Clan set for Monday scrimmage

Burnaby, BC – The Simon Fraser University Clan football team under the guidance of new head coach Jacques Chapdelaine have been taking part in fall camp the past week and a half, as the team prepares for their home opener on September 6 against the Menlo Oaks at Swangard Stadium at 12:00 p.m.

Monday will see the team go through their first live scrimmage of camp, a chance for the players to show their understanding of the new offence and defence in hopes of earning playing time in the 2014 season.

Bringing his CFL background where he won three Grey Cups as a coach, Chapdelaine brings his dynamic offence to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in hopes of putting back some life on the offensive side after a down year in 2013.

Camp has seen a lively battle at the quarterback position, as incumbent starter Ryan Stanford (Phoenix, AZ) has been sharing equal reps with last year’s back-up Mitchell Rushton (Delta, BC) and Tyler Nickel (Calgary, AB), who redshirted last season.

Working with the quarterbacks in every practice, Chapdelaine is excited to see how the trio perform in the scrimmage, as he will then name the starter for the season in the following days.

With a deep and talented receiving corps, there will be no shortage of options for whoever wins the starting job at quarterback, as the Clan possess a skilled group which will be put on display during the scrimmage. 

The group is led by Lemar Durant (Coquitlam, BC), who has made countless plays during camp thus far, as has tight end/receiver Jamal Kett (Orangeville, ON) while seniorBobby Pospischil (Coquitlam, BC) will look to have a strong final collegiate season to wrap up an impressive college career.

New offensive line coach Adam Blasetti has been working to turn the Clan linemen into a cohesive unit, while the defensive line under the tutelage of coach Bryan Wylie, have been one of the strengths so far in camp.

2013 Team MVP Chris Tolbert (Silver Springs, MD) and Stephen Spagnuolo (Vancouver, BC) have led the way at running back and will be looked upon to add balance to the offence.

Linebacker is another deep, athletic position with Mitchell Barnett (North Vancouver, BC) returning and a host of others with game experience, and the secondary returns a familiar face in Matt Isherwood (Vancouver, BC) who sat out all of last year with an injury.

Defensive coordinator Abe Elimimian takes over a unit after a tough 2013 season, but is looking to rebound with the potential to be the best group yet since moving to the NCAA.

The kicking game has been a point of emphasis in camp and Tiernan Docherty (Richmond, BC) has shown an improved and stronger leg coming off of surgery, and Nikolai Karpun (North Delta, BC) has boomed some punts in practice so far.

The scrimmage will take place Monday at 4:30 p.m. on Terry Fox Field.

HOME OPENER AT SWANGARD STADIUM WILL HONOUR 1974 CLAN FOOTBALL TEAM

Throughout the 2014 season, SFU will honour past teams at home games at Swangard Stadium, starting with recognizing the 1974 Clan football team at September 6’s home opener.

Over the next two weeks, SFU Athletics will unveil the members of the team who will be in attendance starting today as Clan alumnus and CFL all-star Lyall Woznesensky will take part in the festivities.

Following his Clan career, Woznesensky, a defensive lineman, was a territorial exemption of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1977 and spent his first two seasons with Winnipeg.  

He was part of a major trade in February of 1979 when he was sent to Calgary along with running back Richard Crump and defensive back Merv Walker for the great defensive lineman John Helton and offensive lineman John Malinosky.  

After one season with Calgary, Woznesensky was traded again, this time with linebacker Campbell Hackney to Hamilton for future considerations.  

After one season in Hamlton, Woznesensky became a free agent and was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders where he played in 1981 and 1982.  1981 was Wosnesensky’s best season as his 14 sacks earned him a spot on the western division all-star team.  

The Riders traded Woznesensky to Toronto along with defensive back Marcellus Greene for running back John Lowe and defensive back Leo Gray in June of 1983.  

After playing six games for Toronto, Woznesensky was picked up by Montreal where he finished he 1983 season.  He returned to Calgary in March of 1984, Woznesensky playing his final season with the Stampeders, recording 15 quarterback sacks.

In 2006, Wozensensky became the defensive coordinator for the football program at John Barsby Community School in Nanaimo, BC.

Photo credit:  Ron Hole

(Written by Mackenzie Dalgleish)