With two new teams, there were bound to be some changes to the 2013 All Star selections, but, veterans ruled the day in the 2013 Award Selections.  Record setting Sault Steeler tailback Josh Gauthier has garnered five nods this season to join Ricky Clarke in this exclusive club.  Gauthier set new single season marks for rushing yards, rushing average, rushing touchdowns and earned his sixth August Kangro Memorial Award (leading scorer) which is a new mark.  In addition, Gauthier extended his stand atop the League Career scoring chart to 738 points.

Veteran Brandon Lewis, who also coaches the Sault Steelers, earned his 17^th All Star nod on the Defensive Line which extends his record for one position.  Lewis has also garnered 16 straight nods on the Defensive Line which is also a record.  As well, with Lewis earning Defensive Lineman of the Year honours for a fourth consecutive year, this pushes his Career Awards total to 19, also, a record.  In total, Lewis has earned 37 plaques in his N.F.C. career which commenced in 1996.  Former Sudbury receiver Dave St. Amour is next with 24 career plaques while Ricky Clarke and Josh Gauthier now have 20 in their careers.  Based on the Steelers record team rushing yard performance, they swept the Offensive Line positions which also happened previously for the Steelers in 2010.

Honours are determined from votes from coaches and players, along with statistical performance weighting for all All Star positions and some awards honours.

The Playoff Finalist Steelers lead the way with 9 all star nods.  The Playoff Champion Montreal Transit were next with 6 nods, followed by a tie for Durham and Tri City with three apiece, Oakville, Ottawa and Sudbury with two and Sarnia with one.   For the Awards, the Steelers lead the parade with 7, Montreal garnered three while Durham and Tri City had one apiece.  The Champion Transit will be hosting the Alberta Champion Calgary Gators for the Canadian Senior Championship in Dollard des Ormeaux QC on September 28^th.

2013 also sees the continued recognition of Second Team All Stars.  The complete listing of those earning honours is below:

 

AWARDS

 

Most Valuable Player             Josh Gauthier – Sault              Also honoured in 2010

 

Offensive Player of the Year        Josh Gauthier – Sault              Also honoured in 2010

 

Defensive Player of the Year          Brandon Lewis – Sault           Also won in 1998,2002,2010 and 2011

 

Offensive Lineman                 Greg Torrance – Sault             Also honoured in 2011

 

Defensive Lineman                 Brandon Lewis – Sault           Fifth time, also 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012

 

Rookie of the Year                 Patrick Jerome – Montreal      First award for the Transit

(Leo Troy Memorial)            

 

Coach of the Year                  Chris Newsome – Tri City      Third time this award is a tie

(Sid Forster Memorial)          Dave Spence – Montreal

 

Special Teams Player             Rickey Clarke – Durham        Fifth time, also 2006,07,08 and 12

(Mike Jackson Memorial)

 

Leading Scorer                       Josh Gauthier – Sault               Record sixth time

(August Kangro Memorial)                                                   (150 points, 2^nd highest ever)

 

Championship Game M.V.P.        Andrew Blevings – Montreal    First such honour

Josh Gauthier – Sault              Also in 2007,09 and 10

OFFENCE ALL STARS

 

Position                                 Player, Team                                                        Previous Selections

 

Quarterback              Mathieu Rene – Montreal                   First selection

Running Back           Josh Cuomo – Sudbury                       First selection

Josh Gauthier – Sault                          2007,08,10 and 11

 

Receivers                    Francois Bruno – Montreal                 First selection

Ricky Clarke – Durham                      2006,07 and 08

Andrew Foss – Ottawa                       First selection

Chris Hibbert – Oakville                     First selection

 

Offensive Line           Dakota Boissoneau – Sault                 First selection

Zack Kirk – Sault                               2011

Drew McBride – Sault                        First selection

Luke Tenhagen – Sault                       2010 & 11

Greg Torrance – Sault                         2010,2011 & 12

 

SPECIAL TEAMS ALL STARS

 

Punter                                    Tom Bailey – Tri City                         First selection

Punt Return               Ricky Clarke – Durham                      2005,06,07 & 08

Kicker                                    Dumitur Ionita – Durham                    First selection

Kick Return               Chris Hibbert – Oakville                     First selection

 

 

DEFENCE ALL STARS

 

 

Defensive Line           Craig Hodge – Ottawa                       First selection

Kleevens Jean-Louis – Ottawa           First selection

Brandon Lewis – Sault                       17^th selection

Tyson Vanderloo – Sault                    First selection

 

 

Linebackers               John Bain – Sarnia                              First at this position, DB in 2012

Andrew Blevings – Montreal             First selection

Matt Gauthier – Sault                         2006 & 2012

Kris Kusch – Tri City                          2012

 

Defensive Backs        Ron Ackie – Tri City                         First selection

Matt Furino – Sudbury                        First selection

Adrien Kellman – Montreal                First selection

Markenson Laguerre – Montreal         First selection

 

SECOND TEAM ALL STARS

 

Quarterback                Rob Green – Sault

Running Backs            Andrew Hamilton – Montreal

Julian Shadd Gentry – Sarnia

Receivers                     Kyle Gauthier – Sault

Patrick Jerome – Montreal

Lindell Merraro – Oakville

Ryan Thompson – Durham

Offensive Line            Pierre Absi – Montreal

Paul Archer – Durham

Josh Golding – Tri City

Corey Newman – Montreal

Riad Namani – Montreal

Henrick Pierre Paul – Montreal

 

Punter                          Jeff Morris – Ottawa

Punt Return                 Adam Gourgon – Ottawa

Kicker                         Kevin Allaer – Sarnia

Kick Return                Ricky Clarke – Durham

Defensive Line            Andelson Blanc – Montreal

Paul Fraser – Toronto Raiders

Jordan Skerritt – Sarnia

Richard Thompson – Toronto Raiders

Linebackers                 Delroy George – Durham

Joe Kerr – Sudbury

Ryan Perry – Montreal

Ryan Yantz – Tri City

Defensive Backs         Jason Connell – Durham

Dustin Crowder – Sudbury

Pat Murray – Sault

Justin Sauerzopf – Sault