FB: Canada West talent on display as 2021 CFL season kicks off
VANCOUVER - With the first week of the 2021 CFL schedule in the books, Canada West talent was on display across the league as 40 former players hit the field in Week 1.
Of the 40 players dressed for the eight teams who opened their 2021 campaigns on the weekend, 21 were designated as starters. Three more alumni will get their seasons underway when the Montreal Alouettes begin their season in Week 2.
In total, 52 former CW players are listed among the nine CFL teams' active rosters, practice rosters and injured lists.
ROOKIES SEE FIRST ACTION
With the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, opening weekend marked the first CFL action for players from both the 2020 and 2021 CFL Canadian Player Draft classes.
Former Calgary Dinos OL Peter Nicastro, the seventh overall pick in 2021, started his first CFL game in the Toronto Argonauts 23-20 win over the Calgary Stampeders. Fellow 2021 first-rounder Nic Cross (9th overall - UBC) made his debut for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on the league's opening night on Thursday.
In all, 10 rookies hit the field in Week 1 with six coming from the 2021 draft class and four from 2020's selections.
REMPEL ENTERS 16TH SEASON
Former Saskatchewan Huskie Chad Rempel earned the title of longest-serving CFL player when the 2021 season kicked off. Rempel, who is in his first season with the Edmonton Elks, has spent 16 seasons in the league, spending time with Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Toronto, and Hamilton over the course of his career.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Calgary Dinos once again lead the way with 19 former players in the league this season. Saskatchewan and Manitoba both have eight players on rosters. UBC's seven players and the five from each Alberta and Regina make up the conference total of 52 alumni in the CFL.
The Calgary Stampeders active roster featured the biggest contingent of Canada West alumni with nine players suiting up for the club in their Week 1 matchup. Among the group were 2021 draftees, Elliott Graham (UBC) and Charlie Moore (Calgary). The lone Canada West quarterback in the CFL, Michael O'Connor (UBC), recorded one rushing attempt in Week 1.
Overall both the Stampeders and Roughriders have 10 former CW players on their rosters to start the season.
For a complete look at the 2021 CFL schedule, including Week 2 matchups, click here.
CW PLAYERS FROM WEEK 1 OF THE CFL SEASON
POSITION - NAME / UNIVERSITY / CFL SEASONS
Click name for full bio
# 2021 CFL Draft Selection / * 2020 CFL Draft Selection
BC Lions (4)
- OL - Chungh Sukh / Calgary Dinos / 6
- LB - Ben Hladik / UBC Thunderbirds / 1 #
- LB - Adam Konar / Calgary Dinos / 6
- RB - Jamel Lyles / Manitoba Bisons / 2
Calgary Stampeders (9)
- FB - Elliot Graham / UBC Thunderbirds / 1 #
- OL - Justin Lawrence / Alberta Golden Bears / 3
- OL - Sean McEwen / Calgary Dinos / 5
- LB - Charlie Moore / Calgary Dinos / 1 #
- QB - Michael O'Connor / UBC Thunderbirds / 2
- OL - Ryan Sceviour / Calgary Dinos / 3
- REC - Richie Sindani - Calgary Dinos / 3
- REC - Nick Statz / Calgary Dinos / 1
- OL - Zack Williams / Manitoba Bisons / 2
Edmonton Elks (6)
- OL - David Beard / Alberta Golden Bears / 6
- REC - Hunter Karl / Calgary Dinos / 1
- LB - Grant McDonald / Calgary Dinos / 1 *
- K - Hugh O'Neill / Alberta Golden Bears / 9
- LS - Chad Rempel / Saskatchewan Huskies / 16
- REC - Shai Ross / Manitoba Bisons / 2
Saskatchewan Roughriders (8)
- S - Mike Edem / Calgary Dinos / 5
- REC - Jake Harty / Calgary Dinos / 5
- LS - Jorgen Hus / Regina Rams / 6
- OL - Evan Johnson / Saskatchewan Huskies / 4
- RB - Kienan LaFrance / Manitoba Bisons / 6
- REC - Mitchell Picton / Regina Rams / 1
- P - Jon Ryan / Regina Rams / 4
- LB - Micah Teitz / Calgary Dinos / 3
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3)
- REC - Nic Demski / Manitoba Bisons / 6
- OL - Patrick Neufeld / Saskatchewan Huskies / 10
- OL - Geoff Gray / Manitoba Bisons / 3
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4)
- OL - Darius Ciraco / Calgary Dinos / 2
- LB - Nic Cross / UBC Thunderbirds / 1 #
- DB - Stavros Katsantonis / UBC Thunderbirds / 1 *
- LS - Tom Schnitzler / UBC Thunderbirds / 1 *
Ottawa REDBLACKS (4)
- DB - Treshaun Abrahams-Webster / Calgary Dinos / 1 *
- DL - Stefan Charles / Regina Rams / 1
- REC - Anthony Coombs / Manitoba Bisons / 7
- OL - Mark Korte / Alberta Golden Bears / 3
Toronto Argonauts (2)
^Montreal Alouettes (3)
- RB - Jeshrun Antwi / Calgary Dinos / 1
- REC - Rashaun Simonise / Calgary Dinos / 3
- OL - Landon Rice / Manitoba Bisons / 8
^NOTE: Montreal had a bye Week 1, and opens their 2021 CFL schedule this week against Edmonton.
ADDITIONAL CW PLAYERS CURRENTLY ON CFL ROSTERS
BC Lions (1)
Calgary Stampeders (1)
Edmonton Elks (1)
Saskatchewan Roughriders (2)
- DB - Nelson Lokombo / Saskatchewan Huskies / 1 # (Injured)
- OL - Mattland Riley / Saskatchewan Huskies / 1 *
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1)
- DL - Nick Dheilly / Saskatchewan Huskies / 1 * (Practice)
Ottawa REDBLACKS (1)
- REC - Michael Klukas / Calgary Dinos / 2 (Practice)
Toronto Argonauts (1)
- OL - Theren Churchill / Regina Rams / 1 * (Practice)
Montreal Alouettes (1)