2017 U Sports football season

Last updated
2017 U Sports football season
DurationAugust 25 – October 28
Hardy Cup champions Calgary Dinos
Yates Cup champions Western Mustangs
Dunsmore Cup champions Laval Rouge et Or
Loney Bowl champions Acadia Axemen
Mitchell Bowl champions Laval Rouge et Or
Uteck Bowl champions Western Mustangs
Vanier Cup
DateNovember 25
Venue Hamilton, Ontario
Champions Western Mustangs
U Sports football seasons seasons
←  2016
2018  →

The 2017 U Sports football season began on August 25 with the St. Francis Xavier X-Men visiting the Saint Mary's Huskies in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the Montreal Carabins visiting the Concordia Stingers in Montreal, Quebec. [1] [2] The season concluded on November 25 with the 53rd Vanier Cup championship at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario. [3] This season saw the first conference shift since 2001 with the Bishop's Gaiters moving from the Quebec Student Sport Federation to the Atlantic University Sport conference. 27 university teams in Canada participated in the newly re-branded U Sports football, the highest level of amateur Canadian football. The Western Mustangs defeated the Laval Rouge et Or, 39-17, to win their first Vanier Cup since 1994.

Contents

Regular season

Conference changes

On December 15, 2016, Bishop's University Athletics and Atlantic University Sport (AUS) announced that the Bishop's Gaiters would be joining the AUS conference beginning in 2017. [4] The move increases the number of teams competing in the AUS from four to five, while reducing the teams in the Quebec Student Sport Federation (RSEQ) from six to five. It also marked the first time since 1990 that the AUS had more than four teams, when the University College of Cape Breton played for one season before disbanding. [5] This change also brought an end to the scheduled interlocking play with the RSEQ that had been in place since 2002. [5]

Schedules

The schedule for the Ontario University Athletics conference was released on January 18, 2017, with 11 teams playing over the course of nine weeks with each team receiving one bye week. [6] Compared to the previous season, there were no major format changes. The OUA will begin play on August 26, 2017, with the Carleton Ravens visiting the Queen's Gaels at Richardson Memorial Stadium. Eight other OUA teams will play the following day. The regular season will conclude on October 21, 2017, with the Yates Cup championship game taking place three weeks later on November 11, 2017.

On January 23, 2017, the schedule changes for the AUS were revealed, with the conference opening the season two weeks earlier than usual on Friday August 25 with the St. Francis Xavier X-Men visiting the Saint Mary's Huskies. [1] Each team will play the other four teams twice with each team also having two bye weeks over the ten-week schedule. With these changes, the AUS will also now permit teams to play one out-of-conference exhibition game, in lieu of interlock play with the RSEQ being eliminated. There are three Friday night regular season games in the AUS with the remaining 17 games being played on Saturday afternoons. The regular season will conclude on October 28, 2017, and playoff format will remain the same despite an additional team; the second place team will host the third place team in the semi-final and the first place team will host the Loney Bowl championship game on November 11, 2017.

The Quebec Student Sport Federation released their schedule on February 21, 2017. [2] Following the aforementioned departure of Bishop's, the conference's schedule featured five teams for the first time since 2002. Similar to the AUS schedule, the five teams will play eight regular season games over ten weeks with each team receiving two bye weeks. In contrast to the AUS, the RSEQ will have its top four teams qualify for the playoffs with two semi-final games and the winners of those games playing for the Dunsmore Cup on November 11, 2017. This was the same format used when the conference had five teams in 2002. Of the 20 games scheduled, two are on Thursdays, five are on Fridays, 11 are on Saturdays, and two are on Sundays.

With the changes to the other conferences, the Canada West Universities Athletic Association was left as the only conference with an even number of teams and there were no major format changes when the schedule was unveiled on April 18, 2017. [7] All six teams will play on September 1, 2017, and conclude their seasons on October 28, 2017. As usual, all teams will have a bye week on Thanksgiving Day weekend. In total, eight regular season games will be played on Fridays and 16 will be played on Saturdays. Similar to the other conferences, the conference championship game, the Hardy Cup, will be played on November 11, 2017.

