CIS preview: Queen’s young core looks to grow from experience, add Leroy Blugh

After coming off a 2009 season that saw Queen’s capture their fourth Vanier Cup in school history, the 2010 team was a much younger squad in comparison to the ’09 juggernaut. Despite the youth and inexperience in some areas, the Gael’s managed a playoff berth after going 3-5 during the regular season. Queen’s lined up against the McMaster Marauders in the OUA quarter-final but were unable to keep pace. In the end were outmatched by a tough offensive Marauders team in a 40-19 loss.

Head Coach Pat Sheahan enters his 12th season with the Gaels and will look to improve on his career 62-42 as Queen’s head coach. Last year Sheahan broke the 100 career regular season win mark spanning 22 seasons split between Concordia and Queen’s.

The 2010 season allowed for a new generation of Gaels to grow and blossom on the young talented squad. Rookie linebacker Sam Sabourin of Stittsville, Ont., led the way on defence in his first year as he was named the OUA rookie of the year after setting a new school record for solo tackles in a season with 50. John Miniaci of Toronto, and Stephen Laporte of Ottawa, Ont., will be looked upon to bring a veteran presence and strong leadership to an already sound defensive side of the ball. Defensive wizard Pat Tracey (Assistant Coach) was at it again in 2010 as his defence allowed the fourth lowest points against last season and will look to improve upon that in the upcoming year.

On offence, the Gaels will see second year pivot Billy McPhee of Burlington, Ont., take over the starting role from last year’s starter Justin Chapdelaine of Abbotsford, B.C. Chapdelaine in pursuit of a CFL career will switch from the quarterback position to wide receiver giving the Gaels another threat on the offensive side of the ball. Last year in his rookie season, McPhee got a taste for competition at the CIS level as a backup last year tallying 296 yards and two TDs.

Veteran running backs Ryan Granberg of Sherwood Park, Alta., and John Widgett of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., will be trusted with the ground game for the season with the departure of Jimmy Therrien. In eight games last season Granberg sparkled in a backup role running for 517 yards and four TDs.

Joining Chapdelaine as McPhee’s targets will be Giovanni Aprile of Toronto, who is coming off an impressive 34 receptions for 476 yards in his third season. Gaels all-time leading scorer Dan Village of Abbotsford, B.C., returns for his fifth and final year as the Queen’s kicker and punter. Last year Village passed Jamie Galloway in all-time scoring and now sits alone with 271 points. He will also make a run at the all-time CIS career scoring top 10 as he sits only 25 points away.

The Gaels will look to return to their 2009 OUA and CIS Championship form for the 2011 season.

Former Bishop’s Gaiters head football coach Leroy Blugh is the newest member of the Queen’s Golden Gaels’ coaching staff.

The Napanee-raised Blugh will be the defensive line coach this year, replacing 51-year coach Bob Vespaziani, who has decided to retire after an outstanding career.

Quote from head coach Pat Sheahan:

On the upcoming season:
“Although we may have not had the same success from 2009, we certainly grew from our experience and will be able to transform that into stronger results this season. Our young core now has a full year of experience under their belt and I have every reason to believe we will be a contending team this year. We have several offensive weapons waiting to showcase their skills and the defence is coming into championship form – I also expect our special teams to be much improved from last year. We will contend in 2011.”

On the 2011 recruiting class:
“This year’s recruiting class will help transform our roster for years to come and keep us in contention as we mature as a team. We have secured several talented players in key positions and some will compete for playing time this season. The future looks very plentiful.”

Head Coach Pat Sheahan:

– Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2011): 12th season
– Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2011): 23rd season
– Career regular season record with team: 53-35
– Career regular season record in CIS: 101-68-1
– Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 62-42
– Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 116-83-1

2010 regular season record: 3-5
2010 regular season standings: 6th OUA
2010 playoff record: 0-1
2010 playoff finish: Loss OUA Quarter-final 40-19 to McMaster Marauders

OFFENCE

Key returning players:

QB Billy McPhee enters his second season at Queen’s. McPhee dressed for seven games backing up at quarterback last year. He made 10 completions for 119 yards and threw his first career touchdown on Sept. 18 vs Guelph.

