Three members of the 2015 Concordia Stingers football team were selected in last night’s CFL draft.
Defensive back Mikaël Charland (second round, Ottawa Redblacks), offensive lineman Roman Grozman (fourth round, Calgary Stampeders) and linebacker Arto Khatchikian (seventh round, Ottawa) join a long list of accomplished Stinger players who went to the next level.
Going back to 1975, 64 members of the Stingers have been drafted by CFL teams. Nineteen of those selections have come in the last 10 years and include SB Cory Watson who won a Grey Cup with the Edmonton Eskimos last year and LB Cory Greenwood who spent four seasons in the NFL before joining the Toronto Argonauts in 2014.
Charland, a native of Gatineau, Que., was selected by the Redblacks 16th overall.
“So happy to be in Ottawa,” said Charland who followed the draft from a restaurant surrounded by family and friends.Charland, who checks in at six foot four, 215 lbs., finished the 2015 season with 37 solo tackles and 19 assists for 46.5 tackles in eight games. He also had three interceptions, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He was named a second team CIS all-Canadian.
In four seasons, Charland has played in every regular season game with the Stingers. He has accumulated 166 solo tackles and 66 assists for a total of 199 tackles in his career. That is the third most tackles in Concordia history.
The Redblacks posted the following description of Charland on their website shortly after they announced his selection.
“The REDBLACKS add a hard-nosed player with the physicality to play in the box and support the run along with the athleticism to patrol the deep half with range. Charland is expected to make immediate contributions on special teams.”
The last time the Redblacks drafted a member of the Stingers was in 1995 when they selected defensive lineman Danny Lavallee in the fifth round.Grozman was selected 33rd overall by the Stampeders. He should be at home in Calgary where he will find several Stinger alumni – kicker Rene Paredes, linebacker Max Caron and defensive lineman Quinn Smith.
A native of Tel-Aviv, Israel, Grozman moved to the Toronto area at 10 years old. He was introduced to football in his new country and began playing in Grade 9. He attended a U.S. prep school, Milford Academy before joining the Stingers and playing four years of CIS football.
His size (6’4”, 315 lbs.) and athletic ability served him well and certainly attracted the CFL teams.
Selected 54th overall Khatchikian, a native of Dollard des Ormeaux, Que., joins Charland with the Redblacks. The veteran linebacker is also a hardnosed, physical player. He wrapped up the 2015 season with 25 solo tackles and 25 assists in eight games. He also recorded four tackles for losses, including two sacks. He was the RSEQ defensive player of the week (Sept. 21) and the defensive MVP in the Shrine Bowl, a 33-21 victory over the McGill Redmen on Sept. 19.
The six-foot, 220-pound athlete played for the St. Leonard Cougars in the junior ranks before joining the Stingers.
