3 CIS Players to play at East-West Shrine Game

Manitoba nose tackle David Onyemata, Calgary centre Sean McEwen and Laval guard Charles Vaillancourt have been selected to represent Canadian Interuniversity Sport football in the 91st edition of the prestigious East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 23 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4 pm ET, live on NFL Network. The game will also be live online as a streaming radio broadcast produced by the EWSG Radio Network, which can be accessed at www.shrinegame.com/en/GameWeek.

The longest running university all-star game in the United States, the Shrine Game has been played annually since 1925 to raise funds for Shriners Hospitals for Children and to raise awareness about the expert orthopedic, burn, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, as well as cleft lip and palate care, available to patients and families through the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Since 1985, CIS has been represented annually at the event which features over 100 all-stars, primarily from NCAA institutions. On most occasions, two CIS players have made the trip across the border, with the exception of 1985 (1), 2008 (4), 2012 (3), and now 2016 (3).

A native of Lagos, Nigeria, Onyemata had never played football before moving to Canada five years ago. After four exceptional campaigns with the Bisons, the 6-foot-4, 300-pound arts student is the top-ranked CIS prospect – second overall – on the latest CFL Scouting Bureau list in advance of the league’s 2016 draft.

The 23-year-old had a tremendous fourth season with the U of M this fall, earning his second straight Canada West all-star nod, his first selection as an all-Canadian and the J.P. Metras Trophy as the top down lineman in CIS football. A starter in all eight league games, he finished second in his conference and ninth in the country in sacks (5), was also second in Canada West in tackles for a loss (7.5) and ranked 12th in overall tackles (38.5), all of this despite being double-teamed on most plays. He also contributed one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

McEwen, who hails from Calgary, was the second CIS player selected in the 2015 CFL draft last May, when the Toronto Argonauts picked him third overall. Instead of turning pro right away, the team captain elected to return to the Dinos this fall to complete his science degree and the move paid off, both in the classroom and on the field.

In his fifth and final university season, the 6-foot-3, 297-pound veteran was named a Canada West all-star for the fourth straight year and an all-Canadian for the third consecutive campaign, including back-to-back first-team nods. He helped the Dinos shatter the conference record for points scored for the second year in a row with 471 in eight league games, for a mindboggling average of 58.9 per contest. Thanks in large part to his steady play under centre, Calgary led the Canada West conference in every major offensive category and quarterback Andrew Buckley captured his second straight Hec Crighton Trophy after setting a new CIS single-season standard with 3,162 passing yards.

Vaillancourt, a native of Coaticook, Que., moved up four positions to No. 6 on the latest CFL Scouting Bureau list and is currently considered the second-best CIS prospect behind Onyemata. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound business administration student will move to the pro ranks as one of the most decorated offensive lineman in CIS football history.

In four seasons with Laval, he helped the team capture a pair of Vanier Cup titles, was named an all-Canadian every year – including first-team selections each of the past three campaigns – and this fall was the RSEQ conference nominee for the J.P. Metras Trophy as the nation’s best down lineman. The 23-year-old team captain, who represented Team World at the 2012 International Bowl in Texas, was as dominant as ever in 2015, helping the Rouge et Or offence top the Quebec league in points (37.3 per game), total yards (506.9) and rushing (211.0).

(CFL.ca)

NHL Three Stars of The Week

 

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford, Edmonton Oilers left wing Taylor Hall and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Dec. 13.

 

FIRST STAR – COREY CRAWFORD, G, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

 

            Crawford went 3-0-0 with a 0.33 goals-against average, .989 save percentage and two shutouts to help the Blackhawks (17-10-4, 38 points) climb into second place in the Central Division. He stopped 36 of 37 shots in a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators Dec. 8. Crawford then posted a pair of shutouts, making 25 saves in a 2-0 victory over the Winnipeg Jets Dec. 11 and 30 saves in a 4-0 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks Dec. 13. In doing so, Crawford earned consecutive shutouts for the third time in his career and second time this season (also Oct. 24 vs. TBL: 21 SV and Oct. 26 vs. ANA: 39 SV). The 30-year-old Montreal native, who shares the League lead with four shutouts in 2015-16, owns a 15-7-2 record in 24 appearances (2.23 GAA, .924 SV%), including four straight wins.

