(CANADA WEST) — To say that things have changed in the Canada West conference since the end of the 2005 football season would be an understatement.
Just ask the Saskatchewan Huskies, who have reached the Vanier Cup final in three of the past four years, and the Alberta Golden Bears, who have appeared in three consecutive Hardy Trophy games. Gone are five-year seniors Steve Bilan (Huskies) and Darryl Salmon (Bears) at quarterback, as well as David Stevens (Huskies) and Jarred Winkel (Bears) from the backfield.
Manitoba and Calgary also lost veteran leadership at the play-calling position in Ryan Zahara and Charles Guedo, respectively, leaving UBC senior Blake Smelser, Simon Fraser’s Jason Marshall and Regina’s Teale Orban (Regina) as the conference’s veteran pivots.
Numerous off season changes occurred on the sidelines too as Ted Goveia (UBC), former Alberta assistant Frank Boehres (SFU) and Blake Nill (Calgary), a two-time Vanier Cup champion with Saint Mary’s, join the Canada West coaching fraternity.
For their part, household names like Dan Federkeil (Indianapolis, NFL), Winkel (Edmonton CFL), Stevens (Winnipeg, CFL), Jeff Schieman (Winnipeg, CFL), Ryan Gottselig (Saskatchewan, CFL) and Luca Congi (Saskatchewan, CFL) have all turned professional, leaving the door open for new stars to emerge.
Following is a team-by-team look at the conference.
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS
2005 regular season record: 7-1
2005 regular season standings: 2nd
2005 playoff record: 1-1
2005 playoff finish: Hardy Trophy finalists (30-17 loss to Sask.)
Head coach: Jerry Friesen
Number of seasons as head coach with team / in CIS: 6th
Career regular season record: 21-19
Career overall record (reg. season & playoffs): 24-22
After back-to-back 7-1 seasons that ended in Hardy Cup final losses to Saskatchewan, six-year head coach Jerry Friesen will field a very different team in 2006.
“We have several core players returning, we have established a great continuity and had a strong off-season. It’s time for our program to take that next step,” says Friesen, named CIS coach of the year in 2004.
Gone is starting quarterback Darryl Salmon. Cam Linke will be challenged by Quade Armstrong for the starting job. Linke has thrown only 28 passes the last two seasons, but did a solid job in 2003 after Salmon was injured late in the season, leading Alberta to its first playoff victory in 22 years.
Former all-star running back Jarred Winkel made the Edmonton Eskimos practice roster and kickoff specialist David Bissett left for Canada’s bobsled team, participating at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Edmonton Wildcats (PFC) graduate Tendayi Jozzi and B.C. High School grad Bobby Rau are new in the backfield.
All-Canadian receiver Andrew Ginther graduated while Matt Burrows, second on Alberta for receptions last year, has also moved on. Jason Moss and Aaron Holba should be the starters at wide out, with a pair of sons of former CFLers, Damon Fraietta (Emilio) and Luke Lavorato (Pete) to start inside.
The offensive line has added two-time PFC champion Simeon Rottier from the Edmonton Huskies. Sean Brown, a 2005 CW All-Star, starts at centre, with Ryan Dubyk moving from left tackle to left guard to make way for Rottier. Scott Schriver and Murray Fikowski will also start.
All-star rush end Darren Balderson and his eight sacks will be missed, but Dwayne Kumpula and 2003 all-star Derek Krinke return up front.
B.C. Lions 2005 draft choice David Lowry is back. The 6-foot-4, 239-pound defensive lineman was named top Canada West defensive player the last two seasons. Middle linebacker Danny Bass, Jr. transfers from Northern Michigan, while Ryan Michalenko, Brennan McFaul and Brett Sparrow round out a talented linebacking corps.
Eskimos training camp invite Neil Ternovatsky moves to defensive halfback in place of the graduated Derek Baldry. All-Canadian safety Jay Milne has also moved on, replaced by Scott Stevenson. Corner Chris Muchena joins from the Edmonton Huskies, with all-star Steven Boyko playing the other halfback position and Trevor Moen opposite Muchena.
Gone on special teams is punter/kicker Beau Filkowski, meaning Scott Stevenson likely will be the field goal kicker, with freshman Adam Fragomeni having the inside track as punter.
