15 Canada West players selected in CFL Draft

Source: Evan Daum, Canada West Communications

Highlights:

• Calgary running back Mercer Timmis was the first Canada West player selected, going 14th overall to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• A total of 15 Canada West players were selected in the eight-round draft
• Five UBC Thunderbirds were selected in the draft, while four Calgary Dinos and Manitoba Bisons were picked

NEW WESTMINSTER – Mercer Timmis kicked things off for Canada West Tuesday night at the CFL Draft, as a total of 15 conference players were selected by CFL squads looking to stockpile the next generation of Canadian talent.

Timmis, a native of Burlington, Ont., was selected by his hometown Hamilton Tiger-Cats 14th overall, starting a busy night for Canada West players.

“It means a lot to be coming home and be part of that great organization,” Timmis told NewsTalk 770’s Sportstalk Tuesday night. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity – the Timmis name definitely has some meaning in Hamilton, and I’m excited to be part of the Ticats.

“It was the best time to be a Dino – my four years in Calgary were the best years of my life,” he went on. “I’m extremely excited for the new opportunity, but I wouldn’t be where I am without the University of Calgary.”

The third round was the busiest of the evening for Canada West players and unsurprisingly two of the best teams in the nation last year led the way, as the University of Calgary Dinos and defending Vanier Cup champion UBC Thunderbirds dominated the round.

Thunderbirds Taylor Loffler (DB – 19th overall, Winnipeg), Terrell Davis (LB – 21st overall, Hamilton), and Quinn van Gylswyk (K/P – 26th overall, Saskatchewan), along with Calgary’s Brett Blaszko (WR – 23rd overall, Hamilton) and Elie Bouka (DB – 24th overall, Saskatchewan) also had their names called in the round.

All told five of the conference’s six teams had players drafted, including Manitoba’s defensive lineman David Onyemata, who was the top ranked prospect heading into the draft, but fell to the fourth round when Saskatchewan took the Nigerian born player after he was taken earlier this month in the NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.

The next generation of CFL stars will be on display once again this season across Canada West, as the road to the 80th Hardy Cup opens September 1, with the opening of the 2016 Canada West regular season.

CANADA WEST DRAFTEES

 

Round 2

14th overall / RB / Mercer Timmis / Hamilton Tiger-Cats / University of Calgary

 

Round 3

19th overall / DB / Taylor Loffler / Winnipeg Blue Bombers / UBC

21st overall / LB / Terrell Davis / Hamilton Tiger-Cats / UBC

23rd overall / WR / Brett Blaszko / British Columbia Lions / University of Calgary

24th overall / DB / Elie Bouka / Saskatchewan Roughriders / University of Calgary

26th overall / K/P / Quinn van Gylswyk / Saskatchewan Roughriders / UBC

 

Round 4

35th overall / DL / David Onyemata / Saskatchewan Roughriders / University of Manitoba

 

Round 5

36th overall / LB / Alex Ogbonbbemiga / Saskatchewan Roughriders / University of Calgary

 

Round 6

48th overall / DB / Brennan Van Nistelrooy / British Columbia Lions / University of Alberta

50th overall / WR / Emmitt Tims / Montreal Alouettes / University of Saskatchewan

52nd overall / OL / Alex McKay / Saskatchewan Roughriders / University of Manitoba

 

Round 7

55th overall / SB / Alex Vitt / Ottaw Redblacks / University of Manitoba

59th overall / LB / Mitchell Barnett / Hamilton Tiger-Cats / UBC

 

Round 8

65th overall / DL / Boyd Richardson / British Columbia Lions / UBC

70th overall / LB / DJ Lalama / Edmonton Eskimos / University of Manitoba