2006 Football Game Day Program

LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS

FOOTBALL 2 0 0 5 VA N I E R C U P C H A M P I O N S

w w w.laurie rathle tic s .c om

2006

LA U R I ER FOOT B ALL

General Information

TABLE OF CONTENTS Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Coaching Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Player Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 OUA Opponents . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Name: Wilfrid Laurier University Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Founded: 1911 Enrollment: 11,097 Stadium: University Stadium Capacity: 6000 Playing Surface: Artificial Turf Nickname: Golden Hawks Colours: Purple and Gold Conference: Ontario University Athletics

Wilfrid Laurier is a member institution of:

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A D M I N I S TRAT I ON

D r . R o s e h a r t , P r e sid e n t

Welcome to what promises to be yet another exciting Golden Hawk season! This year’s Hawks promise to be action-packed for both our studentathletes and their loyal supporters.

Obvioulsy we were all very excited and proud with the Vanier Cup win over Saskatchewan last season. We continue the tradition of good competition in an environment that encourages the intellectual and personal development of our student-athletes.

The 2006 season will see the results of an impressive recruiting season as our new student-athletes dawn their Golden Hawk uniforms.

Back for another great season is the Hawk coaching staff led by Manager of Football Operations and Head Coach, Gary Jeffries, our most passionate Hawk!

The WLU Golden Hawk alumni continued to work hard in the offseason through the Golden Hawk and 5th Quarter Clubs to secure financial support from alumni and other parties to assist our teams and coaches in their strive for excellence. This year will see the fourth season of the very successful weekly Hawk Talk radio show - a first in Canada!

Starting with next season (2007),

Ontario Universities will be awarding entry level athletic awards and this will no doubt change the competitive landscape. Laurier is already working hard to secure the funding necessary to ensure that we are as competitive with awards as we are on the field.

Cheer on the “2006 Hawks” and if you have suggestions or comments on improving our Golden Hawk programs, I would like to hear from you.

Bob Rosehart President & Vice-Chancellor rrosehart@wlu.ca

P e t e r B a x t e r , D i r e c t o r o f A t h l e t ics

Welcome to the home of the defending Vanier Cup Champions, the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks.

For the 2006 season, Head Coach Gary Jeffries and his staff have erased the word “complacency” from their vocabulary and have vigorously made the necessary preparation that ensures our team is ready to compete for the national championship, once again.

Support from Alumni, Parents, and Friends of Golden Hawk Football is critical to our success. I wish to thank all those people who have supported and continue to support our Adopt-an-Athlete program.

Fundraisers within this program continue to make a difference to our football student-athletes. If you wish to be part of this program, go to our website at www.laurierathletics.com and click on your favorite player from the roster or contact Coach Jeffries at (519) 884-1970.

Thank you for supporting the Hawks. Go Hawks.

Peter Baxter M.A. Director: Athletics and Recreation pbaxter@wlu.ca

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C OAC H I N G S TAFF

G AR Y J EFFR I E S

Gary Jeffries enters his 29th season as part of the Golden Hawk football coaching staff.

It was not until 1970 that Gary would find his home at Wilfrid Laurier University.

He played football for 2 years from 1970-1971 and was named an All-Star Defensive HalfBack and Rookie of the Year. After his career at Laurier he was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in 1972 and in 1973 he signed with the Hamilton TigerCats but did not report.

Coach Jeffries also played four years in the Detroit Tiger organization prior to beginning his career at WLU.

In 1973 he was hired at WLU as an assistant football coach and recreation director.

From 1984-1988 Jeffries was also the women’s basketball coach at WLU. In 1989 he took a break from football and coached the men’s basketball team until 1996. In 1994 Rick Zmich convinced Jeffries to return to the game which he loves so much.

Manager of Football Operations & Head Coach

Gary has coached 28 football seasons at WLU, with 17 as Defensive Coordinator. He was named the interim head coach midway through the ’02 season and was named the full time head coach in 2003. He has coached in 18 Yates Cups including championship victories in the 1978, 1987, 2004 and 2005 seasons.

Since taking over at the helm of the Hawks, the team has gone 30-3-1 including victories in two Yates Cups (2004, 2005), one Uteck Bowl (2005), and one Vanier Cup (2005). The Golden Hawks defeated the Saskatchewan Huskies in last year’s Vanier Cup to cap off the ‘05 season with a perfect 12-0 record. Coach Jeffries has coached over 700 games in total for WLU (both football and basketball), and his passion for WLU sport remains undying.

Gary resides in Southampton in the offseason with his girlfriend Jill. He has four children, Jonathan, Jodie, Jaime, and Ryan, and five beautiful grandchildren.

P ROF I LE : G AR Y J EFFR I E S Coaching Experience: (all at WLU) - 1972-1980: Defensive Line / Linebackers Coach for Tuffy Knight - 1981-1983: Defensive Coordinator for Tuffy Knight - 1984-1988: Defensive Coordinator for Rich Newbrough - 1994-2002: Defensive Coordinator for Rick Zmich - 2003-2006: Head Coach and Manager of Football Operations

Date of Birth: May 13, 1946 Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario High School: Nelson (Burlington) University: Wilfrid Laurier University Degree: Bachelor of Arts - Political Science Record at Laurier: 30-3-0-1 (0.882) Home: 12-1-0-1 (0.857) Away: 14-0-0-0 (1.000) Playoffs: 8-2-0-0 (0.8)

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C OAC H I N G S TAFF

R Y AN P Y EAR

Ryan Pyear enters his first season as the new Golden Hawk Offensive Coordinator after an outsanding five years serving as Laurier’s starting Quarterback.

As a player Ryan enjoyed much success and he now hopes to continue that tradition in the role of Offensive Coordinator. Some of Ryan’s playing accolades include being named as the OUA Rookie of the Year in 2001 after taking every single snap as a freshman. In 2004 Ryan was named as a first-team OUA all-star and 2nd team allCanadian, and in 2005 he reached both 1st team all-conference and first-team allCanadian status. That same year he was awarded Uteck Bowl and Vanier Cup MVP on the way to Wilfrid Laurier’s national supremacy on the gridiron. Other awards

Offensive Coordinator

include back to back President’s Awards as Wilfrid Laurier’s top male athlete in 2004 and 2005.

Pyear graduated this past June, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology.

He has two brothers, Kyle and Tobin, who also played five years in the OUA and CIS at McMaster and Waterloo respectively. His mother, Betty, and father Barry, currently live in Ryan’s home town of Belleville, Ontario. Barry Pyear is also a football coach at Laurier, coaching the running backs.

R o n Va n M o e r k e r k e

Ron is in his eighth year coaching with the Golden Hawks. This year he returns to the role of Defensive Coordinator, a position he has held since the 2003 season.

Ron’s track record with Laurier is a long and storied one; he played in the late 80’s and was on the 1987 Yates Cup championship team. In 1988, Ron received the WLU Alumni Association Academic and Athletic Achievement Award. In 1989, Ron was named an OUA first-team all-star linebacker and team MVP.

At present, Ron is a teacher and the Department Head of Social Science at Eastwood Collegiate High School in

Kitchener. Prior to becoming the Defensive Coordinator with the Hawks, Ron was the Head Coach at Eastwood and Galt Collegiate.

Ron lives with his wife Karen and their two year old daughter Grace in West Montrose.

R I C H NE W B RO U G H

Rich Newbrough enters his 30th season with the Golden Hawks football coaching staff.

Newbrough arrived at Wilfrid Laurier in 1968 (then known as Waterloo Lutheran) as offensive coordinator. That very year the team went to the College Bowl, now known as the Vanier Cup. Along with coaching duties, Rich served as the Assistant Athletic Director and lectured within the Physical Education department.

