In preparation for the 2014 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) U-19 World Championship in Kuwait, Football Canada’s Junior National Team begins its title defense with a training camp in Italy beginning on Sunday June 29 through to July 5.
Canada and Team USA have met in the previous two U-19 World Championship gold medal games with Canada avenging a 2009 loss in 2012 with a 23-17 victory to earn the top seed heading into 2014.
Having served as Canada’s defensive coordinator at both the 2009 and 2012 U-19 World Championships, head coach Warren Craney is excited to lead Team Canada as the tournament’s defending champions in 2014.
“Our players and coaches are excited to begin training camp in Italy,” said Craney “It’s been something we’ve talked about and been preparing for since we faced Team USA at the International Bowl in February.”
“In our seven day training camp we not only need to come together as a group but also lay the foundations of our offense, defense and special teams in order to prepare for the start of our tournament on July 7 against Kuwait.”
Roster changes
Joining Team Canada in Italy are Colton Hunchak, Kayden Johnson, Philippe Lessard-VĆ©zina, Rossini Sandjong-Djabome, and Joe McQuay.
FULL ROSTER:
| 2014 | Junior National Team / Ćquipe Nationale Junior | ||||
| Name / Nom | Hometown /Ville natale | Current Team /Ćquipe actuelle | Commitment / Engagement | |
| QB/QA | Brett Hunchak | Calgary, AB | Calgary Colts (CJFL) | |
| QB/QA | FrƩdƩric Paquette-Perrault | MontrƩal, QC | CEGEP Vieux- MontrƩal | |
| QB/QA | Liam Putt | Caledonia, ON | Hamilton Hurricanes | |
| RB/DO | Khaliel James | Windsor, ON | Windsor-Essex Ravens / Catholic Central HS | U. Guelph |
| RB/DO | Kayden Johnson | Kerrobert, SK | LCBI | Ā U. Saskatchewan |
| RB/DO | Philippe Lessard-VƩzina | QuƩbec, QC | AcadƩmie Saint-Louis | |
| RB/DO | Edouard Montemiglio | MontrƩal, QC | CEGEP Vieux-MontrƩal | |
| OL/LO | Darius Ciraco | Burlington, ON | Assumption S.S. | |
| OL/LO | Wade Leeroy Cyr | St Eustache, QC | CEGEP Vanier College | |
| OL/LO | Pierre-Karl LanctƓt | MontrƩal, QC | CEGEP St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu | |
| OL/LO | Justin Lawrence | Spruce Grove, AB | Spruce Grove HS | U. Alberta |
| OL/LO | Joe McQuay | Red Deer, AB | Notre-Dame HS | U. Alberta |
| OL/LO | Shane Richards | Calgary, AB | Calgary Colts (CJFL) | |
| OL/LO | Ryan Sceviour | Calgary, AB | U. Calgary | |
| OL/LO | Samuel Thomassin | QuĆ©bec, QC | CEGEP de lāOutaouais | |
| REC | Trysten Dyce | Winnipeg, MB | Regina Thunder (CJFL) | |
| REC | Mitchell Hillis | Saskatoon, SK | U. Saskatchewan | |
| REC | Colton Hunchak | Ā Calgary, AB | Notre Dame HS | |
| REC | Karym Kartsonis | MontrƩal, QC | CEGEP Notre-Dame-de-Foy | |
| REC | FĆ©lix Laflamme | Sainte-ThĆ©rĆØse, QC | Polyvalente Deux-Montagnes | |
| REC | Louis-Mathieu Normandin | MontrƩal, QC | CEGEP Vieux-MontrƩal | |
| REC | Trivel Pinto | Toronto, ON | Metro Toronto Wildcats | |
| REC | Marc-Antoine Pivin | Sherbrooke, QC | CEGEP Champlain-Lennoxville | |
| DL/LD | Mathieu Betts | MontrƩal, QC | CEGEP Vieux-MontrƩal | |
| DL/LD | Vincent Desjardins | QuƩbec, QC | CEGEP Notre-Dame-de-Foy | |
