IFAF U19: Canada clashes with Japan in Semi-Final showdown

As if it was written in a fairy tale, Team Canada will once again meet an all too familiar foe as they prepare to face Team Japan in Wednesday’s Semi-Final game.

The match-up is a repeat of the 2009 duel which saw Canada edge Japan in double overtime to reach the Gold Medal game against the U.S.A.

Coach Thorpe knows that in a game of this magnitude, against a much less forgiving opponent, his Canadian boys must get out of the gate with much more jump to their step then against Sweden.

“I think we started out slow but we regrouped. That’s not how we wanted to start the game”, Head Coach Noel Thorpe expressed. “We regrouped at half-time and I think you saw the results when we came out.”

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Team Canada heads into the game having blanked Sweden 43-0, while Japan made quick work of France in a breezy 27-7 win. The Canucks set a number of records in the convincing win, including a tournament record 77-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Will Finch to Doug Corby.

Canada’s three-headed rushing attack will need to keep up its strong play against Japan in order to dictate the flow of the game. The teams passing offense will need to also step it up with Will Finch, Hugo Richard and Dallon Kurprowski manning the controls. The trio combined to pass for 256 yards and a touchdown against Sweden.

Japan’s combination of air assault, rushing game and their effective quarterback option plays will keep the Canadian defense guessing. Coming off a 43-0 shutout win against the Swedes, Canada’s offense looks to keep up with Japan’s, while their defense seeming more than capable of shutting them down.

Wednesdays winner

earns a trip to the gold medal game on Saturday, July 7 against the winner of the USA and Austria.

Today’s game has all the making of a good ol’ fashion classic between two very even teams. Catch the game live streamed on CFC starting at 5pm.

Games will air on a live webcast on CanadaFootballChat.com at (http://www.canadafoo…/live_games.php).

Schedule (all times CST)

Saturday, June 30

Panama 0 vs. Austria 40

Japan 27 vs. France 6

Canada 43 vs. Sweden 0

USA 27 vs. American Samoa 6

Tuesday, July 3

5 PM
France vs. Sweden

8 PM
Panama vs. American Samoa

Wednesday, July 4

5 PM
Japan vs. Canada

8 PM
Austria vs. USA

Friday, July 6

5 PM
Seventh-Place Game

8 PM
Fifth-Place Game

Saturday, July 7

5 PM
Bronze Medal Game

8 PM
Gold Medal Game

FINAL 2012 Junior National Team roster

Quarterbacks
Will Finch / Burlington, ON
Dallon Kuprowski / Kanata, ON
Hugo Richard / St-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC

Running Backs
Christopher Amoah / Lachine, QC
Andreas Robinson / Dartmouth, NS
Mercer Timmis / Burlington, ON

Receivers
Regis Cibasu / Montréal, QC
Doug Corby / Burlington, ON
A’dre Fraser / Lawrencetown, NS
Tylor Henry / Camrose, AB
Alexandre Huard / Laval, QC
Alexandre Savard / Lorraine, QC
Ryan Smith / Sherwood Park, AB

Offensive Line
Kadeem Adams / Halifax, NS
Louis-Gabriel Beaudet / Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC
Andrew Boisvert / Sherwood Park, AB
Lloyd Constant / Montréal, QC
Emilio Frometa / Sudbury, ON
Nathan Heide / Warman, SK
Erick Lessard / Sudbury, ON
David Knevel / Brantford, ON
Jean-Simon Roy / Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC

Defensive Line
Edward Godin Gosselin / Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC
Quinn Horton / Winnipeg, MB
Jacob Leblanc / Halifax, NS
Clement Lebreux / Candiac, QC
Glen Joorisity / Deer Valley, SK
Adam Melanson / Kentville, NS
Charles Rémy-Sarrazin / Montréal, QC
Brett Wade / Regina, SK

Linebackers
Pierre-Luc Caron / Laval, QC
Tanner Doll / St. Albert, AB
Maxime Drolet / Québec, QC
Nicholas Easterbrook / Laval, QC
Jean-Gabriel Poulin / St-Nicolas, QC
John Rush / Port Robinson, ON
Marc-Antoine Varin / St-Hippolyte, QC

Defensive Backs
Keldyn Ahlstedt / Whitby, ON
Keegan Arnyek / Moose Jaw, SK
Tomy Duperron / Sherbrooke, QC
Khadim Mbaye / Laval, QC
Kevin McGee / Sherbrooke, QC
Rees Paterson / Sherwood Park, AB
Michael Schmidt / Calgary, AB

Kicker, Punter
Louis-Philippe Simoneau / Saint-Hyachinthe, QC

Coaching and Support Staff

Noel Thorpe / Head Coach

Warren Craney / Defensive Coordinator – Linebackers
Pat Boies / Offensive Coordinator
Gilles Lezi / Special Teams Coordinator- Running Backs
Michael Faulds / Quarterbacks
Alain Mainguy / Offensive Line
Kamau Peterson / Receivers
Brian Guebert / Defensive Line
Devin Murphy / Defensive Backs

Patrick Gendron / Athletic Therapist
Jean-Baptiste Laporte / Athletic Therapist
Jeremy Clouthier / Video Coordinator
Jacques Guilbault / Equipment manager
Elliott Richardson / Strength and Conditioning Coach

Players by Province:
Quebec – 20
Ontario – 9
Alberta – 6
Nova Scotia – 5
Saskatchewan – 4
Manitoba – 1

Photo Credit: Pat Kuprowski

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