Cancelled game

On October 4, 2017, it was announced that the October 5 game between the Montreal Carabins and Concordia Stingers was cancelled due to Montreal players and coaching staff members exhibiting flu symptoms. [8] Due to scheduling constraints, the game was outright cancelled and would not be rescheduled. Montreal and Concordia would only play sevens games as a result and winning percentage would be counted in the standings as opposed to point totals. If teams are tied in the standings based on win percentage, head-to-head results would be used as a second tie-breaker. [9] The decision was met with controversy as a similar situation in 2006 had the St. Francis Xavier X-Men forfeit a game to the McGill Redmen due to illnesses on their team rather than the game count as a no-decision. [9]

Standings

2017 AUS standings
TeamW L PF PA PtsPly
#7 Acadia 6-2 226-193 12†
#8 Saint Mary's 5-3 209-149 10X
St. FX 4-4 179-168 8X
Mount Allison 4-4 235-211 8
Bishop's 1-7 158-286 2
† – Conference Champion
Rankings: U Sports Top 10
2017 RSEQ standings
TeamW L PF PA PtsPly
#1 Laval 7-1 266-77 14†
#3 Montréal 6-1 176-93 12X
Concordia 3-4 181-173 6X
Sherbrooke 2-6 139-242 4X
McGill 1-7 105-282 2
† – Conference Champion
Rankings: U Sports Top 10
* The October 5 game between Montreal and Concordia was cancelled due to a flu virus.
2017 OUA standings
TeamW L PF PA PtsPly
#2 Western 8-0 386-105 16†
#5 Laurier 6-2 308-175 12X
#10 McMaster 6-2 209-115 12X
Ottawa 5-3 190-215 10X
Guelph 5-3 293-196 10X
Queen's 4-4 290-223 8X
Waterloo 4-4 299-339 8
Carleton 3-5 222-232 6
Windsor 1-7 142-362 2
York 1-7 163-340 2
Toronto 1-7 108-308 2
† – Conference Champion
Rankings: U Sports Top 10
2017 Canada West standings
TeamW L PF PA PtsPly
#4 Calgary 7-1 340-224 14†
#6 British Columbia 6-2 231-172 12X
#9 Regina 4-4 259-283 8X
Alberta 3-5 275-276 6X
Saskatchewan 2-6 245-250 4
Manitoba 2-6 180-289 2
† – Conference Champion
Rankings: U Sports Top 10

Post-season awards

U Sports post-season awards
Quebec [10] Ontario [10] Atlantic [10] Canada West [10] NATIONAL
Hec Crighton Trophy Hugo Richard (Laval) Kurleigh Gittens Jr. (Laurier)Dale Wright (Acadia) Ed Ilnicki (Alberta) Ed Ilnicki (Alberta) [10]
Presidents' Trophy Adam Auclair (Laval) Jackson Bennett (Ottawa) Bailey Feltmate (Acadia) Stavros Katsantonis (British Columbia) Adam Auclair (Laval) [10]
J. P. Metras Trophy Mathieu Betts (Laval) Kene Onyeka (Carleton)Jadarius Ceasar (Saint Mary's) Mark Korte (Alberta) Mathieu Betts (Laval) [10]
Peter Gorman Trophy Kean Harelimana (Laval) Tre Ford (Waterloo)Liam Patton (Bishop's) Nick Cross (Regina) Tre Ford (Waterloo) [10] [A]
Russ Jackson Award Joël Houle (McGill)Nick Vanin (Western)Brandon Jennings (Acadia) Ed Ilnicki (Alberta)Nick Vanin (Western) [10]
Frank Tindall Trophy Glen Constantin (Laval) Chris Bertoia (Waterloo) Jeff Cummins (Acadia) Wayne Harris Jr. (Calgary) Jeff Cummins (Acadia) [10]

^ A. Nick Cross had originally won the Peter Gorman Trophy, but was stripped of the award following a cannabis violation and it was instead awarded to Tre Ford. [11]

All-Canadian team

First team

Offence
QB - Noah Picton - Regina
RB - Alex Taylor - Western
RB - Ed Ilnicki - Alberta
IR - Trivell Pinto - British Columbia
IR - Mitch Hillis - Saskatchewan
WR - Kurleigh Gittens Jr. - Laurier
WR - Kaion Julien-Grant - St. Francis Xavier
C - Zach Annen - Carleton
G - Justin Lawrence - Alberta
G - Andrew Pickett - Guelph
T - Mark Korte - Alberta
T - David Brown - Western
Defence
DT - Vincent Desjardins - Laval
DT - Connor Griffiths - British Columbia
DE - Mathieu Betts - Laval
DE - Jadarius Ceasar - Saint Mary's
LB - Adam Auclair - Laval
LB - Nelkas Kwemo - Queen's
LB - Jean-Gabriel Poulin - Western
FS - Stavros Katsantonis - British Columbia
HB - Gabriel Ouellet - Laval
HB - Malcom Lee - British Columbia
CB - Jamie Harry - Ottawa
CB - Godfrey Onyeka - Laurier
Special teams
P - TJ Morton - Toronto
K - Gabriel Ferraro - Guelph
RET - Johnny King - Saint Mary's

