DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Welcome back to another season of OUA football at York University! 2019 marks the 52nd season of varsity football on York’s campus and the team is poised to make some noise this year. From the first snap in 1968 – under the guidance of Grey Cup-winning quarterback Nobby Wirkowski – to the current outfit led by Warren Craney, football has been the anchor of the fall sports landscape at our institution and the squad will once again provide its fans with thrilling action on the gridiron. Craney and his coaching staff had a hugely successful off-season on the recruiting trail and have added a number of highly-regarded first-year players to a veteran line-up that is stacked from top to bottom. It’s always exciting to see the players return to the field each fall and this year is no different. I can’t wait to see the efforts of their hard work over the last several months shine when they put their pads back on and run out of the tunnel on game day to represent the Lions. Our home schedule features four games sure to excite our fans, beginning with a Labour Day contest against the Laurier Golden Hawks and former York offensive coordinator Michael Faulds, who is now the head coach. We will welcome the McMaster Marauders in Week 4 and the Ottawa Gee-Gees the following week for our annual Homecoming game, and will cap the home portion of our schedule with our biggest game of the season, the 50th annual Red & Blue Bowl against the rival Toronto Varsity Blues. The Lions will be gunning for their third straight Argo Cup under the lights in Friday night football action in mid-October. The 2019 season begins on Aug. 25 with a road game against the Windsor Lancers. The Lions will also travel to Guelph for a game against the Gryphons in Week 3 and will be in Waterloo in Week 6 to face the Warriors. They close the season in Kingston against the Queen’s Gaels in Week 9. On behalf of the student-athletes, coaches and staff, I would like to thank the fans who continue to support our many programs, and welcome new spectators to Alumni Field. The atmosphere you create at home games is incredible and I know our teams love competing in front of a raucous home crowd. You can connect with the Lions online at yorkulions.ca, as well as on our social media platforms, to stay up-to-date with all your favourite teams throughout the year. All the best to Coach Craney, his staff and the student-athletes for a successful 2019 season!
Jennifer Myers Executive Director, Athletics & Recreation
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YORK LIONS
2019 schedule
AUG. 25
SEP. 2
SEP. 7
SEP. 14
SEP. 21
SEP. 28
OCT. 11
WEEK 1 - Sun. Aug. 25, 7pm at WINDSOR LANCERS Head coach: Jean-Paul Circelli (1st season) Colours: Blue, Gold Home field: Alumni Field (10,000) 2018 result: Windsor 22 at York 29 2018 record: 1-7 (10th OUA)
WEEK 3 - Sat. Sep. 7, 1pm at GUELPH GRYPHONS Head coach: Ryan Sheahan (1st season) Colous: Red, Black, Gold Home field: Alumni Stadium (8,500) 2018 result: York 18 at Guelph 33 2018 record: 5-3 (3rd OUA, Yates Cup Finalists)
WEEK 5 - Sat. Sep. 21, 5pm vs. OTTAWA GEE-GEES HOMECOMING Head coach: Jamie Barresi (7th season) Colours: Garnet, Grey Home field: Gee-Gees Field (3,400) 2018 result: York 16 at Ottawa 42 2018 record: 6-2 (2nd OUA, Semifinalist)
WEEK 2 - Mon. Sep. 2, 1pm vs. LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS HOME OPENER Head coach: Michael Faulds (7th season) Colours: Purple, Gold Home field: University Stadium (6,000) 2018 result: Did not play 2018 record: 4-4 (7th OUA)
WEEK 4 - Sat. Sep. 14, 1pm vs. MCMASTER MARAUDERS
WEEK 6 - Sat. Sep. 28, 1pm at WATERLOO WARRIORS Head coach: Chris Bertoia (5th season) Colours: Black, Gold Home field: Warrior Field (5,400) 2018 result: Waterloo 32 at York 34 2018 record: 4-4 (6th OUA, Quarter-finalist)
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FESTIVAL
Head coach: Stefan Ptaszek (11th season) Colours: Maroon, Grey Home field: Ron Joyce Stadium (6,500) 2018 result: Did not play 2018 record: 5-3 (5th OUA, Quarter-finalist)
OCT. 19
WEEK 8 - Fri. Oct. 11, 7pm vs. TORONTO VARSITY BLUES 50TH RED & BLUE BOWL AND GRAD NIGHT Head coach: Greg Marshall (2nd season) Colours: Blue, White Home field: Varsity Stadium (5,000) 2018 result: York 31 at Toronto 15 2018 record: 0-8 (11th OUA) WEEK 9 - Sat. Oct. 19, 1pm at QUEEN’S GAELS Head coach: Steve Snyder (1st season) Colours: Blue, Red, Gold Home field: Richardson Stadium (10,258) 2018 result: Queen’s 42 at York 21 2018 record: 3-5 (8th OUA)
WEEK 7 - BYE
2019 FOOTBALL
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SEASON PREVIEW There’s a different vibe in training camp this year and an optimism that the 2019 York Lions football team will be special. The squad is coming off a 2018 campaign in which they took a step forward and showed signs of how good this team can be. That improvement has provided additional motivation to a veteran squad that is on the precipice of a big breakout. “This is the most talented football team I’ve seen here. I could argue it’s the most talented football team York has ever seen,” said head coach Warren Craney. “We feel we are at a point in our program build where we can compete with anybody and it’s just taking that next step. The biggest thing to get there is belief. They have the talent already and they know how good they are. Now it’s about executing and trusting in our tremendous coaching staff.”
Hart and defensive lineman James Kypreos, who have both participated in the International Bowl series in Texas and play beyond their years. The offence is loaded with talent at the skill positions and will flow through fifth-year quarterback Brett Hunchak, who already holds every major passing record at York. Last year’s squad put up the most points per game in his four years under centre and the Lions will be looking to take advantage of his veteran presence to continue that trend this season. Even with the absence of his younger brother Colton, now with the Calgary Stampeders, he will have no shortage of weapons all over the field. Alex Daley, Luther Hakunavanhu and Kadeem Hemmings lead a deep receiving corps that also includes highly regarded rookies in Retsen Daley, Alex’s younger brother, as well as Jaxon Hume, Aidan Patton and Sam Ruby. In the backfield will be Kayden
“”
This is the most talented football team I’ve seen here. I could argue it’s the most talented football team York has ever seen. Warren Craney, head coach
The Lions lost some key players but still return top-end talent at every position on the field. A squad led by its offence in recent years will have a new look this season, one that Craney and his background as a defensive coordinator is surely happy about. “We’re transitioning into a defensive football team and I’m really proud of that. Not to say they are going to carry our offence though. In terms of veteran leadership and talent, we are still old on that side of the ball and we have high expectations that we are going to be the best offence in the OUA.” Last year, the defence gave up 120 fewer yards per game than in 2017 and nine starters return, among them two-time OUA all-star defensive end Rossini Sandjong, heading into his fourth year with the program, and a pair of OUA all-rookie team members in Kwadwo Boahen, a defensive lineman, and linebacker Matt Dean. The unit also includes fellow fourth-years Jacob Janke and Damian Jamieson to lead the defensive backs and linebackers, respectively. Among the new faces are linebacker Braden
Johnson, a former U SPORTS champion in the 60m hurdles, and Jesse Amankwaa, who returns this season after missing all of last year and was the 2015 OUA rookie of the year. They will all line-up behind a young but talented offensive line that is anchored by Chavaughn Barrett and Caleb Palmateer and includes stud rookies Evan Anseeuw and Logan Scott. After years of strong recruiting classes and growth on the field, this team is poised for a run in 2019. “One of the big things we kept saying to the team in 2018 is ‘when you figure out how good you are, you are going to be dangerous’ and it took them a while to figure it out last year. I think they’ve remembered that message. I’ve never seen a team work harder in the off-season and I am looking forward to seeing their hunger and their passion. They’ve got a big chip on their shoulder right now and I’m dying to see what they are going to do with that chip. They are definitely a team on a mission.”
