Canada’s Junior National Team adds 5 to roster, 2 CFC TOP 100 players

In preparation for the 2014 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) U-19 World Championship in Kuwait, Football Canada’s Junior National Team begins its title defense with a training camp in Italy beginning on Sunday June 29 through to July 5.

Canada and Team USA have met in the previous two U-19 World Championship gold medal games with Canada avenging a 2009 loss in 2012 with a 23-17 victory to earn the top seed heading into 2014.

Having served as Canada’s defensive coordinator at both the 2009 and 2012 U-19 World Championships, head coach Warren Craney is excited to lead Team Canada as the tournament’s defending champions in 2014.

“Our players and coaches are excited to begin training camp in Italy,” said Craney “It’s been something we’ve talked about and been preparing for since we faced Team USA at the International Bowl in February.”

“In our seven day training camp we not only need to come together as a group but also lay the foundations of our offense, defense and special teams in order to prepare for the start of our tournament on July 7 against Kuwait.”

Roster changes

Joining Team Canada in Italy are Colton Hunchak, Kayden Johnson, Philippe Lessard-Vézina, Rossini Sandjong-Djabome, and Joe McQuay.

FULL ROSTER:

2014 | Junior National Team / Équipe Nationale Junior
	Name / Nom	Hometown /Ville natale	Current Team /Équipe actuelle	Commitment / Engagement
QB/QA	Brett Hunchak	Calgary, AB	Calgary Colts (CJFL)
QB/QA	Frédéric Paquette-Perrault	Montréal, QC	CEGEP Vieux- Montréal
QB/QA	Liam Putt	Caledonia, ON	Hamilton Hurricanes
RB/DO	Khaliel James	Windsor, ON	Windsor-Essex Ravens / Catholic Central HS	U. Guelph
RB/DO	Kayden Johnson	Kerrobert, SK	LCBI	U. Saskatchewan
RB/DO	Philippe Lessard-Vézina	Québec, QC	Académie Saint-Louis
RB/DO	Edouard Montemiglio	Montréal, QC	CEGEP Vieux-Montréal
OL/LO	Darius Ciraco	Burlington, ON	Assumption S.S.
OL/LO	Wade Leeroy Cyr	St Eustache, QC	CEGEP Vanier College
OL/LO	Pierre-Karl Lanctôt	Montréal, QC	CEGEP St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu
OL/LO	Justin Lawrence	Spruce Grove, AB	Spruce Grove HS	U. Alberta
OL/LO	Joe McQuay	Red Deer, AB	Notre-Dame HS	U. Alberta
OL/LO	Shane Richards	Calgary, AB	Calgary Colts (CJFL)
OL/LO	Ryan Sceviour	Calgary, AB	U. Calgary
OL/LO	Samuel Thomassin	Québec, QC	CEGEP de l’Outaouais
REC	Trysten Dyce	Winnipeg, MB	Regina Thunder (CJFL)
REC	Mitchell Hillis	Saskatoon, SK	U. Saskatchewan
REC	Colton Hunchak	Calgary, AB	Notre Dame HS
REC	Karym Kartsonis	Montréal, QC	CEGEP Notre-Dame-de-Foy
REC	Félix Laflamme	Sainte-Thérèse, QC	Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes
REC	Louis-Mathieu Normandin	Montréal, QC	CEGEP Vieux-Montréal
REC	Trivel Pinto	Toronto, ON	Metro Toronto Wildcats
REC	Marc-Antoine Pivin	Sherbrooke, QC	CEGEP Champlain-Lennoxville
DL/LD	Mathieu Betts	Montréal, QC	CEGEP Vieux-Montréal
DL/LD	Vincent Desjardins	Québec, QC	CEGEP Notre-Dame-de-Foy
DL/LD	Evan Machibroda	Saskatoon, SK	Holy Cross	U. Saskatchewan
DL/LD	Garrett Meek	St. Albert, AB	U. Saskatchewan
DL/LD	Shaun Robinson	Halifax, NS	Citadel H.S.	Mt. Allison U.
DL/LD	Rossini Sandjond-Djabome	Longueuil, QC	CEGEP Edouard-Montpetit
DL/LD	Andrew Seinet-Spaulding	Montréal, QC	CEGEP Vieux- Montréal
DL/LD	Joel Van Pelt	Lethbridge, AB	Winston Churchill HS	U. Calgary
LB/SEC	Troy Hansen	Edmonton, AB	Kent [CT]
LB/SEC	Cédric Lussier-Roy	Sherbrooke, QC	CEGEP Champlain-Lennoxville
LB/SEC	Daniel Nesbitt	Regina, SK	LeBoldus
LB/SEC	Samuel Rossi	Montréal, QC	CEGEP Montmorency
LB/SEC	Gabriel Simons	Regina, SK	IMG Academy [FL] / Luther College H.S.
LB/SEC	Micah Teitz	Calgary, AB	Springbank	U. Calgary
DB/DD	Mathieu Boutin	Québec, QC	CEGEP Notre-Dame-de-Foy
DB/DD	William Jouan-Ladouceur	Greenfield Park, QC	CEGEP St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu
DB/DD	Jayden McKoy	Winnipeg, MB	U. Manitoba
DB/DD	Royce Metchie	Brampton, ON	Oakville Titans	U. Guelph
DB/DD	Nick Parisotto	Guelph, ON	Guelph Bears	U. Guelph
DB/DD	Nicholas-Rohan Plourde-Hector	LaSalle, QC	CEGEP Notre-Dame-de-Foy
DB/DD	Louis-Philippe St- Amant	Saint-Augustin, QC	CEGEP Notre-Dame-de-Foy
K/B	Dominic Lévesque	Saint Georges, QC	CEGEP Champlain-Lennoxville