Second team

Offence
QB - Hugo Richard - Laval
RB - Nathan Carter - Carleton
RB - Jean-Guy Rimpel - Concordia
IR - Nathan Rowe - Alberta
IR - Guillaume Paquet - Montreal
WR - Jacob Scarfone - Guelph
WR - Jeremy Sauvageau - McGill
C - Francis Lapointe - Sherbrooke
G - Samuel Thomassin - Laval
G - Ryan Sceviour - Calgary
T - Gustave Sylvestre - Montreal
T - Maurice Simba - Concordia
Defence
DT - Brett Wade - Calgary
DT - Adam Melanson - Acadia
DE - Kene Onyeka - Carleton
DE - Cory Robinson - Calgary
LB - Nick Cross - Regina
LB - Boston Rowe - Calgary
LB - Mickael Côté - Concordia
FS - François Hamel - Montreal
HB - Jackson Bennett - Ottawa
HB - Marc-Antoine Dequoy - Montreal
CB - Will Maxwell - British Columbia
CB - Khadeem Pierre - Concordia
Special teams
P - Félix Ménard-Brière - Montreal
K - Marc Liegghio - Western
RET - Kurleigh Gittens Jr. - Laurier

Post-season

The Vanier Cup is played between the champions of the Mitchell Bowl and the Uteck Bowl, the national semi-final games. In 2017, according to the rotating schedule, the Canada West Hardy Trophy championship team will host the Québec conference Dunsmore Cup championship team for the Mitchell Bowl. The winners of the Atlantic conference's Loney Bowl will host the Yates Cup Ontario championship team for the Uteck Bowl. [13]

Conference Playoffs

Atlantic University Sport

November 4
Semi-final 		November 14
Loney Bowl
1 Acadia 45
2 Saint Mary's 162 Saint Mary's 38
3 St. Francis Xavier 15

On November 9, 2017, Atlantic University Sport announced that the Saint Mary's team had been disqualified due to an undisclosed eligibility violation, and that the Loney Bowl had been cancelled. The Acadia Axemen were declared conference champions by default. [14] However, Saint Mary's took U Sports governing body to the Ontario Superior Court (where U Sports is headquartered) due to their interpretation of a player eligibility rule. Saint Mary's wide receiver Archelaus Jack had been on the practice roster of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders until October 11, 2016. The league rules state that if a player is on a professional team's roster past August 15, that player would have to sit out one year. The rules were not clear on whether this referred to an academic year or season, or a 365-day period. [15]

On November 12, one day after the game was originally scheduled, the Ontario judge ruled in favour of Saint Mary's and the Loney Bowl was re-scheduled for November 14, with the Uteck Bowl still scheduled for the following Saturday, November 18, against the Western Mustangs. [16] Acadia won the game in overtime 45—38. [17]

Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec

November 4
Semi-finals 		November 11
Dunsmore Cup
      
1 Laval 45
4 Sherbrooke 0
1 Laval25
2 Montreal 22
2 Montreal 42
3 Concordia 20

Ontario University Athletics

October 28
Quarter-finals 		November 4
Semi-finals 		November 11
110th Yates Cup
1 Western 66
4 Ottawa 8 5 Guelph 12
5 Guelph 301 Western75
2 Laurier 32
2 Laurier 19
3 McMaster 123 McMaster 6
6 Queen's 9

Canada West Universities Athletic Association

November 4
Semi-finals 		November 11
81st Hardy Trophy
      
1 Calgary 39
4 Alberta 22
1 Calgary44
2 UBC 43
2 UBC 28
3 Regina 21

National Semifinals

Uteck Bowl
Period1234Total
Western 2829101481
Acadia 00033

at Raymond Field (Wolfville, Nova Scotia)

Game information
Mitchell Bowl
Period1234Total
Laval 010101535
Calgary 3141523

at McMahon Stadium (Calgary)

Game information

National Championship

53rd Vanier Cup
Period1234Total
Laval 073717
Western 8891439

at Tim Hortons Field (Hamilton, Ontario)

  • Date: November 25
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 9 °C (48 °F)
  • Game attendance: 10,754
  • Referee: G. MacLean
  • TV: Sportsnet, TVA Sports
  • Box Score
Game information

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanier Cup</span> Canadian university gridiron football championship trophy

The Vanier Cup is a post season college football championship game, used to determine the national champion in U Sports football. The game is the final for the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl. In turn, the participating teams are determined by the winners of 4 bowl games: the Loney Bowl (AUS), Hardy Cup, Dunsmore Cup (RSEQ), and Yates Cup (OUA).

