McGill to hold East-West Bowl for second straight year

OTTAWA (CIS) – The stage is set for the second straight edition of the CIS East-West Bowl at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in Montreal.

McGill University will once again host the week-long event featuring CIS players heading into their Canadian Football League draft year, culminating with the 14th annual prospects game on Saturday, May 14 at 1 p.m., live on CIS-SIC.tv.

The 2016 edition, which kicks off on Tuesday, May 10, also includes three days of practices, a combine for participating players, a CFL free-agent camp, the traditional East-West Bowl banquet, as well as a coaches’ clinic on game day.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to host the event for a second year in a row,” said McGill head coach Ronald Hilaire. “The game and combines camp provide a great opportunity for top CIS draft-eligible student-athletes from across the country to demonstrate for the CFL scouts what they can do. It was well received last year and we expect it to be even better this time. Our mission is to make it the best East-West Bowl ever.”

Before moving to Montreal last spring, the East-West Bowl had been held in London for six straight years (2009-2014), as well as in Hamilton (2008), Quebec City (2006-2007) and Waterloo (2003-2005).

The East team for the prospects game is comprised of players from the AUS and RSEQ conferences, as well as Carleton, Ottawa, Queen’s and Toronto. The West contingent is made up of student-athletes from Canada West and the remaining OUA universities.

The East has won the last two contests and five of the last six, including a 29-21 decision last May at Molson Stadium. However, the West still leads the all-time series 7-6.

Of the 44 CIS players selected in the 2015 CFL Canadian Draft, 32 were past East-West Bowl participants, including all seven CIS standouts taken in the first round.

The rosters and coaching staffs for the 2016 East-West Bowl will be finalized next week.

EAST-WEST BOWL LOCATIONS AND RESULTS: