The University of Western Ontario Mustangs football team will host the 2009 East-West Bowl on May 9 at TD Waterhouse Stadium.
Intended to serve as a showcase for the best players in Canadian Interuniversity Sport football, the focus of the seventh annual East-West Bowl will be on athletes eligible in the 2010 Canadian Football League draft. The event is presented by Under Armour.
Western’s Greg Marshall will be the head coach of the West squad, which will include players from OUA teams west of the Greater Toronto Area (Western, McMaster, Windsor, Wilfrid Laurier, Waterloo) and Canada West.
Glen Constantin, head coach of the 2008 Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or, will lead the East team, which will include players from OUA schools in the GTA and East (Ottawa, Queen’s, Toronto, York) and from the Quebec and Atlantic conferences.
Rosters will be announced at a later date.
“The East-West Bowl has become an annual highlight on the CIS football calendar, and we are excited to put our stamp on it and showcase it to the nation,” said Marshall. “Western is excited to host the East-West Bowl. This showcase of some of the best players in the CIS provides them with exposure and recognition across the country.”
The East-West Bowl, organized with the help of the Canadian University Football Coaches Association (CUFCA) and in partnership with the CFL, brings together over 90 of the top CIS football players for a week of practices and evaluation, culminating with the annual all-star game.
A national committee of CIS head coaches selects the participants from a pool of players nominated by their respective universities. Every CIS football program is represented by a minimum of three and a maximum of four players who will be eligible for the CFL draft the following year.
Tickets for the 2009 East-West Bowl are $15 for adults and $10 for students, youth and seniors.
Order tickets by visiting the Western Mustangs website at www.westernmustangs.ca or call 519-661-4077.