Ottawa Rough Riders draft history

With the first full college draft coming up next month for the RedBlacks, this seemed like a good time to restore one of the pages from the old website.

The original source of information for this "all-time" list of Ottawa Rough Riders draft selections was the 2002 Ottawa Renegades media guide.  However, as with much of the information included therein, there were some omissions that I had to add by searching through old newspaper articles.

I also received an e-mail from a gentleman one time who pointed out that while the media guide did not display results for a draft in 1954, there were records of one so I added the names for that year based on the data he provided.

One more thing; in the early years, many of the players selected displayed "end" as their position.  When I copied the list, I changed the abbreviation to "DE" because the French abbreviation that was used was "AD", which I believed to be "ailier défensif" (defensive end), but the player may have lined up on offense or, for that matter, on both sides of the ball.

1996 
03-19) DB Sammie Brennan, Bishop's
04-28) SB Grayson Shillingford, University of British Columbia
05-37) DT/OL Darcy Curtis, Simon Fraser
05-38) OL George Savard, University of Ottawa
06-45) DB Robert McElwain, Windsor
07-54) LB Michael Hendricks, University of Ottawa

1995
Bonus round**:  LB Stefan Reid, Boise State
02-18) OG Stewart Masi, Western Michigan
03-25) OG Keith Hiscock, Simon Fraser
03-27) DB Heron Tait, Guelph
03-31) WR Steve Sarty, St. Mary's
04-33) OT Glenn Fowles, Willamette
04-34) OT Pierre-Paul Dorelien, University of Ottawa
04-39) LB Sean Marriott, St. Mary's
05-41) SB Masaki Konno, Bishop's
05-43) DL Danny Lavallée, Concordia
06-49) OL Michael Simoncic, Concordia
**Additional round for team's who respected the expenditures cap.

1994
01-05) DE Tony Bailey, St. Mary's
01-07) LB Rod Murphy, Idaho State
02-15) RB Mike Malott, Waterloo
03-23) WR Glenn McCausland, University of Toronto
04-31) DT Obie Spanic, Weber State

1993
01-03) DT Paul Yatkowski, Tennessee
02-10) RB Dwight Richards, Weber State
03-18) WR Nigel Levy, Western Ontario
04-26) RB Dean Noel, Delaware State
05-34) OL Jason Moller, Queen's
06-42) OL Fred Marquette, Concordia
07-50) OL James Munroe, Syracuse

1992
01-03) OG Denny Chronopoulos, Purdue
02-11) DB Ken Walcott, St. Mary's
02-16) DB Joe Sardo, Hawaii
03-19) DL Dave Chaytors, Utah
05-35) WR Rob Treblicock, Weber State
06-43) LB Mike Boone, Queen's
07-51) CB Mike Doucette, University of Ottawa
08-59) DB Ian Ployart, Concordia

1991
01-07) OT Brett MacNeil, Boston University
03-19) RB Geoff Mitchell, Weber State
04-27) OG Gerald Hlady, Windsor
05-35) QB Chris Flynn, St Mary's
06-43) OG Sylvanno Turrin, Bishop's
07-51) WR Steve Baillargeon, McGill
08-59) OG Pat Mahon, Western Ontario
SUPP-67) DT Michel Raby, University of Ottawa

1990
04-25) DE Michael Philbrick, Carleton
05-33) OG Al Neufeld, Saskatchewan
06-41) OL Cam Sackschewsky, Calgary
06-48) WR Brett Wilson, University of Ottawa
07-49) DL Jamie Coombs, Carleton
07-56) LB Hagen Mehnert, McGill
08-57) DB Darryl Forde, Western Ontario
08-64) LB Mike Koladich, Western Ontario
SUPP-65) PK Chuck Petitpas, McGill

1989
01-01) SB Gerald Wilcox, Weber State
03-17) DB Sean Foudy, York
04-25) P  Tom Schimmer, Boise State
05-33) OT Nenad Radulovich, Western Ontario
06-41) DB Trent Brown, Alberta
07-49) LB Gord Weber, University of Ottawa
08-57) LB Bob Forest, Carleton

