Bisons open spring camp today including 74 rookies (roster)

The Manitoba Bisons football team starts the 2011 Spring Camp with meetings on Thursday, April 28 with the first practice on Friday, April 29 and the camp ends with a scrimmage on Sunday, May 1 at University Stadium. There are over 130 players (approx. 138), which is one of the highest number of Spring Camp Bison participants in recent history. There is a good mixture of returning, veteran Bison players (approx. 64) and newcomers (approx. 74) that will be showcased during the annual three-day football camp running from April 29 to May 1 at the University of Manitoba campus.

The Bisons are looking to rebound from a 2-6 record in 2010 and missing the playoffs by one game in the Canada West standings. With the large numbers in this Camp, there will be several areas of battle for positions on both sides of the ball.

Starting on the offensive side, the quarterback position has returning Bison vet and fourth year eligible Khaleal Williams at the top of the order with an intense battle for the backup pivot position. Cam Clark (2007 BCFC Outstanding rookie; red-shirted last year with Manitoba), Marc Paquette, (second in BCFL passing yards in 2009; red-shirted last year with Manitoba), Nicholas Cobb (red-shirted last year with Manitoba) and newcomer John Kiesman (won 2010 ANAVETS Bowl ‘AAA’ Champion with Oak Park) are in the mix.

At running back, there is definitely a couple of starting spots open with the graduation of fifth year players Matt Henry, James Gerardy and Chad Young. Returning Bisons who look to impress are Anthony Coombs and Andrew Barry while a couple of new players to watch for start with Nic Demski (leading rusher in the WHSFL’s Potter Division with 1,119 yards and won 2010 ANAVETS Bowl ‘AAA’ Champion with Oak Park) and Kienan LaFrance (led PFC Winnipeg Rifles in rushing last season and All-Star).

At receiver, this is one of the more stable position for Manitoba heading into camp as no less than 15 players return from last season coupled with all four starters back (Stu Schollaardt, Quincy Hurst, Jared Ralko, Xavier Johnson). There are 11 new players from various amount of backgrounds that will compete against the veterans.

On offensive line, there are returning veterans led by Landon Rice, Scott Johnson and Justin Yawkichuk but this is one of the heaviest recruited areas for Manitoba this season. There are 13 newcomers at Spring Camp with eyes on Shahpour Birjandian (won 2010 ANAVETS Bowl ‘AAA’ Champion and received player of the game in championship game), Mitchell MacKay (won the Kas Vidruk Lineman Award with West Kildonan), Ray Thornson (Wpg. Rifles) and the Scheller twins (Clay and Cole from Vancouver Island).

Onto the defensive side, there will be competitive battles on the defensive line position. The Bison starters returning from last season include Everton Black, Adam Hindley, Jesse Schryver , Lauren Kroeker and Lou Richardson. In the mix, there are several new players highlighted by Lincoln Bryan (2009 CJFL All-Canadian and 2009 BCFC All-Star plus BCFC Outstanding Defensive Line award winner with Langley), Eric Dasset (2009 Grant Park H.S. Most Outstanding Player and WHSFL All-Star), Paul Belanger (Sisler All-Star) and Matt MacEachern (Langley Rams).

At linebacker position, leading Bison tackler from last season and 2010 CIS Russ Jackson award winner Thomas Hall will return along with returning veterans John Tietzmann and Thomas Miles. There will be a good competition at camp with newcomers Bami Adewale (three-time Team Ontario West starter from 2008-10) and Eric Vincent (Wpg. Rifles and All-Star) as a couple to keep an eye out for.

The defensive back positions have one of the largest groups in camp with a staggering 27 players (15 new players) in competition. Returning from last season are starters Pete Adams (2010 Canada West All-Star), Teague Sherman, Grayson Wells, David Ferrier and will be pushed from numerous players including David Berg (Edm. Wildcats), Cole Bishop (Edm. Wildcats), Nick Duncan (Victoria Rebels), Zack Sandulescu (Victoria Rebels) plus high school players: Cam Watkins (Churchill H.S.), David Rhodes (Churchill H.S.), Cam Teschuk (St. Paul’s H.S.), David Mandrick (River East H.S.).