The 2009 CIS football season began on August 29, 2009, and concluded its campaign with the 45th Vanier Cup national championship on November 28 at PEPS stadium in Quebec City, Quebec. Twenty-seven universities across Canada compete in CIS football, the highest level of amateur play in Canadian football, under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). The Queen's Golden Gaels defeated the Calgary Dinos 33-31 in the Vanier Cup to claim the 2009 national championship and their fourth in school history.

The 2011 CIS football season began on September 1, 2011, with the Montreal Carabins hosting the McGill Redmen at CEPSUM Stadium. The season concluded on November 25 at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia with the 47th Vanier Cup championship. This year, 26 university teams in Canada played CIS football, the highest level of amateur Canadian football.

The 2005 CIS football season began on September 1, 2005, and concluded with the 41st Vanier Cup national championship on December 3 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks winning their second championship. Twenty-seven universities across Canada competed in CIS football this season, the highest level of amateur play in Canadian football, under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).

The 2004 CIS football season began on September 2, 2004, and concluded with the 40th Vanier Cup national championship on November 27 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, with the Laval Rouge et Or winning their third championship and second consecutive. Twenty-seven universities across Canada competed in CIS football this season, the highest level of amateur play in Canadian football, under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).

The 2003 CIS football season began on August 29, 2003, and concluded with the 39th Vanier Cup national championship on November 22 at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, with the Laval Rouge et Or winning their second championship. Twenty-seven universities across Canada competed in CIS football this season, the highest level of amateur play in Canadian football, under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">48th Vanier Cup</span>

The 2012 Vanier Cup, the 48th edition of the Canadian university football championship, took place on Friday, November 23, 2012 at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The game featured a rematch of the previous year's Vanier Cup game as the McMaster Marauders attempted to become repeat champions against the Laval Rouge et Or. This was the second time in Vanier Cup history that the same two teams played each other in consecutive years.

The 2012 CIS football season began on August 31, 2012 with the Saskatchewan Huskies hosting the Alberta Golden Bears at Griffiths Stadium. The season concluded on November 23 in Toronto, Ontario with the 48th Vanier Cup championship, won by the Laval Rouge et Or after they defeated the McMaster Marauders 37-14. This year, 26 university teams in Canada are scheduled to play Canadian Interuniversity Sport football, the highest level of amateur Canadian football.

The 2014 CIS football season began on September 1, 2014 with ten Ontario University Athletics teams playing that day. The season concluded on November 29 with the 50th Vanier Cup championship at Molson Stadium in Montreal. This year, 27 university teams in Canada are scheduled to play Canadian Interuniversity Sport football, the highest level of amateur Canadian football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">51st Vanier Cup</span>

The 2015 Vanier Cup, the 51st edition of the Canadian university football championship took place on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at Telus Stadium in Quebec City, Quebec. It was the fourth time that the city of Quebec has hosted the Vanier Cup. For the third consecutive year the championship game was played in the province of Quebec. The game featured the Canada West Champion UBC Thunderbirds and the RSEQ Champion Montreal Carabins. This was the second appearance for the Carabins and the sixth for the Thunderbirds.

The 2015 CIS football season began on August 30, 2015 with ten Ontario University Athletics teams playing that day. The season concluded on November 28 with the UBC Thunderbirds defeating the Montreal Carabins 26-23 in the 51st Vanier Cup championship at Telus Stadium in Quebec City. This year, 27 university teams in Canada played Canadian Interuniversity Sport football, the highest level of amateur Canadian football.

The 2016 CIS football season began on August 28 with ten Ontario University Athletics teams playing that day. The season concluded on November 26 with the 52nd Vanier Cup championship at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario. In 2016, 27 university teams were scheduled to play Canadian Interuniversity Sport football, the highest level of amateur Canadian football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">53rd Vanier Cup</span>

The 53rd Vanier Cup, the 2017 edition of the U Sports football championship, was held on November 25, 2017, at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario. The defending champion Laval Rouge et Or made their 11th Vanier Cup appearance while the Western Mustangs made their nation-leading 13th appearance. This was a rematch of the 44th Vanier Cup which was won by Laval and also played in Hamilton. Western defeated Laval, 39–17, to win its first national championship since 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishop's Gaiters football</span> University Canadian football team

The Bishop's Gaiters football team represents Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, Quebec in the sport of Canadian football in the Atlantic University Sport conference of U Sports. The Bishop's Gaiters football program can trace its roots back to 1884 and has fielded teams in every decade since then. The program is one of six currently playing U Sports football that has not made a Vanier Cup appearance. However, it is the only program to have appeared in three of the four current conference championship games, with two Yates Cup games played, nine Dunsmore Cup games, and two Loney Bowl games. The program has four conference championships, all Dunsmore Cup wins, with victories in 1986, 1988, 1990, and 1994.