1988
01-01) RB Orville Lee, Simon Fraser
03-22) DL Leon Hatziioannou, Simon Fraser
04-26) WR Sheridon Baptiste, Queen's 
05-33) OT Sieg Will, Guelph
05-34) LB Christopher Rick, Queen's
06-41) PK Brent Matich, Calgary
07-49) OT Scott Warr, McGill
08-57) OT Ray Goerke, Weber State

1987
01-01) OT Leo Groenewegen, UBC
02-10) DB Kyle Hall, Western Ontario
02-12) LB Patrick Wayne, Simon Fraser
04-28) OL Rae Robirtis, UBC
05-37) LB Brent Lewis, Western Ontario
06-46) DL Gary Lehmberg, Simon Fraser
07-55) WR Rick Wolkensperg, Western Ontario
08-64) RB David Waterhouse, University of Ottawa

1986
01-04) OT Mike Schad, Queen's
02-13) TE Bob Harding, York
03-23) DB Church Wust, Acadia
04-29) DE Rob Taylor, University of Toronto
04-31) DE Angus Donnelly, Carleton
06-49) DL Richard Storey, McMaster
07-58) DB Devon Hanson, York
08-67) OT Andre Van Vugt, Windsor

1985
01-01) OT Nick Benjamin, Concordia
02-10) WR Tom Munroe, University of British Columbia
03-19) RB Neri Fratin, University of Ottawa
04-35) DE Marty Palazeti, Marshall
06-46) PK Lance Chomyc, University of Toronto
07-55) RB George Ganas, York
08-64) OL Morris Elfenbaum, Minot State
09-73) QB Craig Kennan, Colorado

1984
TERR-  DT Michael Bourgeau, Boise State
TERR-  OL Jim De Silva, Carleton
01-04) DB Maurice Martin, Toronto
02-13) LB Dan Rashovich, Simon Fraser
03-22) DL Damir Dupin, UNLV
06-49) OL Dan Maganja, York
07-58) DB Mike White, Waterloo
08-67) DB Barry Armstrong, University of Ottawa

1983
TERR-  OT Roger Cattelan, Boston College
TERR-  TE Mike Hudson, Guelph
01-02) LB Steve Harrison, University of British Columbia
02-11) DB Junior Robinson, Guelph
03-20) LB Sam Benincasa, Guelph
04-29) OL John Kane, Michigan Tech
05-38) DB Courtney Taylor, Wilfrid Laurier
06-47) DE Francois Payer, Bishop's
07-56) DE Chris Rhora, Acadia
08-65) WR Don Clow, Acadia

1982
TERR-  DT Mark Seale, Richmond
TERR-  OL/DT Kevin Dalliday, Carleton
TERR-  DB Ron Poulton, McGill
03-26) DB Terry Cahill, East Stroudsberg State
04-35) DB Bruce Milks, Southern Arkansas
05-44) LB Terry Elik, Simon Fraser
06-53) QB Greg Clarke, British Columbia

1981
TERR-  TE John Park, Bowling Green
TERR-  TE Ian Beckstead, Richmond
01-03) RB Maurice Doyle, University of Toronto
02-12) WR Don Burns, University of Ottawa
04-30) DT Eric Boss, University of Toronto
05-39) DB Larry Ring, Bishop's
06-48) OT Anthony Refossco, Toronto
07-57) DL Rob Ball, Queen's

1980
TERR-  SB Gary Cook, Carleton
TERR-  CB Glenn Cook, Richmond
01-06) OL Pat McBride, North Dakota State
02-11) RB Mark Philp, Richmond
02-13) RB Neville Edwards, Western Ontario
04-33) WR Wesley Woof, Wilfrid Laurier
05-42) OT Steve Shubat, York
06-51) TE Mike Szemeredy, University of Toronto
07-60) OG Elwin Morobec, Utah

1979
TERR-  OT Malcolm Inglis, Carleton
TERR-  DB Pat Stoqua, Carleton
01-06) LB Carman Cartieri, Montana
02-15) DB Al Dosant, Windsor
04-33) RB Dave Green, Carleton
05-42) PK Blaine Shore, Queen's
06-51) DB Scott Spurgeon, St. Francis Xavier
07-60) RB Dave Behm, University of Ottawa

