OUT OF THE TUNNEL BONUS: 2019 CANADA WEST PREVIEW
It’s a new era in Canada West football. Gone are some of the all-time passers in the conference’s history. In 2018 we bid farewell to the UBC Thunderbirds’ Michael O’Connor, former Hec Crighton trophy winner Noah Picton of the Regina Rams, Saskatchewan Huskies second leading all-time passer Kyle Siemens and long-time Alberta Golden Bears starter Brad Baker.
What doesn’t change is that Canada West is the Calgary Dinos world and the rest of the teams are just living in it. They return defending Hec Crighton trophy winner, quarterback Adam Sinagra and a pile of other all-conference players from a team that was upset in the Hardy Cup final by the Saskatchewan Huskies.
So 2019 is going to be a fun season in the Canada West and it all begins this weekend. Here’s a little primer to get you ready for opening day.
UBC Thunderbirds
2018 – 5-3 (lost in semi-final)
Head coach – Blake Nill (5th season with UBC)
2018 Rankings
Offence per game rank
Scoring 23.5 5
Rushing 91.5 6
Passing 338.3 2
Total 429.8 5
Defence per game rank
Scoring 25.6 3
Rushing 126.6 2
Passing 339.0 4
Total 465.6 3
Players lost: (QB) Michael O’Connor, (DB) Malcolm Lee (DB) Stavros Katsantonis, (Ath) Trivel Pinto, (OL) Levi Hua, (LB) Brad Friesen
Key returnees/additions: (LB) Ben Hladik, (LB) Nick Cross, (Rec) Trey Kellogg, (Rec) Marcus Browne, (OL) Diego Alatorre.
If any coach is able to roll with the punches of the constant turnover of players in Canadian college football it is longtime head coach Blake Nill. Since taking over the reins of the Thunderbirds in 2015, Nill has made UBC one of the premier football programs in Western Canada.
He will have one of the toughest assignments in his coaching career in finding a replacement for quarterback Michael O’Connor. Potential replacement, Cole Meyer has joined the coaching staff leaving Michael Calvert as the lone pivot on the roster who has attempted a Canada West pass from 2018.
There will be a lot of tools to throw to with the return of receivers, Trey Kellogg and Marcus Browne and with second year running back Sharique Kahn the top returning rusher from 2018.
The defence will be in the solid hands of third year linebacker Ben Hladik. He led the team in tackles and tackles for loss in 2018. There will be a lot of young players who gained experience in 2018 surrounding him, this year is no different beginning with a pair of former Saskatoon Hilltops in defensive end Tom Schnitzler and defensive back James Vause.
There is one key addition in former Canada West rookie of the year Nick Cross. The former Regina Ram linebacker will join the Thunderbirds after playing a year in the BCJFL.
Alberta Golden Bears
2018 – 2-6 (missed playoffs)
Head coach – Chris Morris (7th season with Alberta)
2018 Rankings
Offence per game rank
Scoring 15.0 6
Rushing 119.0 5
Passing 229.4 5
Total 348.4 6
Defence per game rank
Scoring 36.8 6
Rushing 133.1 3
Passing 360.1 6
Total 493.3 6
Key losses: (QB) Brad Baker, (OL) Jonathan Harke
Key returnees/additions: (QB) Brad Launhardt, (OL) Peter Kozushka, (LB) Aaron Chabaylo, (LB) Zach Mann, (OL) Carter O’Donnell, (RB) Jonathan Rosery
It was a tough 2018 for the Alberta Golden Bears but it was a very young team that consistently took the field a year ago. The biggest hole to fill will be at quarterback where Brad Baker was at the helm for the past few seasons.
The top returning passer is Brad Launhardt who is entering his fourth season and saw significant action in 2018. He does need some polish. Launhardt had five interceptions on 81 attempts with no touchdowns.
He will have a full set of returning receivers and a solid returning running back. Jonathan Rosery picked up 640 yards along the ground and another 90 through the air in his first season with the Golden Bears.