In 1984 Newbrough was named Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach. He held the position for 10 years before turning the head coaching duties over to Rick Zmich in 1994. During that span of his coaching career, the Hawks won two Yates Cup titles (1987, 1991) and Laurier’s first National Championship in 1991. Rich retired from

DEFENSIVE Coordinator

Special Teams CoordinatoR

fulltime duties in 1997 but has maintained close contact with the program.

Throughout his coaching career Rich has received several awards. He was named OUAA coach of the year in 1985 and CIAU Coach of the Year in 1991. Rich served as President of the OUAA, and was a member of the Board of Directors in the CIAU. Upon his retirement, the OUAA honored Rich with the ‘J.P Loosemore Award’.

Rich coached with Gary Jeffries back in 1970 who served as his assistant for over five years. Rich is honored to be part of the Golden Hawk Football staff yet again.

Newbrough currently lives with his wife Pat of 47 years. They have raised two sons and have eight grandchildren ranging in age from 8-19. Rich and his wife have lived in Kitchener for nearly 40 years.

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A S S I S TANT C OAC HE S Blaine Beck

peter billingsley

dan bovair

Brian Breckles

dwayne cameron

brian canton

PAT CRABBE

dave dagg

clarke eady

steve frake

todd galloway

maki katsube

kevin macneill

rod philp

BARRY PYEAR

dave robertson

chris thom

don wilson

chris worobec absent: roger macleod

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TRA I N I N G S TAFF teresa hussey

katie sheridan

SCOUT TEAM COAC HES heather tugnett

Roger MacLeod London Region Tel: (519) 645-2000 E-Mail: rogermc@golden.net PETER BILLINGSLEY Dufferin/Wellington Region Tel: (519) 843-1985 E-Mail: jbillingsley@sympatico.ca Don Wilson Haldiman County Tel: (905) 772-5850 E-Mail: dawilson@netcom.ca DAVE FESS Haldiman County Tel:(905) 765-3123 E-Mail: fesster@symptacio.ca

E Q U I P MENT S TAFF chuck classen

anthony pickett

DAN HUXTER

TIM BISCI Welland/St. Catharines Region Tel: (905) 734-6056 E-Mail: linebacker_blitz@hotmail.com Clarke EadY Ajax-Pickering Tel: (905) 982-6295 E-Mail: coacheady@hotmail.com Dave Robertson Ottawa Region Tel: (613) 278-2183

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P LAY ER G ALLERY

jesse alexander

taureAn allen Defensive Back Etobicoke, ON Applewood Heights SS Communications

scott allin

Receiver Belleville, ON Quinte Secondary Physics

aaron amadio

kyle ardill

Shawn Ashe

tom atkinsongraham

scott austin

andy baechler

jahmeeks beckford

luke bendus

alex benson

adam bestard

evan briden

wayne brock

Linebacker Kitchener, ON Eastwood CI Communications

Defensive Back Kitchener, ON Eastwood CI Sociology

Linebacker Cambridge, ON Galt CI Psychology

Fullback Belleville, ON Quinte SS Photonics

Offensive Line Owen Sound, ON West Hill SS History

Receiver Kilbride, ON Notre Dame CSS Kinesiology

Offensive Line Markham, ON Markham District HS Geography

Running Back Brantford, ON Brantford CI Business

Offensive Line Sarnia, ON Northern Collegiate History

dave brown Receiver Oakville, ON Iroquois Ridge HS Psychology

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Linebacker Sault Ste. Marie, ON St. Mary’s History