1978
TERR-  OT Dick Bakker, Queen's
TERR-  WR Bruce Walker, Windsor
01-07) RB Don Taylor, Iowa Central
04-34) LB Phil Battaglia, New Brunswick
05-43) OT Lindon Davidson, University of Ottawa
06-52) DT Dave Yurincich, Wilfrid Laurier
07-61) RB Tom Barbeau, McGill
08-70) DT Mike Lyriotokis, PEI

1977
TERR-  RB Mike Murphy, University of Ottawa
TERR-  OG Doug McGee, Richmond
TERR-  WR Dan Fournier, Princeton
TERR-  OT Brian McLaughlin, Simon Fraser
01-01) DT Mike Riley, Dalhousie
01-09) DB Kirk DeFazio, Waterloo
02-18) OT Jim Lynn, Windsor
03-27) DB Jim McCaffrey, Richmond
04-36) TE Rod Bell, New Brunswick
05-45) WR Roger Wheller, Acadia
06-54) OL Dan Sartor, University of Ottawa
07-63) RB Ross Tripp, McMaster
08-72) DB John Harrison, McMaster
09-81) FB Phil Ridley, St. Francis Xavier

1976
TERR-  WR Jeff Avery, University of Ottawa
TERR-  RB John Palazeti, Richmond
01-04) DB Steve Gelley, Simon Fraser
01-06) WR Bill Hatanaka, York
04-33) OG Drew Allan, Carleton
05-42) QB Doug Kitts, York
06-51) OT Jim Anderson, Alberta
07-60) LB Fred Brown, Wilfrid Laurier
08-69) OG Paul Lojewski, Windsor
09-78) WR Robert Forbes, New Brunswick
10-86) WR Chris Kziezopoloski, Waterloo

1975
TERR-  QB Peter Stenerson, Carleton
TERR-  DT Jeff Turcotte, Colorado
01-07) LB Marvin Allemang, Acadia
02-13) LB Dave Patterson, Simon Fraser
02-16) OL Jim Baker, Alberta
03-25) LB Cliff Summers, Western Ontario
04-34) LB Grant Stephenson, St. Francis Xavier
05-43) OG Scott Gibson, Manitoba
06-51) TE Arunas Pleckaitis, Carleton
07-59) TE Roy Biljetina, Wooster

1974
TERR-  DB Perry Arnold, Western Ontario
TERR-  OT Darryl Craig, North Carolina
01-08) HB Dave Hadden, Queen's
01-09) LB Bob Rushton, Otterbein
03-27) QB Bill Robinson, Saint Mary's
05-45) DT Tom Balfe, Wilfrid Laurier
06-54) DB Jeff Cope, Simon Fraser
07-63) LB Doug Ridding, Otterbein

1973
PROT-  OT Donn Smith, Purdue 
02-16) RB Bruce McMillan, Mount Allison
03-25) DB Roger Comartin, Alberta
04-34) DB Jim Budge, Western Ontario
SUPP-  DB John Reid, York

1972
03-22) DE Doug Cihocki, Western Ontario
04-31) DB Stew MacSween, University of Toronto
05-40) RB Ron Perowne, Bishop's
06-48) LB Gordon Ladbrook, Dalhousie
07-57) DT Fred Tokaryk, Dalhousie
SUPP-  PK Louis Lamarre, Montreal
SUPP-  PK Noel Billette, Montreal

1971
01-02) LB Bob Eccles, Carleton
03-20) OT Bob Padfield, Waterloo
04-29) DB Art Lord, Saskatchewan
05-38) OT Steve Derbyshire, Western Ontario
06-47) DE Steve Hoffman, Windsor
07-56) LB George Hill, Western Ontario
08-64) LB Marshall Caplan, McMaster
SUPP-  OT Jim Sheritt, Queen's

1970
01-09) HB Mike Sharp, Carleton
02-18) OT Gerald Kwapisz, Windsor
04-36) DB Dave Doherty, McGill
05-44) DB Ken Whalen, Guelph
07-61) FB Ron Clarke, Queen's
08-69) OG Bob Climie, Queen's
SUPP-  OL Bob Wright, Carleton
SUPP-  OT Jerry Brown, University of Ottawa

