LONDON, Ont. – Football Canada has finalized the roster of players that will compete at the IFAF Junior World Championships in Canton, Ohio June 27-July. Canada is seeded number #1 based on previous junior international play.
Five members of the University of Calgary Dinos were named to the squad, led by incoming running back Steven Lumbala. Other Dinos named to the team were OL Kirby Fabien, OL Carson Rockhill, DL Linden Gaydosh, and R Taylor Nill. Calgary head coach Blake Nill is an assistant with the national junior team.
A total of 46 players from western, central and eastern Canada were chosen to represent their country at the inaugural international tournament. The selection camp included 60 of the top U20 football players who took part in the final selection camp at the University of Western Ontario in London. The team will continue to practice there until leaving for Canton on June 26.
At the tournament, eight national teams from the under-20 category will represent four continents. Canada, the United States and Mexico will represent the Pan-American region. Germany, Sweden and France will represent Europe; Japan will represent Asia and New Zealand will round out the competition for the Oceanic region.
Canada kicks off the tournament against New Zealand on June 27 at Fawcett Stadium, adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Games will be broadcast on Fox College station. Check local listings for details.
Football Canada
Established in 1884, Football Canada is the national governing body of amateur football in Canada and a proud member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). Working closely with the provincial football associations, we develop programs and resources for players, coaches, officials in the three disciplines of Tackle, Flag and Touch Football. Football Canada's vision statement is “from playground to stadium” where players can participate in the game of football throughout a lifetime recreationally, competitively and internationally.
2009 Team Canada Junior
DL Mehdi Abdesmad - Cegep du Vieux Montreal
R Alex Anthony - Wilfrid Laurier
R Julian Bailey - Vanier College
DL Jean Samuel Blanc - Vanier College
R Sebasiten Blanchard - Cegep de St-Jean-sur-Richelieu
LB Jean-Philippe Bolduc - College Champlain Lennoxville
RB Maxime Boutin - College Notre Dame CNDF
DB Alexandre Branco - Cegel St-Jean-sur-Richelieu
QB Brandon Bridge - St. Marcellinus HS (Mississauga, Ont.)
LB Jesse Briggs - Vanier College
DB Vincent Chabot - Cegep Levis Lauzon
R Vincent Cleroux-Gaudreau - Vanier College
R Alexandre Desharnais - Cegep Beauce-Appalaches
QB Jeremie Doyon-Rock - Vanier College
DB Mike Dubuisson - Sun Youth Hornets
DB Jordan Duncan - Guelph
OL Kirby Fabien - Calgary
RB Guillaume G-Bourassa - College Champlain Lennoxville
DL Linden Gaydosh - Calgary
DB Thomas Girard - College Francis Xavier Garneau
OL Danny Groulx - College Champlain Lennoxville
K Lirim Hajrullahu - Niagara Spears
OL Frederik Landry-Simard - Cegep Levis-Lauzon
OL Pierre Lavertu - College Francis Xavier Garneau
OL Karl Lavoie - College Francis Xavier Garneau
RB Steven Lumbala - Calgary
RB Franck Marvel - Vanier College
LB Ed McNally - Acadia
DL David Menard - College Francis Xavier-Garneau
R Alboury Ndao - College Champlain Lennoxville
DB Philippe N'Djore-Acka - College Champlain Lennoxville
R Taylor Nill - Calgary
DL Ron Omara - Cumberland Panthers
LB Byron Perez-Archambault - Vanier College
LB David Plourde - College Champlain Lennoxville
OL Olivier Quevillon - College Champlain Lennoxville
DL Simon Rahal - St. Leonard Cougars
LB Luka Ricard - Northshore Mustangs
DB Kristopher Robertson - St. Mary's HS (Pickering, Ont.)
OL Carson Rockhill - Calgary
QB Chris Rossetti - Guelph
RB James Safakis - Vanier College
DL Rami Saintus - Cegep Montmorency
OL Matt Sewel - McMaster
R Adam Thibault - College Champlain Lennoxville
DL Jake Thomas - Acadia