Defensive End Mississauga, ON Lorne Park SS Sociology

Receiver Ayr, ON Southwood English

Defensive Back Kitchener, ON Eastwood CI Communications

josh bishop

dan bragagnolo

dillon carter

yannick carter

Receiver Mississauga, ON Loyolas CSS Communications

Defensive Line London, ON AB Lucas SS Communications

Receiver Hamilton, ON St. Mary’s HS Business

Linebacker Pickering, ON St. Mary’s Communications

P LAY ER G ALLERY

Offensive Line Mississauga, ON Applewood Heights SS History

gavin cond

Linebacker Sault Ste. Marie, ON Sir James Dunn SS Kinesiology

james cranston

gary cressy

andrew dietrich

george dimacakos

josh duru

jeff emberley

scott evans

Tyler felber

Defensive Back Brampton, ON Chinguacousy Kinesiology

Slotback Welland, ON Notre Dame Business

vince flamia

andrew flatt

nathan forbes

josh golding

don gooding

Left Tackle Windham Centre, ON Delhi DSS Communications

Receiver Sarnia, ON Northern CIVS Geography

dustin heap

brent hickey

jeremy chemij

Defensive Back Sarnia, ON St. Christopher’s SS Arts

sean gow

Linebacker Oakville, ON Holy Trinity Communications

Defensive Line King City, ON St. Thomas of Villanova CI Communications

Defensive Line Ancaster, ON Ancaster HS History

Receiver Oakville, ON St. Thomas Aquinas CSS Kinesiology

Running Back Mississauga, ON Streetsville SS Arts

paul hancock dustin hayman Defensive End Calgary, AB Cochrane HS Arts

Defensive Back Toronto, ON Leaside HS Communications

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Offensive Line Mississauga, ON Meadowvale SS Kinesiology

Offensive Line Cambridge, ON Jacob Hespeler SS Computer Science

Receiver Waterloo, ON Waterloo CI Business

Offensive Line Waterloo, ON Kitchener CI Communications

Offensive Line Waterloo, ON Bluevale CI Business

Defensive Back Burlington, ON Notre Dame RCSS Kinesiology

P LAY ER G ALLERY

fraser hoban Defensive Back Uxbridge, ON St. Mary’s CSS Communications

dave houghton Defensive Back Waterloo, ON Sir John A. MacDonald SS History

chima ihekwoaba Defensive End Burlington, ON Notre Dame SS Communications

joe labenski

matt joyce

brandon keks Defensive End Coquitlam, BC Pinetree SS History

Defensive Line Welland, ON Notre Dame Welland Economics

chris levan

dante luciani

vince luciani

scott mackenzie

anthony maggiacomo

josh maltin

Receiver Belleville, ON Quinte SS Economics

Fullback Point Edward, ON Sarnia CI History

Receiver Burlington, ON Robert Bateman Kinesiology

Receiver Oakville, ON St. Thomas Aquinas CSS Psychology

Linebacker Cambridge, ON Jacob Hespeler SS Kinesiology

Quarterback Oakville, ON Holy Trinity CSS Communications

Defensive Back Sarnia, ON Sarnia Northern Business

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mike ion

Linebacker Brantford, ON ACS Biology

eric james Fullback Burlington, ON Nelson HS Geography

troy leach

brodie legein

brennOn lundy

ryan lynch

Receiver Barrie, ON Barrie Central BCC History

Receiver Burlington, ON Assumption CSS Arts

chris mamo Kicker/Punter London, ON AB Lucas SS Arts

Running Back Ancaster, ON St. Mary’s Communications

Running Back Waterloo, ON Waterloo CI Economics

jim martyniuk Running Back Burlington, ON Nelson HS Communications

P LAY ER G ALLERY

giancarlo masciarelli

ian matzov

dan mcbride

karl mccartney

joe mcculla

wayne montgomery

dave montoya

mike montoya

ian noble

will northcote

matt nytschyk

reyn o’born

sean o’neill

Offensive Line Stouffville, ON Brother Andre CHS Business

Defensive Line Waterloo, ON Waterloo CI Arts

Linebacker Orangeville, ON Robert F. Hall CSS History

Defensive End Burlington, ON Notre Dame RC Science

Slotback Ancaster, ON St. Mary’s Sociology

Offensive Line Antigonish, NS Dr. J. H. Gillis Regional HS Business

justin phillips

luke pinder

Linebacker Stittsville, ON Sacred Heart HS Political Science

Linebacker Kitchener, ON Preston HS Political Science

Fullback Georgetown, ON Bishop PF Reding SS Communications

Running Back Burlington, ON Notre Dame SS Economics

Linebacker Waterloo, ON St. David’s CSS Sociology

casey potter Offensive Line Ancaster, ON Ancaster HS History

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Linebacker Nassau, Bahamas St. Andrew’s College Business