1969
01-09) QB Jim Foley, St. Dunstans
02-18) QB Norm Lukey, Saint Mary's
03-27) FL Brian donnelly, Queen's
04-36) OL Wayne Powell, University of Ottawa
05-45) HB Don Croteau, Laurentian
06-54) FL Bruce McGregor, Carleton

1968
01-04) HB Paul Brule, St. Francis Xavier
01-06) LB Daryll Burgess, Saint Mary's
01-08) OG Ron Wakelin, University of Toronto
01-09) LB/OL Don Cooper, Bishop's
02-17) LB John Wilson, Alberta
03-26) OT Theron Craig, Queen's
04-35) LB Brian Fryer, McMaster
05-44) LB Doug Shuh, Waterloo
06-53) LB Jim Tait, Queen's
07-62) FB Ted Ambercrombie, Saint Mary's
08-71) OT Neil Wyatt, University of Ottawa

1967
01-08) HB Greg McQueen, Waterloo
02-17) HB Robert Wearing, Western
03-26) QB Don Bayne, Queen's
04-35) HB Moe Rodigue, McGill

1966
01-06) LB Glen Markle, University of Toronto
02-xx) LB Doug Kelcher, St. Patrick's
02-xx) DE Jim Dickie, McGill
03-xx) FL Tod Scott, St. Francis Xavier
03-xx) LB Norm Lightfoot, Regina
04-xx) DB Al Keith, McMaster
05-xx) HB Terry Bradley, McDonald College
05-xx) LB Allan Grachina, University of Toronto
06-xx) DE Harold Hermitage, McDonald
06-xx) LB Wayne Houston, Waterloo Lutheran
07-xx) OG Phil Hughes, St. Francis Xavier
08-xx) LB Donald Holmes, Toronto
09-xx) HB John Ball, Mount Allison
10-xx) OG Dick Fiedler, McGill

1965
01-06) ?? Brian Bentley, Mount Allison
02-15) DE Stu O'Brien, Saint Mary's
03-24) OT Rick Canning, Bishop's
03-27) QB Mike Norcott, Mount Allison
04-33) HB Keith Mills, Bishop's
05-42) HB Don Campbell, Mount Allison
05-45) OT Pat Lafferty, Bishop's
06-51) LB Peter Ferguson, Mount Allison
07-60) DB Eric Hafenan, Saint Mary's

1964
01-06) FB Peter Martin, Western Ontario
02-15) OT Andy Shaw, Queen's
03-24) HB George Poirier, Loyola College
04-33) HB Bruce Leggatt, McMaster
04-36) DE Joel LaMorre, St Francis Xavier
05-42) OT Jim Burke, St Francis Xavier
06-51) HB Harold Rose, Queen's
07-60) QB John McLennan, McMaster

1963
01-03) HB Rick Black, Mount Allison
01-06) OG Bill Micklas, Queen's
01-08) HB Peter Quinn, Queen's
02-15) HB Paul Benoit, Queen's
03-24) FB Len Robinson, University of Ottawa
04-30) OL Ted Moore, Saint Mary's
04-33) OG Bob Bourgalt, Loyola
05-42) HB Jim Sevigny, Carleton
06-51) HB John Nash, Western
07-60) OT Jack Greben, McMaster

1962 (Eastern team plus Stampeders participating)
01-04) OG Chuck Wood, McGill
02-09) HB Whitman Tucker, Western
03-14) DE Bob windsor, McGill
04-19) DE Larry Shaw, Western
05-24) DE Hugh Cook, University of Toronto
06-29) OT Doug Niklas, Queen's

1961 (Eastern team plus Stampeders participating)
01-05) HB Paul Burroughs, University of Toronto
02-10) HB John Moore, McGill
03-15) HB Dick Pearce, Queen's
04-20) HB Frank Loftus, Queen's
05-25) OT John Evans, University of Toronto

