CFL.ca Staff
OTTAWA — Football Canada announced the invitation of a number of experienced players to Team Canada’s training camp, in London, ON in preparation for the 2011 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Senior World Championship.
Two of the newest additions are CFL standouts – Adriano Belli and Sherko Haji-Rasouli.
A 2001 first-round pick of the B.C. Lions, Belli spent 10 seasons in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes (twice) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (twice) before spending his final four years in Toronto. He amassed 213 career tackles, 28 sacks and twice was an East Division all-star (2005, 2007). Belli received league honours in 2005 while earning a Grey Cup ring with the Als in 2002.
Haji-Rasouli, a native of Iran who grew up in Toronto, is an eight-year CFL veteran and spent six seasons with the B.C. Lions after signing as a free agent with the club in 2005. The six-foot-six, 326-pound former University of Miami star appeared in 92 regular-season games with B.C., and earned a Grey Cup ring with the squad in 2007. The Montreal Alouettes drafted Haji-Rasouli in the second round, 12th overall, in the 2002 CFL Canadian college draft.
To date, the roster is comprised of players from coast-to-coast, including two players from New Brunswick, nine from Quebec, sixteen from Ontario, five from Saskatchewan, three from Alberta and two from British Columbia.
Lirim Hajrullahu will don the maple leaf for a second time after serving as the kicker/ punter for the silver winning Canadian squad at the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship. Lirim was named to the all-tournament second team for his contributions with Team Canada. He has since moved on to The University of Western Ontario, where in the dying seconds of the 2010 Yates Cup (Ontario university championship game) helped the Mustangs clinch a 26-25 win on the road against the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees.
Joel Lipinski is a Regina native who played nine CFL games in 2009 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders after signing as an undrafted rookie, recording one defensive tackle and five special teams tackles. Prior to his professional career, Lipinski attended Saint Mary’s University where he was named MVP and Atlantic University Sport (AUS) All-Star in 2008. Lipinski also played for the University of Regina Rams from 2004 – ’06, earning Canada West All-Star and Second Team All-Canadian distinctions in 2005 as well as the Rams’ Most Outstanding defensive back in ‘05 and ’06.
Steve Faoro, a Port Moody, B.C.native, currently plays for the Fairbanks Grizzlies of the Indoor Football League and brings a wealth of experience to Team Canada having been a part of both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and BC Lions CFL squads. Known for his physical presence, Faoro is a two-time AUS defensive player of the year and a three-time AUS Conference all-star, who set a new school standard [since broken] of 200 tackles during his four-year tenure. Faoro spent the 2010 university season as the linebackers coach at Simon Fraser University, which recently moved to NCAA Division II.
Team Canada has strengthened its defensive backfield with the additions of DB’s Alex Daprato and Troy Adams as well as LB/ S, Peter Carrière. Daprato helped Queen’s University to a 2008 Vanier Cup (Canadian University national championship) recording 21 solo and 9 assisted tackles in 2008. Peter Carrière recorded 15.5 tackles, 1 sack, forced and recovered 3 fumbles in 2010 with the Université de Montreal Carabins. Troy Adams is a defensive back from Toronto, ON who finished his senior season at Northeastern State University (NCCA D-II) where he registered 32 solo and 9 assisted tackles along with 1 interception in 11 games with the Riverhawks.
Team Canada has also strengthened its receiving core with the addition of Alexandre Poirier, a CIS first-team all-star in 2010. Université de Sherbrooke’s Poirier tied for first in the nation in receptions (57), was second in the nation in yards (760), averaging 84.4 yards per game and 13.3 yards per catch.
A group of 50 players will be invited to the final training camp in London, ON, June 24- July 2. The coaching staff will finalize a 45-man roster which Football Canada will send to compete at the IFAF Senior Men’s World Championship in Austria, July 8-16.