At special teams, with Nick Naylor not returning this season, both the kicking jobs are available. Bison vets Brendon Bowman and Evan Gill battle against newcomers Nick Boyd (Langley Rams) and Ryan Jones (Transcona) for a starting spot.

BISON FOOTBALL 2011 SPRING CAMP SCHEDULE
Thursday, April 28:
5:30 p.m. Punters/Kickers/Long snappers – University Stadium
7 p.m. Team Meeting – Rm. 136 Frank Kennedy Centre
7:30 p.m. Off/Def. Meeting – Rm. 136/133 FKC
9 p.m. Positional Meetings

Friday, April 29:
3 p.m. Taping – Wpg. Indoor Soccer Complex
4:30-6:30 p.m. Practice #1 – Wpg. Indoor Soccer Complex
4:30-6:30 p.m. Punters/Kickers – U of M Stadium

Saturday, April 30:
10:30 a.m. Taping – U of M Stadium
11 a.m. Specialists (LS/FG) – U of M Stadium
12-2 p.m. Practice #2 – U of M Stadium
2 p.m. Specialists (Punters/Kickers) – U of M Stadium
2:30-4:30 p.m. Practice #3 – U of M Stadium

Sunday, May 1:
8:30 a.m. Taping – U of M Stadium
10 a.m.-12 p.m. Practice #4 – U of M Stadium
11:30 a.m. Specialists (LS/Punt/Punt Return) – U of M Stadium
2 p.m. Taping – U of M Stadium
4-6 p.m. Scrimmage – U of M Stadium
8 p.m. Team Together (TBA)

Spring Camp Practices will be held at Winnipeg Indoor Soccer Complex and at University Stadium (both at University of Manitoba campus).
—
MANITOBA BISONS FOOTBALL ROSTER – SPRING CAMP 2011
*(Committed but not attending Spring Camp)

OFFENCE
QB’S
Khaleal Williams QB Bisons
Cam Clark QB Bisons
Marc Paquette QB Bisons
Nicholas Cobb QB Bisons
Andrew Klaprat QB Bisons
John Kiesman QB Oak Park H.S.

RB’S
Justin Grochowski TB Bisons
Anthony Coombs TB Bisons
Mitch Van Ramhorst TB Bisons
Sean Clark TB Bisons
Andrew Barry FB Bisons
Kris Stevens FB Bisons
Nic Demski TB Oak Park H.S.
Kienan LaFrance TB Wpg. Rifles
Mike Goldring FB Edm. Huskies
Thomas Cuddy FB VMC
Spencer Stadey FB Churchill, H.S.
Riley Coates TB Wpg. Rifles
Adam Kuzbyt FB Wpg. Rifles

REC’S
Brendon Bowman WR Bisons
Xavier Johnson WR Bisons
Quincy Hurst WR Bisons
Kris Semple WR Bisons
Graham Stephens WR Bisons
Kyle Sanchez WR Bisons
Christian Hansen WR-SB Bisons
Marcus Gordon WR-SB Bisons
Stu Schollaardt SB Bisons
Jared Ralko SB Bisons
Tyson Takasaki SB Bisons
Bryden Bone SB Bisons
Tyson Hinds SB Bisons
Scott Naujoks SB Bisons
Kristian Doherty SB Bisons
Matt LaRiviere WR Wpg. Rifles
Julian Banares WR Sturgeon
Liam McConnell WR Churchill, TBay
Salvador Salazar WR Sturgeon
Brady Molnar WR Vincent Massey Brandon
Awot Btseamlak WR Wpg. Rods
Nick Evans WR-SB Ft. Garry
Liam Collier WR-SB St. Norbert
Sam DeCarcia SB Kelvin H.S.
Steven Hadaller SB Wpg. Rifles
Andrew Glowa SB Oak Park H.S.
*(Akeeno Williams WR Grimsby Secondary School)

