Thursday, November 16, 2006

And the Award goes to……

Its Awards night at the CFL, Thursday night will see the CFL celebrate excellence in six categories as the league recognizes the best of each team’s best. They used to be known as the Schenley Awards back in the day of Jackson and Lancaster, and as the CFL went through its pains changed sponsors from time to time.

This year’s event will be known as the Rogers CFL Awards, though the fact that they are being televised nationally on TSN seems to mean they drop the Rogers from time to time.

The tuxedo parade gets underway at Winnipeg’s Centennial Concert Hall at 9:30 pm EDT, 8:30 CDT and 6:30 PDT.

And the nominees (and our choices for winners) are:

OUTSTANDING PLAYER:

Ben Cahoon-Montreal
Arland Bruce III-Toronto
Tay Cody-Hamilton
Charles Roberts-Winnipeg
Kenton Keith-Saskatchewan
Joffrey Reynolds-Calgary
Rickey Ray-Edmonton
Geroy Simon-British Columbia

***Geroy in a walk, by far the best player in the league this year

OUTSTANDING CANADIAN

Ben Cahoon-Montreal
Kevin Eiben-Toronto
Rob Hitchcock-Hamilton
Doug Brown-Winnipeg
Scott Schultz-Saskatchewan
Sandro DeAngelis-Calgary
Dan Comiskey-Edmonton
Brent Johnson-British Columbia

***In any other year this would probably be Ben Cahoon’s trophy, but this year it belongs to Brent Jonhson who has dominated the game like few others this year.

OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER

Anwar Stewart-Montreal
Byron Parker-Toronto
Ray Cody-Hamilton
Barrin Simpson-Winnipeg
Fred Perry-Saskatchewan
Brian Clark-Calgary
Robert Brown-Edmonton
Brent Johnson-British Columbia

*** A double win for Johnson, he led the Leos defensive corps this year and will be full value for an award as most outstanding Defensive player.

OUTSTANDING LINEMAN

Scott Flory-Montreal
Jude St. John-Toronto
George Hudson-Hamilton
Ibrahim Khan-Winnipeg
Jeremy O’Day-Saskatchewan
Jay McNeil-Calgary
Joe McGrath- Edmonton
Rob Murphy-British Columbia

***Considering the dominance of the Lions in the regular season this year, it’s hard to bet against Murphy taking the stage to accept an award.

OUTSTANDING ROOKIE

Etienne Boulay-Montreal
Raymond Fontaine-Toronto
Lawrence Gordon-Hamilton
Arjel Franklin-Winnipeg
Luca Congi-Saskatchewan
J. R. Ruffin-Calgary
Adam Braidwood-Edmonton
Aaron Hunt-British Columbia

***Boulay’s star seems to be rising in Montreal, a good sign for someone just starting to make his mark in the game. Good enough to be an award winner too.

OUTSTANDING SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER

Avon Cobourne-Montreal
Noel Prefontaine-Toronto
Rob Hitchcock-Hamilton
Albert Johnson III-Winnipeg
Luca Congi-Saskatchewan
Sandro DeAngelis-Calgary
Mike Maurer-Edmonton
Paul McCallum-British Columbia

***The usual cast of suspects control the nomination list here, the kickers. However, for a change of pace we’ll go with the Alouettes and Cobourne, who spends a fair amount of his time running back those punts and kicks..

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