Canada’s top university football athletes gathered on the gridiron Saturday to showcase their skills in the University of Waterloo’s East-West Bowl.
The week-long event gives players eligible for the CFL Draft the opportunity to attract the attention of coaches, general managers and scouts.
“This begins the evaluation process in the CFL,” said Chris Bertoia, UW head coach and manager of football operations. “It’s a big game, a big opportunity for these young men to showcase their skills as they prepare for their senior season.”
The East-West Bowl features players from each of U Sports’ 27 football programs.
Three local players were selected to play for Team West: Raidan Thorne from Kitchener, Ontario. and Josh Reitveld of Brantford, Ontario. both of whom play for Wilfrid Laurier University, and James Hinsperger of Waterloo, Ontario. who plays for UW.
Joining them on Team West were: Taylor Elgersma, Ethan Jordan, Chisanem Nsitem and Johari Hastings of Laurier; Anthony Miller, Daniel Dove, Kaeden Jajal and Anesu Latmore of UW; plus Vyshonne Janusas, Daniel Hocevar and Ethan Pyle from the University of Guelph.
“East-West is the place where we can showcase our skills to scouts and the CFL, the league we all dream about,” said Miller, a UW running back. “I’m really just focused on proving my skills and showing the scouts that I’m someone we’ll remember and maybe take a chance on when the time comes.”
The head coaches for Saturday’s game were the 2023 Vanier Cup finalists: Marco Iadeluca, bench boss of the Université de Montréal Carabins for Team East, and Blake Nill, head coach of the UBC Thunderbirds for Team West.
“We worked so hard all week to install new plays and get them ready for today,” added Taylor MacIntyre, receivers coach for Team West. “[This] is a huge opportunity for them to go out and do what they do best. You know, they’ve been so successful in getting this far. So it’s just a matter of continuing all of their habits, all of the progress that got them to this point.”
Coach clinics were also held May 10 and 11 at UW’s Warrior Field.
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