Highlights:
- Alberta running back Ed Ilnicki, UBC safety Stavros Katsantonis, and Saskatchewan punter Sean Stenger were the only players unanimously selected 2017 Canada West football all-stars
- The UBC Thunderbirds (eight) and Calgary Dinos (seven) combined to make up more than half of the conference all-stars
- A total of 23 all-stars will be in action Saturday, Nov. 4 when the Alberta Golden Bears take on the Calgary Dinos (1 p.m. MDT), and UBC Thunderbirds host the Regina Rams (3 p.m. PDT) in the Hardy Cup semifinals.
EDMONTON – When it comes to their all-star credentials, there’s no doubting Ed Ilnicki, Stavros Katsantonis, and Sean Stenger.
The trio were named unanimous Canada West football all-stars Thursday, as the conference honoured its top players at each position ahead of this weekend’s Hardy Cup semifinals.
Offensively, Ilnicki highlighted the Canada West all-stars, which were selected by the conference’s six head coaches. The fifth-year running back set a conference single-season rushing record, finishing the 2017 regular season schedule with 1,468 yards. That total was also tops in the nation, as the Spruce Grove, Alta. product finished more than 300 yards clear of his next closest competitor for the national rushing title. Ilnicki finishes his five-year career the second most prolific rusher in CW history with 4,145 yards – second only to Dominic Zagari’s total of 4,738 with Manitoba between 1991 and 1995.
For Katsantonis, 2017 marks the second consecutive season that he has been named a unanimous CW all-star at safety after the Bakersfield, Calif. product was once again a one-man turnover machine. Katsantonis posted four interceptions on the season, while also adding three forced fumbles for the Thunderbirds. In 2016 Katsantonis hauled in five picks to go along with two fumble recoveries.
On special teams, punter Sean Stenger of Saskatchewan was the lone unanimous selection. The Engineering student was a unanimous pick at both punter and placekicker a year ago, and followed up his excellent 2016 season with another strong campaign in 2017, leading CW in punting average (44.7 yards) and finishing tied for first in punts inside the 20 with 11.
Both Ilnicki and Katsantonis will be in action this weekend, along with 21 other all-stars, as the Hardy Cup semis are set for Saturday, Nov. 4. The Alberta Golden Bears take on the Calgary Dinos (Calgary, Alta. / McMahon Stadium / 1 p.m. MDT), and UBC Thunderbirds host the Regina Rams (Vancouver, B.C. / Thunderbird Stadium / 3 p.m. PDT)
You can catch all the action by tuning into the Canada West Football Showcase (SaskTel maxTV, TELUS, and BellMTS), or by watching online at Canada West TV.
NOTE: The 2017 CW major award winners will be announced Thursday, Nov. 9 ahead of the 81st Hardy Cup on Saturday, Nov. 11.
2017 CANADA WEST FOOTBALL ALL-STARS
Offence
POSITION / NAME / SCHOOL / YEAR / HOMETOWN / PROGRAM
Centre / Levi Hua / UBC / 4th / Abbotsford, B.C. / Arts
Guard / CFC100 Justin Lawrence / Alberta / 4th / Spruce Grove, Alta. / Phys. Ed. & Recreation
Guard / CFC100 Ryan Sceviour / Calgary / 4th / Calgary, Alta. / Arts
Tackle / CFC100 Mark Korte / Alberta / 4th / Spruce Grove, Alta. / Business
Tackle / Dakoda Shepley / UBC / 4th / Windsor, Ont. / Arts
Inside receiver /CFC100 Trivel Pinto / UBC / 3rd / Toronto, Ont. / Arts
Inside receiver / Mitch Hillis / Saskatchewan / 5th / Saskatoon, Sask. / Kinesiology
Outside receiver / Nathan Rowe / Alberta / 1st / Calgary, Alta. / Engineering
Outside receiver / Michael Klukas / Calgary / 5th / Calgary, Alta. / Arts
*Running back / Ed Ilnicki / Alberta / 5th / Spruce Grove, Alta. / Business
Running back / CFC100 Atlee Simon / Regina / 4th / Regina, Sask. / Education
Quarterback / CFC100 Noah Picton / Regina / 4th / Regina, Sask. / Business Administration
Defence
POSITION / NAME / SCHOOL / YEAR / HOMETOWN / PROGRAM
Linebacker / Boston Rowe / Calgary / 4th / Calgary, Alta. / Business
Linebacker / CFC100 Micah Teitz / Calgary / 4th / Calgary, Alta. / Arts
SAM Linebacker / CFC100 Nick Cross / Regina / 1st / Regina, Sask. / Kinesiology & Health Studies
Interior lineman / Connor Griffiths / UBC / 3rd / Langley, B.C. / Arts
Interior lineman / Brett Wade / Calgary / 5th / Regina, Sask. / Arts & Education
End / Cory Robinson / Calgary / 5th / Airdrie, Alta. / Arts
End / CFC100 Nicholas Dheilly / Regina / 2nd / Regina, Sask. / Arts
Cornerback / Will Maxwell / UBC / 4th / Calgary, Alta. / Arts
Cornerback / Adam Laurensse / Calgary / 5th / Sherwood Park, Alta. / Arts
Halfback / CFC100 Malcom Lee / UBC / 3rd / Surrey, B.C. / Arts
Halfback /CFC100 Jayden McKoy / Manitoba / 4th / Winnipeg, Man. / Engineering
*Safety / Stavros Katsantonis / UBC / 3rd / Bakersfield, Calif. / Arts
Special teams
POSITION / NAME / SCHOOL / YEAR / HOMETOWN / PROGRAM
*Punter / Sean Stenger / Saskatchewan / 4th / Saskatoon, Sask. / Engineering
Placekicker / Brad Mikoluff / Manitoba / 4th / Beausejour, Man. / University 1
Kick returner /CFC100 Trivel Pinto / UBC / 3rd / Brampton, Ont. / Arts
Kick returner /CFC100 Jamel Lyles / Manitoba / 2nd / Surrey, B.C. / Arts
NOTES: * denotes unanimous selection; italics denotes tie
CW FB ALL-STARS BY TEAM:
UBC Thunderbirds – 8
Calgary Dinos – 7
Alberta Golden Bears – 4
Regina Rams – 4
Manitoba Bisons – 3
Saskatchewan Huskies – 2
Source: CanadaWest
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