Ray Wladichuk, who made the practice roster, chose to come back and finish his education anyway. Chris Folk should be the leading linebacker.
In Regina, Marc Mueller is the new pivot, a day that head coach Frank McCrystal knew was coming. Former starter Teale Orban set most major Canada West records during his five-year reign guiding the Rams’ offence. Mark McConkey leads the list of top receivers, with Saskatoon Hilltops (PFC) star Andrew Busby arriving on the scene for 2009 and former wideout Jordan Sisco moving to slotback. There is plenty of turnover on “d”, but linebackers Bruce Anderson, Brandon Ganne and Thomas Irving are all back, and the kicking game is stable with fifth-year Perri Scarcelli back for his final Canada West season.
The Manitoba Bisons won the Vanier Cup in 2007, but fell to fifth place at 3-5 after seeing numerous stars graduate from the program, many to the CFL ranks. The turnover continues, with most key offensive starters moving on after 2008, including QB John Makie and receivers Terry Firr, Simon Blaszczak, Steve Gronick, Mike Mizerski and Randy Simmons. Running back Matt Henry, a pro prospect, will have to stay healthy and have a big year, and Ryan Karhut is the team’s leading offensive lineman after a year on the Montreal Alouettes’ practice roster. The bulk of the team is either youthful or completely new to the CIS game.
Billy Greene is the new starting QB at UBC, with 2008 starter moving to slotback to help bolster the receiving corps. With a host of grads from the program after 2007 and again this past off-season, the Thunderbirds may need another year before making a run at the playoffs. Dave Boyd and Cheng Weigh will once again be in the backfield. Nathan Kanya and Devin Kavanagh anchor the defensive line. Star kicker Shawn McIsaac has used his five-year eligibility, leaving the door open for recruit Billy Pavlopoulos.
The Alberta Golden Bears have been on a steady slide since appearing in three straight conference title games in 2003 to 2005. With all the rebuilding at other institutions, Alberta has an outside chance to grab the final playoff spot, but not much more. Former Dino Julian Marchand has arrived to challenge 2008 starting quarterback Quade Armstrong, who has struggled mightily since splitting time with Cam Linke in 2006. The Bears’ offence has been the team’s weak point for many years running. Mike Wasylyniuk and Matt Orlicz, who combined for just two TDs last year, are the top receivers returning for 2009. The graduation of CFL Draft No. 1 pick Simeon Rottier will hurt the o-line and tailback Tendayi Jozzy will be worked very hard. Nine-year head coach Jerry Friesen has assembled a solid defence once again, returning Dan Bass Jr., Jean-Marc Jones and Craig Gerbrandt. Booming punter Hugh O’Neill is back in the mix – he has the leg, but hopes to improve on field goal accuracy for a team that needs every point it can muster.

Alberta Golden Bears
2008 conference record: 2-6, 7th
2008 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: 1981
Last CIS title: 1980
The Alberta Golden Bears are looking to make the Canada West playoffs for the first time in three seasons, but they have to contend with a strong conference, a tough schedule and some big changes to the offensive lineup.
Nine-year head coach Jerry Friesen, winner of the 2004-05 Frank Tindall Trophy as CIS Coach of the Year, needs at least a 4-4 record if his team hopes to venture into the post-season.
An overhauled offence, coupled with a schedule that sees them play the Saskatchewan Huskies (1st place, 6-2 in 2008) and the defending Hardy Trophy champion Calgary Dinos (2nd, 5-3 in 2008) twice, will be the road blocks this year.
Alberta will need to pick up wins over SFU and Regina, both of which made the 2008 playoffs, as well as the Manitoba Bisons and UBC Thunderbirds, if they hope to contend in the West.
A strong battle at quarterback between new recruit Julian Marchand and incumbent fifth-year pivot Quade Armstrong will likely determine the team’s fortunes.