 

SECOND STAR – TAYLOR HALL, LW, EDMONTON OILERS

 

            Hall tied for first in the NHL with 3-3—6, including two game-winning goals, to help the Oilers (13-15-2, 28 points) complete a perfect 5-0-0 homestand with a pair of victories. He opened the week with 1-1—2, including his fifth career overtime goal, in a 4-3 triumph over the San Jose Sharks Dec. 9. Hall then registered 2-2—4, his fifth career four-point game and first since April 1, 2014 at SJS (1-3—4), in a 7-5 victory over the New York Rangers Dec. 11. The 24-year-old Calgary native has scored in four consecutive games (5-4—9), equaling a career high last achieved March 8-14, 2012 (4-0—4), and has recorded the winning goal in each of the team’s past three contests. He shares first in the NHL with five game-winning goals this season and ranks fourth overall with 14-20—34 in 30 outings.

 

THIRD STAR – JUSTIN FAULK, D, CAROLINA HURRICANES

 

            Faulk also collected 3-3—6, highlighted by a trio of multi-point performances, to lead the Hurricanes (12-14-4, 28 points) to a pair of wins in three starts. He scored twice, his second career multi-goal game (also Nov. 22 vs. LAK: 2-0—2), in a 6-5 loss to the Dallas Stars Dec. 8. Faulk then posted two assists in a 5-1 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks Dec. 11 and 1-1—2 in a 5-4 overtime victory against the Arizona Coyotes Dec. 12. The 23-year-old South St. Paul, Minn., native leads all defensemen with 12 goals in 2015-16, all of which have come via the power play – tops among all skaters. His 12 power-play goals (in 30 GP) also equal a franchise record for a defenseman in one season, established by Risto Siltanen in 1983-84 (in 75 GP).

 

(NHL Media) 

 

Eskimos Hire Jason Maas as New Head Coach

 

The Edmonton Eskimos have named Jason Maas head coach, the 21^st in club history.
Maas spent last season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach with the Ottawa RedBlacks. Under his guidance, Henry Burris was the league’s leading passer and the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player. As well, Ottawa led the league in offensive yards, passing yards and rushing touchdowns and four receivers recorded 1,000+-yard seasons en route to competing in the 103^rd Grey Cup championship game.
Prior to Ottawa, Maas served four seasons with Toronto as the receivers coach (2011) and quarterbacks coach (2012-14). He was a member of the Argonauts 100^th Grey Cup champion coaching staff.
Maas returns to the Green and Gold where the former quarterback spent nine seasons (2000-05, 2008-10). He was twice named the Eskimos Most Outstanding Player (2001, 2004) and was a member two Eskimos Grey Cup championship teams (2003, 2005).  In 2001, he earned West All-Star honours. In 2004, he set the CFL record for consecutive completions in a game with 22.
He also spent time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2006-07) and Montreal Alouettes (2007).
Born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Maas grew up in Yuma, Arizona. He and his wife, Marjean, have two children, daughter Makaela and son Garyn.
Notables

• Maas played five seasons with the University of Oregon Ducks (1994-98).
• In 2004, Maas became the second Eskimos quarterback in club history to pass for 5,000+ yards in a single season.
• Maas retired as an Edmonton Eskimo on May 26, 2011.
  

Coaching History
Present	Head Coach, Edmonton Eskimos
2015	Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach, Ottawa RedBlacks.
2013-14	Quarterbacks Coach, Toronto Argonauts
2011	Receivers Coach, Toronto Argonauts

Player History
2000-05	Edmonton Eskimos
2006-07	Hamilton Tiger-Cats
2007	Montreal Alouettes
2008-10	Edmonton Eskimos

Something to "Mitch" About

Thank you to legendary Edmonton broadcaster Bryn Griffiths for this picture. That is Edmonton Oilers hockey and hockey history right there when it comes to this blogger. The ceremony for Glen Sather who was the architect of what I say was the greatest teams the NHL had seen was simply outstanding with the game that followed being one that wasn't bad either.