1960 (Eastern team plus Stampeders participating)
01-04) HB Steve Chisolm, University of Toronto
02-09) DE Doug Jack, University of Toronto
03-14) OT Brian Bradstock, University of Toronto
04-19) HB Joe Irvine, McGill
05-24) DE Jim Edgar, Western
06-29) OG Ross Arbour, Queen's

1959
01-02) HB Jocko Thompson, Queen's
02-12) HB Bob Dann, University of Toronto
03-21) HB Steve O'Farrell, McGill

1958
01-06) HB Russ Jackson, McMaster
02-XX) DE John Bennett, McGill
03-XX) QB Brian Ashton, University of Toronto
04-XX) OL John Chisholm, University of Toronto
05-XX) DE Dan Nelson, University of Toronto
06-XX) DE Burt Kelloch, University of Toronto

1957
01-03) OG Russ Radchuk, Queen's
02-12) DE/P Peter Mitchell, McMaster
03-21) OL Peter Polecrone, University of Toronto

1956
01-01) DE Lou Bruce, Queen's
02-10) FB Ralph Simmons, Western Ontario
03-19) OT Vic Uzbalis, Queen's
04-28) HB Jack Rome, McMaster

1954
       HB Gino Fracas, Western Ontario
          Robert Pinkney, Toronto
          Pete Nicholson, Queen's
          George Stulac, Toronto
          Larry Henderson, Western Ontario
          Bob Turner, Western Ontario
          Fred Palermo, Toronto
          Joe O'Brien, Queen's
          Jack Rogers, Toronto
          Don Marston, Queen's
          John Hilts, McGill                

1953 (IRFU teams only)
01-02) OT Joe Harris, University of Toronto
02-06) OT Stu Kennedy, Queen's
03-10) DE Tony Arnoldi, Queen's
04-14) DE Hank Tamowski, University of Toronto
05-18) HB Ken Atwood, Queen's
06-22) HB Cameron Kenney, McGill
07-26) OG Clive Bynoe, McMaster
08-30) OG Pete Johnson, Queen's
09-34) HB Bill Gatfield, Queen's
10-38) OG W. Waddell, Queen's

In case you're wondering, and are something of a trivia buff, the big winner in terms of overall selections is actually Queen's University with 35 (not counting the 1954 draft).  Of course, it seems that only a handful of schools were "eligible" to be chosen from in the 50's and early 60's, but nonetheless.  Toronto and Western Ontario are next, followed by the two local schools.

The Ottawa-Richmond Connection Revived.

Yesterday, the Ottawa RedBlacks announced that they will be holding the team's first mini-camp in Richmond, Virginia next month. 

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League will be holding the franchise's inaugural pre-season mini-camp in Richmond, Virginia from April 8 to 10. 

Many of the players on the team's roster will assemble at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center to participate in drills and work out under the supervision of head coach Rick Campbell and the REDBLACKS football operations staff.

... 

"Our spring mini-camp is a huge step in our process of becoming a football team. It will be a special event for all involved to see our team hit the field for the first time.  We truly appreciate the excitement shown for the REDBLACKS by the fans in the Ottawa-Gatineau area.  The players and coaches can't wait to take the field," said head coach Rick Campbell. 

The Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center, which opened in 2013, serves as a full-service health and rehabilitation centre.  In addition, community and other sporting events are hosted year round. 

"Richmond is thrilled to welcome the Canadian Football League to Virginia," said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. "The training facility we've established is state-of-the- art and we expect to continue to generate great interest in our facility and usage for many years to come. The Ottawa team could not have made a better choice for their pre-season mini-camp." 

The REDBLACKS will practice from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, April 9 and Thursday, April 10 at the facility, located at 2401 W. Leigh Street in Richmond.

It can only be coincidental, but there's something of a historical connection between Ottawa football and the town of Richmond.  A number of Rough Riders in the 1970's attended the university there.  The article below is scanned from the September 1978 Ottawa Rough Riders News magazine and explains the ties between the two.  You may need to right click and open it in a new tab in order to be able to read it.

A couple of years ago, I joked with a friend that in terms of football, this town was going back to the 70's.  Pro football is back, Carleton restored its program, the Sooners returned to the OFC and are now the only junior program in town.