Gone from the Bears are four of their best offensive players from 2008, however, as linemen Simeon Rottier and Gord Hinse were high draft picks in the CFL draft, while top receivers Aaron Holba and Damon Fraietta have moved on. Also gone from the receiving core is Zach Kohn, who represented the Bears at the 2009 CIS East-West Bowl, because of an injury, forcing him to likely sit out the entire season.
Holba recorded 30 catches for 306 yards in 2008, while Fraietta hauled in 26 catches for 397 yards and three TDs to lead the Alberta receivers.
Sophomores Mike Wasylyniuk (24 catches for 360 yards and one TD) and Matt Orlicz (17 catches for 150 yards and one TD) are the lone returning starters among pass-catchers.
Despite the loss of Rottier and Hinse, the offensive line should be strong with the return of fourth-year offensive lineman Terris Paliwoda, who will anchor the line, while Nicholas Ternovatsky and Ben Downs will be looked upon for leadership as returning starters.
Behind them is returning starting running back Tendayi Jozzy (565 yards, four TDs on 114 carries), tailback Matt Jarvis (317 yards, two TDs on 59 carries) and fullback Dale Stevenson (eight catches for 120 yards).
Competing for a spot in the Alberta backfield is 5’10”, 210-pound running back Harpreet Turka, who leaves the Winnipeg Rifles’ program as their all-time leading rusher and was a CJFL all-star in 2008.
Will Henry, another former Winnipeg Rifle and CJFL All-Star, is a 6’2”, 270 lb. left guard who could step in for Rottier on the line.
The team remains mostly intact on the defensive side of the ball, having lost two starters (DL Kyle Pagnucco and LB Scott Stevenson) to fifth-year status, and one (DE Greg Whelan) to a free-agent contract with the Edmonton Eskimos.
Dan Bass Jr. (5th) and Jean-Marc Jones (4th) will lead the linebackers. Sophomore Craig Gerbrandt, who posted 44.5 tackles and six sacks in his debut season last year, will cause problems from his defensive end position, while the secondary should be buoyed by the return of Chris Muchena and Randon Ralph at the corner positions.
Newcomers looking to make an impact with the defence are Bo Onyschuck, a linebacker transfer from the 2007 Dinos and a two-time CJFL champion with the Edmonton Huskies, and defensive back Hayden Bell, from the Victoria Rebels junior program, where he was the team leader in interceptions in 2008. Defensive end Corey Kuzik could start in Whelan’s absence.

UBC Thunderbirds
2008 conference record 2-6, 6th
2008 playoffs: N/A
Last CW Title: 1997
Last CIS Title: 1997
Following a 2008 campaign that was mere seconds from being a .500 showing, UBC head coach Ted Goveia is confident in the youthful group he has assembled in Vancouver for 2009.
“I think at certain times last year we had pretty good personnel, but we were young and inexperienced,” said Goveia. “This team is really talented, plays with a lot of energy and they work really hard. The future is playing now and we need to make believers out of this group because they have what it takes.”
Offensively the T-Birds are still young. They had nine first-year starters on offence in 2008, but based on glimpses from last season they have the potential for a breakout year.
One of the few changes on offence is at quarterback with Billy Greene, who made three starts late in his rookie season last year, coming in as the number one with 2008 opening day starter Marc McVeigh moving to slotback to take over from Blaine Kruger, who signed a free agent deal with the Calgary Stampeders after one standout season.
The receiving corps now turns to emerging star Jordan Grieve, who caught 20 passes last season, and deep threat Spencer Betts, who averaged 48.2 yards per catch with two touchdown receptions in his rookie year, to play more prominent roles in the offence.
At running back, UBC returns its two leading rushers in junior Dave Boyd (462 yards) and fifth-year Cheng Wei (359), while bringing in a number of key recruits, such as Terry Fox standout Tibi Banica, who scored 46 career TDs for the dominant Ravens.
Anchoring the offensive unit will be a talented and experienced line led by fifth-year Mike Morris, who returns to UBC after being selected 19th overall in the 2009 CFL draft.
