November 12, 2009

Dinos lead all-star team

Seven University of Calgary Dinos have been announced as football all-stars for 2009, the most of any program in the conference.

Six of the seven Dinos chosen came from the offensive side of the football after Calgary tied or broke four team offensive records in 2009, putting up the most total yards of any team in the nation.

Quarterback Erik Glavic was the unanimous pick among the seven Canada West coaches for the all-star team at pivot. The 6-foot-6 Saint Mary’s transfer led the conference with a 67.5 completion percentage, passing for 14 touchdowns and 2,186 yards. He also led in total offence with 2,689 yards after gaining 503 yards along the ground to tie for fourth place in the conference in rushing.

Matt Walter, the 2008 Canada West most valuable player, was also a unanimous choice at the running back spot. Walter won the conference rushing title for the second straight season, churning up a career-high 1,103 yards and nine touchdowns along the ground.

The third unanimous all-star pick was wide receiver Nathan Coehoorn, who finished second in the conference in total receiving yards behind teammate and fellow all-star, slotback Anthony Parker. Between them, Parker and Coehoorn combined for 1,581 yards and nine touchdowns.

A pair of offensive linemen—centre Alex Krausnick-Groh and right tackle Kirby Fabien—round out Calgary’s offensive all-stars. Krausnick-Groh earns his first all-star nod in just his second year of eligibility, while Fabien is a redshirt freshman and one of just two first-year players named conference all-stars in 2009.

Linebacker Andrea Bonaventura, a first-team All-Canadian in 2008 and last season’s conference defensive player of the year, is the Dinos’ lone defensive all-star. A fourth-year native of Hamilton, Ont., Bonaventura finished the season with 40.5 tackles and a sack from his middle linebacker position, good enough for second on the team and 11th in Canada West.

After Calgary’s seven, the Saskatchewan Huskies placed four players on the all-star team, as did the Manitoba Bisons and Simon Fraser Clan. Three Alberta Golden Bears and three Regina Rams were selected, while the UBC Thunderbirds put two players on the all-star team.

The Canada West all-stars go forward as nominees for the All-Canadian teams, which will be announced during the week leading up to the Desjardins Vanier Cup at Université Laval in Quebec City on Nov. 28.

Canada West will announce its major award winners, including most valuable player, defensive player of the year, rookie of the year, lineman of the year and coach of the year today at 1 p.m.

The Dinos face off with the Saskatchewan Huskies for the 73rd Hardy Cup championship on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Saskatoon, with kickoff at 12 p.m. (Shaw TV, The FAN 960, www.fan960.com).

Photos by David Moll