Two members of the Concordia Stingers football team have big things planned for the 16th annual U SPORTS Valero East-West Bowl game in Quebec City on May 12.
Offensive linemen Maurice Simba and Matt Halbgewachs were selected to represent the East in the 2018 prospect game. They will travel to Quebec City on Monday and begin a series of meetings, practices and physical tests in preparation for the game. All this will happen under the watchful eyes of the CFL scouts who are evaluating the university athletes for the 2019 draft.
Simba and Halbgewachs are well aware of the CFL presence at the events next week.
“I’m going to try and have fun and not put too much pressure on myself,” said Simba, a six-foot-eight, 330-pound all-Canadian player from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“I want to show the scouts what I can do. I want them to see my abilities and see that I am very coachable.”
For Halbgewachs, a six-foot-five, 315-pound Regina native, the scenario is a little different.
“First, I think it’s cool to be able to play against guys I know from back home,” he said. “I’m looking forward to comparing myself to the guys from out West.
“I’m also hoping to show the scouts my versatility. I’m hoping to get reps at all three positions on the line. And to get where I want to be, I need to show my toughness, technique, timing and my intelligence.”
The East team for the game is comprised of players from the Atlantic and Quebec football conferences as well as Carleton, Ottawa and Queen’s, while the West contingent is made up of student-athletes from Canada West and the remaining Ontario universities.
The West leads the series, winning nine of the 15 games held to date. The West is the defending champion with a 37-13 victory last May.
Kickoff is 12:30 p.m., and the game will be streamed live but details have yet to be announced.