I hope that trend holds true.  The Sooners won the national championship in 1974 as did the University of Ottawa in 1975.  The Rough Riders sandwiched those accomplishments with Grey Cups in 1973 and 1976.  I'd say we're about due for a run like that again out here, eh?

History: The 1973 Grey Cup Game

Today is not only Grey Cup Sunday, it is also the last day before the Ottawa RedBlacks officially enter the league as a participant.  True, they were involved in the college draft earlier this year, but starting tomorrow the RedBlacks are able to sign street free agents.

In the meantime, let's recognise the 40th anniversary of the 1973 championship team.

When building Capital Region Football between 2007 and this past spring, I would occasionally visit the library in order to print off some old newspaper articles and find some information that wasn't easily found (or found at all) online.  Among the dozens of copies of Citizen, Sun or Free Press articles I brought is the main recap of the 1973 Grey Cup game. It is spread over two pages below.

I apologise for the poor quality of the first page, but it should be easier to read if you right click on it to open it in a separate window.

Racine, Lumsden, Okeke named to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame!

I admit that I did not know that the Hall of Fame inductions were last night.  If I had, I would have paid greater attention.

There's a fair amount of Ottawa (or Ottawa-based, at least) content in the 2014 class.  The following is copied from TSN's recap of the event:

(Neil) Lumsden, 60, of London, Ont., enjoyed a stellar college career at Ottawa and in '75 helped the Gee-Gees go 11-0 and capture the Vanier Cup. Lumsden ended his collegiate tenure as the Vanier Cup MVP. He left school first in all-time CIS scoring (410 points) and his 148 points in '75 was second all-time. That season, Lumsden scored 37 points -- including five TDs -- in a single game.

Lumsden played in the CFL from '76 to '85 with Toronto, Hamilton and Edmonton, winning three Grey Cups with the Eskimos (1980-'82) and being named the top Canadian in the '81 contest. Lumsden was also in the Ticats' front office when they won their last league title in '99.

(Moe) Racine, 76, a native of Cornwall, Ont., was an offensive lineman and kicker with Ottawa from 1958-'74, appearing in five Grey Cup games and winning four times. He played 201 career games with the Rough Riders and was an East all-star three times. The franchise retired his No. 62 jersey upon his retirement.

The picture of Racine above was lifted from the cflapedia website and is probably originally from Scott Grant's extensive portfolio.

Can't claim too much "Ottawa-ness" to former offensive lineman Uzooma Okeke, but he did play with the last Rough Riders team in 1996.  He started gathering all-star status fairly regularly the following year (of course...) with Montreal and was with them until 2006.  Played with the Shreveport Pirates prior to joining the Rough Riders so he might be the poster boy for what a quality work environment can do for one's career.

As an aside, I love that the Canadian Hall of Fame is a football Hall of Fame and not a pro football Hall of Fame. If you impact the game significantly at the amateur level, that accomplishment should be recognised.

The OSEG Media Newsroom blog has far more detailed articles on both men.  Give that a look over here.

History: Article about the formation of the Ottawa Football Club in 1876

The article below is a scan from, if I recall correctly, the Ottawa Citizen.  I believe it was dated September 21st, 1876, making reference to the night before as the night the Ottawa Rough Riders were born.  I point this out because records often show September 19th as the Riders' "birthday" but I'm not sure that accurate.

I am restoring this article from Capital Region Football.  Finding it in the library very much triggered my interest in recording the history of football in Ottawa (and region).  That the team was created in 1876 is very well known, but I think it has become just a number to many people.  I recall that one of the articles on the same page was about a disruptive Apache tribe in the southwestern United States.  Seeing that really helped set this event in its historical place.

A few years later, I find it a little ironic that the RedBlack name is being referred to as a "fresh new name that pays tribute to Ottawa's past".  Certainly, if you were to ask anyone what colours are associated with Ottawa football, it's unlikely anyone would respond "cerise and French grey".  They are indeed red and black.  But the Rough Riders, for some time, were actually very similar in appearance to that of the University of Ottawa (who, of course, are named after their colours).  The "Gee-Gee" colour scheme might very well have become the one most associated with football in this city.