OTTAWA, Ont. – Football Canada announced Saturday night the first wave of players who will compete for Canada’s Under-19 National Team at the 2015 International Bowl, including University of Regina Rams linebacker Danny Nesbitt and defensive linemen Grey McKen and Eric Wicijowski.
Featuring games between Canada and the United States at five different age groups, the 2015 International Bowl will culminate with the Under-19 game on Saturday, Feb. 7 in Arlington, Texas at Maverick Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington. The Under-18, Under-17, Under-16, and Under-15 games will be played the previous weekend in Dallas.
McKen, Nesbitt, and Wicijowski were the only players besides running back Atlee Simon to step straight out of high school into the Rams’ lineup in 2014.
Wicijowski had arguably the greatest impact of the three, playing in all eight Canada West games and starting at defensive end in each of the team’s final three contests including the postseason game at Calgary. Wicijowski finished the conference schedule with five solo tackles, six assisted tackles, and two tackles for loss including a 10-yard sack in the team’s Week 7 win over Manitoba.
Nesbitt also played in all eight conference games for the Rams and earned his first career start in the team’s Canada West semifinal game. He had four solo tackles and four assisted tackles, much of which came on special teams as he played a key role on kick coverage all season long. This will be the second consecutive season Nesbitt has played in the International Bowl, as he helped Canada to a 53-9 win over the United States in last year’s Under-18 game.
McKen ended up with four games played in his rookie season, making his Canada West debut in the Week 4 game against Saskatchewan. He dressed for each of the team’s next three games before an injury forced him to miss the final conference game and the semifinal at Calgary.
The three Rams are part of 23 players that were named Saturday to the Under-19 team, which is guided by York University head coach Warren Craney. Football Canada is expected to announce the remainder of the team in the coming weeks.
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