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YORK LIONS
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HEAD COACH WARREN CRANEY WCRANEY@YORKU.CA @YULIONSFOOTBALL Warren Craney joined the Lions football team as head coach in 2010 and is the ninth coach in program history. Craney made a name for himself on the international scene and was on the Team Canada coaching staff from 2009-16. As head coach, he led the junior national team to the gold medal at the 2016 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) U19 world championships in Harbin, China, with a dominant 24-6 victory over the United States in the final. The event marked the second straight time he was the head coach of the junior national team as he also guided the squad to a silver-medal finish in 2014 in Kuwait. His other stints with the U19 team included serving as the defensive coordinator in 2012 and 2009, winning gold and silver medals, respectively, at the world championships, and coaching at seven straight International Bowls in Texas (201016).
Under his guidance on defence, Craney’s student-athletes won four Presidents’ Trophies, awarded to the nation’s top defensive player, and one J.P. Metras Trophy as the top down lineman in the CIS. One of those Presidents’ Trophies winners was Cory Greenwood, who went on to play in the National Football League (NFL) with the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions and is now a linebacker with the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). In addition, 13 first-team all-Canadian awards were given to defensive players under his direction. A native of Montreal, Craney joined Concordia’s coaching staff after a three-year stint as the defensive coordinator at Vanier College. Throughout his coaching career, which has spanned nearly two decades, he has also served as a guest coach at the University of Michigan Football School and University of Nebraska in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and with several teams in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Craney and his wife, Cara, are the proud parents of five children, including son Noah who is in his second year with the Lions football team. Their eldest daughter, Madison, recently graduated from University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, where she was a varsity synchronized swimmer, Kennedy is a third-year student at York, Ethan is in 10th grade and Quinn is in grade three.
He was also part of the coaching staffs for seven consecutive East-West Bowls (2009-15). Craney came to York from Concordia University, where he spent seven seasons as the defensive coordinator and three before that as the defensive line coach. While there, the Stingers were a perennial top 10 team and the defence was at or near the top of all statistical categories in Quebec and Canada.
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ASSISTANT COACHES KAMAU PETERSON
SAMMY OKPRO
Kamau Peterson took over as the offensive coordinator in 2017 after serving as the associate offensive coordinator and receivers coach for the Lions since 2014. Before that, he was a guest coach in 2012 and 2013.
Sammy Okpro was hired as the defensive coordinator for the Lions in 2017 and was reunited with head coach Warren Craney, under whom he played for four years at Concordia University.
In addition to his role with the Lions, Peterson was part of the Team Canada coaching staff for three years as the receivers coach for the junior national team, winning the gold medal at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) U19 world championships in 2012 and a silver in 2014.
Okpro came to York from the Edmonton Huskies in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL), where he was the defensive coordinator from 2015-17 and, before that, spent two seasons as the defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator. Under his guidance, the Huskies had the No. 1-ranked defence in the CJFL in 2016 as the team went from 1-7 to 5-3 in one year.
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Prior to becoming a coach, Peterson had a lengthy playing career of his own. A sixth overall pick of the Calgary Stampeders in the 2001 Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft, he played receiver for four teams over nine seasons in the league. He twice recorded 1,000+ receiving yards in his career and in 2008 was named a CFL West allstar and earned the most outstanding Canadian award while with the Edmonton Eskimos. He won the 89th Grey Cup in 2001 as a rookie with the Stampeders, and also played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Before beginning his professional playing career, Peterson was a multi-sport athlete in the NCAA with the University of New Hampshire Wildcats, starring on the football and track and field teams.
He also represented Canada three times, including winning the silver medal at the 2011 IFAF senior world championships in Austria, where he was named to the first tournament all-star team and earned MVP honours in the gold medal game.
MATT DEANS
Nathaniel “Shake” Griffith returned to the Lions coaching staff in 2016 as an offensive assistant after previously serving in the same role in 2014, and in 2019 he will serve as the special teams coordinator. He is also the offensive coordinator with the York Region Lions in the Ontario Provincial Football League (OPFL).
Matt Deans returned to the York campus in 2017 as the recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach for the Lions football team. He was with the Lions as a wide receiver from 2010-14 and graduated with a history degree and minor in political science.
He spent three seasons with the Lions as a receiver (2010-12) and was also a team captain. Prior to coming to York, he played for the Brampton Bulldogs in the OVFL and at Vanier College in Montreal. He also served as a receiver’s coach for the Bulldogs for two seasons. Griffith is also the full-time equipment services and stadium attendant in York University’s Athletics & Recreation department.
YORK LIONS
He had a tremendous playing career with the Stingers. In his four seasons he was a three-time U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian and earned RSEQ all-star honours three times (2005-07). He was also the team MVP in his final season, and following that he was selected in the fourth round (25th overall) by the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2008 Canadian Football League (CFL) entry draft.
NATHANIEL GRIFFITH
SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR
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DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
RECRUITING COORDINATOR / TIGHT ENDS
Deans was named the head coach of the York Region Lions in the OPFL in 2019 and won the regional championship in his first year. He was also an offensive assistant for the U16 Ontario team that same year. His previous coaching experience includes stints as offensive coordinator with the OVFL’s Etobicoke Eagles from 2011-14 and Newmarket Bucs in 2015. He was also the wide receivers’ coach at Maxmilian Kolbe H.S. from 2016-17. He graduated with a master’s degree in coaching from Ohio University in 2017.
ASSISTANT COACHES MATTHEW SEWELL
ROY VENIER
Matt Sewell was added to the Lions coaching staff in 2018 to lead the offensive line and brings a wealth of experience as a former player at the U SPORTS and professional levels.
Roy Venier joined the Lions coaching staff in 2013, returning to the program where he spent four seasons as a player.
OFFENSIVE LINE
He spent his university career with the McMaster Marauders, where he played five seasons and helped them win the 47th Vanier Cup in 2011. He was selected in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2013 Canadian Football League (CFL) draft by the Toronto Argonauts and played two seasons with the club starting in 2014 before being traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the 2016 season. Sewell was also signed to a contract by the NFL’s Tennessee Titans and was part of their off-season practice squad in 2013.
