CFL.ca Staff
WATERLOO, Ont. — Laurier finished the regular season on a high by beating the undefeated Queen’s Gaels to finish 6-2 and earn a first round bye. The Golden Hawks came up short in the OUA semi-final after suffering a 26-16 loss to the Western Mustangs. The team will look to avenge their playoff exit when they visit Western for their season opener on September 1st.
For 2010, on offence Laurier added to a deep receiving core in both recruits and transfers. All-Canadian Dillon Heap will continue to lead the charge after being first in the CIS in all-purpose yards. The offensive line has been bolstered by SFU transfer Ben Davidson as well as a strong recruiting class. Expect fierce competition for starting spots in the backfield with three legitimate starters at the quarterback position as well as question marks at both full and running back.
The team returns eight of 12 starters on defence and adds depth with several University of Waterloo transfers. Free safety transfer Mitch Nicholson will fill the void left by the departure of Courtney Stephen, further solidifying the secondary. David Montoya returns for his fifth season and adds both leadership and experience to the defensive line.
The team loses two defensive players to the professional ranks this season with fourth years Taurean Allen and Chima Ihekwoaba signing offers. Allen is currently on the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders roster while Ihekwoaba is with the NFL’s Detroit Lions.
Look for the purple and gold to continue to rely on their strong defence early in the season while the offence works to find its rhythm.
Head coach Gary Jeffries on the 2010 Team: I’m really excited about 2010. It’s a very young football team, but the last three years have been great recruiting classes. We’re young and very talented and the additional players from the University of Waterloo have given us great depth.”
2009 in review:
2009 regular season record: 6-2
2009 regular season standings: 2nd
2009 playoff record: 0-1
2009 playoff finish: Lost 26-16 to Western in OUA semi-final
Head Coach – Gary Jeffries
Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2010):9
Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2010): 9
Career regular season record with team: 47-9
Career regular season record in CIS: 47-9
Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only):57-15
Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 57-15
OFFENCE
Head coach Gary Jeffries on the 2010 Offence: “We have to be good up front and we lost a number of kids, but there are some players who will step up. Our focus on recruiting was the offensive line and we have six stellar people. It’s a group that has to roll, it has to be competitive and it has to be athletic and I think we have that group.
Key returning players:
REC Dillon Heap (Waterloo, Ont.) returns for his fourth season. Heap set the CIS record for punt return yards with 912 en route to being named an OUA first team all-star twice and a first team CIS all-Canadian. The team MVP also earned the President’s Award and the Athletics Academic award. This Business major also led the team in receiving yards with 592.
OL Michael Knill (Rochester Hills, MI) returns for his second season at Laurier. This MBA student who has previously played as a walk on at Michigan State and the University of Michigan will be a key component of the offensive line this season.
REC Alex Anthony (Victoria B.C.) will join the Hawks for his second year after earning team rookie of the year honours. In his first season with Laurier, Anthony finished third in receiving yards with 307 and tied for third in points scored with 26 (4 TDs, 1 2PT).
QB Evan Pawliuk (Kingston, Ont.) returns for his fourth season with the program. Pawliuk took over the reins after Luke Thompson suffered a season ending injury. He compiled 1457 yards and eight TD’s.
Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):
WR Dustin Zender (Waterloo, Ont.) joins the Golden Hawks for his first season. This University of Waterloo transfer will be in his fourth year of eligibility. He led the Warriors last season in receiving yards with 591.
OL Ben Davidson (Burnaby, B.C.) this SFU transfer joins the purple and gold for his first season. Multi-talented and very versatile, Ben is capable of playing multiple positions along the offensive line.
QB Shane Kelly (New York, NY) an MBA student, who will start his first season with Laurier. As a true freshman he dressed every game as a backup QB for Temple University. He then transferred to Columbia and became their starter. With great size, an incredible knowledge of the game and an ability to run the most complicated of offences look for Kelly to compete from day one.
Key losses:
OL Adam Bestard was a second team all-star. He was selected 27th overall by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
FB Peter Quinney, another fifth year player, was a key blocking presence for the offence. He is currently playing for the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts.
K/P Chris Mamo completed his fifth season after setting Laurier’s scoring record at 270 points. A staple on special teams, he will be missed as a leader both on and off the field.
DEFENCE
Head coach Gary Jeffries on the 2010 Defence: “We have a lot of returning kids that are very quick. We have some athletic defensive ends so we are pretty excited about the front.”
Key returning players:
LB Giancarlo Rapanaro (Niagara Falls, Ont.) will return for his fifth season after trying out with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Last season Rapanaro was a key cog in the defence, leading the team in sacks with 4.5 and finishing third in tackles with 37.5.
LB Mitchell Bosch (Lanley, B.C.) enters his third season with the purple and gold. A team captain on the defence, Bosch was second on the squad in tackles with 42.5.
DL Paul Hancock (Cochrane, Alta.) returns for his fifth and final season for the Golden Hawks. The Alberta native was fifth in tackles on the team in 2009 and was named an OUA first team all-star.
DL Stephen Cormack (Waterloo, Ont.) joins Laurier for a fourth season after being named a 2009 OUA first team all-star. Last season he set a career high with four sacks, which was good for second on the team.
Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):
DB Dan Harriss (London, Ont.) is a dominant high school and OVFL player. He has great instincts on the field and reputation as a big play maker. He led the OVFL in interceptions.
DB Pat Mcgarry (Waterdown, Ont.) joins the Golden Hawks for his fifth year of CIS football as a transfer from the University of Waterloo. While with the Warriors, Mcgarry had 21.5 tackles.
FS Mitch Nicholson (Grand Haven, MI.) will suit up for the purple and gold after spending his previous three seasons with the University of Waterloo. Nicholson led the Warriors with 58 tackles.
Key losses:
DL Chima Ihekwoaba signed as a free agent with the NFL’s Detroit Lions on May 2nd, 2010. He dressed in 17 games for the Hawks and compiled 37 tackles and four sacks.
CB Taurean Allen played for the Golden Hawks for four seasons. He was drafted by the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders and was signed on May 17th, 2010. He was a three time OUA firs
t team all-star.
FS Courtney Stephen has accepted an offer to NCAA Div 1 Northern Illinois after two seasons with the purple and gold. His older brother spent his football career there.
DL Kyle Ardill this fourth year heart and soul player was a key staple on the defensive line. He dressed in 13 games and compiled 26 tackles in his career.
-With files from the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
