EDMONTON – Canada West is proud to announce the fall 2009 conference football all-stars, as selected by coaches from the seven varsity teams.

The team is made up of 12 players each on offence and defence, along with three special teams positions.

Heading the list of 2009 All-Stars are 2008 conference MVP Matt Walter of Calgary and the only other active 2008 CIS First Team All-Canadian, Dinos teammate Andrea Bonventura. Walter is a unanimous selection at running back, while Bonaventura is one of the league's best linebackers. Walter, a third-year Science student, led Canada West with 12 touchdowns and 1,103 rushing yards, over 300 yards ahead of second-best, fellow All-Star Dave Boyd of UBC.

Boyd, a third year back out of Duncan, B.C., is one of two T-Birds to make the team this season after he rushed for 782 yards one 128 attempts (6.1 yard per carry average) and four touchdowns. Joining Boyd on this year's squad is fourth-year cornerback Sam Carino who finished the season with 21 tackles, one sack, four pass break-ups and one blocked kick. Carino was a major player for a T-Birds defence that finished second in the conference in passing yards allowed with just 182.9 per game. That total put them only 1.5 yards behind top tanked SFU and alongside the Clan they were the only two teams who gave up under 229 yards per game.

Two-time CIS All-Canadian punter, Alberta's Hugh O'Neill, garnered all the votes this year after averaging 41.9 yards per punt, better than a yard ahead of his nearest rival. O'Neill was a Second Team All-Canadian at both punter and kicker last year.

Other repeat selections to the All-Star roster include receivers Nathan Coehoorn (Calgary) and Jordan Sisco (Regina), guard Hubert Buydens (Saskatchewan) and Simon Fraser safety Anthony DesLauriers, who made the grade at cornerback last season. For Buydens, a CIS Second Team All-Canadian in 2006 and 2008, it was his fourth straight election to the CWUAA All-Star roster.

Walter, Coehoorn and Calgary QB, Saint Mary's University transfer Erik Glavic, were all unanimous choices, showing why the Dinos had the nation's No. 1 offence. Glavic was the 2007 Hec Crighton winner while playing at Saint Mary's, helping the East Coast Huskies win the Atlantic Bowl, but was forced to watch the '07 Vanier Cup from the sidelines after suffering an ACL injury that required surgery.

For Buydens, teammate Taylor Wallace (Saskatchewan), Bjorn Person (Regina) and Perri Scarcelli (Regina), 2009 is their final year of CIS eligibility, with Simon Fraser's Chris Folk finished after four years due to eligibility rules once the Clan begin play in the NCAA next fall. Calgary offensive tackle Kirby Fabien and SFU wide receiver Victor Marshall were the only freshmen named to the team.

Overall, second-place Calgary has the most number of All-Stars, at seven, with top-seeded Saskatchewan grabbing four positions. A quartet from both the Manitoba Bisons and Simon Fraser Clan are on this year's roster, while three members of the Alberta Golden Bears and Regina Rams were selected.

For the full list of all-stars, view the Canada West release here.

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