KICKERS
He remains one of the top kickers in York history. He led the team in scoring in each of his four seasons and was a second-team OUA all-star in 2001. He holds the York record for the longest field goal (53 yards) and is tied for the most field goals made in a game (5-for-5). He is also the program’s all-time points leader (218). Venier has spent time at the Ray Guy Kicking Academy, developing both kicking and coaching skills, and he is an active kicking coaching within Toronto.
KENRICK RITCHIE
JOSH FARIS
DEFENSIVE LINE
OFFENSIVE ASSISTANT
Kenrick Ritchie returned to the Lions coaching staff in 2019 to lead the defensive line, resuming a role he previously held in 2014. A former U SPORTS student-athlete himself, he played defensive tackle for the Bishop’s Gaiters, earning a starting spot in his third season in 2010, and participated in the Canadian Football League (CFL)’s E-camp in 2012.
Josh Faris was added to the Lions coaching staff in 2019 to work with the offence. He has coached at both the high school and club levels, including at Bradford District High school (his alma mater) and Banting High School as well as with the York Region Lions program.
Ritchie, who grew up in Toronto, has been involved with a number of different minor football programs throughout the GTA since his playing career ended.
START STRONG. STAY STRONG.
Faris is a former player himself, spending many years at quarterback with the TNT Express in the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL), starting all four years in high school and attending a Team Canada tryout. He had interest from schools in Ontario and down south to continue his playing career after graduating from Bradford District but instead chose to retire from the sport to focus on other priorities, including coaching.
MIKE GONCALVES
DEFENSIVE ASSISTANT Mike Goncalves joined the Lions coaching staff in 2018 as a defensive assistant. He has more than 20 years of experience in the sport as a player and coach, including his current role as head coach and defensive coordinator at St. Martin Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga, a position he has held since 2014. Goncalves is a former U SPORTS athlete himself, having spent five years at the University of Toronto (2003-07) as a defensive lineman. While there he was a team captain and the recipient of the OUA’s Russ Jackson Award for athletics, academics and community service. He was selected in the sixth round (41st overall) by the Hamilton TigerCats in the 2007 CFL Draft.
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2019 FOOTBALL
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ASSISTANT COACHES CHRIS MOTE
DAVE RUKAVINA
OFFENSIVE ASSISTANT Chris Mote stepped onto the sidelines from the field in 2018 after a five-year playing career with the Lions. He was a receiver for the program, working his way from a redshirt to a game-day player, and is now a rookie coach. Prior to coming to York, he was a three-sport athlete at South Lincoln High School, where he earned offensive MVP honours and was selected for the regional all-star team in 2014. He was a student strength and conditioning coach at York last year and earned his kinesiology and health science degree in 2018.
DEFENSIVE ASSISTANT David Rukavina returns to the OUA coaching ranks in 2019 after a long absence, having previously coached with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in 1992 and the Vanier Cup-winning Toronto Varsity Blues in 1993-94, 2000-01. He has also been a longtime coach at Lorne Park Secondary School in Mississauga, being part of provincial bowl champions in 2000, 2017 and 2018. As well, he coached with the GTA Grizzlies of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJHL) in 2016-18 as well as the Mississauga Warriors of the Ontario Provincial Football League (OPFL). Rukavina resides in Mississauga with wife Donna and they have four children, Melanie, Jodi, Curtis and Ryan.
AARON WOLSKI
VIDEO COORDINATOR Aaron Wolski joined the York coaching staff as the video coordinator in 2016. He is a former varsity athlete himself, playing one season at linebacker for the Western Mustangs before an accident ended his playing career. He began coaching with the Ottawa East Generals in 2009 and was their linebackers coach, and since then he has served as the defensive line coach for the St. Maximillian Kolbe Mustangs varsity team and in a variety of roles with the OVFL’s York Region Lions. He was also the defensive line coach for the ACG all-star game showcase in 2014.
SUPPORT STAFF
MARTINA ALAIMO
ACADEMICS COORDINATOR
BRITTNEY ENRIGHT-BLOUNT HEAD ATHLETIC THERAPIST
SAM EYLES-FRAYNE
HEAD STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH
STUDENT ATHLETIC THERAPISTS
SPECIAL ASSISTANT
ARSH DEOL SHONI HAREL ROBERT LISI SPENCER ROSATI MEGAN PARKER
ROCKY MIDEA
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YORK LIONS
CO-HEAD STUDENT THERAPIST CO-HEAD STUDENT THERAPIST ASSISTANT STUDENT THERAPIST ASSISTANT STUDENT THERAPIST STUDENT THERAPIST
FRIEND OF THE PROGRAM
PLAYER PROFILE Rossini Sandjong knows all about life transitions and as he gets set for his final season with the York Lions football team he is also preparing for the next one.
large family in a new country.
Born in Cameroon, Sandjong and his family moved to Canada when he was eight as his parents chased the dream of a better education for their six children. He doesn’t remember much from his time living in Africa but has memories of how different his new environment was, specifically the cold weather. He and his family settled in Montreal, where things weren’t always easy for a
At 15, a cousin suggested he try football and the rest is history. He fell in love with the game right away and showed immediate talent. That led to three years at CEGEP Edouard-Montpetit in Longueuil, Que., where he was noticed by Lions head coach Warren Craney, who was then also the head coach of the Canadian junior national team. Sandjong was selected for Team Canada and helped the squad win a silver medal at the world junior championships in Kuwait in 2014. His relationship with Craney eventually brought him to York, where he has excelled despite not speaking very much English when he first arrived.
“I’d like to keep playing as long as possible because football is the love of my life and I’m not ready to stop. It’s very exciting knowing that I’m working for something bigger.” The bigger transformation for Sandjong has been in the classroom. It didn’t come easy when he first came to York as he struggled to understand the language, but as he picked up English and focused more on his studies, his grades have improved and so too have his feelings about being a student. “I love school! I haven’t always loved school. High school was good but the transition to CEGEP was very hard for me and at that point I wanted to quit school and get a job. But I came here to play football and attend university and the help I received from everyone was encouraging. I got myself to read a lot of books and started loving what I was doing in school.” Regardless of how his football career plays out, Sandjong is already looking ahead to the next transition. He’s on track to graduate with his degree in business and society this year and plans to pursue a master’s in international affairs. He’s already proven how successful he can be on the football field and in the classroom, and there’s no doubt that he will flourish in whatever comes next.
“Football helped me in every facet of my life: education, discipline, making friends, communication. After getting into the game, I found out football was my way out from where I was from and it got me to where I am today.” Sandjong has been a star on the football field for the Lions in his first three seasons and gotten better every year. He was named to the OUA all-rookie team in 2016, the second all-star team the following year and earned a place on the first all-star team last season. He participated in the 2019 East-West Bowl this past spring and will enter the Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft next year with the hopes of continuing his football career.
GETTING TO KNOW ROSSINI Favourite football player? Adrian Peterson. When I started playing football he was the guy at the time. I always watched his highlights and how he was running and it gave me goosebumps. Favourite food? Pasta. Growing up it’s always what I wanted for my birthday dinner! What is one thing on your life’s bucket list? I just checked off one of them which was backpacking in Colombia, I did that this summer. But one thing I’d really love to do is jump out of an airplane. I love the adrenaline! Who is your role model? My grandmother. I grew up with her for the first part of my life. She is the one who was fighting for me and my siblings and cousins to raise us and put food on the table every day. She’s a reminder that things can be hard but you can’t give up and if you keep pushing you can do it.