| DL/LD | Evan Machibroda | Saskatoon, SK | Holy Cross | U. Saskatchewan |
| DL/LD | Garrett Meek | St. Albert, AB | U. Saskatchewan | |
| DL/LD | Shaun Robinson | Halifax, NS | Citadel H.S. | Mt. Allison U. |
| DL/LD | Rossini Sandjond-Djabome | Longueuil, QC | CEGEP Edouard-Montpetit | |
| DL/LD | Andrew Seinet-Spaulding | MontrƩal, QC | CEGEP Vieux- MontrƩal | |
| DL/LD | Joel Van Pelt | Lethbridge, AB | Winston Churchill HS | U. Calgary |
| LB/SEC | Troy Hansen | Edmonton, AB | Kent [CT] | |
| LB/SEC | CĆ©dric Lussier-Roy | Sherbrooke, QC | CEGEP Champlain-Lennoxville | |
| LB/SEC | Daniel Nesbitt | Regina, SK | LeBoldus | |
| LB/SEC | Samuel Rossi | MontrĆ©al, QC | CEGEPĀ Montmorency | |
| LB/SEC | Gabriel Simons | Regina, SK | IMG Academy [FL] / Luther College H.S. | |
| LB/SEC | Micah Teitz | Calgary, AB | Springbank | U. Calgary |
| DB/DD | Mathieu Boutin | QuƩbec, QC | CEGEP Notre-Dame-de-Foy | |
| DB/DD | William Jouan-Ladouceur | Greenfield Park, QC | CEGEP St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu | |
| DB/DD | Jayden McKoy | Winnipeg, MB | U. Manitoba | |
| DB/DD | Royce Metchie | Brampton, ON | Oakville Titans | U. Guelph |
| DB/DD | Nick Parisotto | Guelph, ON | Guelph Bears | U. Guelph |
| DB/DD | Nicholas-Rohan Plourde-Hector | LaSalle, QC | CEGEP Notre-Dame-de-Foy | |
| DB/DD | Louis-Philippe St- Amant | Saint-Augustin, QC | CEGEP Notre-Dame-de-Foy | |
| K/B | Dominic LĆ©vesque | Saint Georges, QC | CEGEP Champlain-Lennoxville | |
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CFC TOP 100 Colton HunchakĀ (Calgary, AB) impressed at both the 2013 Football Canada Cup in Moncton, NB as well as the 2014 International Bowl in the under-18 game. Hunchak, a top 2015 recruit will join his older brother Brett on the roster and replaces Carleton receiver, Kyle Van Wynsberghe.
Replacing Edward Illnicki is AcadĆ©mie Saint-Louis running back and 2013 RESEQ juvenile division 1 most valuable player,Ā Philippe Lessard-VĆ©zinaĀ (QuĆ©bec, QC). Lessard-VĆ©zina had an outstanding 2013 campaign rushing for over 1400 yards and 15 touchdowns while through the air he accumulated an additional 435 yards on 26 receptions and 5 receiving touchdowns giving him 20 total touchdowns.
Kerrobert, Saskatchewan’sĀ Kayden JohnsonĀ (CFC TOP 100 2014) will replace fellow running back, CĆ©dric Joseph in Kuwait. Johnson’s mix of size and speed stood out at the 2013 Canada Cup earning him an invite to the 2014 International Bowl as a member of Canada’s U-18 squad. He’s considered one of the top recruits from the 2014 recruiting class and is currently committed to the University of Saskatchewan for the upcoming fall.
CEGEP Ćdouard-Montpetit defensive lineman,Ā Rossini Sandjong-DjabomeĀ (Longueuil ,QC) will replace Brayden Twarynski. The talented lineman who represented Canada in the U-19 game at the International Bowl tallied 25.5 total tackles (15 solo, 21 assisted) along with 6 sacks for the Ćdouard-Montpetit Lynx last season.
Also added isĀ Joe McQuayĀ of Notre Dame High School in Red Deer, Alberta who replaces fellow offensive lineman Mason Dick.
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