RB Ryan Granberg enters his fourth year with the Gaels. Granberg played in all eight regular season games in 2010 season and led all Gaels in rushing yards with 517. His 517 yards were good for sixth in OUA total rushing yards for 2010 season.

OG Derek Morris returns for his fourth year with the team. A participant in 2011 East-West Bowl, Morris saw his playing time in 2010 cut short due to injury. Morris started Queen’s opening game against McMaster before dressing as a backup in each of the Gaels final three games, including their playoff matchup against the Marauders.

WR Justin Chapdelaine returns for his third season with the Gaels. Set a Gaels single game record with six passing touchdowns in win over Toronto on Oct. 9 last season. Chapdelaine finished the season with seven rushing touchdowns and rushed for at least one touchdown in five straight games from Sept. 25 to Oct. 23. He finished ninth in the CIS with 1878 yards passing. Chapdelaine will make the switch from quarterback to receiver for the 2011 season.

RB John Widgett returns for his fourth year at Queen’s. Widgett started every game for Queen’s during the 2010 season and recorded his first career touchdown with a six yard reception on Oct. 23, 2010 vs. York.

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

RB Jesse Andrews – Arnprior DHS, Arnprior, Ont.
Jesse stands 6’0, 210 lbs., and is the best RB to have played at Arnprior in many years. He led the Redmen to the Ottawa Valley Championship in 2010. Jesse is a great cut back runner who plays with courage and toughness. He will be an exciting young newcomer to the Gaels this year.

WR Curtis Carmichael – Birchmount Park SS, Toronto, Ont.
Curtis is 6’0,185 lbs., and is a gifted athlete with great speed and agility. He will be a big play guy for the Gaels very soon.

OL Nick Romanchuk – St Robert CHS, Richmond Hill, Ont.
Nick was the biggest offensive line player in the 2011 Canadian recruiting class. He stands 6’10 and weighs 320 lbs. He will be a difference maker soon.

Key losses:

2011
REC Devan Sheahan
OL Matt O’Donnell (Cincinnati Bengals – NFL)
REC Blaise Morrison
RB Jimmy Therrien
REC Chris Ioannides

DEFENCE

Key returning players:

LB Sam Sabourin enters his second season in the CIS. A breakout year in 2010 saw him record 64 tackles (setting a new school record for solo tackles with 50), two sacks and one interception on his way to being named the OUA rookie of the year.

DL John Miniaci enters his third year with Queen’s. He was named Gaels defensive lineman of the year in 2010 after finishing second on the team in sacks with 4.5 and third on the team in tackles with 29.

DL Derek Wiggan enters his second season with the Gaels. Wiggan is coming off a rookie season that saw him start in all eight regular season games. He recorded his first career sack in a game against York on Oct. 23.

DB Andrew Lue is set to begin his second season in Kingston with Queen’s. Lue played in seven games in 2010 for the Gaels, recording 15 solo tackles and five assisted tackles. He made first career interception on Oct. 16 vs. Laurier.

LB Stephen Laporte enters his fourth season with the Gaels. Laporte recorded career highs in solo (16) and assisted (13) tackles during 2010 season. He will be leaned on to lead a young and upcoming group on defense.

DL Frank Pankewich is set for his third season in the tri-colour. Pankewich led all Gaels in sacks last year with six and was second on the team in tackles with 29 which are both career highs for the defensive lineman.

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

LB Luke Ball – Holy Cross CHS, Kingston, Ont.
Luke was arguably the top recruit in Kingston this year. He has great versatility and toughness and is very mobile for a big guy (6’4, 230 lbs.) He will add some intensity to the Queen’s defense moving forward.

DB Colton Ballou – Harry Ainlay HS, Edmonton Alta.
Colton is the top DB coming out of Edmonton this year. He stands 6’3 and weighs 195 lbs. He was highly sought after by a number of Canada’s top programs. Ballou is a gifted student and a great player who will fit in nicely at Queen’s.