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YORK LIONS
KEY vets
64 CHAVAUGHN
BARRETT
• Has played in 11 games over two seasons on the offensive line, including seven last year • Won BCSSAA and CWOSSAA championships in grade 11 with Assumption College School
85 ALEX
DALEY
• Had a career year with 28 receptions, 332 receiving yard and one touchdown • Ranked among the OUA’s top six in kick return yards (462), punt return yards (219) and all-purpose yards (1013) • Sits second on York’s all-time list in career kick return yards (1254) and seventh in punt return yards (612)
55 KWADWO
BOAHEN
• Named to OUA all-rookie team • Appeared in seven games, recording nine tackles and a half sack • Won the team’s Jeff Johnson Rookie of the Year award
9 MATT
DEAN
• Named to OUA all-rookie team • Played in all eight games, recording 11 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery • Blocked the game-winning field goal attempt in Week 6 win against Waterloo and was named York’s male athlete of the week • Helped high school team win back-to-back regional titles and the 2015 OFSAA Eastern Bowl
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KEY vets
28 TALIK
EHOUMAN
• Played in all eight games and ranked eighth on the team in total tackles (20.5) • Also had three pass break-ups and five kick-off returns • Earned U SPORTS academic all-Canadian honours for the 201718 academic year
12 BRETT
HUNCHAK
• Already the York all-time career leader in every major statistical category (yards, passing touchdowns, attempts, completions) • Ranked first in the OUA in completions (201), second in attempts (296). fourth in both passing yards (2252) and completion percentage (67.9%) • Participated in multiple CFL training camps as part of the U SPORTS-CFL quarterback development program • Won a silver medal as the starting quarterback for Team Canada at the 2014 U19 world junior championships in Kuwait
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YORK LIONS
3 KADEEM
HEMMINGS
• Serves as a receiver, running back and returner • Led the OUA in kick returns and kick return yards in 2017 en route to ranking third in all-purpose yards and earned the conference special teams player of the week honours after an impressive performance against Laurier • Helped high school team win regional title in 2015
30 DAMIAN
JAMIESON
• Ranked second on the team with a career-high 39.5 total tackles • Had four tackles for a total loss of 14 yards, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a pair of blocked kicks • Has 64 career tackles in 22 games over three seasons • Participated in the 2019 East-West Bowl
KEY vets
7 JACOB
JANKE
• Returned from two injury-plagued seasons to play in all eight games and lead the team in total tackles (47.5), ranking ninth in the OUA • Earned the team’s Nobby Wirkowski Defensive MVP Trophy • Selected in the 4th round (35th overall) by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2019 CFL Entry Draft • Represented Canada at back-to-back U19 International Bowls in 2015 and 2016
15 DANTE
MASTROGIUSEPPE
• Starting kicker and punter for all 16 games in first two seasons • Ranked fourth in the OUA in punting average (39.4 yards), a new York school record • Had a 73% success rate on field goals (11 of 15) and set a career high with 44-yarder • Also converted 13 extra points and tied for 11th in OUA scoring (52 points)
21 KAYDEN
JOHNSON
• Had a career-high 94 rushes and four touchdowns to go along with 415 rushing yards • York’s male athlete of the year in 2018 after playing all eight games for the football team and winning OUA and U SPORTS gold medals in the 60m hurdles • Participated in the 2019 East-West Bowl • Represented Canada at back-to-back U19 International Bowls in 2014 and 2015
8 ROSSINI
SANDJONG
• Three-time OUA all-star, including on the first team last year • Ranked fourth in the OUA with nine tackles for loss and seventh with four sacks • Also had 24 tackles and two pass break-ups, earning the team’s Mike Benevides Lineman of the Year Award • Participated in the 2019 East-West Bowl • Won the silver medal with Team Canada at the 2014 U19 world junior championships in Kuwait
2019 FOOTBALL
15
KEY recruits
1
77
RETSEN
DALEY
EVAN
ANSEEUW
• Played in the inaugural West vs. East Canada Bowl for Grade 10 and 11 players • Earned high school team’s offensive player of the year award in each of his final two seasons at Holy Trinity • Also played for the Brantford Bisons in the OFC
• Split high school years between St. Roch in Brampton and St. Francis in Athol Springs, New York • Also played for the Brampton Bulldogs in the OFC • Brother, Alex, is a fourth-year receiver on the Lions
22
5 YORK LIONS
JAXON
16
HUME
BRADEN
HART • Represented Canada at the 2019 International Bowl in Texas • Played for Team Ontario at the Canada Cup in 2018 in Calgary, earning all-star honours • Participated in the Fox 40 Prospect Challenge twice • Played two seasons in the OVFL with the Kingston Grenadiers
• Starred at receiver and as a returner for Harry Ainlay in Edmonton, earning two CFC all-Canadian awards in 2017 and 2018 and was a Carr League MVP in his final year • Participated in the 2018 International Bowl series as a member of the U16 Western Canadian team • Helped Alberta win gold at the 2017 U16 Western Challenge
KEY recruits
84 PATTON
91
AIDAN
JAMES
KYPREOS
• Participated in the 2016 International Bowl series in Texas as a member of the U17 Ontario team • Played for the Villanova College Knights and the York Region Lions in the OVFL
• Represented the Colts at Bill Crothers, winning the team MVP award in 2015 and earning York Region all-star honours in 2016 • Played for the Markham Raiders for five seasons, earning the team MVP award three times as well as the offensive player of the year award in 2012
75
88
LOGAN
SCOTT
SAM
RUBY • Earned high school’s offensive MVP and best receiver awards in 2018 and was also named league all-star • Also played in the OFC for the Forest City Thunderbirds
• Played high school football for Northeast Kings Education Centre, winning three Division 2 provincial championships in four years • Earned league all-star honours • Represented Nova Scotia at the 2018 Canada Cup • Also played for the Canada Prep Raiders and Valley Bulldogs
2019 FOOTBALL
17
TINY STRIDES LIONS QUARTET LAUNCH NON-PROFIT TO HELP YOUTH ACCESS ORGANIZED SPORT It was a busy off-season for four members of the York University Lions football team. In addition to studying for exams and training for the upcoming season, best friends Jacob Janke, Daniel Loggale, Gaetano Minto and Rossini Sandjong launched a non-profit organization called Tiny Strides to service underprivileged youth in the community. The four defensive players – Sandjong is a star defensive end while the other three play defensive back – created the grassroots organization to enable disadvantaged youth to access organized sport. They are working to raise funds to provide financial assistance for registration fees and equipment, with an eventual goal to build a mentorship program with relatable role models for the children.
