Previewing the 2015 Canada Cup

by footballcanada

Eight teams from seven provinces enter day one of Canada Cup on Monday July 13 with the goal of securing a berth in the semi-finals. The first day is critical as a win guarantees at least a fourth place finish while a loss on opening day relegates teams to the consolation side of the draw.

Game 1 – Manitoba (5) vs. Alberta (4) @ 10:00 a.m. 

The 2015 edition of the Canada Cup opens with what appears to be a gem. Manitoba has spent the last few years on the losing side of their day 1 match-up. Could this be the year they break through? They return an experienced team led by second year bench boss Dan Washchuk.

The bad news for ‘Toba is they’ve drawn a tough opponent in Alberta, who prior to last year finished second to Quebec from 2011-2013. The wild rose province may have the most seasoned coaching staff in the tournament which is led by Brian Brandford who makes his fifth consecutive tournament appearance as head coach.

Rosters: Manitoba Alberta
Returning players: 
Alberta (3): 
  • Desmond Catallier (QB)
  • Daylon Creason (DB)
  • J-Min Pelley (DL)
Manitoba (4): 
  • Liam Grace (REC)
  • Trevor Wright (RB)
  • Riley Copp (LB)
  • Tony Rossi (DE)
Players to watch:
Manitoba
  • #32 Trevor Wright (RB) – performed well a year ago behind a great o-line
  • #11 Keenan Onyebuchi (DB)
  • #13 Ryan Johnson (WR)
  • #22 Shae Weekes (DB)
  • #35 Riley Copp (LB)
  • #51 Brody Williams (LB)
  • #60 Bojan Stevanovic (DL)
  • #67 Bailey Lepine (OL)
  • #77 Cody Baranyk (DL)
  • #81 Joshua Newransky (WR)
  • #94 Tony Rossi (DE)
Alberta
  •  #1 Dillon Roberts (REC)
  • #17 Blake Klotz (REC)
  • #20 Daylon Creason (DB)
  • #28 Landon Rose (RB)
  • #32 Brendan Lowry (DB)
  • #34 Joseph Lowry (LB)
  • #55 J-Min Pelley (LD)
  • #58 Travis Derksen (OL)
  • #62 George Hutchings (OL)
  • #80 Ben Pasluk (REC)
  • #82 Jacob Izqulerdo (REC)
  • #87 Daniel Blackmore (REC)
  • #99 Justin Sambu (DL)

Game 2 – New Brunswick (7) vs. Saskatchewan (2) @ 1:00 p.m. 

This matchup features two teams on opposite paths which are set to collide. Tournament newcomer NB is still developing its U18 program which re-entered the Canada Cup in 2012 and are still seeking their first win.

Sask used home field to their advantage a year ago, placing second. They benefit from having two teams in 2014 as they return 15 players! With a year of Canada Cup experience under their belt, it will be interesting to see how the group comes together in St-Jean.

New Brunswick returns 6 players of their own and fared well in tune-up games against NS but the big question is how will they fair against Sask?

Rosters: New Brunswick Saskatchewan
Returning players:
New Brunswick (6):
  • Nevin Becker (DB/REC)
  • Zachary Vautour (OL/DL)
  • Ben Campbell (OL)
  • Benjamin Arsenault (DL)
  • Aaron Jenkins (REC)
  • Morgan Martin (DL)
Sask. (15):
  • Brayden Wagg (QB)
  • RB: Alexander Lenius & Joshua Ewanchyna
  • OL: Noah Zerr, Bowen Pisula & Jesse Ens
  • REC: Michael Scraper, Terrell Mildenberger, Ben Getzlaf, Aaron Pierce
  • DB: Eric Despins, Joel Seiferling, Zachary Moore
  • Davin Williamson (LB)
  • Brandon McKimmon (DL)

 

Players to watch:  
New Brunswick 
  • Bailey Feltmate (LB)
  • Charles Levallée (OL)
  • Ian Carty (REC)
  • Morgan Martin (DL)
Saskatchewan
  • Offensive line – they return 3 which could be huge
  • Ethan Newman (QB)
  • Nicolas Cross (LB)
  • Terrell Mildenberger (REC)
  • Kyle Borsa (RB)
  • Carter Stusek (DL)
  • Bowen Pisula (OL)

Game 3 – Nova Scotia (6) vs. Quebec Blue (3) @ 4:00 p.m. 

Home field advantage is huge in this tournament and Nova Scotia will be in tough against the host’s top team. Quebec-Blue returns two players (Samuel Makwanda and Cheike Sidy Sow) who played on Canada’s U18 National Team at the 2015 International Bowl. Former offensive coordinator Benoit Groulx also returns to the fold along with head coach Brad Collinson. Quebec must be careful not to look too far ahead and must stay discipline in order to secure their semi-final berth.

After spending the last few as OC, this year marks the first for Steve Snyder as NS head coach. Anything can happen in this tournament. His club must stick to their game plan as they cannot control their first round match-up.

Rosters: Nova Scotia Quebec-Blue
Returning players:
Nova Scotia (2):
  • Brian Gough (DB)
  • Angelo Gentile (OL)
Quebec-B. (4):
  • Mathieu Blanchette (REC/K)
  • Samuel Makwanda (RB)
  • Vincent Forbes-Mombleau (REC)
  • Cheike Sidy Sow (DL)

 

Players to watch:   
Nova Scotia
  • Jonah Williams (DB)
  • Brian Gough (DB)
  • Luke Oulton (REC)
  • Jonathan Keirstead (DB)
  • Adam Bennett (RB)
  • Max Gallant (LB)
  • Gregor MacKellar (OL)
  • Grant Olivier (OL)
  • Marco Xidos (REC)
Quebec-Blue 
  •  #2 Ezechiel Tieide (QB)
  • #3 Michael Brodrique (LB)
  • #5 Samuel Makwanda (RB)
  • #80 Kevin Mital (REC)
  • #92 Cheike Sidy Sow (DL)

 

Game 4 – Quebec White (8) vs. Ontario (1) @ 7:30 p.m. 

Last year, Saskatchewan’s second team surprised a lot of people. Pair hometown advantage with the rivalry of an Ontario-Quebec matchup and you have the making of a great game to cap-off the opening day. On route to their gold medal victory in 2014, Ontario upset then defending champion Quebec in their semi-final matchup. Look for Quebec-White to try to return the favour. Emotions must stay in check as this is a matchup where mental mistakes could prove costly to either side.

Rosters: Quebec-White Ontario
Returning players:
Ontairo (3):
  • Gabriel Siemieniec (K)
  • Jevante Stanley (RB)
  • Joshua Mosley (OL – injured)
  • Mitchell Thiele (DL)
Quebec-White (0)  

 

Players to watch:
Ontario 
  • #3 Gabriel Siemieniec (K)
  • #5 Jaeden Washington (LB)
  • #9 Nathaniel Edwards (LB)
  • #11 Connor Carusello (QB)
  • #15 Mitchell Raper (REC)
  • #24 Dominic Mandalfino (RB)
  • #34 Jevante Stanley (RB)
  • #66 Christopher Chruch (OL)
  • #90 Jordan Arruda (DL)
  • #99 Mitchell Thiele (DL)
Quebec-White
  • #13 Vincent Blanchard (K)
  • #15 Philip Charpentier (QB)
  • #29 Joanik Masse (RB)
  • #41 Neal Côté (LB)
  • #97 Cédric Thériault (DL)

 

Watch webcast live on game day 

Watch all the action from the 2015 Football Canada Cup from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec by visiting www.footballcanada.com on game day.

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