THE CANADIAN PRESS
Good Canadian boys have been working away busting ratios across the Canadian Football League.
Players like Josh Bourke, Antoine Pruneau, Andy Fantuz, Cory Greenwood, Chris Getzlaf, Jon Cornish, Shamawd Chambers, Andrew Harris – injured or not – have become national studs on their respective CFL squads. In 2015 each team has seen at least one new Canuck on its roster making an impact. So let’s spin around to every one of the nine teams and shine a spotlight on the nationals that are paying immediate dividends.
Alouettes: Philip Blake, OL
Montreal selected the Baylor product in the third round, 23rd overall, in the 2011 CFL Draft and waited patiently until he returned from the NFL. He signed a three-year contract with the Als in January and big No. 68 has transitioned seamlessly to the CFL game, starting every game at right guard on Montreal’s all-Canadian offensive line.
REDBLACKS: Brad Sinopoli, REC
The local talent has come back home and produced from the get-go with Ottawa — Sinopoli has a team-leading 33 catches. He has quickly picked up the new offensive system Jason Maas brought to the Nation’s Capital and the rangy receiver has become a trusted target for quarterback Henry Burris.
Tiger-Cats: Ryan Bomben, OL
In a big draft-day trade Hamilton sent 2015 first- and third-round picks to Montreal for the Burlington native. Bomben has started every game for the Ticats at right guard so far this season. He can also play tackle and in goal line packages Hamilton utilizes his athletic abilities as a tight end. Bomben’s over-the-shoulder, eight-yard touchdown catch in Week 7 against Winnipeg was as good a catch as you’ll ever see from any lineman.
Argonauts: Ronnie Pfeffer, K/P
Since impressing in a tryout when Toronto needed to find a fill in for an injured Swayze Waters, Pfeffer has performed better than many expected. He’s made good one 12 of 16 field goals, including hitting some late-game, high-pressure three-pointers. The rookie kicker out of Laurier has hit 11 of 13 32-yard extra points as well.
Blue Bombers: Jamaal Westerman, DL
Winnipeg’s first-year CFLer has instantly upgraded the Bombers’ defensive line. He’s been tough to block in the run game or when rushing the passer. Westerman has a league-high-tying six sacks through seven games. And he’s also racked up 27 tackles, tied for the second most among any defensive lineman in the CFL.
Roughriders: Nic Demski, REC
As the Riders bring Demski along slowly on offence, he’s shown big play-making ability in the return game. A dazzling 93-yard missed field goal return in Week 7 at the Rogers Centre displayed how dynamic the sixth overall pick in the 2015 draft can be.
Stampeders: Derek Wiggan, DL
After finishing his final year at Queen’s, Wiggan has returned to the team that selected him in the fourth round of the 2015 draft and become a contributor. While rotating in with Quinn Smith and Junior Turner on the defensive line, Wiggan has recorded seven tackles and one for loss.
Eskimos: Danny Groulx, OL
Genreral manager Ed Hervey felt fortunate to see Groulx available at No. 7 overall in the 2015 draft and he snapped up the burly offensive lineman. The six-foot-six, 325 lbs. Canadian has started three games, two at left guard and one at right.
Lions: Austin Collie, REC
BC believed it was getting a ratio-breaking receiver when the team inked Collie to a deal in the off-season and that’s exactly what he’s been for the Lions. The 29-year-old NFL veteran has quickly assimilated to the nuances of playing receiver in the CFL. And Collie has developed a strong rapport with Travis Lulay. Collie’s four receiving touchdowns rank him tied for third among CFL pass catchers.