“As a young kid, if I didn’t have help from other people I wouldn’t be here today,” said Sandjong. “For me, helping kids now is giving back the hand I received and I want to let kids have the opportunity to dream about a future in sports. I know how much help I received throughout the years and it would be very selfish of me to not hand that back. You never know what child needs something and there’s always room to help someone.” The ambitious foursome have already started raising funds and holding events for children in the Greater Toronto Area, with plans for many more once the football season comes to a close. For more information on Tiny Strides, visit tinystrides.ca or check them out on Instagram @tinystridesnpo.
All four founders believe in the power of sport to help children reach their full potential not just on the playing field but also in the classroom. Each of them credit football with helping them get to where they are today. They used their involvement in sport to overcome challenging circumstances growing up, build a strong social circle and now get an education. Tiny Strides is a way for them to make sure kids are afforded the same opportunities they once had.
all the oua football. all season long.
18
YORK LIONS
ROSTER
1
Retsen DALEY
2 Noah CRANEY
3 Kadeem HEMMINGS
4 Desi DIXON JR.
5 Braden HART
REC • 6’2 • 182 • 1st Year
QB • 6’1 • 168 • 2nd Year
REC • 5’8 • 174 • 3rd Year
DB • 6’2 • 182 • 3rd Year
LB • 6’3 • 229 • 1st Year
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Brampton, Ont. St.Francis H.S.
Psychology Newmarket, Ont. Newmarket H.S./Vanier College
Psychology Mississauga, Ont. St. Francis Xavier C.S.S.
Psychology San Diego, Calif. Morse H.S.
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Napanee, Ont. Napanee District H.S.
6 Daniel LOGGALE
7 Jacob JANKE
8
Rossini SANDJONG
9 Matt DEAN
10 Darnel JARRETT
DB • 6’3 • 170 • 3rd Year
DB • 6’2 • 195 • 4th Year
DE • 6’2 • 235 • 4th Year
LB • 6’2 • 196 • 2nd Year
RB • 5’11 • 153 • 1st Year
Business & Society Edmonton, Alta.. W.P. Wagner H.S.
Commerce Edmonton, Alta.. Glacier H.S.
Business & Society Longueuil, Que. CEGEP Edouard-Montpetit
Business & Society Oshawa, Ont. Paul Dwyer C.H.S.
Health Studies Ajax, Ont. Pickering H.S. / Vanier College
11 Brady CROWE
12 Brett HUNCHAK
13 Derek-Christopher 14 Harrison WILLIAMS MANCUSO
QB • 6’4 • 202 • 1st Year
QB • 6’3 • 195 • 5th Year
REC • 6’2 • 193 • 4th Year
REC • 6’4 • 225 • 4th Year
K • 6’1 • 190 • 3rd Year
Business & Society Belleville, Ont. Centennial S.S. / Holland College
Interdisciplinary Social Science Calgary, Alta. Notre Dame H.S.
Political Science San Diego, Calif. Mt. Carmel H.S.
Business & Society Newmarket, Ont. Huron Heights S.S.
Political Science London, Ont. John Paul II C.H.S.
16 Matt VASSOS
17 Alexander OLAY
18 Gabriel APPIAH-KUBI
19 Victor BELANGER
20 Daniel AMOAKO
DB • 5’9 • 178 • 2nd Year
RB • 5’5 • 161 • 2nd Year
REC • 5’11 • 146 • 1st Year
REC • 5’11 • 181 • 1st Year
DB • 6’0 • 182 • 3rd Year
Kinesiology & Health Science Aurora, Ont. St. Maximilian Kolbe C.H.S.
Psychology Courtice, Ont. Holy Trinity C.S.S.
Interdisciplinary Social Science Brampton, Ont. St. Roch C.S.S.
Clayton Heights S.S./Universty College of the Fraser Valley
Financial & Business Economics Ajax, Ont. Notre Dame C.S.S.
Schulich School of Business Surrey, B.C.
15 Dante MASTROGIUSEPPE
2019 FOOTBALL
19
ROSTER
21 Kayden JOHNSON
22 Jaxon HUME
RB • 6’3 • 223 • 5th Year
REC • 6’0 • 178 • 1st Year
Theatre Kerrobert, Sask. Lutheran C.B.I./University of Saskatchewan
Communcations Studies Edmonton, Alta. Harry Ainlay School
26 Brando STONE
23 Nehemie TSHISUNGU
DB • 6’1 • 214 • 1st Year
24 Gaetano MINTO
25 Bryan DEANS
DB • 6’0 • 191 • 2nd Year
RB • 6’0 • 218 • 2nd Year
Ecole Chomedey De Maisonneuve / College Montmorency
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Athabasca, Alta. Edwin Parr C.H.S.
Undecided Brampton, Ont. Deluth H.S. / Simon Fraser University
27 D’Andre CLARKE-BASTIEN
28 Talik EHOUMAN
29 Jackson 30 Damien ZACK-CONEYBEARE JAMIESON
RB • 6’1 • 194 • 1st Year
RB • 5’9 • 189 • 1st Year
DB • 5’10 • 184 • 3rd Year
DB • 6’1 • 189 • 1st Year
LB • 6’2 • 211 • 4th Year
Criminology Mississauga, Ont. St. Marcellinus S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Scarborough, Ont. Sir Wiilfrid Laurier C.I.
Kinesiology & Health Science Markham, Ont. St. Brother Andre C.H.S.
Educational Studies Garden River, Ont. Superior Heights C.V.I./Nipissing Universiy
Kinesiology & Health Science Oakville, Ont. White Oaks S.S.
31 Xavier ROGERS
32 Tavon HIBBERT
33 Jeremy ASIFFO
34 Jesse AMANKWAA
35 Mitchell MACKETT
DB • 6’1 • 164 • 4th Year
REC • 5’11 • 175 • 1st Year
DE • 5’10 • 265 • 1st Year
RB • 6’0 • 210 • 4th Year
DB • 6’4 • 183 • 2nd Year
Business & Society Brampton, Ont. Cardinal Leger S.S.
Psychology Ottawa, Ont. St. Patrick H.S. / Algonquin College
Business & Society Vaughan, Ont. Villanova College/Wittenberg University
Health & Society Etobicoke, Ont. Michael Power/St. Joseph H.S.
International Development Studies Thunder Bay, Ont. St. Ignatius H.S./St. Mary’s University
36 Ayden AMESTOY
37 Hunter BANNON
38 David SPENCE
39 Andrew WISE
40 Lerone LINDSAY
RB • 5’6 • 151 • 1st Year
LB • 6’2 • 189 • 1st Year
RB • 5’7 • 157 • 1st Year
REC • 5’10 • 168 • 1st Year
DB • 5’11 • 162 • 1st Year
Interdisciplinary Social Science Burlington, Ont. M.M. Robinson H.S.
Engineering Napanee, Ont. Napanee District H.S.
Actuarial Science Mississauga, Ont. St. Marcellinus S.S.
History Mississauga, Ont. Our Lady of Lourdes C.H.S.
Engineering Toronto, Ont. Lakewood H.S.
20 YORK LIONS
Business & Society Montreal, Que.