On defence the biggest change comes at defensive line as the T-Birds lost a quartet that combined for 102 tackles and 14.5 sacks in 2008. Having to step up will be veterans Brent Knull and Serge Kaminsky, while newer faces such as Shaun Kalkat and Charlie Webster are expected to make an immediate impact.
At linebacker the T-Birds fare much better, returning their second-, third- and fifth-leading tacklers from 2008 in Nathan Kanya (46), Devin Kavanagh (35) and Braydon Hobbs (25), as well as talented underclassmen Scott Thiessen and Anthony Rasotto. Two-time conference all-star Tyler Codron returns to anchor a secondary that sees both starting corners in Chris Mark and Sam Carino back, as well as free safety Alex Babalos, who had a breakout season in 2008.
The T-Birds are expecting highly touted freshman kicker Billy Pavlopoulos to take the reins from longtime kicker Shawn McIsaac whose standout five-year UBC career ended last season.
“It all comes down to synergy and getting these guys to play together,” said Goveia who enters his fourth year as head coach. “Over the last six months they have put in a huge amount of work to get ready for this year. I haven't had a team work harder in 16 years as a coach.”

Calgary Dinos
2008 conference record: 5-3, 2nd
2008 playoffs: 2-1, lost Uteck Bowl
Last CW title: 2008
Last CIS title: 1995
No longer seeking to end a playoff drought of more than a decade, the Calgary Dinos finds themselves in unfamiliar territory.
After a breakout 5-3 campaign in 2008 that led to the school’s 10th Canada West title and a trip to the Uteck Bowl, the Dinos enter 2009 as defending conference champions for the first time since 1996. Calgary opens the season at Saskatchewan on Sept. 4, where the team will look for a little retribution after being shutout 25-0 in the season opener last year, also at Griffiths Stadium.
Ranked No. 3 in the inaugural UFRC-CIS Top 10 poll on August 26, the Dinos will have to learn to deal with the pressure that comes with being the hunted, and fourth-year head coach Blake Nill is quick to remind his charges that this is a brand new season.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say we’re a favourite, but I do think we have the reputation that we can compete,” said Nill. “I still think we need to learn how to win on a consistent basis and to do the things that it takes to win, so we’re still in a learning phase.
“My main thing is to have these kids understand that we’re still a work in progress, that nothing has been completed,” he said. “We have to keep improving. I’ve coached in five national championships and we’re still a ways away from being able to seriously compete in one.
The team returns 18 starters from 2008, including 10 on offence and eight on defence. Offensive linemen Lindsey Stevens and Dylan Steenbergen are the only offensive starters who do not return, while defensive lineman Pat Callan along with defensive backs Jon Waldie, James Green and Brett Ferguson have moved on from the defence.
The new face that has received the most off-season attention is undoubtedly quarterback Erik Glavic (3rd year, Pickering, Ont.), the 2007 Hec Crighton trophy winner as the most outstanding player in CIS football. Glavic transferred to Calgary from Saint Mary’s in January 2009 and has been hard at work rehabilitating his left knee after a torn ACL required surgery in late 2007.
The starting job is still up for grabs, however, with returning starter Deke Junior (5th, Regina) also in the mix. The fifth-year pivot made the transition from the CJFL in 2008, leading the Dinos to a pair of playoff victories. His completion percentage on the season was 60.5, the second-best in school history, and he set a team record by completing 22 of 26 pass attempts (78.6%) in the Hardy Cup victory over Simon Fraser.

Manitoba Bisons
2008 conference record: 3-5, 5th
2008 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: 2007
Last CIS title: 2007
Two years removed from winning their third Vanier Cup Championship in team history, the Manitoba Bisons seek to rebound from missing the playoffs for only the third time in the last decade (also in 2003, 2004). The Herd have an impressive recruiting class by head coach Brian Dobie heading into his 14th season at the Bisons’ helm. The recruits add depth and skill at numerous positions on both sides of the ball.
