2015 International Bowl: Canada’s U-19 National Team sets sights on Texas

Photo credit: USA Football

Forty-one players from across the country will assemble in Arlington, Texas on Monday to prepare for their February 7, 2015 International Bowl series contest against Team USA at the University of Texas-Arlington’s Maverick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 PM local time (CT).

The series of games is a collaboration of the sport’s national governing bodies in each country – USA Football and Football Canada – featuring top student-athletes in football’s greatest annual international competition.

Canada’s squad features 20 players returning from last year’s International Bowl; 7 of which make their second appearance as members of Canada’s U-19 National Team in addition to 13 who played on last year’s U-18 team.

In addition, for nine of the returning players the game will mark the third time they represent Canada internationally after falling to Team USA 40-17 in the gold medal game at the U-19 World Championship July 2014 in Kuwait.

Canada’s U-19 squad is led by the future 2016 Junior National Team coaching staff. A veteran of international football, WARREN CRANEY has served as head coach since 2014 and has been with the program during the first three U-19 World Championships. Craney has also coached at the International Bowl since its inception in 2010; from 2010-’13 with the IFAF World Team followed by the inaugural Canada-US game in 2014. Read more about the U-19 coaching staff here.

Canada’s counterparts feature a lineup of players committed to big time U.S. schools such as Notre Dame, Texas, Oregon, TCU and Oklahoma.

Canada is excited to face its rival U-19 American team for a second consecutive year at Maverick Stadium.

“It’s always a great barometer and challenge – last year we faced a team that included Samaje Purine who has gone on to become one of the top running backs in college football at Oklahoma,” Craney said. “This game will be no different, for example at the quarterback position is 5-star recruit Kyler Murray who headed to Texas A&M. He falls into a long line of guys like Jameis Winston (Florida St.) and Anu Solomon (Arizona St.) to have played in this game.”

Going into the matchup, Canada’s edge may be in its experience.

“On the flip side, our team has a number of guys playing in their second International Bowl who are also coming off [the 2014 U-19 World Championship in] Kuwait,” added Craney. “Having two quarterbacks returning from their experience in Kuwait plus having played with a number of these other guys will be an advantage for us.”

Looking for redemption following a loss a year ago, the next chapter in Canada’s U-19 rivalry will begin on Saturday February 7 at 1 PM local time at Maverick Stadium in Arlington

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2015-international-bowl-us-national-team-vs-canadian-national-team-tickets-13633663655

Follow the conversation

Use the hashtag #IB2015 to follow the conversation on social media. Those that use #IB2015 on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram may be featured on http://www.usafootball.com/IB2015.

Webstream

The 2015 International Bowl games will be webstreamed live from Arlington, Texas. The webstream can be accessed on gameday by visiting www.footballcanada.com.

2015 International Bowl, Canadian U-19 National Team Roster

* = member of 2014 U-18 National Team, International Bowl

** = member of 2014 U-19 National Team, International Bowl

*** = member of 2015 U-18 National Team, International Bowl

Red = member of 2014 Junior National Team, IFAF U-19 World Championship in Kuwait

U-19 Coaching Staff | 2015 International Bowl

This post is also available in: French