ROSTER
45 Joseph GRAHAM
41 Jason LEFKAS
42 Morris McLYMONT
RICCI 43 Vincent
44 Dawson DAVIS
RB • 5’10 • 226 • 1st Year
RB • 5’10 • 196 • 2nd Year
LB • 6’2 • 204 • 1st Year
LB • 6’1 • 229 • 2nd Year
REC • 6’6 • 179 • 1st Year
Law & Society Burlington, Ont. Corpus Christi C.S.S./Mohawk College
Law & Society Toronto, Ont. St. Joan of Arc C.H.S./Walsh University
Criminology Toronto, Ont. Humberside C.I.
Kinesiology & Health Science Abbotsford, B.C. Robert Bateman S.S.
Business & Society Vaughan, Ont. Maple H.S.
LEMESSURIER 46 Luke
PAULSEN 47 Elijah
49 Joshua FERRUSI 48 Tristan SCHULTENKAMPER
DB • 5’10 • 1st Year
QB • 5’10 • 166 • 1st Year
REC • 6’2 • 206 • 2nd Year
LB • 5’10 • 230 • 2nd Year
LB • 6’0 • 203 • 2nd Year
Business & Society Grimsby, Ont. Blessed Trinity C.S.S.
Engineering Burlington, Ont. Dr. Frank J. Hayden S.S.
Financial & Business Economics Edmonton, Alta. Jasper Place School/University of Alberta
Children’s Studies Welland, Ont. Blessed Trinity C.S.S.
Sociology Toronto, Ont. Northern S.S./University of Guelph
51 Philippe GIROUARD
52 Tevin McCARTY
53 Alexi BRAZEAU
54 Mohammed ANIMASHAWUN
55 Kwadwo BOAHEN
LB • 6’0 • 215 • 3rd Year
DE • 6’1 • 254 • 2nd Year
LB • 6’2 • 227 • 5th Year
DB • 5’11 • 162 • 1st Year
DL • 6’1 • 260 • 2nd Year
Kinesiology & Health Science Sharon, Ont. Huron Heights S.S.
Law & Society Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. Salisbury H.S.
Administrative Studies Sturgeon Falls, Ont. E.S.C. Franco-Cité
Psychology Brampton, Ont. Fletcher’s Meadow S.S.
Political Science Calgary, Alta. Bishop McNally H.S.
56 Kevin MUSAI
57 Jared OTT
58 Nathan BRENNAN
59 Zack KEAN
62 San ELIBUYUK
LB • 6’1 • 221 • 3rd Year
LB • 6’0 • 215 • 3rd Year
DL • 6’2 • 295 • 1st Year
DL • 6’2 • 256 • 1st Year
OL • 6’3 • 232 • 1st Year
Commerce, Marketing Cleveland, Ohio Lakewood H.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Winnipeg, Man. Vincent Massey H.S.
Business & Society Beamsville, Ont. M.M. Robinson H.S./Humber College
Business & Society Barrie, Ont. St. Joan of Arc H.S.
Economics King City, Ont. King City S.S.
50 Ahmad IMTIAZ
2019 FOOTBALL
21
ROSTER
64 Chavaughn BARRETT
65 Luke BORSELLA
66 Caleb PALMATEER
68 Robert RUDDERHAM
69 Dawson LADOUCEUR
OL • 6’4 • 305 • 3rd Year
OL • 6’0 • 258 • 3rd Year
OL • 6’2 • 311 • 2nd Year
OL • 6’4 • 325 • 1st Year
OL • 6’1 • 290 • 1st Year
Sociology Brantford, Ont. Assumption C.S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Toronto, Ont. Burnhamthorpe C.I.
Geography & Urban Studies Nepean, Ont. South Carleton H.S.
Political Science Brampton, Ont. St. Thomas Aquinas S.S.
Commerce Kitchener, Ont. St. Mary’s H.S.
70 Malachi ADLAM
71 James TEES
72 Giovanni PITOCCO
75 Logan SCOTT
76 Brandon BUMSTEAD
OL • 6’4 • 237 • 2nd Year
OL • 6’6 • 365 • 1st Year
OL • 6’1 • 264 • 1st Year
OL • 6’5 • 317 • 1st Year
OL • 6’4 • 319 • 1st Year
Communcations Studies Brampton, Ont. St. Roch C.S.S.
Communcations Studies Calgary, Alta. Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Business & Society Toronto, Ont. Chaminade College School
Nursing Centreville, N.S. Northeast Kings Education Centre
Information Technology Beeton, Ont. Banting Memorial H.S.
77 Evan ANSEEUW
79 Chidubem OBI
80 James GARRISH
81 Luther HAKUNAVANHU
82 Lesean BETTON
OL • 6’4 • 284 • 1st Year
OL • 6’1 • 259 • 1st Year
REC • 6’0 • 175 • 1st Year
REC • 6’4 • 198 • 3rd Year
REC • 6’0 • 169 • 1st Year
Visual Arts Walsingham, Ont. Holy Trinity C.H.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Mississauga, Ont. St. Francis Xavier C.S.S.
Education Canfield, Ont. Cayuga S.S.
Commerce Edmonton, Alta. McNally H.S.
Sociology Fergus, Ont. St. Roch C.S.S.
83 Daymen ASHMEADE
84 Aidan PATTON
85 Alex DALEY
86 Alfred OLAY
87 Dylan KAZDA
REC • 6’5 • 221 • 2nd Year
TE • 6’4 • 206 • 1st Year
REC • 5’10 • 183 • 4th Year
REC • 5’8 • 155 • 1st Year
REC • 6’1 • 218 • 2nd Year
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Vaughan, Ont. Bill Crothers S.S.
Interdisciplinary Social Science Etobicoke, Ont. Thistletown C.I.
Engineering Courtice, Ont. Holy Trinity C.S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Perth, Ont. Notre Dame S.S.
Health Studies Saskatoon, Sask.
Bishop James Mahoney H.S./University of Saskatchewan
22 YORK LIONS
ROSTER
88 Sam RUBY
89 Nick VOCI
90 Mack CHAPMAN
TE • 6’4 • 223 • 1st Year
REC • 6’2 • 221 • 3rd Year
DL • 6’1 • 263 • 4th Year
DL • 6’5 • 226 • 1st Year
DL • 6’3 • 256 • 4th Year
Political Science London, Ont. St. Andre Bessette C.S.S.
Psychology Mississauga, Ont. St. Joan of Arc C.H.S.
Work & Labour Studies Almonte, Ont. Almonte District H.S.
English Aurora, Ont. Villanova College/Lakehead University
Environmental Studies Mississauga, Ont. Port Credit S.S.
93 Jamian RUSH
94 Daniel DWYER
95 Ruben RODRIGUEZ
96 Rasheed ROBINSON
97 Kevin ACHEAMPONG
DL • 6’2 • 238 • 5th Year
DT • 6’4 • 282 • 2nd Year
DE • 6’3 • 262 • 2nd Year
LB • 5’10 • 208 • 2nd Year
DL • 6’1 • 394 • 1st Year
Environmental Studies Jackson, Missi. Terry H.S.
Geography Hamilton, Ont. St. Jean de Brebeuf C.S.S.
Liberal Arts & Professional Studies San Diego, Calif. Our Lady of Lourdes C.H.S.