The 2018 U Sports football season began on August 24, 2018, with the St. Francis Xavier X-Men visiting the Saint Mary's Huskies in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Quebec Student Sport Federation teams played an hour later with the Laval Rouge et Or visiting the Sherbrooke Vert et Or and the McGill Redmen playing the Montreal Carabins. The Ontario University Athletics teams began play on August 25, 2018, and the Canada West teams opened their season one week later on August 31, 2018.

The 2019 U Sports football season began on August 23, 2019, with the Concordia Stingers hosting the Montreal Carabins in Montreal, Quebec. The Atlantic University Sport conference started play the following day and the Ontario University Athletics conference began play on August 25, 2019. The Canada West teams began play during the following weekend, on August 30, 2019. All 27 U Sports football teams played eight regular season games against opponents within the same conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">56th Vanier Cup</span>

The 2021 Vanier Cup, the 56th edition of the Canadian university football championship, was played on December 4, 2021, at Telus Stadium in Quebec City, Quebec. The OUA champion Western Mustangs defeated the Canada West champion Saskatchewan Huskies by a score of 27–21. The Mustangs made their U Sports–leading 15th Vanier Cup appearance and won their eighth championship. The Huskies made their tenth appearance in the title game, and first since 2006, but lost a record-tying seventh Vanier Cup game.

The 2021 U Sports football season began on August 28, 2021, with the Sherbrooke Vert et Or hosting the Montreal Carabins in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The Atlantic University Sport conference began play on September 17, 2021, and ten Ontario University Athletics teams opened their seasons on September 18, 2021. The Canada West conference began their regular season last with all six teams playing on September 25, 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, all conferences except the RSEQ played six regular season games while the RSEQ played eight.

The 2022 U Sports football season began on August 27, 2022, with four Atlantic University Sport teams, four RSEQ teams, and ten Ontario University Athletics teams opening their schedules that day. The six Canada West teams began their schedules one week later with two games on September 2 and one on September 3.

The 2023 U Sports football season began on August 25, 2023, with the defending champion Laval Rouge et Or visiting the Sherbrooke Vert et Or. On the following day, ten Ontario University Athletics teams, four Atlantic University Sport teams, and two RSEQ opened their schedules on August 26, 2023. On the following weekend, the six Canada West teams opened their seasons on September 1, 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bishop's Gaiters sign deal to compete in 2017 AUS football season". Atlantic University Sport. 2017-01-23. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
  2. 1 2 "RSEQ and TVA Sports unveil the calendar for the 2017 football season". Quebec Student Sport Federation. 2017-02-25. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  3. ↑ CIS football: Hamilton to host Vanier Cup in 2016 and 2017 from Canadian Interuniversity Sport, January 18, 2015, retrieved 2016-01-18.
  4. ↑ Bishop's Gaiters Football Program to Compete in AUS Starting in 2017
  5. 1 2 A History of Canadian University Football
  6. ↑ "OUA announces 2017 football regular season and 110th Yates Cup postseason schedule". Ontario University Athletics. 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
  7. ↑ "Road to 81st Hardy Cup opens September 1". Canada West Universities Athletic Association. 2017-04-18. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  8. ↑ "BREAKING: Concordia's Football Game Against Université de Montréal Cancelled". thelinknewspaper.ca. 2017-10-04. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  9. 1 2 "UPDATE: RSEQ Decides on Stingers-Carabins Game Cancellation". thelinknewspaper.ca. 2017-10-05. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Alberta running back Ilnicki headlines U Sports football major award winners
  11. ↑ "Regina Rams' player stripped of national Rookie of the Year award, after cannabis use". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 21, 2018.
  12. ↑ Football All-Canadian teams announced
  13. ↑ "CIS 5-year Championship Schedule" (PDF). Canadian Interuniversity Sport. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
  14. ↑ "AUS hands Loney Bowl title to Acadia following eligibility controversy with SMU". Atlantic. 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  15. ↑ "As confusion swirls, SMU pushes for cancelled championship game to go ahead". cbc.ca. 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  16. ↑ "Huskies and Axemen ready to snap for last-minute Loney Bowl". cbc.ca. 2017-11-12. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  17. ↑ "Acadia defeats SMU in Loney Bowl after days of controversy". CBC News. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
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