The walk from Sather's customary spot in the press box down to ice level was just powerful in so many ways. He was joined on that walk by Oilers who have done so much for the franchise, but won't be recognized with banners, he was able to shake the hands of many fans who grew up in Edmonton watching those teams perform the magic on ice that they did during the Stanley Cup years and then he was met with thunderous applause as his banner was raised high into the rafters on Rexall Place on a night that was long over-due, but on a night that had to be done before Rexall Place stops being home to Oilers hockey as Rogers Place is ready to open for next year.  I can only hope young children who were in attendance were told by Dad or whoever about the greatness that had assembled on the ice for the ceremony and how they played hockey the way the game should be played.

It seemed like with all of those Edmonton players who brought the organization to prominence with the exception of Wayne Gretzky in attendance as if something rubbed off on both the New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers as they played a wide-open game that was very fan friendly and reminded many of the high scoring nights they used to watch regularly with Edmonton winning it 7-5 to cap off their first 5-0 homestand in 28 years.  I don't know if playoff hockey is returning to Edmonton this year, but they are FINALLY on the right track.

Friday night was a night where the heart of this Oilers fan grew three sizes. Those who root for the Oil like me know exactly where I am coming from.

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While that picture is great, this one just makes me howl. This is so awesome for so many reasons.

Well done by the Pats for this promo shot as they market their Christmas jerseys as Head Coach (Grandpa) John Paddock reads to his young squad.  That young squad didn't beat the two best teams in the league this week, but they were right there with both the Calgary Hitmen and Kelowna Rockets and they did manage to hang on after leading another good team in Lethbridge by a score of 6-1 to beat them Saturday.  That team isn't going to win every night, but they are fun to watch.

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I can only imagine what the streets of Las Vegas were like late Saturday night and into Sunday morning as the Irish proudly celebrated a Conor McGregor victory at UFC 194.  I thought the cocky Irishman would beat Aldo, but I didn't think he would do it in 12 seconds and I don't think many UFC fans thought that either. It was over before you knew it. Aldo, who had a genuine hate for McGregor, got one-punched! All the hype for that much-delayed and heavily-anticipated fight and it went 12 seconds. Can you say letdown boys and girls? Can you say rematch boys and girls? Somewhere Dana White is smiling knowing he has already set up a Rousey-Holm rematch that will bring big PPV $$ and now he has another one to set up. While on the topic of UFC 194, never, ever let Chris Weidman's father into the octagon again whether he wins or loses. 

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The newest issue of Cosmo caught my eye on the weekend. Why is that?  You tell me!!

 Blake Shelton, what were you thinking?  WOW!!! Double WOW!!!!

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This is the last season for Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion in a Blue Jays uniform, Both have been outstanding in their Toronto careers, but both will command huge money, probably upwards of 18-20 million per season. Who would you keep? I don't think the team will keep both so who do you move and when do you make such a move.

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No surprise to see Mike Johnston let go in Pittsburgh. As has been discussed before, that team is missing something, Then again, as discussed before this is a team that added something in Phil Kessel and he hasn't exactly been a positive when it comes to his head coaches.

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Can't get away with discussing the CFL and it appears as if that nasty "compensation" word is coming up again, but it shouldn't.  The Eskimos are apparently ready to make Jason Maas their head coach, but the REDBLACKS are saying they want compensation. Did the newest franchise not read the CFL handbook or at least the part that says assistants can move from one team to another as long as there is a promotion which there certainly is in this case. As was the case with Chris Jones when the request was made by the Riders to speak to him, the Eskimos could have said no and Ottawa could have said no to the request to speak with Maas. Story over.  If you need to change the rule, you change it, but you can't do it now. Stop with the whining!  Oh Craig Reynolds, look at what you've done. Shame, shame, shame (with that comment dripping in sarcasm)!!

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Congrats to Bob Dyce for landing on his feet in Ottawa. I didn't think it would take long for him to find CFL employment once his days in Riderville were over.

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The Russell Wilson to Doug Baldwin connection has become the most dangerous combo in the NFL. Seven touchdowns in three weeks between that pair as the Seahawks roll over Baltimore. Where was this at the start of the season? Someone on NFL Radio suggested the Super Bowl 50 matchup could be a repeat of the Super Bowl 40 matchup with Seattle vs Pittsburgh. I would be OK with that, but I don't see either team being at that game.

