B.C. Lions photo courtesy Kyle Clapham / U of Alberta photo courtesy Uwe Welz
EDMONTON - Hugh O'Neill has had great moments in his four years playing Canada West football with the Alberta Golden Bears, but those achievements cannot compare to the thrill of stepping onto the pro field.
On Wednesday night in Calgary, the 11th overall selection by the B.C. Lions in the 2011 Canadian Football League college draft O'Neill not only played, but shone brightly for the victorious Lions.
"My experience so far has gone beyond my expectations," said O'Neill via email. "The coaching staff has been great and working with Paul (McCallum) has already begun to pay off. Playing on Wednesday was a great experience and reinforced my belief that I can perform at this level."
Game Stats
O'Neill was called upon to share punting and kickoff duties with veteran Paul McCallum and the rookie did not disappoint, with a 45.1-yard average on eight punts, a long of 50 and eight yards better than McCallum's numbers. O'Neill kicked off four times for an average of 54.5 yards, while McCallum kicked off just once for 67.
In the end it was a 24-0 win for the road team.
A 2007 recruit by then Bears head coach Jerry Friesen, the Ross Sheppard High School (Edmonton, AB) grad has impressed from the very beginning, with a 41.7 yard punting average and a long of 83 to go with a 73.1% field goal percentage (19-26), earning him CIS Second Team All-Canadian status as both a punter and placekicker.
In four Canada West seasons he has made 72% of his field goal attempts, with a long of 50, and a solid 41.4 punt average, putting him among all-time conference greats who turned pro such as the Seattle Seahawks' Jon Ryan, Jamie Boreham, Matt Kellett and Brent Matich.
Also making his CFL debut on June 15 was third overall pick Anthony Parker, an All-Star receiver plucked from the Calgary Dinos' roster. Parker, an Okotoka, Alberta native, hauled in two passes for 13 yards on the night.
On June 16, #4 overall pick, WR Jade Etienne of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, made one reception for 10 yards during a 27-15 road loss to the Montreal Alouettes.
Canada West Football
About Canada West Universities Athletic Association
Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), winning at least 10 CIS national titles every year, 1997 to 2010. Comprised of 14 schools (15 on Sept. 1, 2011), from the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada West produces numerous major award winners and Academic All-Canadian student-athletes each year, with many going on to athletic success around the globe in pro leagues or events such as the Olympics, Paralympics or Universiade Games. “cwuaa” on Twitter.
A proud member of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).