When the 2019 CFL season kicked off last week, there was plenty of Canada West talent on display, as 33 former conference players suited up Week 1.
Among those on rosters are five former members of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football program.
Charlie Power now plays for the Calgary Stampeders. Chad Rempel, Dexter Janke and Patrick Neufeld all suit up for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, while Evan Johnson of the Ottawa REDBLACKS rounds out the Huskies contingent.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders had the biggest Canada West flare, with seven conference products dressed for their game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Among the CW players for the Riders was former Regina Ram Jon Ryan, who returned to the CFL this spring after 12 seasons in the NFL.
Leading the way in terms of conference representation were the Calgary Dinos, who had 15 former players dress Week 1, as the CW powerhouse continues to leave its mark on Canadian pro football.
In total, the 33 players have 140 combined seasons of CFL experience, with former Saskatchewan Huskie Chad Rempel (Winnipeg Blue Bombers) leading the way with 15 years in the league.
Even more CW products will make their 2019 CFL debuts this week, as the Toronto Argonauts enter the fray after an opening week bye, as the Argos host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Saturday, June 22. Currently, Toronto boasts six former CW players on their active roster.
Among the players on Toronto’s active roster is rookie quarterback Michael O’Connor.The former UBC Thunderbird was selected 20th overall in the 2019 CFL Draft by the Argos.
CW PLAYERS FROM WEEK 1 OF THE CFL SEASON
POSITION – NAME / UNIVERSITY / CFL SEASONS
Click name for full bio on CFL.ca
BC Lions (5)
- LB – Adam Konar / Calgary Dinos / 5
- LS – Tanner Doll / Calgary Dinos / 4
- DB – Dom Termansen / UBC Thunderbirds / 4
- OL – Sukh Chungh / Calgary Dinos / 5
- REC – Rashaun Simonise / Calgary Dinos / 2
Calgary Stampeders (6)
- RB – Charlie Power / Saskatchewan Huskies / 7
- LB – Riley Jones / UBC Thunderbirds / 3
- OL – Ryan Sceviour / Calgary Dinos / 2
- OL – Justin Lawrence / Alberta Golden Bears / 2
- REC – Michael Klukas / Calgary Dinos / 2
- REC – Richie Sindani / Calgary Dinos & Regina Rams / 2
Edmonton Eskimos (3)
- OL – David Beard / Alberta Golden Bears / 5
- K – Hugh O’Neill / Alberta Golden Bears / 8
- REC – Shai Ross / Manitoba Bisons / 1
Saskatchewan Roughriders (7)
- DB – Elie Bouka / Calgary Dinos / 2
- P – Jon Ryan / Regina Rams / 3
- DB – Denzel Radford / Calgary Dinos / 3
- S – Mike Edem / Calgary Dinos / 7
- RB – Kienan LaFrance / Manitoba Bisons / 5
- LB – Sam Hurl / Calgary Dinos / 8
- LS – Jorgen Hus / Regina Rams / 5
- OL – Dakoda Shepley / UBC Thunderbirds / 1
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5)
- REC – Nic Demski / Manitoba Bisons / 5
- LB – DJ Lalama / Manitoba Bisons / 4
- LS – Chad Rempel / Saskatchewan Huskies / 15
- LB – Thomas Miles / Manitoba Bisons / 6
- OL – Geoff Gray / Manitoba Bisons / 2
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3)
- OL – Darius Ciraco / Calgary Dinos / 2
- DT – Brett Wade / Calgary Dinos / 2
- DE – Connor McGough / Calgary Dinos / 3
Ottawa REDBLACKS (3)
- OL – Evan Johnson / Saskatchewan Huskies / 3
- OL – Mark Korte / Alberta Golden Bears / 2
- DL – Michael Klassen / Calgary Dinos / 7
Montreal Alouettes (1)
*Toronto Argonauts (6)
- DL – Linden Gaydosh / Calgary Dinos / 5
- OL – Sean McEwen / Calgary Dinos / 4
- QB – Michael O’Connor / UBC Thunderbirds / 1
- REC – Jimmy Ralph / Alberta Golden Bears / 3
- RB – Mercer Timmis / Calgary Dinos / 4
- DB – Robert Woodson / Calgary Dinos / 3
NOTE: Toronto had a bye Week 1, and opens their 2019 CFL schedule this week against Hamilton.
ADDITIONAL CW PLAYERS CURRENTLY ON ACTIVE ROSTERS
Saskatchewan Roughriders (1)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2)