2014 Junior National Team coaching staff Name Position Team Warren Craney Head Coach & Defensive Coordinator York University Justin Éthier Offensive Coordinator Laval University Samir Chahine Offensive Line Brad Collinson Running Backs Laval University Brian Guebert Defensive Line University of Saskatchewan / Aden Bowman (Saskatoon, SK) Ryan Hall Defensive Backs Campbell Collegiate (Regina, SK) Marcello Lio Quarterbacks Metro Toronto Wildcats Kamau Peterson Receivers 2012 Junior National Team Kevin MacNeill Linebackers University of Guelph

CFC TOP 100 Colton Hunchak (Calgary, AB) impressed at both the 2013 Football Canada Cup in Moncton, NB as well as the 2014 International Bowl in the under-18 game. Hunchak, a top 2015 recruit will join his older brother Brett on the roster and replaces Carleton receiver, Kyle Van Wynsberghe.

Replacing Edward Illnicki is Académie Saint-Louis running back and 2013 RESEQ juvenile division 1 most valuable player, Philippe Lessard-Vézina (Québec, QC). Lessard-Vézina had an outstanding 2013 campaign rushing for over 1400 yards and 15 touchdowns while through the air he accumulated an additional 435 yards on 26 receptions and 5 receiving touchdowns giving him 20 total touchdowns.

Kerrobert, Saskatchewan’s Kayden Johnson (CFC TOP 100 2014) will replace fellow running back, Cédric Joseph in Kuwait. Johnson’s mix of size and speed stood out at the 2013 Canada Cup earning him an invite to the 2014 International Bowl as a member of Canada’s U-18 squad. He’s considered one of the top recruits from the 2014 recruiting class and is currently committed to the University of Saskatchewan for the upcoming fall.

CEGEP Édouard-Montpetit defensive lineman, Rossini Sandjong-Djabome (Longueuil ,QC) will replace Brayden Twarynski. The talented lineman who represented Canada in the U-19 game at the International Bowl tallied 25.5 total tackles (15 solo, 21 assisted) along with 6 sacks for the Édouard-Montpetit Lynx last season.

 

Also added is Joe McQuay of Notre Dame High School in Red Deer, Alberta who replaces fellow offensive lineman Mason Dick.