#CFC100, 3 other local recruits set to join Rouge et Or family

Three commits from Québec City and one from Montréal commit to Laval.

It appears that the allure of Québec City has continued to capture the hearts of defensive tackle Samuel Maranda-Bizeau, fullback Dave Pouliot and linebacker Yvan Hakizimana from Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy (CNDF), as well as Rouleau from Cégep Garneau, all of whom will be staying in the city for another five years after committing to the Laval Rouge et Or.

#CFC100 Samuel Maranda-Bizeau

#CFC100 Maranda-Bizeau will have several familiar faces in the Laval locker room, joining two of his Notre-Dame du CNDF (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec Division 1) teammates on the Rouge et Or.

“As someone who grew up in Québec City it has always been a dream for me to play for Laval University. Laval is a great football program with a winning tradition and a lot of history and it’s an honor for me to join them. I’ll also join some of my former teammates at CNDF,” he said.

“An other good reason is that Laval has constantly one of the best offensive line in the country and as a defensive lineman it’s important for me to practice against the best to step up my game on every practice,” he added.

The 6’2, 275lbs football player, this #CFC100 is also looking forward to working with the Laval’s coaching staff. “Glen Constantin is also one of the best defensive line coaches in the country and this is one of the most important things for me. In the last few years, Laval’s coaching as proved to be one of the best coaching staff in the nation with their consecutive wins and championships,” he said.

In his three years with CNDF, Maranda-Bizeau was named to the Collegial Division 1 all-star team for two straight years. This year, he won a Bol D’Or with his team. Prior to playing at the Cégep level, he played for five years with the Condors de Saint-Jean Eudes (RSEQ). He added that he is interested in taking physical education.

Dave Pouliot

Dave Pouliot, who also plays for CNDF, won’t have far to go to reach his new team. “I chose to go to Laval University because it is in my hometown and I dreamed about playing there since I was very young. I want to be challenged against the best players in Canada on the best team in Canada,” he said, adding that he will be going into sports education.

Laval’s prestige may have helped draw him in, but it was the coaching staff that made him stay. “The coach staff is the best and I have a good relationship with the fullback coach. They are a big reason why I chose the school because I know they want to win and that they are going to do all they can to make this happen,” he said.

The 6’0, 265lbs player has played with CNDF for three years. Before that, he spent five years on L’Arsenal de Académie Saint-Louis (RSEQ Division 1). Last year, he was named as a fullback all-star. In high school, he was an offensive lineman all-star.

“I played offensive lineman all throughout high school, after that I became a fullback in Cégep because of injuries. I was obligated to play as a centre in my third year. It was not a problem for me because I can do whatever it takes to win a championship, like we did,” he said.

Yvan Hakizimana

Montréaler Yvan Hakizimana is a battler, coming back to play in the playoffs after tearing his ACL and LCL in the third game of the Notre-Dame du CNDF season. “I will work hard during my rehabilitation and fight for a starting job at my position for the upcoming season,” he said.

The young, 5’11, 196lbs sam linebacker (strong-outside linebacker) will be looking to bring his grit and determination to the Laval locker room. He said he committed to the Rouge et Or because it’s perfect timing for him and his position.

“I think playing along side Marc Fortier, the defensive coordinator, will be an honour and will help me bring the best football out of me. Football wise, I think I have a shot of having a great career at this school,” he said.

“The team has one of the best and hardest working coaching staffs in the country and they don’t win games by luck. They push their players to their maximum potential and that’s what I’m hoping for,” he added.

When he enters the university in 2017, Hakizimana said he is interested in studying a law-based program. “School wise, they have an excellent program and during my visit I had nothing negative to say about the school,” he added.

Hakizimana’s career started on Montréal’s West Island with the North Shore Lions (Québec Bantam Football League). In his two years with the team, he won two provincial championships. Afterwards, he graduated to the North Shore Mustangs (Québec Midget Football League) and played with them for a year.

When he was given the opportunity to play with CNDF, he jumped at the chance, saying it was the best decision he has made. With CDNF, he has won the Bol D’Or, finishing off what was almost a perfect season with the team.

While Hakizimana could have chosen the University of Montréal Carabins, he decided it wasn’t right for him. “I had the choice to go back to my hometown, but the with the help of a lot of people, I made the right decision and I hope it pays off,” he said.

Zachary Rouleau

Zachary Rouleau will also be staying in his hometown of Québec City where he has spent the last year playing football Les Élans de Cégep Garneau (RSEQ Division 1).

The 6’1, 210lbs outside linebacker said he was drawn to the university because of the school’s wining tradition, the feeling he had when he was visiting the campus and the chance to play in his hometown. He added that he is anxious to learn from the team’s excellent coaching staff.

The soon-to-be kinesiology student has also played for five years with the Blizzard du Séminaire Saint François (RSEQ Division 1). Prior to Cégep football, he played for two years with the Williston Northampton Wildcats a high school team located in Easthampton, Massachusetts. During his career, he was an All New England selection in his senior year at Williston in 2015. In 2012, his first season in the juvenile AAA league, he won a Bol D’Or with the Blizzards.

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