Return specialist Kendall Jeske, fifth all-time in Canada West history with 1,377 punt return yards, has returned a league record four punts to the house in his Golden Bears career.
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA THUNDERBIRDS
2005 regular season record: 4-4
2005 regular season standings: 4th
2005 playoff record: 0-1
2005 playoff finish: CW semi-finalists (32-6 loss to Sask.)
Head coach: Ted Goveia
Number of seasons as head coach with team / in CIS: 1st
Career regular season record: 0-0
Career overall record (reg. season & playoffs): 0-0
Former offensive co-ordinator Ted Goveia takes over a UBC program looking to win a playoff game for the first time since 1999. Sixteen starters return – eight on each side of the ball – including Canada West All-Stars Chris Ciezki (RB), Alan Pepper (WR), Derek Townsend (ST) and 2006 East-West Bowl selections Blake Smelser (QB), Scott Downey (OL) and Konrad Wasiela (DB).
“We feel that we’ve got the players and the coaches in place to be successful,” says Goveia. “But something unexpected always happens during the course of a football season, and it’s how you respond to those things that often determines how far you’ll go. Are we a 6-2, deep-into-the-playoffs type team that can compete with Alberta and Saskatchewan, or are we a 4-4, mediocre team that just beats other teams in transition? We’re not in transition anymore. We feel things are in place for us to take the next step but we need to get better and we need to make sacrifices.”
Smelser enters his senior campaign as the active conference career leader with over 6,000 passing yards and 37 scoring strikes.
After a solid 2005 Chris Ciezki will start in the offensive backfield. He had just 632 rushing yards, but ranked second in yards per carry (6.7) and touchdowns (7) last year.
All-Canadian Mike Lindstrom, Marc Estaban and Joey Cruickshank are gone at receiver. Pepper led Canada West with 42 catches for 512 yards and five touchdowns in 2005.
The o-line returns starters Downey, Apostolos Klimos, Mike Kucheran and Spencer Smid, along with sophomore Mike Morris.
Derek Townsend is 10th in league history with 1,067 punt return yards. The running back led Canada West in punt return yards (564), kick return yards (528) and all-purpose yards (1,553) a year ago.
B.C. Senior Bowl MVP Doug Goldsby, one of the team’s better athletes, is a recruit who could move positions if he’s beaten out for the backup QB role.
Newcomers at receiver include Sam Carino and Jeff Ahmadi. Kyle Wolfe (Washington) comes to UBC after playing at Shasta College in California with the likes of current Edmonton (CFL) QB Ricky Ray.
Former all-Canadian and Shrine Bowl participant Nick Johansson is gone from the d-line, while 2005 middle linebacker Colin Lenahan will likely sit out the season, as will former Canada West rookie of the year LB Braydon Hobbs. UBC’s two leading tacklers from 2005, safety Jason Collings and Jacques DesLauriers, have both graduated from the program.
Defensive lineman Tommy Buchmann is back after a rookie campaign where he racked up 22 tackles, six for a loss, three sacks and an interception. Another returning second-year player, Scott McCuaig had 23 tackles, five for a loss, two sacks and an interception as a rookie defensive end in 2005.
Senior outside linebacker Brad Newman had 28 tackles in six games last season.
Veteran defensive backs Wasiela and CJ Stephenson, who combined for four interceptions in 2005, will anchor the secondary.
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY DINOS
2005 regular season record: 2-6
2005 regular season standing: 6th
2005 playoff record: –
2005 playoff finish: did not qualify
Head coach: Blake Nill
Number of seasons as head coach with team / in CIS: 1st / 9th
Number of seasons as head coach in CIS: 9th (8 years with Saint Mary’s)
Career regular season record with team: 0-0
Career regular season record in CIS: 49-15
Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs): 0-0
Career overall record in CIS (reg. season and playoffs): 61-20
A new era begins for Calgary, with former Dino Blake Nill taking over as the school’s fifth head coach after a successful tenure with the Saint Mary’s Huskies (AUS).
“We are excited about the 2006 season,” says Nill. “We have a solid mixture of experience and youth which should allow us to compete throughout the campaign.”
