Record number: 199 CIS grads on CFL opening-day rosters

OTTAWA  – A record total of 199 former Canadian Interuniversity Sport players are listed on Canadian Football League rosters going into the 2015 CFL season, which kicks off Thursday night in Montreal.

The number includes 136 players on active rosters, 41 on injured lists, 20 on practice rosters, as well as one apiece on suspended and disabled lists.

The University of Calgary once again leads all CIS institutions with 21 former Dinos on CFL lineups. Laval (17), Montreal (12), Western (12), Manitoba (11), McMaster (11), Saint Mary’s (11), Saskatchewan (11) and Bishop’s (10) also hit double digits.

Twenty-six of the 27 CIS football programs will be represented in the CFL this summer, the lone exception being the Carleton Ravens, who returned to the field in 2013 after a 15-year hiatus.

The list of ex-CIS athletes also includes six players who suited up for Simon Fraser University when the Clan still competed north of the border.

The Calgary Stampeders open the new CFL campaign with 28 former CIS players within their ranks, including 17 on their active roster. Montreal (26), Hamilton (25), Winnipeg (23), Edmonton (22), Ottawa (22), Saskatchewan (21), Toronto (19) and British Columbia (13) follow in order.

The 2015 CIS football season gets under way on August 30 and culminates on November 28 with the 51^st Vanier Cup final at TELUS-Université Laval Stadium in Quebec City.

NOTES: Totals as of 9 a.m. ET on Thursday, June 25… The previous record of 192 former CIS players on CFL opening-day rosters had been set a year ago, a total that included 135 athletes on active rosters.

FORMER CIS PLAYERS ON 2015 CFL ROSTERS (by school):

NOTE: Five athletes played for two CIS teams and are included in both school totals.

21: Calgary

17: Laval

12: Montreal, Western

11: Manitoba, McMaster, Saint Mary’s, Saskatchewan

10: Bishop’s

9: Queen’s

8: Guelph

7: Concordia, Wilfrid Laurier

6: Sherbrooke, Simon Fraser, Toronto

5: Acadia, Regina, StFX

4: UBC, Waterloo

3: McGill, Ottawa, Windsor, York

2: Alberta, Mount Allison

FORMER CIS PLAYERS ON 2015 CFL ROSTERS (by CFL team):

Calgary (28)

Montreal (26)

Hamilton (25)

Winnipeg (23)

Edmonton (22)

Ottawa (22)

Saskatchewan (21)

Toronto (19)

British Columbia (13)

About the 51^st Vanier Cup

The 51^st Vanier Cup will be held at TELUS-Université Laval Stadium in Quebec City on Saturday, November 28 (Sportsnet & Radio-Canada).

The 2015 CIS football semifinals are set for Saturday, Nov. 21. The AUS champions will host the Canada West champions in the Uteck Bowl, while the OUA champions host the RSEQ champions in the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Mitchell Bowl.

Official Vanier Cup website (including ticket information) www.vaniercup.com