The Football Canada Senior National Team, led by former University of Western Ontario head coach Larry Haylor, has announced the first 18 players that will compete at the IFAF Senior World Championship.
The partial roster includes 18 players hailing from six different provinces – seven from Ontario, four from Quebec, three from Saskatchewan, two from Alberta and one from News Brunswick and British Columbia.
The IFAF Senior World Championship is held every four years having first been contested in 1999 and eight nations from four continents – Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico and United States – will compete in Vienna, Innsbruck and Graz in the fourth edition from July 8-16.
Among selected to the team is Michael Faulds who holds the CIS record for most career passing yards (10,811) and led the University of Western Ontario to Yates Cup wins in 2007 and 2008, earning MVP on both occasions. Faulds is currently the offensive coordinator of the York University Lions.
Thaine Carter became the first Queen’s player to receive the Presidents’ Trophy in 2008 as CIS defensive player of the year after leading the Gaels in tackles in 2007 and 2008. He was also named an all-Canadian linebacker for his defensive prowess.
Nick FitzGibbon finished his fifth year at Guelph in 2010, as the all-time leading Gryphons rusher and was named a second team all-Canadian. He led the OUA in rushing yards this past year and has been a top 3 rusher in the OUA each of the past three seasons. He finishes his university career tied for 7[SUP]h[/SUP] in career all-purpose touchdowns with 40. Shane Hall is a Toronto native who went on to play for the University of New Hampshire after honing his skills with the Metro Toronto Wildcats.
The initial roster also includes two former University Laval Rouge et Or teammates: 2010 and 2008 first team all-Canadian defensive back, Maxime BĆ©rubĆ©, who capped-off his fifth season this past year by winning his third Vanier Cup, as well as fullback Michel-Pierre Pontbriand, who was also part of Laval’s 2006 national championship winning team.
Acadia defensive lineman, Jacob Thomas from Douglas, NB, will once again represent his country after winning a silver medal at the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio.
Team Canada looks to be solid in the offensive backfield as FitzGibbon and Pontbriand will be joined by Anthony Woodson, running back from the University of Calgary, who led Canada West in rushing in 2007 with 1,183 yards and was a 2007 second team all-Canadian, and David Stevens, a former University of Saskatchewan running back who was a Hec Crighton Trophy nominee in 2005 after leading his conference with 1, 229 rushing yards, 14 total touchdowns, averaging 100 yards per game. He accomplished the feat four times by halftime.
The coaching staff, led by former University of Western Ontario coach, Larry Haylor, the winningest head coach in CIS history with a career record of 178 wins, 47 losses and 4 ties, defensive coordinator Blake Nill (University of Calgary) and offensive coordinator Greg Marshall (Western) are targeting mid-May to name a final group of players to the roster.
Football Canada is holding a final identification camp May 7 in London, prior to the CIS East-West Bowl. A training camp will be held at The University of Western Ontario starting on June 24 as the team prepares for Austria. For more information on the Canadian National Team please visit www.footballcanada2011.com.
Football Canada Senior National Team:
| Name | Position | Hometown |
| Maxime BƩrubƩ | DB | Valleyfield, QC |
| Thaine Carter | LB | Nanaimo, BC |
| Ricky Clarke | REC | Toronto, ON |
| Michael Faulds | QB | Eden Mills, ON |
| Nick FitzGibbon | RB | Pushlinch, ON |
| Shane Hall | DB | Toronto, ON |
| Alexander Hoad | DB | Rockwood, ON |
| Christian Houle | LB | Trois-RiviĆØres, QC |
| Bryce McCall | DB | Regina, SK |
| Sammy Okpro | DB | Montreal, QC |
| Zachary Pollari | DL, OL | Guelph, ON |
| Michel-Pierre Pontbriand | FB | Ste-AdĆØle, QC |
| David Rybinski | DL | Kinistino, SK |
| David Stevens | RB | Moose Jaw, SK |
| Josh Symons | DL | Calgary, AB |
| Jacob Thomas | DL | Douglas, NB |
| Scott Valberg | REC | Kingston, ON |
| Anthony Woodson | RB | Calgary, AB |
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