Business & Society Edmonton, Alta. Holy Trinity C.S.S.
Political Science Brampton, Ont. Cardinal Ambrozic C.S.S.
98 Dylan BENN
99 Matt PRUSIN
DL • 6’4 • 279 • 1st Year
DL • 6’2 • 230 • 1st Year
Law & Society Whitby, Ont. Donald A. Wilson S.S.
Environmental Studies Pickering, Ont. Vankleek Hill S.S.
91 James KYPREOS
JEFFS 92 Reid
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
2019 FOOTBALL
23
record BOOK OFFENCE CAREER POINTS 218 Roy Venier 162 Nick Naylor 160 Andre Batson 158 Mike Boyd 150 Andre Durie 132 Jeff Johnson 119 Sergio Capobianco 102 Joe Pariselli 102 Geroge Ganas 102 Brian Nugent 102 Colton Hunchak CAREER PASSING YARDS 7084 Brett Hunchak 5324 Billy Barbosa 4379 Bart Zemanek 4259 Mike Foster 3929 Tino Iacono 3755 Myles Gibbon 3719 Parry Apostolopoulos 3046 Marcello Lio 2719 Adam Karlsson 2458 Gerry Verge CAREER RUSHING YARDS 3358 Jeff Johnson 2406 Andre Durie 1698 Joe Pariselli 1614 Terry Douglas 1513 Leonard Jean-Pierre 1490 Neil Denton 1196 George Ganas 1195 Jesse Amankwaa 1192 Keith Vassalo 1174 Kayden Johnson
DEFENCE 1996-97, 1999, 2001 2013-16 1993-97 1981-84 2003-05 1996-99 1979-80, 1982 1981, 1983-85 1981-84 1998-01 2015-19 20151998-02 2002-06 1976-80 1981-85 2012-13 1990-94 1991-93, 1995-96 1986-87, 1991 1971-74
CAREER TACKLES *Tracked since 2002 221 Hussein Hazime 2011-15 220 Steven Reading 2007-11 153.5 Josh Small 2012-16 140.5 Ian Lawrence 2014-18 127.5 Emerson Morassutti 2011-14, 2016 123.5 Michael Runowski 2012-16 122 Patrick Russell 2008-12 122 Brett Colangelo 2014-18 108.5 James Tuck 2010-13 100.5 Theo Feroiu 2006-10 CAREER INTERCEPTIONS 16 Neil Maki 11 Dennis Mavrin 10 John Cripps 10 Clinton John 10 Rich Robinson 9 Jamie Williamson 8 Brian Bird 7 Robert Cole 7 Norbie Wirkowski 7 Domenic Cugliari 7 Ian Lawrence
KICKING 1999-03 1998-02 1992-96 2000-04 1993-97 1986-87 1976-79 1971-73 1981-85 1981-85 2014-18
SPECIAL TEAMS 1996-99 2003-05 1981-85 1983-86 1993-95 1990-93 1981-84, 1986 20151978-80 2016-
CAREER RECEIVING YARDS 2186 Andre Batson 1993-97 1882 Colton Hunchak 2015-19 1708 Will Austin 2009-13 1615 Steve Ince 1971-73 1609 Brian Nugent 1998-01 1359 Bill Hatanaka 1972-75 1264 P.J. Edgeworth 1990-94 1225 Remzi Veli 1993-97 1214 Ricardo Hudson 2002-06 1115 Brian Gifford 1979-82
CAREER PUNT RETURN YARDS 1460 Andre Batson 1993-97 813 Clinton John 2000-04 811 Greg McDonald 1987-88 721 Neil Maki 1999-03 696 Paul Forbes 1971-74 661 Tom Kapantrias 1986-88 612 Alex Daley 2016512 Doug Pepper 1970-72 439 Domenic Cugliari 1983-85 427 Andre Durie 2003-05
CAREER KICKOFF RETURN YARDS 1444 Andre Batson 1993-97 1254 Alex Daley 2016982 Paul Hilario 1989-92 906 Clinton John 2000-04 818 Joe Pariselli 1981-85 796 Neil Palgarno 1980-82 776 Jeff Johnson 1996-99 733 Jahmari Bennett 2014-16 699 P.J. Edgeworth 1990-94 695 Kadeem Hemmings 2017-
CAREER FIELD GOALS 50 Roy Venier 1996-97, 1999, 2001 37 Nick Naylor 2013-16 27 Mike Boyd 1981-84 22 Sergio Capobanco 1979-80, 1982 20 Dante Mastrogiuseppe 201713 Andre Persaud 2003-04 7 Dror David 2005-08, 2011 CAREER PUNT AVERAGE 39.7 Sergio Capobianco 1979-80, 1982 39.0 Dante Mastrogiuseppe 201735.9 Nick Naylor 2013-16 35.3 Mike Boyd 1981-85 35.1 Robin Legault 2003-07 34.5 Andre Persaud 2002-04 34.0 Duncan McLeod 1973-74 33.9 Roy Venier 1996-97, 1999, 2001 33.5 Ted Daniels 1992-95 33.2 Gianfranco Rocca 2000-04 Active players in bold
LIONS CAMPS School break camps
CAMPS FOR AGES 5 - 17
FOR OUR FULL LIST OF CAMPS VISIT YORKULIONS.CA
24 YORK LIONS
FORMER PLAYER IN THE CFL
JAMAL CAMPBELL TORONTO ARGONAUTS
COLTON HUNCHAK CALGARY STAMPEDERS
NIKOLA KALINIC HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
JAMES TUCK EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Jamal Campbell is in his fourth season with his hometown Argos and has appeared in more than 40 games. He made his first career start in 2019 and scored his first career touchdown that same year in Week 8 against Winnipeg. A five-year member of the Lions (2011-15), he spent time on both the offensive and defensive lines and was selected by the Argos in the third round (22nd overall) in the 2016 CFL Draft. He won a Toronto Urban Hero award in the People’s Choice Sport category in 2017 for his tremendous work in his own community as a mentor and public speaker. While with the Argos he completed his university degree and graduated from York in 2018.
Colton Hunchak came to York as one of the most coveted recruits in 2015 and did not disappoint. In four seasons with the Lions (2015-19), he was a two-time OUA all-star, the team’s MVP in 2016 and finished his career ranked second all-time in career receiving yards and touchdowns and first in total receptions. Hunchak was selected by his hometown team, the Calgary Stampeders, with the final pick in the 2019 CFL Draft (8th round, 73rd overall), got called back up after Week 3 of the season and made his first career reception, a 57-yard catch, in his second game.
Nikola Kalinic was a special teams leader in his four seasons with the Lions (2014-18) while also playing at receiver and tight end. He was a threetime OUA all-star, including being recognized twice in his final season for both special teams and at fullback, and earned the team’s MVP trophy last year. His size (6-foot-2, 245 pounds) and fierceness on the field made him a top pro prospect and he was selected in the second round (10th overall) by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2019 CFL Draft. Kalinic has made an immediate impact for his new team and scored the first touchdown of his career in his second game.