One of the major changes will be at quarterback, where Vanier Cup MVP John Makie graduated and will now hand over the reins of the Bisons’ offence to fifth-year pivot Nathan Friesen. Friesen saw action as the starting quarterback in 2008 and has been with the program the last three seasons. Friesen’s resume also includes winning the Wally Buono Award, which recognizing Canada’s top junior football player, in 2006. Along with a change in quarterback, there will be a new receiving corps to throw to as past Vanier Cup stars Terry Firr, Simon Blaszczak, Steve Gronick, Mike Mizerski and Randy Simmons will not be back. Second-year slotbacks Clancy Doiron and Stu Schollaardt will build on their solid rookie campaigns and will complement new wide receiver Terry Mauldin from Windsor AKO, the same school as Firr.
The Bisons will be strong again with the running game as last season’s conference third-leading rusher Matt Henry returns for his fourth season, as does tailback James Gerardy. On the offensive line, Canada West all-star Ryan Karhut is back after spending last season on the Montreal Alouettes’ practice roster, plus recruits Scott Johnson, 2008 CJFL all-Canadian, Andrew Kochan, selected co-winner of the WHSFL’s 2008 Harry Hood Memorial Award, while with St. Paul’s HS, and Jaret Thurier, First Team all-star with Westgate HS, will bolster an already experienced OL led by CIS all-Canadian Kurtis Stolth.
In 2008, the Bisons flexed the number one run defence and number two pass defense in the conference and the majority of players are back. The Herd lost defensive lineman and CIS all-Canadian Don Oramasionwu to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but have veterans Eddie Steele and Wyatt Jacobi back, along with stellar defensive lineman recruits Ian DeGannes-Shaw (Saint Mary’s), Jesse Schryver (Edmonton Wildcats), Evan Prokipchuk (Ottawa), Randeep Dhesi, (Victoria Rebels) and Clifton Lewis (Vancouver Trojans).
At linebacker, Vanier Cup veteran Jim Jeavons, second-year player Thomas Hall, plus recruits John Tietzmann, 2008 CJFL All-Canadian with South Surrey Big Kahuna Rams and Justin Clayton, all-star for Winnipeg Rifles will off-set the graduation of Canada West all-star Kenton Onofrychuk. The secondary remains virtually intact with Bison veterans Teague Sherman, Andrew James, Corey Brown, Marlon Azurdia, Pete Adams, Grayson Wells, Garrett Zazula, Justin Kasak and Owen Fergusson all back to patrol the passing game.

Regina Rams
2008 conference record: 5-3, 3rd
2008 playoffs: 0-1, lost semifinal
Last CW title: 2000
Last CIS title: none
The Regina Rams have a very different look for 2009. Head coach Frank McCrystal will see five new starters on the offensive side of the ball, while seven new players will step into starting roles on defence.
McCrystal and his coaching staff have been impressed with the transition that several players have made into their new roles.
On offence, the biggest change will be at quarterback. For the first time since 2003 the Rams will not have Teale Orban, who concluded his spectacular five-season career as the conference’s all-time leader in touchdown passes, passing yards and pass completions. The Rams’ offence will be controlled by Marc Mueller, who has served as Orban’s backup the past two seasons.
Running back Luke Derkson was named a Canada West all-star last season after finishing second in the conference with 734 rushing yards in his final year of eligibility. With Derkson departed, the Rams look to Graham Mosiondz, who returns after missing the entire 2008 season due to injury, and Acadia transfer and former Alberta Golden Bear Cale Inglis to fill the hole at running back. Fullback Sheldon Tillotson, who caught 28 passes for the Rams last year, will return for his fifth season.
The Rams have good depth at the receiver positions. At wideout, Mark McConkey will return for his second season of eligibility. The Calgary product started every game for the Rams last year, finished third on the team in receiving yards and tied for second in receptions. Andrew Busby, who comes to the U of R after a prolific five-year career with the Saskatoon Hilltops, will give Mueller another large target on the outside. The coaching staff has also been impressed by Sean Herperger, who saw limited playing time last season.
