With contributions by Canada West Athletics & Nicole Betker, Huskies Sports Information
SASKATOON — University of Saskatchewan offensive lineman Ben Heenan has become the second Huskies football player to be drafted No. 1 overall in the CFL Draft Thursday.
They made official on the podium at 1:11 p.m. MT after Saskatchewan Roughriders CEO Jim Hopson made the announcement Thursday morning at the 12th Annual Dogs’ Breakfast, a scholarship fundraiser for the Huskie football team.
The six-foot-four, 310 pound offensive guard joins safety Dylan Barker, who was selected first overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2008. Heenan is the sixth straight CIS player to go No. 1 overall in the draft and the 10th in 13 years.
Calgary Dinos offensive lineman Kirby Fabien was taken by the edmonton Eskimos with the seventh and final pick in the first round. Dinos two-time All-Star and CIS President's Trophy nominee, linebacker Sam Hurl, was picked by Saskatchewan in Round 2, followed immediately by teammate Carson Rockhill at #13 by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The four-time defending Canada West Hardy Cup champions have now had nine players taken over the last two CFL Drafts.
A CIS-best eight Canada West student-athletes were selected, including a CIS-leading four from the Calgary Dinos, two from the Saskatchewan Huskies, with one player each from the UBC Thunderbirds and Manitoba Bisons. The Regina Rams and Alberta Golden Bears did not register a pick this year.
Six Dinos taken in 2011
ROUND 1
#1 Saskatchewan: OL Ben Heenan, Saskatchewan Huskies (Canada West)
#2 B.C. (from Edmonton): DL Jabar Westerman, Eastern Michigan
#3 Winnipeg (from Hamilton): OL Tyson Pencer (Washington State)
#4 Edmonton (from B.C.): OL Austin Pasztor (Virginia)
#5 Calgary: DL Ameet Pall (Wofford College)
#6 Edmonton: WR Shamawd Chambers (Wilfrid Laurier)
#7 Edmonton: OL Kirby Fabien (Calgary)
ROUND 2
#8 Hamilton (from Sask. via Winnipeg): DB Courtney Stephen (Northern Illinois)
#9 Toronto: DL Cleyon Laing (Iowa State)
#10 Hamilton: LB Frédéric Plesius (Laval)
#11 Montreal: RB Patrick Lavoie (Laval)
#12 Saskatchewan (from Calgary): LB Sam Hurl (Calgary)
#13 Hamilton (from Winnipeg): OL Carson Rockhill (Calgary)
#14 Edmonton (from B.C.): DL Justin Capicciotti (Simon Fraser)
Other Canada West players selected...
ROUND 3
#15 Calgary (from Saskatchewan): DB Keenan MacDougall (Saskatchewan)
ROUND 4
#26 Montreal: DB Lance Milton (UBC)
#28 Toronto (from Edmonton): WR Quincy Hurst (Manitoba)
ROUND 5
#37 B.C. (from Winnipeg): LB Jordan Verdone (Calgary)
CFL Draft
Canada West Count
Calgary Dinos 4
Saskatchewan Huskies 2
UBC Thunderbirds 1
Manitoba Bisons 1
Alberta Golden Bears 0
Regina Rams 0
“It was overwhelming and to be able to share this experience with 2000 Huskie supporters, teammates, coaches and my family really meant a lot,” said Heenan, after the selection was announced. “Although my name was the one being called out, everybody from Huskie Athletics helped me get to this point today and for that I am incredibly thankful and forever indebted to them.”
Heenan, who was ranked No. 1 in the CFL Scouting Bureau until last week, was named a CIS All-Canadian in both 2010 and 2011, as well as was selected to play in the American East-West Bowl an all-star game for top university players in the United States. In four seasons, Grand Coulee, Sask., native helped the Huskies to three Canada West regular season titles and four straight playoff appearances, and played a major role as the team led the conference in points scored and total offence in two of those years. He was the Canada West Rookie of the Year in 2008.
Facts & Figures (courtesy of CIS)
CIS players selected by round (24):
First round: 3
Second round: 4
Third round: 4
Fourth round: 4
Fifth round: 4
Sixth round: 5
CIS players selected by regional associations (24):
Canada West: 8
RSEQ: 7
OUA: 5
AUS: 4
CIS players selected by universities (24):
Calgary: 4
Laval: 3
Sherbrooke: 3
Saskatchewan: 2
Saint Mary’s: 2
Wilfrid Laurier: 1
Queen’s: 1
Western: 1
UBC: 1
Manitoba: 1
Acadia: 1
Mount Allison: 1
Windsor: 1
Bishop’s: 1
Toronto: 1
CIS players selected by positions (24):
Linebacker: 7
Offensive linemen: 6
Receivers: 5
Defensive backs: 3
Defensive linemen: 2
Running back: 1
TSN.ca
About Canada West Universities Athletic Association
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, 1997 to 2010. Comprised of 16 schools from the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada West 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 or events such as the Olympics, Paralympics or Universiade Games. “cwuaa” on Twitter or visit www.canadawest.tv.
A proud member of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).