Connor Hood, Bears and Pandas Athletics

EDMONTON - Fourth-year University of Alberta offensive lineman Mark Korte is one of two U SPORTS football athletes who have been named to the East-West Shrine game, January 20th in St. Petersburg, Florida. Korte, along with University of Montreal Carabins receiver Regis Cibasu will take part in the week-long event, which culminates in the All-Star game on the 20th. 

Korte was an anchor on the Golden Bears offensive line in 2017, putting together one of the most dominant seasons in U SPORTS. The Spruce Grove, Alberta product was a driving force in Alberta's No. 1 ranked rushing offense, helping teammate Ed Ilnicki set the Canada West single-season rushing record with 1,468 yards this season, en route to the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top University Football Player in Canada. Korte was named a first team Canada West All-Star, a first team U SPORTS All-Canadian, won the Canada West Most Outstanding Lineman Award, and was a nominee for the John P. Metras Award.

"Mark Korte is an old school offensive lineman who would have been as effective thirty years ago as he was in 2017," said Bears head coach Chris Morris, a former CFL offensive lineman himself. "Mark's unique combination of athleticism, strength, agility, and toughness make him both an elite run blocker and pass protector. He was dominant against his opposition all year long."

The East-West Shrine game is the oldest college football showcase in the United States, with the game originating in 1925. The event features a week of practices in front of NFL and CFL coaches and talent evaluators, followed by a game broadcast on NFL Network on Jan. 20. Former U SPORTS Athletes-turned NFL starters such as tight end Antony Auclair (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), offensive lineman Geoff Gray (New York Jets), defensive lineman David Onyemata (New Orleans Saints) and offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (Kansas City Chiefs) have participated in the East-West Shrine game in recent years.