3 more off to the east coast, join MTA

Mounties welcome three out-of-province commits to their Class of 2017.

The theme of the day for Tyler Paul, a linebacker from Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School, Graeme Stevens, a linebacker from Lo Ellen Park Secondary School and Jack Ryan, a quarterback from Malvern College Institute, is “small-town feel,” a sentiment that unites the latest Mount Allison University Mounties.

Tyler Paul

Hailing from Courtice, Ontario, which is east of Oshawa, Tyler Paul has a special place in his heart for small towns. “I’m a small-town kid and Sackville felt like home to me. Not only the town, but the players made me feel like I was one of them already,” he said.

The 11-year veteran fell in love with the school while visiting the campus. “I chose to commit to this school because of all the recruiting trips I’ve been on. This team felt the most like a family and to me, looked like the hardest working team in the country,” Paul said.

“The coaches had a great understanding of the game and were very respectful, humble people. But, I could tell when they put you to work, they mean business and they get results. That’s how you build a championship program in my opinion,” he added.

Paul is interested in taking Psychology. He said that he then wants to follow in the footsteps of his father and become a police officer. Standing at 6’3, 205lbs, the athlete has played with the Clarington Tiger-Cats (Central Ontario Minor Football League), the Oshawa Hawkeyes (OVFL) and the Holy Trinity Titans (Lake Ontario Secondary School Athletics).

In 2014-2015, he won a leadership award with the Titans. In 2015, he was his high school’s athlete of the year. In grade 10, 12 and his fifth year, he was a team captain.

Now, Paul will be bringing his leadership skills to a budding Mounties team. He said, “I am really looking forward to going to work with this team in the fall. It’s been a dream of mine since I started playing ball. Go Mounties!”

Well it’s official, proud to say I’m a Mountie and I couldn’t be more excited to get to work this fall with this team #MountiePride pic.twitter.com/IoMGq8xOjB

— T Paul (@TylerPaul58) January 15, 2017

CFCOPC Graeme Stevens

There was something familiar about Sackville, New Brunswick, for Graeme Stevens, a resident of Sudbury, Ontario. “I decided to commit to MTA because of the family atmosphere and the importance put on hard work. It reminded me of the northern Ontario mindset and it felt like home when I visited,” he said.

“The coaching staff is young with lots of energy and seem to be leading their organization in the right direction,” he added.

Stevens has played for six years with the Lo Ellen Park Knights (Sudbury District Secondary School Athletic Association) and the Sudbury Gladiators (OFC). He is 5’11, 210lbs and will be pursing a political science degree. He was an OFC first team all-star and was the SDSSAA 2016 most outstanding player.

Absolutely jacked to officially welcome LB Graeme Stevens from @SBYGladiators to the #MountiePRIDE family!! #PRIDE17 #HardWorkU pic.twitter.com/dKnMYsjQI9

— Scott Brady (@CoachBradyMTA) January 23, 2017

CFCOPC Jack Ryan

Jack Ryan is from the metropolis of Toronto, Ontario, and while he may be from a bigger city than his Sudbury counterpart, he is looking forward to a change of pace. “I liked Mount Allison for its smaller school environment while also being able to provide an exciting and hardworking environment for playing ball,” he said.

Ryan won’t be alone at MTA, however, as he said that he knows a great running back there named Kiel Ambursley. While he has only talked to Head Coach Brady and Coach Richard, he is excited to work with them because he said they are great, knowledgeable coaches. Ryan added that he hopes to fly out to Sackville to meet them in person and the rest of the school’s fine coaching staff.

Ryan, who is interested in commerce, is 6’2, 185lbs and has only played football for two years with the Metro Toronto Wildcats (OVFL) and the Malvern CI Black Knights (Toronto District Secondary School Athletic Association). In 2016, he was an MVP for the Black Knights.

“I consider myself a dual threat style quarterback who can make plays with both my arm and my legs and I’m super excited to just get into this program and improve,” Ryan said.

And how will he improve? With his teammates help, of course. He said that, “Football is a team sport. We all make each other better.”

Very excited to officially welcome QB Jack Ryan from @MTWildcats to the #MountiePRIDE family!! #PRIDE17 #HardWorkU pic.twitter.com/XfmD4rCrSN

— Scott Brady (@CoachBradyMTA) January 23, 2017