It’s a solid returning offensive line as well led by former Yorkton Raider Peter Kozushka.
The same can be said defensively. It was a young team in 2018 that made a lot of mistakes but returns this season pretty much intact. The strength of the defence will be at linebacker led by Zach Mann and Aaron Chabaylo.
Calgary Dinos
2018 Rankings
Defence per game rank
Scoring 17.0 1
Rushing 135.9 4
Passing 250.8 1
Total 386.6 1
Key losses: (DE) Joel Van Pelt, (LB) Blake Gau, (LB) Boston Rowe
Key returnees/additions: (QB) Adam Sinagra, (RB) Jeshrun Antwi, (Rec) Hunter Karl, (LB) Nick Statz, (DL) Jacob Plamondon, (LB) Grant McDonald, (DB) Sterling Taylor, (DB) Deane Leonard
The Calgary Dinos having been a dominating force in the Canada West for more than a decade.
The regular season champs were upset in the Hardy Cup finals in 2018 by the Saskatchewan Huskies 43-18. In that game, the Huskies may have found the only weak spot for the Dinos. Saskatchewan rammed the ball down Calgary’s throat to the tune of 268 yards and four touchdowns.
The Dinos will be thirsty to host their 10th straight Hardy Cup final and they have a veteran laden lineup to do it. It’s led by the defending Hec Crighton Trophy winner, Adam Sinagra (the fifth straight by a Canada West player).
He averaged 387 yards and three touchdowns per game in 2018 but will throw the odd interception. Sinagra will also have a pile of weapons to throw and hand the ball off to. Hunter Karl will lead an all-star group of receivers with Dallas Boath riding shotgun.
Carrying the load in the backfield will be Montreal Alouettes sixth round pick in the 2019 CFL draft, Jeshrun Antwi. He will have a solid offensive line ahead of him led by Tyler Packer and Logan Bandy.
There are a few holes defensively left by defensive end Joel Van Pelt’s seven sacks and the leadership of linebacker Boston Rowe.
Jacob Plamondon had five sacks in 2018 and will look to add to that while the linebacking core will have Canada West all-star Nick Statz holding down the fort.
A pair of Canada West all-stars return in the defensive backfield in Deane Leonard and Sterling Taylor.
Saskatchewan Huskies
2018 – 5-3 (lost to Western in the Mitchell Bowl)
Head coach – Scott Flory (3rd season with Saskatchewan)
2018 Rankings
Offence per game rank
Scoring 31.9 2
Rushing 172.3 1
Passing 319.6 3
Total 491.9 2
Defence per game rank
Scoring 125.6 2
Rushing 125.9 1
Passing 294.0 2
Total 419.9 2
Key losses: (QB) Kyle Siemens, (RB) Tyler Chow, (DL) Tristan Koronkiewicz, (LB) Jacob Solie, (K) Sean Stenger
Key returnees/additions: (DL) Evan Machibroda, (DB) Payton Hall, (QB) Mason Nyhus, (OL) Mattland Riley, (DB) Nelson Lokombo, (RB) Josh Ewanchyna, (DE) Nicholas Dheilly
Many called it a Cinderella run to the 2018 Hardy Cup championship but if you look deeper, the Saskatchewan Huskies were building to that moment and might be even better in 2019.
They will have to replace veteran quarterback Kyle Siemens but following him is Mason Nyhus. Scott Flory has been very strategic in getting Nyhus some reps during his first two seasons with the Huskies in preparation for this moment.
He will have veteran receivers Colton Klassen and Jesse Kuntz returning to the fold, but a new face will carry the load at running back. Tyler Chow finished a stellar USports career in 2018 and the Huskies may look to former CJFL all-Canadian Josh Ewanchyna to pick up the load.
The Huskies were known to produce high quality offensive lineman in the past and it looks like they are returning to earning offensive lineman-U status with their whole offensive line returning led by Mattland Riley.
Defensively they will see a lot of familiar faces return. Evan Machibroda might be the best defensive lineman in the conference with a veteran linebacker Ben Whiting roaming the middle. The pass rush will also get some help with the addition of former Regina Ram Nicholas Dheilly.