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The Carolina Panthers might actually go 16-0. They won't win the Super Bowl and I am not even sure if they will get to the Super Bowl, but they might just run the table. They haven't lost since Cam Newton flipped his car over last year.

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Andy Dalton breaks his thumb and there should be optimism in Cincinnati. Considering Dalton's playoff failures, I would think Bengals fans should be OK with the fact it might be AJ McCarron for the rest of the year. They could actually win that first playoff game.

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Why do I get the feeling "The Leafs new logo" is going to dominate headlines for a while. SIGHHHH!!!

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Should I have started watching "Quantico" from the get-go. Is it too late to start watching it now?

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Once again, Blake Shelton--what the hell were you thinking!

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That's all I got. Have a great week everyone!

CFL Draft Rankings for December Are Released

 

University of Iowa wide receiver Tevaun Smith held his top position in the latest Scouting Bureau rankings ahead of the 2016 CFL Canadian Draft.
Smith has 30 catches for 546 yards and three touchdowns for the Hawkeyes this season. The Toronto native will be playing in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 against the Stanford Cardinal.
Manitoba Bisons first-team All-Canadian defensive lineman David Onyemata remained in the No. 2 position. The native of Lagos, Nigeria had 38.5 tackles (31 solo), five sacks and 7 1/2 tackles for a loss.
Oklahoma Sooners offensive tackle Josiah St. John, a Toronto native, rose three spots to No. 3 on Friday's list. Boston College defensive lineman Mehdi Abdesmad of Montreal and Michigan State defensive back Arjen Colquhoun of Windsor, Ont., rounded out the top five.

A complete look at the top 20 can be found right here

This And That

It's Friday and that means it is time for the weekly set of thoughts running through my muddled mind and as always, they are in no particular order.

--Holy crap on a cracker!! What a week!  This has arguably been the wildest week in the history of the 100 plus year franchise of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.   Chris Jones has come in and he has started the rebuild. Has he ever! Before the ink was dry on his contract, word was Jarious Jackson was coming in to serve as quarterbacks coach and before that could truly sink in, Sportscage insider Arash Madani showed why he is considered one of the best of what he does by spilling the beans on the fact Bob Dyce and Craig Smith were out and Craig Dickenson was coming back AND John Murphy was coming in to serve in the front office meaning three of the four men Craig Reynolds interviewed for the GM are here anyway with Jeremy O'Day said to be safe in the organizational structure. It makes you wonder what Brock Sunderland is thinking doesn't it.  The reaction is positive in the Rider Nation as the football team has now pillaged its Alberta rivals. I can only wonder how red hot the reaction would be on the other side if this was a team grabbing everyone from Saskatchewan.  It would be pure hell, fire and brimstone methinks. Someone would be asking the RCMP to investigate. Online petitions would be formed. It would be absolute chaos with the "You can't do that to us" mentality.

--What has happened in Riderville this week makes me wonder if somewhere in Regina, Craig Reynolds has looked in a mirror and done the old Ric Flair by giving it a "WOOOOOOO" or doing his version of the Jose Bautista bat flip. No one can say Reynolds played status quo on this one. He sent a message to everyone in the CFL and what a message it was. Did anyone see that coming? 

--While it is sad to see Bob Dyce go, one can't be surprised. I think it was clear that whoever was going to be the general manager of the Riders was not going to keep Dyce around and deep down, I think Bob knew that as well. He was asked to immerse himself in a very tough spot and while he did lead the team to a 3-6 record down the stretch, it wasn't enough.  Dyce is a very good football man, and he will succeed at his next position. I always thought Dyce would make a great CIS head coach, but there aren't any jobs at this time in Canada West and truthfully, I don't know if there are any openings in Eastern Canada. All I know is Dyce is a guy who can teach this game to players and he should be thanked by Rider Nation for taking one for the team and inheriting a position where he had to know there was more bad than good. Don't be surprised to see him end up back in Winnipeg.

--As for Craig Smith, he is also a guy who knows talent as he has seen a lot of it. Craig and I have had several very good chats and I will miss seeing him around Mosaic Stadium, but when change comes, you have to expect good people will be shuffled off the deck and that has happened as Jones brings in who he wants. That isn't the wrong approach to take. Like Dyce, Smith will find another job in this league and he will improve that team.