DB Christophe Smith – Vanier College, Montreal, Que.
Christophe (6’2, 198 lbs.) held down a starting corner spot on what was arguably the best pre-university football team in Canada in 2010. The Vanier Cheetahs from the Montreal suburb of St. Laurent in the Quebec AAA Cegep league were highly touted and heavily recruited after the 2010 championship season. Christophe has a tremendous upside with great size and speed. A great fit for the Gaels secondary.

Key losses:

DB Alex Daprato
DB Addison Rich

SPECIAL TEAMS

Key returning players:

K/PUNTER Dan Village set a new team record last year with 271 career points, passing Jamie Galloway whose record stood since 1992. Village currently sits 19th (tie) in career regular season scoring in the CIS and 39th (tie) in the CIS with 44 career field goals. Based on his previous season statistics he is expected to break into the top 10 in each category.

Former Players in the CFL and NFL

CFL
WR Rob Bagg – Saskatchewan Roughriders
RB Bryan Crawford – Toronto Argonauts
RB Mike Giffin – Montreal Alouettes
DT Matt Kirk – Hamilton Tiger-Cats
LS Kevin Scott – Hamilton Tiger-Cats
SB Brad Smith – Edmonton Eskimos
LB Chris Smith – Toronto Argonauts
DT Dee Sterling – Edmonton Eskimos
DE Shomari Williams – Saskatchewan Roughriders

NFL
Matt O’Donnell – Cincinnati Bengals

Source: Queen’s Sports Info

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INCOMING RECRUITING CLASS:

Queen’s 24

Detlev Himmelman – LB – West Ferris / Team Ontario East (North Bay, ON) Signed
William Zed – DB – Citadel / Team Nova Scotia (Halifax, NS) Signed
Nick Ettinger – QB (6’2,195) St Mary’s HS Calgary, AB) Signed
Dan Broodo – FS/LB (6’2, 200) Rundle College (Calgary, AB) Signed
Ryan Farrell – LB (6’1, 210) Citadel (Halifax, NS) Signed
Jason Cerquera – REC (6’0, 180) Richview (Toronto, ON) Signed
Yann Dika – DB – Leaside / Toronto Thunder / Team Ontario West (Toronto, ON) Signed
John Piazza – FB (5’11, 218) Chaminade (Toronto, ON) Signed
Thomas Juha – REC (6’1, 180) Michael Power (Toronto,ON) Signed
Mike Mortley – REC – Sir Winston Churchill (Hamilton, ON) Signed
Trevor Plumley – RB – White Pines / Sabercats (Sault Ste Marie, ON) Signed
Curtis Carmichael – REC – Birchmount (Toronto, ON) Signed
Jesse Andrews – RB – Arnprior (Arnprior, ON) Signed

Chris Smith – DB – Vanier (Montreal) Verbal
Nick Romanchuk 6’10” 320 OL – St. Robert / Toronto Jr. Argos (Thornhill, ON) Verbal
Cory Flude – DL (6’3, 255) Holy Cross (Kingston ON) Verbal
Justin Gleben – FB (6’1, 225) Innisdale (Barrie, ON) Verbal
Scott Keeley – K/P – St. John’s / Grenadiers (Perth, ON) Verbal VIDEO
Hassan Abdul – 6′ 210 – LB/DE – Upper Canada College (Toronto) Verbal
Luke Ball 6’4 230 LB/DE – Holy Cross (Kingston, ON) Verbal
Colton Ballou – DB – Harry Ainlay (Edmonton, AB) Verbal
Ryan Dougherty 6’4/295 – OL – London South (London, ON) Verbal
Matthew Mardini – DL – St. Andrew’s / Team Ontario East (Markham, ON) Verbal
Josh Butcher – DB – Holy Trinity (Oakville, ON) Verbal

CLICK HERE for all teams recruiting classes

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