Key losses include J.P. Metras Trophy finalist, defensive end Dan Federkeil, fifth overall selection in the CFL Draft and currently third on the depth chart at right tackle for the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. Also gone are tailback Stephen Hughes, pivot Charles Guedo and receivers Chris Nagy and Matt Hale.
The offensive line returns two starters, but is bolstered by the return of 2004 all-Canadian tackle Richard Yalowsky, a 2004 Metras finalist who missed 2005 due to injury. Evan Haney, an all-Canadian in 2004, returns for his final season at centre after missing six games in 2005 with a broken leg. Starters returning are David Maltman and Lindsey Stevens.
The quarterbacks and running backs will be very young. Vying for time are Alex Andrews and rookies Anthony Woodson and Delroy Meyer. New QB prospects include Dalin Tollestrup, Ben Davis and Nathan Beeler, a red-shirt in 2005. David Thom and Justin Marit will battle for playing time at fullback.
Returning receivers include Sean Bunting and Scott McKenna. Slotback Jim Lillico (Ottawa Sooners, OFC) is expected to help inside, while K.C. Prince is a solid freshman prospect. Returnees Drew Hogan, David Holowaychuk and David Raborn will also battle for playing time.
The defensive line will be young and losing Federkeil creates a huge void. Andrew Obrecht had a solid initial season in 2005 and is joined inside by returnees Dan deVillenfagne and Patrick Callan. New additions are Jonathan Ritchot (Vancouver Island Raiders, BCFC) and rookie Josh Symons. Ritchot was a BCJFC all-star and will provide experience, with Konrad Paley in the mix.
Linebackers are expected to be the team’s strength, returning David Gruninger, D.J. Wickham and Michael Watson. Joining are Chase Moore (Calgary Colts) and Okanagan Sun graduates Duncan McLean and James Green, all with valuable experience at the post-secondary level. Gruninger participated in the CFL Futures game and begins his third season at LB after being the starting fullback as a freshman in 2003.
The secondary is aided by Damony Simmonds’ return after one-year absence. Key returnees include cornerbacks Chris Wollin, Jon Waldie and Drew Carpenter, and inside players Jon Tayor, Richard Fowlstone and Matt Grohn. A solid new addition is Matt Chartier from the PFC’s Saskatoon Hilltops.
Punter/kicker Aaron Ifield, from the Saskatoon Hilltops, will take over now that Hughes has graduated.
UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA BISONS
2005 regular season record: 4-4-0-1 * (indicates OT loss)
2005 regular season standings: 3rd
2005 playoff record: 0-1
2005 playoff finish: CW semi-finalists (33-24 loss to Alberta)
Head coach: Brian Dobie
Number of seasons as head coach with team / in CIS: 11th
Career regular season record: 39-39-1-1
Career overall record (reg. season & playoffs): 43-44-1-1
The Manitoba Bisons have gone through their rebuilding phase over the last three years and return a very experienced squad on both sides of the ball. The Bisons will have the luxury of potentially all 12 defensive starters coming back for 2006, while seven of 12 offensive starters return.
“I believe this will be an unpredictable conference with strength from all of the seven teams coming into the new season,” says Dobie. “I am happy with our depth on defense and offense heading into the season. We are where we should be. We finished third last season and our goal is to continue upwards on the playoff ladder and challenge for the Canada West championship this season. I feel that we are one of the teams with a legitimate challenge for the Canada West title in 2006.”
With depth on both sides of the ball, the squad is poised to compete for the conference crown.
Quarterback Ryan Zahara’s graduation opens up the starting role for either second-year Bison John Makie or CJFL all-Canadian recruit Nathan Friesen. Both show ability, but remain unproven at the university level. Two fifth-year running backs, Karim Lowen and Jon McLaren, will battle for the starting role.
At wide receiver the depth of returning veterans Brad Black, Terry Firr, Jeff Strome and Randy Simmons will offset the loss of Blair Atkinson and Ricky Clarke.
The offensive line lost starters Tye Smith and Riley Clayton, so it is another area for a battle among veterans and recruits for at least two spots to protect the new starting QB.
