FB: 11 Dinos named all-stars on eve of Hardy Cup Playoffs

November 2, 2018

Evan Daum, Canada West Communications

EDMONTON – With the Hardy Cup semifinals set for this Saturday, Canada West unveiled the 2018 conference football all-stars Friday, with the undefeated Calgary Dinos leading the way.

A total of 11 Dinos were honoured as all-stars, which was the highest total among the conference's six football programs.

Calgary landed five offensive all-stars, five on defence, and one on special teams. Among the Dinos' all-stars were two unanimous selections, as quarterback Adam Sinagra and placekicker Niko DiFonte were acknowledged as the best at their position by the conference's coaches.

Sinagra set the CW and U SPORTS single-season passing yards record (3,233), while DiFonte finished the season with 24 field goals on the season, which sits second in the CW record book behind only Johnny Mark's total of 26 (Calgary - 2015).

Coming in second behind the Dinos in terms of their all-star tally were the Manitoba Bisons, who had all-stars at eight positions. Among the Herd's all-stars was cornerback and return man Marcel Arruda-Welch, who was an all-star both defensively and on special teams.

Calgary and Manitoba will face off Saturday at 12 p.m. MDT in the first Hardy Cup semifinal, while the Saskatchewan Huskies and UBC Thunderbirds will meet in the second semi at 2 p.m. PDT in Vancouver.

In terms of all-stars, Saskatchewan had four players honoured, while UBC earned five all-star nods. Among UBC's all-stars was Trivel Pinto, who along with Arruda-Welch, was honoured at two positions.

The fourth-year Arts student was named an all-star offensively at receiver, and on special teams as a return man.

Next week the conference will unveil its major award winners ahead of the 82nd Hardy Cup, which is set for Saturday, Nov. 10 (1 p.m. local start).

This weekend's semifinals can be seen on SaskTel, TELUS, Bell MTS, and Canada West TV. For channel listings, click here.

2018 CANADA WEST FOOTBALL ALL-STARS

*BOLD denotes unanimous selection

OFFENCE

Centre:

Jon Harke / Alberta / 5 / Sherwood Park, AB / Native Studies

Guards:

Mattland Riley / Saskatchewan / 3 / Melfort, SK / Engineering
Zack Williams / Manitoba / 4 / Winnipeg, MB / Arts

Tackles:

Logan Bandy / Calgary / 2 / Calgary, AB / Kinesiology
Carter O'Donnell / Alberta / 3 / Red Deer, AB / Education
Tyler Packer / Calgary / 2 / Calgary, AB / Arts

Receivers:

Trivel Pinto / UBC / 4 / Toronto, ON / Arts
Hunter Karl / Calgary / 4 / Okotoks, AB / Arts
Dylan Schrot / Manitoba / 5 / Winnipeg, MB / Arts
Tyson Philpot / Calgary / 1 / Delta, BC / Open Studies

Running backs:

Tyler Chow / Saskatchewan / 5 / Calgary, AB / Arts & Science
Jamel Lyles / Manitoba / 3 / Surrey, BC / Arts

Quarterback:

Adam Sinagra / Calgary / 4 / Pointe Claire, QC / Arts

DEFENCE

Linebackers:

Ben Hladik / UBC / 2 / Vernon, BC / Arts
Boston Rowe / Calgary / 5 / Calgary, AB / Open Studies

Sam linebacker:

Nick Statz / Calgary / 4 / Calgary, AB / Kinesiology

Interior lineman:

Evan Machibroda / Saskatchewan / 4 / Saskatoon, SK / Engineering
Connor Griffiths / UBC / Langley, BC / 4 / Arts

Ends:

Joel Van Pelt / Calgary / Lethbridge / 5 / Science
Tristian Koronkiewicz / Saskatchewan / 5 / Regina, SK / Education
Brock Gowanlock / Manitoba / 3 / Duncan, BC / Arts

Cornerbacks:

Deane Leonard / Calgary / 2 / Calgary, AB / Business
Marcel Arruda-Welch / Manitoba / 2 / Winnipeg, MB / University 1

Halfbacks:

Shae Weekes / Manitoba / 2 / St. Adolphe, MB / University 1
Sterling Taylor / Calgary / 4 / Atlanta, GA / Arts

Safety:

Stavros Katsantonis / UBC / 4 / Bakersfield, CA / Arts

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter:

Brad Mikoluff / Manitoba / 5 / Beausejour, MB / University 1

Placekicker:

Niko DiFonte / Calgary / 3 / Winnipeg, MB / Arts

Kick returners:

Marcel Arruda-Welch / Manitoba / 2 / Winnipeg, MB / University 1
Trivel Pinto / UBC / 4 / Toronto, ON / Arts

CANADA WEST FOOTBALL ALL-STARS BY TEAM

CALGARY DINOS (11)

T - Logan Bandy / Calgary / 2 / Calgary, AB / Kinesiology
T - Tyler Packer / Calgary / 2 / Calgary, AB / Arts
REC - Hunter Karl / Calgary / 4 / Okotoks, AB / Arts
REC - Tyson Philpot / Calgary / 1 / Delta, BC / Open Studies
QB - Adam Sinagra / Calgary / 4 / Pointe Claire, QC / Arts
LB - Boston Rowe / Calgary / 5 / Calgary, AB / Open Studies
SAM - Nick Statz / Calgary / 4 / Calgary, AB / Kinesiology
E - Joel Van Pelt / Calgary / Lethbridge / 5 / Science
CB - Deane Leonard / Calgary / 2 / Calgary, AB / Business
HB - Sterling Taylor / Calgary / 4 / Atlanta, GA / Arts
PK - Niko DiFonte / Calgary / 3 / Winnipeg, MB / Arts

MANITOBA BISONS (8)

G - Zack Williams / Manitoba / 4 / Winnipeg, MB / Arts
REC - Dylan Schrot / Manitoba / 5 / Winnipeg, MB / Arts
RB - Jamel Lyles / Manitoba / 3 / Surrey, BC / Arts
E - Brock Gowanlock / Manitoba / 3 / Duncan, BC / Arts
CB - Marcel Arruda-Welch / Manitoba / 2 / Winnipeg, MB / University 1
HB - Shae Weekes / Manitoba / 2 / St. Adolphe, MB / University 1
P - Brad Mikoluff / Manitoba / 5 / Beausejour, MB / University 1
RET - Marcel Arruda-Welch / Manitoba / 2 / Winnipeg, MB / University 1

UBC THUNDERBIRDS (5)

REC - Trivel Pinto / UBC / 4 / Toronto, ON / Arts
LB - Ben Hladik / UBC / 2 / Vernon, BC / Arts
DL - Connor Griffiths / UBC / Langley, BC / 4 / Arts
S - Stavros Katsantonis / UBC / 4 / Bakersfield, CA / Arts
RET - Trivel Pinto / UBC / 4 / Toronto, ON / Arts

SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (4)

G - Mattland Riley / Saskatchewan / 3 / Melfort, SK / Engineering
RB - Tyler Chow / Saskatchewan / 5 / Calgary, AB / Arts & Science
DL - Evan Machibroda / Saskatchewan / 4 / Saskatoon, SK / Engineering
E - Tristian Koronkiewicz / Saskatchewan / 5 / Regina, SK / Education

ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS (2)

C - Jon Harke / Alberta / 5 / Sherwood Park, AB / Native Studies
T - Carter O'Donnell / Alberta / 3 / Red Deer, AB / Education