OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport announced Monday the 89 football players who will participate in the eighth annual East West Bowl, presented by Under Armour, on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at TD Waterhouse Stadium on the campus of The University of Western Ontario in London, ON.
Three UBC Thunderbird standouts were selected to represent the West. Conference all-star Dave Boyd as well as defensive lineman Serge Kaminsky and safety Alex Babalos will all be making the trip to London.
Babalos, a sophomore defensive back, led the Canada West last season with 65 total tackles while Boyd, a junior running back, finished second in the conference with 782 yards (97.8 per game) and added four touchdowns. Kaminsky started every game at defensive tackle in 2009, racking up 35.5 tackles and a team leading seven tackles for a loss which included four sacks.
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Western is hosting the event for the second straight year. The affair was previously held at McMaster (2008), Laval (2007, 2006) and Wilfrid Laurier (2005, 2004, 2003). Kickoff for the 2010 game is set for 1 p.m.
Last spring, the West team prevailed 16-7 to improve its all-time record to 6-1 in the series.
Pat Sheahan, head coach of the reigning Vanier Cup champion Queen’s Gaels, will lead the East squad in London, while Calgary’s Blake Nill will be in charge of the West contingent.
“This is a promising group of young athletes who all have aspirations of playing professionally in the years to come,” said Sheahan, who guided the Gaels to a 33-31 come-from-behind win last November in Quebec City for their first national title since 1992. “This is an opportunity for them to showcase their talent and further develop their skills while playing with the best young football players in the country. It should be quite an event.”
“In my opinion the significance of the East West Bowl has evolved over the past few years,” said Nill, who last fall led the Dinos to their first Vanier Cup appearance since 1995 and who previously guided Saint Mary’s to a pair of CIS titles. “It has now become a true showcase of the top CIS football talent, and it is something our student-athletes prepare for from their freshmen year in hopes of someday participating in it.”
The East West Bowl showcases – for the most part - CIS players who will be eligible for the 2011 Canadian Football League draft.
The East side is comprised of student-athletes representing schools from the Atlantic and Quebec conferences, as well as from Queen’s, Ottawa and Toronto. The West squad is made up of players from Canada West and from the remaining OUA universities.