Much of the defence remains intact from 2005. The unit is bolstered by all-Canadian defensive lineman Simon Patrick, senior all-star linebacker Cory Huclack, lineman Justin Shaw and end Justin Cooper, who attended Calgary Stampeders training camp in 2004 and 2005. Linebacker Jeff Alamolhoda, who had 47 tackles a year ago, all-star defensive back Khari Joseph, Kenton Onofrychuk and safety Bob Reist are all key players.
Others in the defensive mix are Jonathan Wade, a defensive lineman at the 2006 East-West Bowl, along with 2005 CJFL all-Canadian defensive end Aaron English, linebacker Andrew Patzer and defensive back Garrett Zazula.
UNIVERSITY OF REGINA RAMS
2005 regular season record: 3-5
2005 regular season standings: 5th
2005 playoffs record: –
2005 playoff finish: did not qualify
Head coach: Frank McCrystal
Number of seasons as head coach with team / in CIS: 8th
Career regular season record: 21-34-1
Career overall record (reg. season & playoffs): 26-38-1
All three of Regina’s wins came on the road in 2005, so now they must learn to win at home and become a serious threat in the conference.
“We will expect to see our young players – who aren’t young anymore – win us some games this season,” says McCrystal. “These last two years, inexperience hurt us at times. We expect the guys that have taken some lumps these past two seasons to have some experience under their belts, which will help them face the challenges they’ll have this year.”
The 2005 season saw second-year quarterback Teale Orban emerge as a legitimate offensive threat over six contests, finishing third in Canada West with 281 passing yards per game behind conference graduates Steve Bilan and Darryl Salmon.
The defence was anchored by a pair of all-Canadians, as second-year linebacker Steve Wilson’s 84 tackles and cornerback Joel Lipinski’s 13 pass break-ups were both Canada West-leading totals.
With nearly every key player returning for the 2006 campaign, Regina looks to improve its 2005 finish.Gone are linebackers Matt Nesbitt and Craig Zimmer, but the core of the team’s offence will look very similar to 2005. Orban’s favourite three targets – Chris Bauman, Chris Getzlaf and Chad Goldie – all return. Punter/kicker Perri Scarcelli, who set several team records in 2005, is also back.
New running back Derek Belvedere joins after spending one season with the Thonon Black Panthers of the France American Football Federation. The former Ottawa Gee-Gee led the semi-pro league in carries, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
Former Calgary Colts (PFC) pivot John Kanaroski, entered camp as a holder and receiver, but was injured and is expected to miss the entire season.
Riley Sisco is expected to challenge for the linebacker position, while versatile younger brother Jordan will see special teams duties, challenging for the halfback and safety positions.
UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES
2005 regular season record: 8-0
2005 regular season standings: 1st
2005 playoff record: 3-1
2005 playoff finish: Vanier Cup finalists (24-23 loss to Laurier)
Head Coach: Brian Towriss
Number of seasons as head coach with team / in CIS: 23rd
Career regular season record: 107-68-1
Career overall record (reg. season & playoffs): 134-79-1
Saskatchewan is coming off another successful season under the leadership of head coach Brian Towriss, now in his 23rd season. The Dogs finished 2005 with a perfect 8-0 record and were ranked #2 in CIS all year. The 2005 Huskies became the first Canada West team since 2001 to finish first during the conference season and win the Hardy Cup.
“This year we will see more turnover than we’ve had in a long time, on both sides of the ball,” says Towriss. “Offensively, the losses are minimal, but two or three big names are gone. Defensively, we feel that we have filled our holes left by graduation. We have players from the junior system and those that have been groomed from within, who have been waiting their turn and are ready to step in. This may have been our best recruiting class ever in terms of addressing our immediate needs, as well as ensuring our future in a couple of positions.
“Our ability to gel as a group will be one of the greatest challenges this season as we have new leadership on both sides of the ball. However, we have outstanding talent and should challenge for another Canada West title and a berth in the 2006 PotashCorp Vanier Cup in Saskatoon.”
Off the 2005 roster are two players drafted by CFL teams, five selected for the CIS East-West Bowl, one selected to represent Canada in the NFL Global Junior Championships, three named CIS all-Canadians, two Canada West major award winners and seven conference all-stars.
