Canada West football All-Stars: Dzwilewski, Dinos lead with 12 conference selections

EDMONTON – Canada West announces the 2012 conference football All-Stars on offence, defence and special teams. Including a tie at one position on defence, 28 student-athletes make up the complete All-Star roster.

Team All-Star player totals are reflective of the Canada West standings, with the first-place Calgary Dinos earning 12 selections, followed by second-place Regina, with 10. The Saskatchewan Huskies and Manitoba Bisons, third and fourth in the conference, each placed three student-athletes on the all-conference roster.

Six members were unanimous selections to the roster, including three on offence, two on defence and one special teams player… receiver Kit Hillis (Saskatchewan), tackle Kirby Fabien (Calgary), guard Brett Jones (Regina), linebacker Mike Edem (Calgary), sam linebacker Steve Famulak (Regina) and kicker Johnny Mark (Calgary).

Leading the way on offence are Calgary standout quarterback Eric Dzwilewski (dill-ess-key), who passed for 2290 yards, 15 touchdowns and had a conference record 70% completion rate against only five interceptions. Also helping the Dinos break numerous team offensive records were running back Steven Lumbala, receiver Chris Dobko and three members of the offensive line.

The Saskatchewan Huskies’ Kit Hillis played just six of eight games, racking up almost 800 yards receiving, more than 100 ahead of his nearest rival, to go with a league-leading eight TD catches.

On defence, co-interception leaders from the Regina Rams – Jamir Walker and Kirby Kezama each made the team, while tackles leader Mike Edem of Calgary, who amassed 55 tackles in eight games, was one of the unanimous choices.

All-purpose yards leader, Nic Demski of the Manitoba Bisons, landed on the special teams after finishing first in kickoff returns and second in punt returns, picking up 460 yards in each role, highlighted by two 98-yard punt returns – one for a touchdown.

Of the 28 All-Stars, 12 were also on last year’s all-conference team, eight of whom went on to receive recognition on the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) team. Calgary’s Tye Noble is the only player to make the team three years running. Calgary kicker Johnny Mark has been a unanimous All-Canada West choice two years running.

Following are the 2012 Canada West football All-Stars by position, with program of study, year of eligibility and hometown (*unanimous selection, listed alphabetically by position):

CANADA WEST ALL-STARS (*unanimous selection)

Offence

2012 Canada West All-Stars with previous selections:
Chris Bodnar, Reg 2011 (CIS 1st)
Anthony Coombs, Man 2011 (CIS 1st)
Nic Demski, Man 2011
Chrios Dobko, Cgy 2011
Kirby Fabien, Cgy 2011 (CIS 1st) 2009
Kinden Gaydosh, Cgy 2011 (CIS 2nd)
Brett Jones, Reg 2011 CIS (1st)
Steven Lumbala, Cgy 2011 (CIS 1st)
Johnny Mark, Cgy 2011
Quinn McCaughan, Cgy 2011 (CIS 2nd)
Tye Noble, Cgy 2011 2010
Teague Sherman, Man 2011 (CIS 1st)
Jamir Walker, Reg 2010 (CIS 1st)

Winners of the Canada West individual football awards will be announced at 11:00 a.m. Mountain Time on Thursday, November 8.

CIS All-Canadians will be announced at Ontario Place in Toronto on Wednesday, November 21, two days before the 48th Vanier Cup at Rogers Centre on Friday, Nov. 23.

On Saturday, the Calgary Dinos will host the Regina Rams in the 76th Hardy Cup game at McMahon Stadium, live across Canada on TSN at 2:00 p.m. MST.

Photo credit:  Josh Schaefer