145 CIS grads on 2012 CFL rosters

OTTAWA (CIS) – A record total of 145 players from Canadian Interuniversity Sport institutions are listed on Canadian Football League rosters going into the 2012 CFL season, which is set to get under way Friday night.

The number includes 119 players on active rosters, 13 on practice rosters, 15 on an injured list, and one on a suspended list.

According to lineups posted on CFL team websites, 47 CIS graduates hail from the six-team Canada West conference (CWUAA), 45 are from the 10-team Ontario league (OUA), 34 are out of the six-team Quebec division (RSEQ) and 21 are a product of the four-team Atlantic conference (AUS).

All 26 teams currently competing in CIS are represented.

Saskatchewan leads all CIS institutions with 12 former players listed on CFL rosters. Calgary and Western are next with 11 apiece, followed by Saint Mary’s (10), Laval (10), Concordia (7), Bishop’s (8), reigning Vanier Cup champion McMaster (7) and St. Francis Xavier (7).

Rounding out the list are Windsor (6), Laurier (5), Manitoba (5), Regina (5), Sherbrooke (5), UBC (4), Queen’s (4), Alberta (4), Acadia (3), York (3), Ottawa (3), Montreal (3), Toronto (2), Guelph (2), McGill (1), Mount Allison (1) and Waterloo (2).

The Edmonton Eskimos will open the 2012 campaign with 24 former CIS players within their ranks, more than any other CFL squad. Following in order are Hamilton (23), Saskatchewan (20), Winnipeg (19), Montreal (17), Calgary (16), Toronto (16) and British Columbia (13).

The 2012 CIS football season kicks off on August 31 and culminates on November 23 with the 48th Vanier Cup final at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

NOTES: The Canada West total (47) includes six athletes who played at Simon Fraser when the Clan was part of CIS... One athlete played in both the AUS (StFX) and OUA (Western). He is included in both schools and both conferences’ totals.

CIS players on 2012 CFL rosters (by school):
Saskatchewan: 12
Calgary, Western: 11
Saint Mary’s, Laval: 10
Concordia: 7
Bishop’s: 8
McMaster, StFX: 7
Windsor, Simon Fraser (*): 6
Laurier, Manitoba, Regina, Sherbrooke: 5
UBC, Queen’s, Alberta: 4
Acadia, York, Ottawa, Montreal: 3
Toronto, Guelph, Waterloo: 2
McGill, Mount Allison: 1

NOTES: Six athletes played at Simon Fraser when the Clan was part of CIS... One athlete played in both the AUS (StFX) and OUA (Western). He is included in both schools’ totals.

CIS players on 2012 CFL rosters (by regional association):

Canada West: 47
OUA: 45
RSEQ: 34
AUS: 21

NOTES: The Canada West total includes six athletes who played at Simon Fraser when the Clan was part of CIS... One athlete played in both the AUS (StFX) and OUA (Western). He is included in both conferences’ totals.

CIS players on 2012 CFL rosters (by CFL team):

Edmonton (24)
Hamilton (23)
Saskatchewan (20)
Winnipeg (19)
Montreal (17)
Calgary (16)
Toronto (16)
British Columbia (13)