Quarterback West Vancouver, BC West Vancouver SS Arts

dan paquette Defensive Back Port Elgin, ON Saugeen District SS Kinesiology

peter provenzano Defensive Back Belleville, ON Quinte Secondary Physics

Receiver Smith Falls, ON Smith Falls DCI Psychology

Receiver Barrie, ON Innisdale SS Business

jamie partington Quarterback Stoney Creek, ON Saltfleet SS Sociology

peter quinney Fullback Belleville, ON Centennial SS Kinesiology

P LAY ER G ALLERY

giancarlo rapanaro Receiver Niagara Falls, ON St. Paul SS Kinesiology

james redner Defensive Back Rednersville, ON Centennial SS Kinesiology

jordan schaus adam scheerer Linebacker Waterloo, ON Waterloo CI Anthropology

Receiver Stratford, ON Stratford Central SS Arts

matt rice

noah rushon

kyle sanderson

AJ Smith

kyle somerville

eamon sommerville

Receiver Almonte, ON Almonte DHS Kinesiology

Linebacker Hanover, ON John Diefenbaker SS Arts

Fullback Sault Ste. Marie, ON White Pines Geography

Linebacker Mississauga, ON Lorne Park SS Communications

Offensive Line Peterborough, ON Adam Scott CVI Post Grad

Defensive Back Courtice, ON Bowmanville HS Philosophy

danny speight

cliff tindall Defensive Back Toronto, ON West Boca HS Arts

steve turner

Running Back Oakville, ON St. Thomas Acquinas CSS Business

jordan van horn

kyle vangeel

travis vaughan

mike waugh

seth welsh

kyle weston

tim white

Defensive Back Toronto, ON East York CI Arts

Quarterback Almonte, ON Almonte DHS Communications

Defensive Back London, ON South SS Kinesiology

Linebacker Southampton, ON St. Mary’s HS Arts

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Defensive Back Burlington, ON Assumption SS Arts

Offensive Line Sarnia, ON St. Christopher’s Psychology

Tailback Chilliwack, ON Sardis SS Arts

Linebacker Freeport, GB Ridley College Communications

P LAY ER G ALLERY

steve williams Quarterback North Vancouver, BC Handsworth SS Kinesiology

ben wilsack

Quarterback Beamsville, ON Blessed Trinity CSS Arts

jon wollziefer Defensive Back Cambridge, ON St. Benedict CSS Geography

dave zivoin Offensive Line Waterloo, ON Bluevale CI Arts

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andrew zadorsky

Running Back London, ON Catholic Central HS Business

ben zeeman

Defensive Back Carleton Place, ON Carleton Place HS Business

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O U A 2 0 0 6 O P P ONENT S Sept. 4 - Laurier at Guelph - 2:00 pm

Sept. 30 - Waterloo at Laurier - 2:00 pm Head Coach: Chris Triantafilou 2005 Record: 2-6 (9th in the OUA) Laurier All-Time Record vs. Waterloo: 33-14-1 Current streak: Laurier 3 wins Outlook for 2006: The Battle of Waterloo is always an exciting match as the two hometown rivals contest at University Stadium. Last season the two teams met for Laurier’s homecoming. The game was dominated on the ground as the Golden Hawks totaled 302 rushing yards, while the Waterloo Warriors put up 133 of their own. The Hawks went on to win the homecoming match in a convincing 49-4 win. This year in the 42nd edition of the Battle of Waterloo, the Warriors hope to have a better showing. Last season the Warriors finished 9th in the OUA with a 2-6 record. With about 30 promising freshman, the Warriors will look to mix younger faces with their veteran team. Quarterback Jon Morbey will lead the new offensive charge with help coming from All-Canadian tackle Chris Best and running back Travis Gellatly. Defensively the Warriors have the luxury of a returning front seven, who will work to improve their defence against the run and pressuring the quarterback more often. Leading the charge on defence will be corner Drew Haynes and ends Trevor Derreck and Darren Kisinger.

