October 26, 2017
FRC – U SPORTS Football Players of the Week (#9): Ilnicki, Ouellet, Ferraro honoured
U SPORTS TORONTO – Alberta running back Ed Ilnicki, Laval half back Gabriel Ouellet, and Guelph kicker Gabe Ferraro are U SPORTS Football Players of the Week, for the period ending October 22, 2017.
Massive rushing totals have become routine this season for running Ilnicki, who for the second time this season is the top offensive player, as the fifth-year veteran rumbled for 279 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries in Alberta’s decisive 49-23 win over the Saskatchewan Huskies at Foote Field. With the victory, Alberta kept their playoff hopes alive and Ilnicki continued one of the most dominant seasons in program history. The 2017 draft pick of the Ottawa REDBLACKS ran his season rushing total to 1,309 yards to lead the nation and career total to 3,986 – both of which are Alberta records. Ilnicki now needs 107 yards to break Akbal Singh’s single-season CW rushing record of 1,415 set in 1999 for UBC.
Ouellet, the fourth-year half back etched his name into the U SPORTS record book with four interceptions in the Rouge et Or’s 22-0 shutout win over the Carabins. Ouellet matched a Canadian, RSEQ and a team record for interceptions set by the Rouge et Or’s Maximilien Ducap in 2010. Ouellet then almost added a fifth pick when he bobbled a pass that was then ruled a knockdown.
Saturday afternoon in Ottawa, Ferraro, the Gryphons’ fourth-year kicker emphatically capped off the greatest single-season by a place kicker by going a perfect 7-for-7 on field goal attempts in a 28-23 victory over the Carleton Ravens. Three of Ferraro’s seven field goals on Saturday were of the long-range variety, with makes of 45, 48 and 49. With his seven made field goals, Ferraro finishes the regular season with a new U SPORTS single-season record of 33 made field goals. He surpasses the previous mark of 26, set in 2014 by his older brother and current kicking coach, Daniel Ferraro. Gabe Ferraro single-handedly accounted for 22 of the Gryphons’ 28 points on Saturday in the team’s come-from-behind victory over the Ravens.
Offensive nominees:
CW: Ed Ilnicki, running back, Alberta (winner)
OUA: Chris Osei-Kusi, receiver, Queen’s
RSEQ: Hugo Richard, quarterback, Laval
AUS: Dale Wright, running back, Acadia
Defensive nominees:
CW: Stavros Katsantonis, defensive back, UBC
OUA: Dotun Aketepe, defensive back, Guelph
RSEQ: Gabriel Ouellet, half back, Laval (winner)
AUS: Matthew Nettle, linebacker, Acadia
Special teams nominees:
CW: Kyle Borsa, kicker, Regina
OUA: Gabe Ferarro, kicker, Guelph (winner)
RSEQ: Pierre-Antoine D’Astous, kicker, Sherbrooke
AUS: Ryan Lambert, kicker, Mount Allison
– Player bios provided by U SPORTS member conferences
Sportsnet and TVA Sports are once again the official broadcasters of the U SPORTS football semifinals and final in 2017… The Uteck Bowl (OUA at AUS, 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 am PT) and the Mitchell Bowl (RSEQ at Canada West, 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT) are set for Saturday, Nov. 18, while the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vanier Cup follows on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton… For all the information on the 53rd Vanier Cup (including tickets) visit vaniercup.com.
About Football Reporters of Canada
Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering U SPORTS Football. Since 1958, Football Reporters of Canada has been an organization of media members who have covered the Canadian Football League, serving to select the league’s outstanding players, coach-of-the-year and all-star teams through voting conducted by its members. In 2009, the FRC amalgamated with the University Football Reporters of Canada (UFRC) to give the organization greater scope in its affiliation with amateur and university football. FRC also works with the CFL and U SPORTS to establish guidelines and working conditions for the men and women who report on the game. Selected members of FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
About U SPORTS
U SPORTS is the national brand for university sports in Canada. Every year, over 12,000 student-athletes and 500 coaches from 56 universities vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. U SPORTS also provides higher performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit USPORTS.ca.
For further information, please contact:
Ken Saint-Eloy
Senior Manager, Communications
U SPORTS
Cell: 647-871-7595
Alan Hudes
Coordinator, Communications
U SPORTS
Off: 905-508-3000 ext. 242
Cell: 647-991-5343