McGill boosts line with five

McGill adds four Québec commits and one out-of-province commit to their Class of 2018.

Defensive lineman Léo Tischhauser from John Abbott College, fullback Simon Crevier from Collège de Valleyfield and linebacker Yassine Belkhou from Upper Canada College will be some of the new faces on McGill’s defense for the 2018 season.

Offensive linemen Louis-David Deschênes from Cégep Limoilou and Remy Bikowski from St. Mary’s Catholic High School will also be adding their talents to McGill.

Léo Tischhauser

Léo Tischhauser grew up in Thonon-les-Bains, France, before pursuing his academic and football career in Montréal, Québec, with the John Abbott Islanders (RSEQ Division 1). Set to go into a bachelor of commerce, Tischhauser said he chose McGill because of its academic excellence and reputation and the chance to further study in English.

He said he also picked McGill because of the opportunity he has to earn playing time. “(The coaches are) experienced and determined. Head Coach Hilarie is a great defensive mind and I will have the position of having him as a positional coach,” he added.

In his three seasons with the Islanders, the 6’2, 215lbs defensive end captured a Bol d’Or.

Simon Crevier

L’Île-Perrot, Québec, the hometown of Simon Crevier, lies a little southwest of Montréal. It is around a 40-minute drive to McGill. Crevier won’t be too far from home, but he will probably be comfortable at McGill regardless.

“I chose to commit to McGill because the coaching staff and players made me feel like family. It felt like home. I truly believe in this program,” he said. “The coaches have been very professional. They seem to be very competitive and that was what I was looking for.”

In high school, the potential mechanical engineering student suited up with Les Voltigeurs du Collège Bourget (RSEQ). Afterwards, he played with Le Noir et Or du Collège de Valleyfield (RSEQ Division 2). Last season, he won a Bol d’Or with Le Noir et Or.

“I feel like I made the right decision,” Crevier said. “I can’t wait to work with these guys. I’m ready to compete and help bring this program to the next level.”

Yassine Belkhou

Currently attending school in Toronto, a city all too familiar is calling out to Yassine Belkhou. “I chose McGill because it is in my hometown (Montréal) and there is nothing better than playing for your hometown in front of my friends and family who have gotten me to this point,” he said. “The team is very close, and they are loving and have the passion to work and win. Head Coach Hilaire shows how much he cares for the team.”

Belkhou added that McGill has a great medicine program, which he plans on taking after doing a kinesiology undergrad.

While in Montréal, Belkhou played with the Sun Youth Hornets and the Selwyn House School Gryphons (RSEQ). In grade 11, he won the coaches award. Electing to forgo cégep, he moved out of the province and attended Upper Canada College where he played with the Blues (Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association). He won a championship with the Blues last year and was named defensive player of the year.

Louis-David Deschênes

When Louis-David Deschênes visited McGill, he received positive vibes from the school. “I chose McGill for the opportunity that it gave me to have a good diploma from a great school and I like the spirit of the team,” he said. “The coaching staff looks awesome and I look forward to working with them.”

Deschênes, who will be taking computer science, played with Les Condors de Saint-Jean-Eudes (RSEQ) in high school. He then played with Les Titans du Cégep Limoilou (RSEQ Division 1). While he was an all-star in high school, he was named as a lineman MVP with Les Titans. Standing at 6’2, 260lbs, he is from Québec City, Québec.

Remy Bikowski

Remy Bikowski may be facing a setback, but it’s in no way a permanent roadblock. “Breaking my left leg has been the greatest motivator I have ever had. I will come back stronger than ever and with more character and grit than before,” he said.

Despite having a serious injury, Bikowski said the team’s coaches “believed in me through my injury and didn’t allow the injury to affect my recruitment. The coaching staff could not have been more welcoming. I believe I’m in good hands and will have the right environment to perform to my max potential.”

Interested in business, Bikowski added that he also chose McGill because of its top-notch academics.

Standing at 6’4, 275lbs, Bikowski attended St. Mary’s Catholic High School. The product of Woodstock, Ontario, played with the London Jr. Mustangs (OPVL) for two years and the WMFA Wolverines for two. He is an OVFL all-star and a team MVP in 2016. Last year, he won an OPVL championship with the Jr. Mustangs.