With 12 players graduating from last year’s squad, the new season will see many new faces, particularly on defence. On offence, a rookie quarterback with experience in the CJFL will lead the Dogs. With returning veterans, including one CFL draft pick and several CW all-stars, the Huskies will be sure to contend for a third consecutive Hardy Trophy.
Back are 2006 CIS East West Bowl selection, wide receiver Leighton Heron, second in the conference with 38 receptions for 552 yards in 2005, to go with 31 punt returns for 249 yards, along with slotback Scott McHenry, the 2005 Canada West rookie of the year. On the offensive line, 2005 Hamilton Tiger-Cat draft pick Chris Sutherland and All-Star Tim West have returned.
Quarterback Bret Thompson, from Walter Murray Collegiate in Saskatoon, led the Saskatoon Hilltops to three CJFL national championships and will start for the Huskies in 2005.
Gone are 2005 Hec Crighton finalist, running back David Stevens, 2004 Hec Crighton finalist, quarterback Steve Bilan and slotback Jeff Schieman, now of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Defensive lineman Ryan Gottselig, who has joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders, will be missed, along with DB Ryan Barnstable and linebackers Jayson Koroll and Morley Miller.
Heading up the defence will be third-year lineman Brian Guebert, hard-pressed to match past numbers after combing with Gottselig to terrorize the opposition. Linebacker Gabe Mackesey, safety Dylan Barker, defensive back Jordy Burrows and corner Rick Vandenameele are also back and ready to anchor the Hardy Cup champs on “D”.
Several defensive backs have been added to the mix, including Matt Yausie, named CJFL defensive player of the year while with the Saskatoon Hilltops, and Tyler Dueck, a teammate of Yausie with the ’Tops.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY CLAN
2005 regular season record: 0-7-0-1 * (* indicates OT loss)
2005 regular season standings: 7th
2005 playoff record: –
2005 playoff finish: did not qualify
Head coach: Frank Boehres
Number of seasons as head coach with team / in CIS: 1st
– Career regular season record: 0-0
– Career overall record (reg. season & playoffs): 0-0
The 2006 season will mark a new era for Simon Fraser. One year after a winless campaign, first-year head coach Frank Boehres has worked the entire off-season and training camp to instill a new attitude in the Clan. Boehres, a former Alberta assistant coach, welcomed 70 athletes into training camp and informed his players immediately that no roster spots were assured.
“With all the changes, we as a staff are treating this year as one which will lay a foundation for years to come,” says Boehres. “We are looking at selecting the right kind of players that have character, smarts and talent to build our program. As is the case with every year, our goal is to be Vanier Cup champions – and our approach is to do that by focusing on our preparation day by day, week by week, game by game.”
The 2005 season marked the first winless campaign in the 41-year history of the SFU football program. The Clan’s 40-33 overtime loss against UBC in the 2005 Shrum Bowl was an early end to any playoff hopes.
In April, the Clan lost two of their top players to the CFL Draft when offensive tackle Dean Valli was drafted by his hometown B.C. Lions in the first round and punter/kicker Luca Congi was selected by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the second round. Both players have stuck with their respective teams.
This year the Clan have added a new coaching staff to surround Boehres, headed by first-year defensive coordinator Gavin Lake. Lake arrives at SFU after spending three seasons as an assistant coach under Blake Nill at Saint Mary’s. Of the 70 men in camp, SFU welcomed 26 new players to the fold, each of whom will have the opportunity to contribute immediate.
Last year’s starting quarterback, Jason Marshall, heads the list of returnees, as the pivot returns for his fourth season with the Clan. Marshall threw for 1,453 yards and eight touchdowns in 2005, completing 50.3 per cent of his pass attempts. The athletic Marshall, known for his ability to scramble, rushed for 399 yards last season. With the graduation of running back Marty Kipps and four of the five Clan starters on the offensive line, SFU’s offence will have a different look in 2006.
Notable departures on defence include lineman Ross McLaren and cornerback Rob Henschel. Returning fifth-year linebackers Tim Smith and Mike Little will lead this experienced group.
About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Fifty-one members, 10,000 student-athletes and 550 coaches vie for 19 national championships in 11 different sports. The CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, and 27 World University Championships. For further information, visit www.universitysport.ca.