--Should the Riders pay compensation to the Eskimos for hiring Chris Jones? Where did this argument start?  Coaches have moved from team to team for years and as long as that coach was advancing, there was never ever any talk of compensation.  Did Edmonton pay compensation to Toronto when Jones went there? It is my understanding Jones was still under contract to the Argos when he left for the Eskimos. If Jason Maas signs on as the Eskimos head coach as some believe he will, they won't give the REDBLACKS any compensation. If the Eskimos didn't want the Riders to have Chris Jones than they would have said no when the request to speak with him was made. Compensation, shmopensation! Good on Eskimos GM Ed Hervey for telling the Edmonton media no compensation was needed because Jones did what Edmonton brought him there to do.

--All these moves and Worksafe Bob is seemingly still safe. SIGHHHHH!!!!

--I can't be the only one thinking Paul Lapolice is the head coach in Winnipeg by the time next year ends.

--Not every Tim Hortons needs a drive-thru because the location calls for one that isn't drive-thru friendly. Yes, I am talking about the ones on north Albert and south Albert.  Those are places where if you want the product bad enough then go in and get one or find another place for your daily Timmies fix.

--It can't be two weeks to Christmas can it? I was in a Regina shopping mall on Thursday night and you wouldn't know it by the lack of traffic in there.

--I don't care what anyone says. There was no better TV show than Married with Children and no better character than Al Bundy. Watching reruns of that show on "Dejaview" are outstanding.

--Week 14 NFL Lock of the Week --  Packers over Cowboys
   Week 14 NFL Upset of the Week -- Steelers over Bengals

--One too many Norv Turner brain-cramps cost the Vikings on Thursday. You had a game tying field goal ready to go, but you got greedy and why the hell are you trying to run a reverse when the ball should just stay in the hands of Adrian Peterson. Basically, the Vikings came down with a case of Cleveland-itis. It happens to the best of them sometimes says the blogger who still doesn't know why Marshawn Lynch didn't get the ball at the one in the closing moments of last year's Super Bowl.

--Have the Thursday night games been better than the Monday night ones this year? There's been some prime-time dogs this year, but I think the Thursday games have been better. 

--Rogers Sportsnet Edmonton Oilers host Gene Principe was with me in the Sportscage Wednesday to talk about the Oilers. The discussion got around to former Pat Brandon Davidson. It is great to see Davidson blossom into an NHL player right in front of us. As Principe mentioned and as many know, Davidson's path to the NHL has not been an easy one and he has managed a way to meet every hurdle thrown in front of him. Davidson will never be considered a Norris Trophy candidate, but he is one of those dependable d-men you can count on to give you solid minutes every night. It's great to see.

--The question keeps getting asked, what the h-e double hockeysticks is wrong with Sidney Crosby. The guy everyone thought was a lock to be a top 3 in scoring only has  6 goals on a Pittsburgh team averaging 2.3 goals a game. How can a team with Malkin, Crosby, Kessel and others only be averaging 2.3 goals a game. Players like Mike Hoffman, Kyle Palmieri, Boone Jenner and Leo Komarov have double digit goals this year and Sid is a few away from getting there. Leo Komarov?

--How does the SJHL not get one player on the Canada West team for the World Junior A Challenge. There is no way the other three Junior A leagues in Western Canada should have all the spots and not one player in the SJ can make it. The talent level may not be as great as it is in Alberta and BC, but there are players who should be representing the SJ at that tournament aren't there?

--The Blue Jays managed to get Josh Donaldson by sending Brett Lawrie and others to Oakland and one year later, Lawrie is sent to the White Sox. That deal looks uglier and uglier for the Athletics at this time.

--Its Teddy Bear Toss night at the Brandt Centre in one of the best promotions of the year as the Regina Pats take on the Kelowna Rockets. Take a stuffed animal to the game with you and throw it on the ice when the Pats get that first goal of the game. The Rockets are the best team in the WHL and could very well find themselves in Red Deer come Memorial Cup time. It is also the only time they will skate on Brandt Center ice this year.

--That's all I got. Have a great weekend!

Week 14 NFL Capsules

Week 14 of the NFL season opens up in Phoenix with a potential playoff preview as the Minnesota Vikings take on the Arizona Cardinals. For a complete look at that game and all the others this weekend, click here