James Tuck spent four seasons with the Lions (2010-13), the first two as a linebacker before switching to defensive end for the final two, and earned the team’s Nobby Wirkowski Defensive MVP Trophy in each of the last two seasons. He moved up the draft charts in the spring of 2013 after a tremendous performance at the Toronto regional combine, which earned him an invitation to the CFL’s national combine that April. He was selected in the fourth round (31st overall) by the Montreal Alouettes in 2014 and spent parts of three seasons there. He has since also played in Winnipeg and Toronto and is currently with the Edmonton Eskimos, and for his career has played in more than 40 games as a fullback and on special teams.
YORK FOOTBALL PLAYERS DRAFTED INTO / PLAYED IN THE CFL Andre Batson Mike Benevides Donovan Brown Jamal Campbell Andre Clarke Dave D’Onofrio Steve Delzotto Andre Durie Ricky Foley Anthony Forgione Sean Foudy Neil Fraser George Ganas Devon Hanson Bob Harding John Harris
Bill Hatanaka Frank Hoffmann Mark Hopkins Mark Houlder Ricardo Hudson Colton Hunchak Les Huggins Peter Janiuk Jacob Janke Leonard Jean-Pierre Eric Jensen Jeff Johnson Mike Joyce Nikola Kalinic Doug Kitts Chris Kolankowski
Dirk Leers Rick Lococo Craig Lorimer Dave Maganja Joe Marchildon Dennis Mavrin Peter Muketo Brian Nugent John O’Brien Rob Palmer Robin Panzer Frank Paradiso Joe Pariselli Jerry Philip George Psofimis Mike Raymond
John Reid Warren Robinson Darryl Sampson Eric Sanderson Paul Sheridan Steve Shubat Rick Slipetz Chris Smith James Tuck Doug Ward Nord Williams Trevor Williams Jamie Williamson
2019 FOOTBALL
25
JOIN THE PRIDE York University’s student-athletes have been competing against rival institutions on the Canadian sport scene for over 40 years. Provincial and national team titles, combined with numerous athletes and coaches who have participated on many of Canada’s national teams, attest to the success of York’s varsity program. Since the inception of organized sport competition in 1965, York has won 173 provincial banners and 36 national titles. Athletics & Recreation offers 19 varsity sport teams that compete in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and U SPORTS. The varsity sport teams are guided by a tremendous coaching staff that is composed of NCCP certified professionals, many of whom also hold leadership positions in provincial and national sport organizations and are experts in their field of coaching. The staff includes more than 100 dedicated full-time and part-time coaches.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
At York we understand that academic and financial support are significant keys to success at the university level and we have a number of programs in place to provide all the support necessary for student-athletes to thrive.
Study Hall Program
The football team has an outstanding study hall program run by former Lions rugby player Marty Alaimo. All first-year players must attend weekly study hall sessions where they will be given the opportunity to complete their schoolwork in a quiet, uninterrupted setting. Their workload and grades will be monitored closely to make sure they stay on track, and writing tutors will be available to edit all papers.
YORK UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1959 and today Canada’s third largest university, York University is helping to shape the global thinkers and thinking that will define tomorrow. Our unwavering commitment to excellence re-
Providing Athletes with Winning Strategies (PAWS)
Athletics & Recreation has placed the highest priority on supporting its student-athletes in all facets of university life, focusing specifically on helping foster success in the classroom.
flects a rich diversity of perspectives and a strong sense of social responsibility that set us apart. York is the institution of choice for 46,400+ undergraduate students and 5,900+ grad students, and has a network of more than 295,000 alumni worldwide. Through cross-discipline programming, innovative course design, diverse experiential learning and a supportive community environment, our students get the education they need to have big ideas and endless career opportunities.
Tentanda Via: The way must be tried.
26 YORK LIONS
The PAWS Program provides tutoring across multiple subjects for all students, mentoring from senior student-athletes, academic advising through our academic services coordinator and many of our faculty, and access to our vast network of alumni.
Navigating Your First Year
All first-year student-athletes are matched with senior athlete mentors that will traverse the entire first year with the incoming student-athlete. Mentors will meet with their mentee once a week and will be a constant resource in all aspects of York life. First-year students will also undertake a program that focuses on skills crucial to success at the university level, including reading, writing, and time and stress management. All student-athletes are given a personalized, in-depth York-specific academic and athletic orientation over the course of their first year. At York, we pride ourselves on making sure no first-year students fall through the cracks.
JOIN THE PRIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT
York University is committed to helping students with demonstrated financial need meet the direct education costs associated with university studies (tuition, books and mandatory course fees). Financial assistance can be provided from a variety of sources including OSAP, scholarships, bursaries, private awards and employment.
SPORT INJURY CLINIC
The Gorman/Shore Sport Injury Clinic features a full staff of athletic therapists and team doctors with significant experience in the medical field, and many of the doctors are recognized as some of the top experts in the country in their specific fields. In addition to sport medicine physicians, York employs a large variety of specialists including an orthopedic surgeon, dentist, neurosurgeon, radiologist, cardiologist, physiotherapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, osteopath, pedorthist and a mental health specialist. The team brings to York experience at multiple Olympic Games and world championships, as well as with professional and amateur athletes in a variety of sports.
Athletic Scholarships
Athletics & Recreation understands the importance of providing Athletic Financial Awards (AFAs) to entering student-athletes and has developed a number of awards, valued at $22,500 each ($4,500 per year up to five years). These awards are given annually to elite student-athletes that have achieved an 80% entering average and maintain a 6.0 grade point average.
The sport injury clinic is a teaching clinic, with students from the Athletic Therapy Certificate Program doing their clinical placements under the direct supervision of the clinic manager and supervisor. Because of this, most medical care for student-athletes is free of charge. Each Lions varsity team is assigned at least one student athletic therapist who spends the entire season with the team and attends all practices and games. Lions student-athletes also have access to a fully-equipped clinic for all of their treatment needs. team and attends all practices and games. Lions student-athletes also have access to a fully-equipped clinic for all of their treatment needs.
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
York University is one of only a handful of institutions in Canada that has two dedicated strength and conditioning coaches for its student-athletes. The Lions work closely with strength and conditioning staff, who create programs based on the needs of the athlete and coaches on high-performance lifts and movements. Team and individual workouts are available and education on all aspects of strength and conditioning is provided, including proper warm-ups and cool-downs, plyometrics, power, energy systems development, strength and flexibility. Programs are created for both in-season and off-season workouts. Every training session is designed for the needs of the athlete and individual sport. The training phase and focus changes throughout the year and are based on the competition schedule and off-season periodization program. The staff provides our student-athletes with all of the tools necessary to become stronger, faster and more powerful. The strength and conditioning coaches also work closely with the athletic therapy group on rehabilitating injured players. All Lions have access to the varsity strength and conditioning centre, which is for the exclusive use of our student-athletes. Training here allows you to work in a high-performance environment where all equipment and programming is selected with the needs of the high-performance athlete in mind.
2019 FOOTBALL
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HEARTOFALION FOR SPONSORSHIP, BUSINESS & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES CONTACT SARAH LECKIE AT SLECKIE@YORKU.CA