CFL CANADIAN DRAFT SELECTS 33 FROM CIS

OTTAWA (CIS) - Defensive tackle Miguel Robede of the two-time defending Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or was the first overall pick in the 2005 CFL Canadian Draft. The native of Montreal will start his professional career with the Calgary Stampeders.

For a complete list of 2005 CFL Canadian Draft selections visit: www.universitysport.ca or www.cfl.ca

Robede became the second player in Rouge et Or history to be selected first overall in the CFL draft, following offensive lineman Alexandre Gauthier who was chosen by Ottawa in 2002. This marks the fourth time in six years that a CIS representative tops the CFL draft.

33 of the 53 athletes selected in the six-round draft, down from 35 in 2004, were from CIS institutions, including five in the opening round and seven in the second. The number of CIS representatives chosen in the CFL draft had increased steadily over the previous five years: 22 (2000), 26 ('01), 26 ('02), 32 ('03), and 35 ('04).

Four other CIS players were selected in the first round on Thursday: McMaster offensive lineman Matt O'Meara went to Saskatchewan with the third pick, defensive back Matthieu Proulx to Montreal (5th), 2004 Hec Crighton Trophy winner, McMaster running back Jesse Lumsden to Hamilton (6th), and Saskatchewan slotback Nathan Hoffart to Saskatchewan (7th).

CIS powerhouses Laval and McMaster stole the show in the first two rounds of the draft with five and three players selected, respectively. Four of those Rouge et Or players come from a spectacular defensive unit which led the CIS for fewer points allowed the last two seasons on its way to the national title, with 66 in 2004 and 86 in 2003.

In total, Laval led the way with five players selected, while McMaster and Saskatchewan both had four.

Robede, a 23-year-old administration student, was a two-time all-Canadian in three seasons at Laval. The 6-foot-3, 288-pound tackle was named to CIS' first all-star team in 2002, and to the second squad in 2003. He was a conference all-star in 2004 when he recorded 24 tackles including a team-leading 8.5 for losses and four sacks. Robede amassed 34 tackles for losses and 14 sacks in three CIS seasons, while helping Laval claim the second and third national titles in program history.

O'Meara, a history student from Milton, Ont. was an OUA first team all-star in 2004. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound offensive tackle helped the Marauders lead the CIS with 398 points scored and 2548 rushing yards during the regular season.

Lumsden, a 23-year-old geography student from Burlington, Ont. claimed the Hec Crighton Trophy as CIS player of the year in 2004. The 6-foot-2, 227-pound running back set CIS single-season records with 21 touchdowns and 1816 rushing yards. The two-time first-team all-Canadian signed an NFL contract as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks on April 24th.

CIS players selected in 2005 CFL Canadian Draft:

FIRST ROUND
Miguel Robede, Laval, DT, 1st by Calgary
Mark O'Meara, McMaster, OL, 3rd by Saskatchewan
Matthieu Proulx, Laval, DB, 5th by Montreal
Jesse Lumsden, McMaster, RB, 6th by Hamilton
Nathan Hoffart, Saskatchewan, SB, 7th by Saskatchewan

SECOND ROUND
Godfrey Ellis, Acadia, OL, 10th by Calgary
Jeff Piercy, Saskatchewan, RB, 12th by Montreal
Philippe Audet, Laval, DL, 14th by Toronto
Fabio Filice, McMaster, OL, 15th by Hamilton
Philippe Gauthier, Laval, DB, 16th by Montreal
Pierre Tremblay, Laval, OL, 17th by B.C.
Jeff Keeping, Western, SB, 18th by Toronto

THIRD ROUND
John Comiskey, Windsor, OL, 19th by Calgary
Les Mullings, Saint Mary's, RB, 20th by Ottawa
Tim O'Neill, Calgary, OL, 22nd by Edmonton
David Lowry, Alberta, LB, 25th by B.C.

FOURTH ROUND
Kyler Jukes, Regina, DL, 27th by Calgary
Scott Mennie, Manitoba, LB, 29th by Winnipeg
Jeremy Steeves, StFX, S, 32nd by Hamilton
Mike Ray, McMaster, K, 33rd by Montreal
Sebastian Clovis, Saint Mary's, S, 34th by B.C.
Tye Smith, Manitoba, OL, 35th by Toronto

FIFTH ROUND
David Hewson, Manitoba, DB, 36th by Calgary
Adrian Baird, Ottawa, DL, 37th by Ottawa
Dustin Cherniawski, UBC, DB, 39th by Saskatchewan
Robert LeBlanc, McGill, WR, 40th by Edmonton
Iain Fleming, Queen's, SB, 41st by Hamilton
Curt Hundeby, Saskatchewan, OL, 42nd by Montreal
Bryan Crawford, Queen's, RB, 44th by Toronto

SIXTH ROUND
Brett Ralph, Alberta, WR, 45th by Calgary
Ryan Gottselig, Saskatchewan, DL, 48th by Saskatchewan
Karl Ortmanns, Acadia, OL, 52nd by B.C.
Ian Forde, Waterloo, WR, 53rd by Toronto

Number of CIS players selected by round (33 total):
First round: 5
Second round: 7
Third round: 4
Fourth round: 6
Fifth round: 7
Sixth round: 4

(Source: Michel Belanger, CIS Communications)