MONTREAL – A school-record nine University of Calgary Dinos were named All-Canadians Thursday night as Canadian Interuniversity Sport handed out its individual awards ahead of Saturday's 50th TELUS Vanier Cup in Montreal.
Six Dinos, including Hec Crighton Trophy winner
Andrew Buckley, were named first team All-Canadians, while an additional three landed on the second team. The total of nine beats the previous record of eight All-Canadians in 2011, while the six on the first team is also a school record. Both totals led all schools in CIS this year, with Laval placing second with four first-teamers and two on the second team.
Buckley is joined by running back
Mercer Timmis, receiver
Brett Blaszko, offensive lineman
Sean McEwen, linebacker
Adam Konar, and defensive back
Adam Laurensse on the first team. Offensive lineman
Sukh Chungh, defensive lineman Élie Bouka, and defensive lineman
Connor McGough are second team All-Canadians.
It's the second straight first team All-Canadian selection for Timmis, the 2013 Canada West MVP who led the conference in rushing again this year with 801 yards – the second-best total in the nation, despite him playing only six games due to injury. McEwen, the 14th-ranked prospect for the upcoming Canadian Football League draft, moves up to the first team after a second-team selection in 2013.
The other seven Dinos, including national MVP Buckley, make their first-ever appearances on the All-Canadian teams. Third-year inside receiver Blaszko led the nation with 10 touchdown catches, while Konar was one of the most dominant linebackers in the country and helped the Dinos to the best run defence in Canada West. Laurensse, a two-time Canada West all-star, recorded a trio of interceptions from his cornerback position.
On the second team, Chungh is projected to go high in this spring's CFL draft, holding down the eighth position in the September prospect rankings. He is joined by Bouka, who earned national all-star status in his first full year of playing defensive back after transitioning from the receiver position midway through the 2013 season. McGough also switched positions, putting up incredible numbers along Calgary's defensive line in his sophomore season after playing his freshman year at tailback.
McMaster takes on Montreal in the 50th TELUS Vanier Cup on Saturday at Percival Molson Stadium in Montreal. Kickoff goes at 11 a.m. MT, live on Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360, Radio-Canada, and CIS-SIC.tv.
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