CRC DESCENDS ON CALGARY TO CROWN A CHAMPION

CALGARY – The players, coaches, fans and, of course, the MacTier Cup itself, will be in Calgary this week as the Canadian Rugby Championship (CRC) will be contested over a week of thrilling action at Calgary Rugby Park, culminating with the title bout Aug. 19.

With two games already in the books, the four Canadian outfits – the BC Bears, Prairie Wolf Pack, Ontario Blues and Atlantic Rock – are set to descend upon Calgary for the final six matches of the CRC.

Starting Sunday, some of the very best players in the country will compete for national glory, with the Blues taking on the Wolf Pack (3pmET/12pmPT) followed by the Rock against the Bears (5pmET/2pmPT). All six matches will be streamed live at www.facebook.com/RugbyCanada.

Following an entertaining first two contests that saw the Blues edge the Rock 24-17 and the Bears knock off the Wolf Pack 43-0, the final four round robin contests will determine the two teams that will play for the national title Aug. 19 at 9pmET/6pmPT. The third place game will kickoff at 7pmET/4pmPT.

With the Bears and Blues leading the charge early on – both sides earned five points in their openers – the pressure falls on their opponents Sunday as a loss for either the Rock or the Wolf Pack would see their title hopes start to fade.

This year’s format sees each team face each other once with the two best teams in the standings playing in the MacTier Cup championship game. The other two teams will battle for third place.

Ontario Blues vs. Prairie Wolf Pack (3pmET/12pmPT)
In Sunday’s opener, the Blues, who are the defending MacTier Cup champions, will aim to build off their success against the Rock, which came about thanks to a 24-point first half. Ontario’s efforts will be buoyed by the addition of Andrew Coe this week, who joins the team after earning three caps with the Canadian senior team earlier in the summer.

The Blues will also feature the likes of Paul Ciulini, who was named to this week’s roster after missing Ontario’s first outing, along with Rob Brouwer, Tom Dolezel, Eric Howard, Lucas Rumball, Andrew Ferguson, Dan Moor, Rory McDonnell and Kainoa Lloyd.

Meanwhile, the Wolf Pack find themselves nearing must-win territory. As the only team to go pointless in the their first contest, they enter Sunday at the bottom of the table. However, an upset win over the Blues would put them back in the mix and would certainly spice up the competition.

As was the case in their opener, the Wolf Pack will be without national team scrumhalf Gordon McRorie, which once again leaves a large hole to fill amongst the backs. The Prairie side were held off the scoreboard in their last outing and will look to the likes of Lucas Albornoz, Nick Blevins, Gradyn Bowd, Kyle Gilmour, Ryan Kotlewski, Clay Panga, Robbie Povey and Mozac Samson to help turn their fortunes around.

BC Bears vs. Atlantic Rock (5pmET/2pmPT)
The BC Bears, who haven’t won a CRC title since capturing the championship in 2009, will run out for the second match of the day riding a considerable high after their comprehensive opening-day victory over the Wolf Pack. Individually, it was Brock Staller, who was the hero of the match in the Bears mid-July contest, as he tallied three tries to lead BC to a convincing win.

The ever-creative Phil Mack and Anthony Luca will once again lead the Bears, while the likes of Guiseppe du Toit, Harjun Gill and Staller are all hot commodities for an in-form BC side. New additions to the BC lineup include Dustin Dubrovsky, Blake Van Heningen, Karsten Laitner, Kimi Vuratunuga, Noah Barker, Rylie Darnardo, Shea Wakefield, Kevin Leask and Tua Va'a.

On the other side of the ball, the Rock hope to build on the momentum they gathered in the second half of their games against the Blues. After trailing 24-7 at halftime, the Atlantic team outscored Ontario 10-0 over the final 40 minutes.

The Rock, who haven’t won the CRC since taking the title in 2010, will take the pitch with the likes of Mike Hamson, Brett Johnson, Patrick Parfrey. Jon Phelan and Connor Keys leading the way.

Canadian Rugby Championship Schedule
July 14 – BC Bears 43 Prairie Wolf Pack 0
July 22 – Ontario Blues 24 Atlantic Rock 17
August 13 – Ontario Blues vs. Prairie Wolf Pack – 3pm ET/12pm PT
August 13 – BC Bears vs. Atlantic Rock – 5pm ET/2pm PT
August 16 – BC Bears vs. Ontario Blues – 7pm ET/4pm PT
August 16 – Atlantic Rock vs. Prairie Wolf Pack – 9pm ET/6pm PT
August 19 – 3rd Place Match –  7pm ET/4pm PT
August 19 – Championship Game –  9pm ET/6pm PT

Canadian Rugby Championship – Rosters
Atlantic Rock
Abdelmonen, Moe - Halifax Tars
Alexander, Colin - Balmy Beach
Barry, Graham - Halifax Tars
Carter, Liam - Balmy Beach
Chahwan, Jake    - Ottawa Irish
Coats, Cooper - Halifax Tars
Debove, Charles - Ste. Anne de Bellevue
Dickie, Evan - Enfield RFC
Forrest, Alex - PEI Mudmen
Hamson. Michael - Halifax Tars
Hotton, Lucas - Town of Mt. Royal
Johnson, Brett - Truro Saints
Keys, Connor - Ottawa Indians
Lagain, Martial - Ste. Anne de Bellevue
Lantos, Daniel - Swilers RFC
Lester. Brad - Dogs RFC
McCarthy, John - Baymen RFC
McNicholas, Patrick - Swilers RFC
O'Sullivan, Carson    
Parfrey, Owen - Swilers RFC
Parfrey, Patrick Jr. - Swilers RFC
Phelan, Jon    
Pomroy, Tony - Baymen RFC
Power, Jordon - Dogs RFC
Sehic, Emil - Loyalists RFC
Walsh, Frank - Vandals RFC
Staff    
Blanks, Simon - Coach
Hanratty, Jack - Coach
Graham, Rick – Hon. Manager
Parfrey, Patrick Sr. - Director of Rugby
Parfrrey, Kevin - Therapist

