Three members of the Concordia Stingers will participate the ninth annual East West Bowl, an annual football game designed to showcase Canadian university players who are eligible for the 2012 Canadian Football League draft.
The event will take place on May 7 at 1 p.m. at University of Western Ontario in London, Ont.
Centre Corey Newman, defensive back Christian Walcott and wide receiver Sanchez Deschamps will participate in the elite competition.
The game is the highlight of a week of activities that includes physical testing, training and a coaching clinic.
“It’s going to be a blast,” says Newman, a centre with the Stingers. “There will be a lot of scouts and coaches there. We’ll be learning new things and it will be fun to compare it to what we learn at Concordia. Also, if you do well, you can feel good because you’ve been competing against the best of the best.”
Newman, a native of Châteauguay, Que., checks in at six foot two, 305 pounds.
Walcott is a halfback from Markham, Ont. He played six games last season picking up 15 solo tackles, nine assists and a forced fumble. The five-foot-10, 198-pound defensive back also played for Team World at an international football challenge in January of 2010.
“It’s an honor to go and represent Concordia,” Walcott says. “I’m looking forward to showcasing my abilities.”
Deschamps of Mississauaga, Ont. participated in eight games last year. He caught 22 passes for 300 yards and a touchdown. The receiver is six foot two and 195 pounds.
Three members of the Concordia coaching staff will also take part in the week-long activities – defensive co-ordinator Phil Roberts, receiver coach Dave Spence and quarterback coach Sean Dougherty.
The East side is comprised of student-athletes representing schools from the Atlantic and Quebec conferences, as well as from Queen's, Ottawa and Toronto. The West squad is made up of players from Canada West and from the remaining Ontario universities.
The East team prevailed 12-9 in 2010 to improve its all-time record to 2-6 in the series.