With Busby’s arrival giving the Rams a plethora of talent at wideout, Jordan Sisco will make the move from wide receiver to slotback to fill the hole left by Chad Goldie, who ended his career as Canada West’s all-time reception leader. Sisco missed the first two games of 2008 to a spleen injury, but was still named a conference all-star after recording 343 receiving yards and three touchdown catches. Brenden Owens returns for his third season after starting at slotback last year, while 6’5” Jason Price will be in the mix. The Rams coaches have also been impressed with the play of Jared Janotta, a local product out of Riffel HS.
On the offensive line, the Rams lose Nick Hutchins and Ryan Ackerman, but return starters John Hashem, Brenden Bennett and Devin Hillier. Prairie Football Conference recruits Chris Mercer (Saskatoon Hilltops) and Steve Hanson (Regina Thunder) could step right in as starters this season, with David Stefanuk and rookie Brett Jones also expected to see playing time.
The Rams defence has lost seven of its starters from last season, but the linebackers should continue to be a strong point for the team. The trio of Bruce Anderson, Brandon Ganne and Thomas Irving was solid all of 2008. Ganne was named a Canada West all-star after registering a conference-leading 58 total tackles.
On the defensive line, the Rams lose the school’s all-time sack leader as rush end Stan Van Sichem is with the Montreal Alouettes. Paul McDill graduated, but defensive end Mike Picken and tackle Bjorn Person are back. Ryan Wellman may take Van Sichem’s spot, while Northern State transfer Blake Johnson and second-year Ram Benton Gieni are battling for McDill’s spot at nose tackle.
The Rams take the biggest hit in the backfield, where the team loses all five starters from last season. Now in his second year with the Rams, Steve Famulak has stepped up with a strong camp and should join University of Saskatchewan transfer Matt Yausie at halfback, with Mike Kerr also seeing the field in his third year of eligibility. Jamir Walker, Daniel Knaus and basketball star Jeff Lukomski are in battles at cornerback, while Kirby Kezama is expected to take over at safety.
Perri Scarcelli, now in his final CIS season, will continue to handle the placekicking and punting duties for the Rams.

Saskatchewan Huskies
2008 conference record: 6-2, 1st
2008 playoffs: 0-1, lost semifnal
Last CW title: 2006
Last CIS title: 1998
Working under the motto “Prove It ’09”, the Saskatchewan Huskies are looking to prove to fans, Canada West and CIS that they are still a contender for the Vanier Cup every season.
After an early exit in the playoffs for the last two seasons, the players were left with a bitter taste in their mouths. The motto – inspired by the players – has pushed the team to look to return to the strong defence and exploding offence seen in previous years that led the Huskies to win the Hardy Cup four times since 2002.
In 2008 the Huskies went into playoffs undefeated at home, first-place finishers in the conference and had the best defence and offence in the league. The players combined for the conference’s top scoring offence (217 points), scoring defence (83 points), pass offence (2,209 yards), pass defence (1,349 yards), rushing offence (169.4 yards per game), total offence (445.5 yards per game), total defence (293.6 yards per game), pass efficiency (146.5), pass defence efficiency (87.1), first downs (192) and opponent first downs (140).
“We expect to be at the top of Canada West in 2009,” said Huskie head coach Brian Towriss, who enters his 26th season in the CIS. “Our quarterback is back for his third year in a starting position and will have plenty of talent to work with at receiver including two fifth-years. Defensively we will be more experienced in the front seven and will field one of the best defensive backfields that we have ever had. Our challenge will once again be depth on the offensive line and at running back.”