BC Bears
Paul Ahn - Vancouver, BC, UBC Thunderbirds RFC
Noah Baker - Victoria, BC, James Bay AA
Luke Campbell - Victoria, BC, James Bay AA
Neil Courtney - Vancouver, BC, UBC Thunderbirds RFC
Rylie Darnardo - Victoria, BC, Castaway Wanderers RFC
Dustin Dubrovsky - Victoria, BC, Castaway Wanderers RFC
Giusseppe DuToit - Victoria, BC, UVIC Vikes RFC
Doug Fraser - Victoria, BC, Castaway Wanderers RFC
Harjun Gill - Vancouver, BC, UBCOB Ravens RFC
Andrew Lackner - Pitt Meadows, BC, Burnaby Lake RFC
Karsten Laitner - Vancouver, BC, UBC Thunderbirds RFC
Travis Larsen - Victoria, BC, James Bay AA
Kevin Leask - Victoria, BC, UVIC Vikes RFC
Anthony Luca - Pitt Meadows, BC, Burnaby Lake RFC
Phil Mack - Victoria, BC, James Bay AA
Craig McLaughlin - Burnaby, BC, Burnaby Lake RFC
Aaron McLelland - Vancouver, BC, UBCOB Ravens RFC
Mike Nieuwenhuysen - Victoria, BC, James Bay AA
Nakai Penny - Comox, BC, UBC Thunderbirds RFC
Cam Polson - Victoria, BC, Castaway Wanderers RFC
Jordan Reid-Harvey - Vancouver, BC, Capilano RFC
Gavin Rowell - Abbotsford, BC, UVIC Vikes RFC
Brock Staller - Vancouver, BC, UBC Thunderbirds RFC
Tua Va'a - Victoria, BC, Westshore RFC
Blake Van Heningen - Victoria, BC, James Bay AA
Kimi Vuratunuga - Vancouver, BC, Burnaby Lake RFC
Shea Wakefield - Victoria, BC, James Bay AA
Connor Weyell - Vancouver, BC, UBC Thunderbirds RFC
Staff
Tony Healy - Head Coach
Phil Mack - Assistant Coach
Des Lynch - Manager/Mental Skills Coach

Prairie Wolf Pack
Lucas Albornoz - Burnaby Lake
Brandon Baker - Regina Campion Grads
Jake Bentley - Calgary Canucks
Nicholas Blevins - Calgary Hornets
Robert Blunden - St. Albert RFC
Adam Bontus - St. Albert RFC
Gradyn Bowd - Red Deer Titans
Hubert Buydens     - Saskatoon Wild Oats
Mark Discombe - Regina Rogues
Riley Fahlman - Regina Campion Grads
Gilbert Connor - Bow Valley Grizzlies
Kyle Gilmour - St. Albert RFC
Cam Hall - Strathcona Druids
Wayde Hodgen - Calgary Hornets
Pete Houlihan - Strathcona Druids
Ryan Kotlewski - Calgary Saints
Jeremy Kyne - Strathcona Druids
Nick McAuley - Calgary Saints
Kyle Morrison - Edmonton Nor’Westers
Carl Pocock - Calgary Rams
Robbie Povey - Calgary Hornets
Casey Reed - Univ of Victoria
Jake Robinson - St. Albert RFC
Mozac Samson - Calgary Saints
Evan Thomas - Edmonton Lep/Tigers
Conor Turner - Calgary Hornets
Staff
Col Jeffs - Head Coach        
Gordon McRorie - Assistant Coach        
Tyler Hawes - Assistant Coach
Melissa Petryna     - Therapist
Jim Kazakoff - Manager
Sean Tindall - Assistant Manager
Jo Reinbold - Assistant Manager
Colby Westgard - Therapist

Ontario Blues
Rob Brouwer (capt), Lindsay RFC
Tom Dolezel, London St. Georges
Ryan Surgenor, Bytown Blues
Pat Lynott, Bytown Blues
Eric Howard, Brantford Harlequins
Andrew Quattrin, Aurora Barbarians
Hank McQueen, Balmy Beach
Mike Sheppard, Stoney Creek Camels
Lucas Rumball, Balmy Beach
Andrew Wilson, Crusaders
Marcello Wainwright, Toronto Saracens
Pete Milazzo, Toronto Saracens
Seb Pearson, London St. Georges
Paul Ciulini, Aurora Barbarians
Kyle Lagasca, Toronto Saracens
Andrew Ferguson, Crusaders
Mario Van Der Westhuizen, Guelph Redcoats
Shawn Windsor, Stoney Creek Camels
Josh Campbell, London St. Georges
Dan Moor, Balmy Beach
Mitch Richardson, Stoney Creek Camels
Andrew Coe, Markham Irish
Rory Mcdonell, Brantford Harlequins
Kainoa Lloyd, Mississauga Blues
John Sheridan, Markham Irish
Brandon McLeod, Aurora Barbarians
Staff
Chris Silverthorn - Head Coach
Cory Hector - Assistant Coach
Mark Winokur - Team Manager
Chris Kelly - Athletic Therapist
Rodin Lozada - Video Analyst
Dr. Chris Gallimore - Team Doctor

Canadian Rugby Championship – Past Champions
2016 - Ontario Blues
2015 - Prairie Wolf Pack
2014 - Ontario Blues
2013 - Ontario Blues
2012 - Ontario Blues
2011 - Ontario Blues
2010 - Atlantic Rock
2009 - BC Bears

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