Sept. 9 - Ottawa at Laurier - 2:00 pm

Oct. 7 - Laurier at McMaster - 2:00 pm Head Coach: Stefan Ptaszek 2005 Record: 5-3 (4th in the OUA) Laurier All-Time Record vs. McMaster: 37-12-1 Current streak: Laurier 3 wins Outlook for 2006: The Laurier vs. McMaster matchup is one of the most highly anticipated games of the season. Something of a rivalry has developed between the two teams as they have been forced to meet in the playoffs in each of the past three seasons. Last season the teams met twice as the Hawks defeated the Marauders in the regular season in a close 33-26 win and again in the semi-finals in a convincing 43-21 win. The Hawks then advanced to the Yates Cup leaving behind the Marauders who had not missed a Yates Cup Championship since 1999.

This year the Marauders have been ranked 6th nationally in the preseason top 10 will look for retribution after acquiring new head coach and former WLU offensive coordinator Stefan Ptaszek. This football mastermind and former WLU and CFL receiver will look to improve McMaster’s offensive game with quarterback Adam Archibald and Jon Behie as the focal points. In seven games last year, Archibald averaged three touchdowns and 329 yards passing per game, both marks putting him atop the list of CIS quarterbacks. Meanwhile, Behie chalked up over 400 yards receiving, 900 yards passing, five touchdown passes, and nine touchdown receptions in only eight games. McMaster’s defensive line will also pose a threat with the return of powerful veterans.

Head Coach: Kyle Walters 2005 Record: 3-5 (7th in the OUA) Laurier All-Time Record vs. Guelph: 33-12 Current streak: Laurier 3 wins Outlook for 2006: The Golden Hawks travel to Guelph to meet the Gryphons for their 2006 season opener. Last season the Hawks faced the Gryphons in the last game of the regular season and capped off a perfect 8-0 record with a 47-26 victory. Guelph did not advance to the playoffs and finished off their season with a 3-5 record. This season the Gryphons hope to turn their game around with new head coach Kyle Walters, who served as Assistant Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the Gryphons for the past two seasons. The Gryphon offense will be led by second year quarterback Justin Dunk and dynamic receiver Dave McKoy. Fifth year receiver, Shane Bryans will be counted on for veteran leadership. Defensively, the Gryphons return 10 starters. Trevor Small stays on for a fifth year at free safety and will attempt to surpass his own Gryphon all-time interception mark of 17 picks. The Guelph Gryphons have not advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs for the past two seasons; they are looking to improve on that record this year.

Head Coach: Denis Piché 2005 Record: 6-2 (3rd in the OUA) Laurier All-Time Record vs. Ottawa: 9-7-1 Current streak: Laurier 4 wins Outlook for 2006: The Ottawa Gee Gee’s travel to Waterloo to meet the Golden Hawks for the 2006 home opener. Last season’s matchup between the two teams was intense as the Gee Gee’s kept the game close.

Despite poor weather conditions, Laurier came out on top with a 21-14 win. Ottawa advanced into last year’s semi-finals only to suffer a devastating overtime loss to the Western Mustangs. This year Ottawa looks for retribution in the league. The team has lost very few players and have been ranked 5th in the nation in the preseason top 10. With the return of impressive third year quarterback Joshua Sacobie, the Gee Gee’s offensive game should prove impressive. In his second year, Sacobie completed 144 passes for 2094 yards. The Ottawa Gee Gee’s are expected to be one of the more competitive teams in the league this season.

Sept. 16 - Laurier at York - 2:00 pm

Head Coach: Tom Gretes 2005 Record: 3-5 (8th in the OUA) Laurier All-Time Record vs. York: 29-5 Current streak: Laurier 3 wins Outlook for 2006: Last season the Hawks defeated the York Lions in a convincing 56-3 win. The Lions struggled throughout 2005 due to the season-ending knee injury of star running back Andre Durie in only their second game of the season. This year the football squad is optimistic after attracting one of their best recruiting classes in recent years. Home field will play a vital role in their season, as the Lions are set to host five games at York Stadium. The team did not advance to the post-season last year but looks to return in 2006, without the services of injured running back Andre Durie, who will assume the duties of running back coach while rehabbing his leg. Fifth-year tailback Pearce Akpata will handle the Lion’s share of the running game after finishing 2005 with 99 yards on 16 carries. On defence, the team will have to fill the void left by York’s Male Athlete of the Year Ricky Foley, who led the team in tackles, after signing with the BC Lions.

Sept. 23 - Western at Laurier (Homecoming) - 2:00 pm

Coach: Larry Haylor 2005 Record: 6-2 (2nd in the OUA) Laurier All-Time Record vs. Western: 18-35-0-1 Current streak: Laurier 2 wins Outlook for 2006: This Homecoming battle between the Western Mustangs and the Golden Hawks is a rematch of the 2005 Yates Cup Championship. Last season, the Hawks defeated the Mustangs twice with a 32-17 win in the regular season and a convincing 29-11 win in the Yates Cup. This season the two teams meet again under somewhat different circumstances. Both the Hawks and the Mustangs have lost key veterans. With the departure of the record-setting wide receiver Andy Fantuz to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and defensive back Leron Mitchell to the Toronto Argonauts, the Mustangs will look to all-star running back Randy McAuley and former University of Toledo transfer quarterback Michael Faulds, along with East-West Bowl defensive stalwarts Tom Dolezel, Matt Carapella and Nick Kordic to lead the way in 2006.

Western has acquired a new offensive coach, former Hamilton Tigercat and McMaster Marauder head coach Greg Marshall. Marshall should help improve their already impressive offense and will replace current head coach Larry Haylor at the close of this season. Western has been ranked 10th in the nation in the preseason top 10 and should prove to yet again be a threat in the OUA with their notable recruiting class.

Oct. 14 - Toronto at Laurier - 2:00 pm Head Coach: Steve Howlett 2005 Record: 0-10 (10th in the OUA) Laurier All-Time Record vs. Toronto: 24-13 Current streak: Laurier 8 wins Outlook for 2006: The Toronto Varsity Blues and the Laurier Golden Hawks will meet for the first time in two years. The two teams last met in the 2004 season opener where the Golden Hawks devastated the Blues in a 67-0 shutout. Toronto remained winless for the remainder of the 2004 season and again throughout the entire 2005 season. The Blues hope to build on the positive experiences from 2005 as they continue their return to winning form. Graduation has left the team mostly unscathed, so a talented and experienced group of veterans remains to complement a promising recruiting class.

Oct. 21 - Laurier at Windsor - 2:00 pm Head Coach: Mike Morencie 2005 Record: 4-4 (5th in the OUA) Laurier All-Time Record vs. Windsor: 31-10-2 Current streak: Laurier 3 wins Outlook for 2006: The regular season will come to a close for the Golden Hawks as they travel to Windsor to face the Lancers. Last year the two teams met in the second game of the season where the Hawks defeated the Lancers 47-24. Windsor finished their regular season with a 4-4 record but was defeated in their quarter-final playoff match against the McMaster Marauders. Coach Mike Morencie’s squad will return 21 of 24 starters from 2005. The key departure for the Lancers is standout receiver and two-time CIS First Team All-Canadian Arjei Franklin.

Franklin was taken 19th overall in the CFL Draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. On offense, the focus for the upcoming season continues to be on Daryl Stephenson, the 2005 CIS Rushing Leader with 1,306 yards and a First-Team All-Canadian. The Lancer defense will be anchored by veterans Alan Weekes at tackle, Billy Moysiuk at linebacker, and Sasha Glavic at defensive back.

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