OFF. LINE
Scott Johnson T Bisons
Landon Rice G-T Bisons
Jaret Thurier G-T Bisons
Justin Yawkichuk G Bisons
Josh Ahmo G Bisons
Kwesi Bruce G Bisons
Tyler Fabbri C Bisons
Mitchell MacKay T West Kildonan
Stefan Hasselfield T Okanagan Sun
Shahpour Birjandian G-T Oak Park H.S.
Cole Scheller T-G Vancouver Island Raiders
Clay Scheller G-C Vancouver Island Raiders
Geoff Melnechuk G Wpg. Rifles
*(Kwin Albino G Okanagan Sun)
Ray Thornson G Wpg. Rifles
Chad Treleaven G Langley Rams
*(Gary Parmar G Langley Rams)
Craig Esquivel G Dakota
Tyson Stengl G Churchill H.S.
Kyle Muth G Transcona
Kieran Beveridge G-C St. Paul’s H.S.
Tyler Cole G-C Swan River

DEFENCE

DL
Everton Black R Bisons
Evan Gill R Bisons
Jesse Schryver T Bisons
Adam Hindley T Bisons
Cliff Lewis T Bisons
R.J. Skinner T Bisons
Ryan Green T Bisons
Lauren Kroeker E Bisons
Lou Richardson E Bisons
Kyle Bracken E Bisons
Rodney Patterson E Bisons
Lincoln Bryan T Langley Rams
Greg Akinola T Vancouver Island Raiders
Eric Dasset T Grant Park H.S.
Cory Beer T Wpg. Rifles
Matt MacEachern T Langley Rams
Kurtis Kimpinski T Vincent Massey Brandon
Brian Fulawka T River East H.S.
Carey Link T Oak Park H.S.
Paul Belanger E Sisler H.S.
Spencer Riche E Vincent Massey Brandon
Taylor Nziggy E River East Collegiate
Kevin Pavlic E River East Collegiate

LB’S
Thomas Hall W Bisons
John Tietzmann S Bisons
Thomas Miles M Bisons
Brett Delisle-Boughen M/W Bisons
Chris Laubenstein S/W Bisons
Patrick Martinez M Bisons
Ryan Ditchfield M Bisons
Al Turnbull M/W Bisons
Cody MacInnes W Portage
Bami Adewale S Notre Dame Catholic S.S.
Connor Gudziunas S/M Churchill H.S.
Mike Hauptkorn S Wpg. Rifles
Buddy Hutchinson Team BC
Brock Wittevrongel M Murdoch MacKay
Sean Wakeling W Langley Rams
Calvin Birdsall S Oak Park H.S.
Eric Vincent Wpg. Rifles
Parker Gerrard W Nomads
Donald Swanson M Churchill H.S.
Brandon Bresden M Victoria Rebels
Imran Begg M/W Langley Rams

DB’S
David Ferrier C Bisons
Pete Adams H Bisons
Teague Sherman S Bisons
Grayson Wells H Bisons
Adam Mazowita C Bisons
Matt Arnold Bisons
Stephon Marks C Bisons
Mitchell Harrison S Bisons
Brett MacFarlane H Bisons
Tyler Greener H Bisons
Riley Wiggett C Bisons
Justin Kasak C Bisons
*(Jordan Linnen C Langley Rams)
*(Aaron Davies C Vancouver Island Raiders)
David Berg C Edm. Wildcats
Cam Watkins C Churchill H.S.
David Rhodes H Churchill H.S.
Cole Bishop H Edm. Wildcats
Nick Duncan H Victoria Rebels
Zack Sandulescu H Victoria Rebels
Joseph Jabbie H Churchill H.S.
Cam Teschuk H St. Paul’s H.S.
David Mandrick S River East H.S.
Jeremy Lamanaco C Oak Park H.S.
Andrew Lewandoski C St Pats TB
Ryan Van Belleghem C Kenora
Brooks Falloon H Shoal Lake
Andrew Phan C Wpg. Rifles
Jeff Lavins C Windsor H.S.

KICKERS
Brendon Bowman Bisons
Evan Gill Bisons
Nick Boyd Langley Rams
Ryan Jones Transcona

COACHES
Brian Dobie – Head Coach (in his 16th season)
Stan Pierre – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
Vaughan Mitchell – Offensive Coordinator
Richard Urbanovich – Defensive Backs
Bob Reist – Defensive Backs
Tim Kist – Linebackers
Lance Glover – Defensive Line
John Makie – Quarterbacks
Lloyd Orris – Running Backs
Corey Goff – Running Backs
Blair Atkinson – Receivers
Chris Morand – Receivers
Terry Watson – Offensive Line
Dave Easley – Special Teams