Quarterback Laurence Nixon, who looks to connect with veteran receivers Scott McHenry, Cory Jones and Travis Gorski, will lead offensively. Nixon completed 107-of-164 pass attempts for eight touchdowns and 1,531 yards, averaging 255.2 per game. McHenry, Jones and Gorski combined for 79 receptions, eight touchdowns and 1,288 yards. Fifth-year Tyler O’Gorman will see the majority of the running out of the backfield, while rookie tailback Jeff Hassler will be looked to step up with the injury to Dathan Thomas. Thomas, who had seven tackles and 549 years last season, was injured in Game 5 against Manitoba. Veteran and 2008 all-Canadian Hubert Buydens and 2008 Canada West Rookie of the Year Ben Heenan will lead the line in front of Nixon. Offensive tackle Cam Redl, who was named the Saskatoon Hilltops’ Rookie of the Year in 2008, will join the crew.
Defensively, fifth-year linebacker Taylor Wallace and a very strong secondary, including safety Bryce McCall and corner Jonathan Krahenbil, lead the team. McCall sat fifth on the team with 30 tackles, one sack, five interceptions, three break ups, one fumble recovery and a forced fumble, while Krahenbil was named a Second Team all-Canadian for his 18 tackles, two interceptions and seven break-ups. The team adds to their already strong defence with 2007 Canadian Junior Football League champions from the Hilltops Mitch Friesen and Zach Hart. Although the defence is full of veterans, the team will miss defensive end Ivan Brown and defensive back Jordy Burrows in 2009.

Simon Fraser Clan
2008 conference record: 5-3, 4th
2008 playoffs: 1-1, lost Hardy Cup
Last CW title: 2003
Last CIS title: N/A
The Simon Fraser Clan were the proverbial Cinderella squad during 2008, with SFU ending a 25-game losing streak on opening night against UBC and then making the Canada West playoffs for the first time since 2003. The 2009 team returns the majority of that squad, while adding components that will fill gaps and provide depth in much needed areas.
“Last season was a good year for our team. We were able to sneak under the radar during the first part of the year because no one expected anything from us,” says SFU head coach Dave Johnson. “But key to our continual improvement is that attitude, and we are blessed with a healthy locker room where everyone is working incredibly hard and pulling for each other to support that improvement.”
On offence, SFU is coming off its best season running the ball since moving to CIS in 2002. The Clan averaged 5.8 yards-per-carry, tops in Canada West, and featured six different running backs throughout that campaign. Simon Fraser still carries depth at that position, however much of the success of the running game will be predicated by how successful SFU is at replacing three starters from the 2008 o-line.
Mobile quarterback Bernd Dittrich (Vienna, Austria) returns for his third season with SFU, his second as the incumbent starter. Dittrich, however, will be challenged during training camp by Western Michigan transfer Caleb Clark (Calgary). Wideout Spencer Watt (North Vancouver) is SFU’s big-play threat at receiver, while his former high school teammate Gabe Ephard (North Vancouver) is expected to be named the starting running back after an injury-plagued 2008. Dale Furber (Vancouver) is the Clan’s best offensive lineman at left tackle, and was one of three SFU players sent to the 2009 East West Bowl Game.
On the defensive side of the ball SFU returns its entire secondary, led by two 2009 CFL Draft picks in Anthony DesLauriers (Surrey, B.C.) and Ray Wladichuk (Vernon, B.C.). DesLauriers has led SFU in each of the past two seasons in interceptions, while Wladichuk, a fifth-round pick by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, made the Tiger-Cats’ 46-man roster, but opted to return to SFU for his fourth season of eligibility to complete his degree.
At linebacker, Chris Folk (Kelowna, B.C.) and Mark Bailey (Surrey) return at the MAC and WILL positions, while the graduation of Tom Pearce leaves a spot open for competition during training camp. The defensive line will be anchored by returning starters John Reeves (New Westminster, B.C.) and Scott Puffer (Abbotsford, B.C.), while the nose tackle and rush end spots will be decided during training camp.
About Canada West
“Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), winning at least 10 CIS national titles every year since 1997-98. Comprised of 14 schools, from the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, the CWUAA produces numerous major award winners and Academic All-Canadian student-athletes each year, with many going on to athletic success around the globe in pro leagues and events such as the Olympics, Paralympics or Universiade Games.”