Trio of Mounties represent well at All-Star Showcase
East prevails 12-9
In the eighth annual East-West Bowl, presented by Under Armour, the best of the 2011 CFL Draft Class came together and put on a low-scoring but exciting show for the spectators and scouts. Held on the Western University campus in London, Ontario, the East defeated the West 12-9 on May 8.
Three members of the Mount Allison Mounties were on the winning team, and Head Coach Kelly Jeffrey was an assistant for the East team, coaching the quarterbacks.
Linebacker Ben Halpern and defensive back Bradley Daye, both from Halifax, and offensive lineman Chris Munn of Fredericton all played well for the East squad. Daye had a third-quarter interception that snuffed out a West team drive, and Halpern collected a sack on a crucial second down in the fourth quarter that also ended a drive. Munn was part of a line that helped push the East to 127 rushing yards.
“The week went by pretty quick. It seems that it was all over as soon as it began,” commented Munn following the game. “It was fun practicing against the best players in Canada; it was good to measure yourself against the best.”
The players went through Combine-style testing on Tuesday to kick the week off in London. While all three Mounties posted impressive numbers in the testing, it was Halpern who stood out. The man known as ‘Mad Dog’ posted 25 reps on the bench press, tied for first among linebackers, and third overall. Daye recorded a 4.19 seconds on the shuttle, which was the third-fastest, and Munn’s numbers figured right in with the rest of the offensive linemen in many categories.
The East-West Bowl is a showcase of the best talent in the CIS of players entering their draft-eligible year, and the West leads the all-time series 6-2.
“It was good to win one for the East since we haven’t won a lot in the series,” said Munn.
Daye, Halpern, and Munn all enter their draft year in 2010, and are eligible for the 2011 CFL draft. Past Mounties taken in the draft include Phil Girard (fifth overall, 1998), Eric Lapointe (twentieth overall, 1999), Seb Roy (thirty-second overall, 2003), and Tantramar High School alumnus Derick Fury (thirty-ninth overall, 2003). The trio, along with other draft-eligible Mounties, will look to find a spot on a CFL roster next season, and would become the first to do so since Mike Bailey spent the summer on the Toronto Argonauts’ practice roster in 2006.
No Mounties were selected in the 2010 draft, which saw the Saskatchewan Roughriders trade up to take Queen’s linebacker Shomari Williams with the first overall pick.
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