Football Canada’s programs of excellence well represented on CFL draft day
Five Football Canada Junior National Team products and 17 Football Canada Cup alumni were selected in the 2013 CFL Canadian Draft on May 6.
To open the 2013 CFL Canadian Draft three members of Football Canada 2009 Junior National Team were selected in the opening round. Linden Gaydosh, a defensive linemen from the University of Calgary was selected first overall. The Peace River, Alberta native also participated in the national tackle football championship (the Football Canada Cup) in 2007 with North Alberta in the under-17 division.
Gaydosh’s teammate at the University of Calgary, Steven Lumbala went 5th overall to the Montreal Alouettes. Lumbala earned IFAF first team all-star honours at running back (alongside current NFL running back David Wilson) for his stellar play at the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship which was rebranded the U19 World Championship in 2012.
The Toronto Argonauts chose McMaster offensive lineman Matt Sewell a two-time Football Canada Cup participant with the 8th overall selection. The Argos took a gamble on the 6’8”, 335 pound Milton, Ontario native who recently signed as a free agent with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans and will report to their mini-camp on May 9.
In all, five members of Canada’s 2009 Junior National Team which participated at the inaugural International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio were drafted in 2013. Kris Robertson, a defensive back from Concordia was selected 11th overall by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers while Victoria, BC native Alex Anthony was selected 39th overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
With the exception of Robertson, each former national team player selected in the 2013 draft also participated in the International Bowl as a member of the IFAF World Team. The inaugural 2010 event featured Lumbala, Sewell and Anthony while the 2011 edition featured Gaydosh along with returnees Anthony and Lumbala.
Congratulations to all those selected and best of luck at training camp! See the list below for a complete list of Football Canada alumni selected in the 2013 CFL draft.
Football Canada programs of excellence 2013 CFL Draftees
Pick/ Choix |
Name / Nom |
Selected by/ Sélectionné par |
Hometown/ Lieu de résidence |
Univ. |
Coupe Football Canada Cup |
World Team/ Équipe mondiale |
1 | Linden Gaydosh | Hamilton | Peace River, AB | Calgary | 2007 U17 N. Alberta | 2011 |
2 | Andy Mulumba | Winnipeg | Montreal, QC | Eastern Michigan | 2007 & 2008 U19 Québec | |
5 | Steven Lumbala | Montréal | Calgary, AB | Calgary | 2010, 2011 | |
6 | Hunter Steward | BC/ C.-B. | Kingston, ON | Liberty | 2007 U17 Ontario E.,2008 U17 Ontario E. | |
8 | Matt Sewell | Toronto | Milton, ON | McMaster | 2005 U17 C. ON,2007 U19 Ontario | 2010 |
11 | Kris Robertson | Winnipeg | Pickering, ON | Concordia | 2007 U17 Ontario. E,2008 U19 Ontario | |
12 | Seydou Junior Haïdara | BC/ C.-B. | Québec, QC | Laval | 2007 U19 Québec | |
19 | Carl-Olivier Prime | Hamilton | Laval, QC | Wagner | 2007 U19 Québec | |
24 | Kyle Norris | Edmonton | Stittsville, ON | St Mary’s | 2006 U17 Ontario E.,2008 U19 Ontario | |
26 | Chris Mercer | Edmonton | Saskatoon, SK | Regina | 2006 U19 Saskatchewan | |
29 | Mike DiCroce | Winnipeg | Hamilton, ON | McMaster | 2008 U19 Ontario | |
31 | Jorgen Hus | Edmonton | Saskatoon, SK | Regina | 2007 U19 Saskatchewan | |
39 | Alex Anthony | Saskatchewan | Victoria, BC/ C.-B. | Wilfrid Laurier | 2010, 2011 | |
40 | Levi Steinhauer | Saskatchewan | Moose Jaw, SK | Saskatchewan | 2009 U19 Saskatchewan | 2011 |
43 | Neil King | Hamilton | Sherwoode Park, AB | St. Mary’s | 2006 U19 Alberta | |
47 | Simon Légaré | Montréal | Montréal, QC | Montréal | 2007 & 2008 U19 Québec | |
48 | Shane Bergman | Calgary | Teeterville, ON | Western | 2005 U17 S. Ontario, 2008 U19 Ontario | |
49 | Thomas Spoletini | Saskatchewan | Calgary, AB | Calgary | 2007 U17 S. Alberta,2009 U19 Alberta | |
51 | Elie Ngoyi | Edmonton | Sherbrooke, QC | Bishop’s | 2007 U19 Québec | |
54 | Bill Pavlopoulos | Winnipeg | Georgetown, ON | BC/ C.-B. | 2008 U17 Ontario W/ O |
In red= 2009 Junior National Team member
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