They have a very good group of defensive backs with ball hawk Nelson Lokombo front and centre.
Regina Rams
2018 – 1-7 (missed playoffs)
Head coach – Steven Bryce (4th season with Regina)
2018 Rankings
Offence per game rank
Scoring 25.9 4
Rushing 146.4 3
Passing 289.4 5
Total 435.8 4
Defence per game rank
Scoring 33.9 4
Rushing 138.6 5
Passing 352.9 5
Total 491.5 5
Key losses: (QB) Noah Picton, (RB) Atlee Simon, (RB) Kyle Borsa, (DL) Ryan Warner, (LB) Danny Nesbitt
Key returnees/additions: (Rec) Ryan Schienbein, (Rec) Kyle Moortgat, (OL) Roe Borgmann, (DL) Eric Wicijowski, (DB) Zach Moore
2018 will be a season to forget for the Regina Rams and head coach Steven Bryce. Off the field an administrative mistake saw Canada West take three wins away from the Rams. On the field, a string of injuries made the end of the season one to forget.
It’s a brand-new day for the Rams and it will be a brand-new quarterback to replace Canada’s all-time leading passer Noah Picton. It looks like redshirt-first year quarterback Josh Donnelly will be taking over the Ram offence.
Donnelly will have a pair of fifth year receivers to help him through the 2019 season in Ryan Schienbein and Kyle Moortgat. With the suspension to Kyle Borsa, we won’t know until the first offensive series who will consistently carry the rock for the Rams in 2018.
The running back will have a couple of veteran offensive lineman on the right side with the return of Roe Borgmann, Theren Churchill and Andrew Becker.
It’s a young defence that will be bolstered with five returning defensive backs that saw significant stating time in 2018. They are led by Zach Moore, Cord Delinte and Jaxon Ford who each had a pair of interceptions last season.
Along the front seven, Eric Wicijowski will plug up the middle of the defensive line and Layne Hull will be at outside linebacker.
Manitoba Bisons
2018 – 3-5 (lost in semi-final)
Head coach – Brian Doby (23rd season with Manitoba)
2018 Rankings
Offence per game rank
Scoring 27.4 3
Rushing 167.3 2
Passing 297.6 4
Total 464.9 3
Defence per game rank
Scoring 31.4 4
Rushing 174.0 6
Passing 310.6 3
Total 484.6 3
Key losses: (RB) Jamel Lyles, (Rec) Dylan Schrot, (K/P) Brad Mikoluff, (OL) Zack Williams, (Rec) Shai Ross, (DB) Marcel Arruda-Welch, (DB) Jayden McKoy
Key returnees/additions: (QB) Des Catellier, (DL) Brock Gowanlock, (DL) Derek Dufault, (DB) Shae Weekes, (Rec) Macho Bockru, (RB) Victor St. Pierre-Laviolette
After the Dinos Adam Sinagra, Des Catellier is the top returning quarterback in the Canada West. He has held down the Bison offence since 2017 and looks to take the next step in 2019.
Manitoba loses their top receiver from 2018, Dylan Schrot but return a speedy unit of pass catchers with Macho Bockru front and centre.
There will be a new bell-cow runner with the departure of Jamel Lyles to the CFL. Stepping up may be the speedy Victor St. Pierre-Laviolette. It will be a work in progress in front of St. Pierre-Laviolette with a lot of youth that will be taking their first live fire this weekend.
The strength of the Bisons in 2019 will be their defence. They will be big, fast and nasty and it all starts up front with defensive ends Derek Dufault and Brock Gowanlock.
Third year linebacker Kyle Gordon is the leading returning tackler for the Bisons and will have veteran help from Brody Williams who is also in his third year.
There are some significant losses in the defensive backfield but 2018 Canada West all-star Shae Weeks will wreak havoc on opposing receivers.
(BY RODPEDERSEN.COM STAFF/PHOTO: HUSKIES ATHLETICS)
