Ottawa WR First Pick of B.C. Lions after Stellar Season on Sportexe
Grey Cup Champs Make Gee-Gees’ Nicolson Team’s Top Choice at CFL Draft
Ottawa, Canada, May 05, 2007 --(PR.com)-- With its first pick, ninth overall, in the 2007 Canadian Football League Draft, the reigning Grey Cup-champion British Columbia Lions selected University of Ottawa wide receiver Adam Nicolson (North Bay, Ont.), making it the first time since 2004 that a member of the Gee-Gees football team has been drafted in the opening round.
Sportexe CFL Coach of the Year winner Wally Buono selected Nicolson, a 6-foot-4, 219-pound biology student, who played a vital role for Ottawa under Sportexe CIS Coach of the Year Denis Piché in 2006.
The Gee-Gees recorded its best regular season record in the Ontario University Athletics conference (7-1) and the Yates Cup championship, both firsts since Ottawa re-joined the conference in 2001.
The Gee-Gees, which play at Frank Clair Stadium at Lansdowne Park featuring Sportexe synthetic turf, had the best overall defense in the country allowing only 97 points in conference play – and with Nicolson’s help – led the OUA on offense with 276 points scored. Ottawa topped all OUA schools with 11 conference all-star selections.
Nicolson was Ottawa’s leading receiver in 2006 hauling in 45 passes for 727 yards and three touchdowns. He caught a timely 43-yard touchdown pass at Laurier in week 2 as the Gee-Gees handed the then-defending Vanier Cup champions their first loss in three years.
“Adam is a tough, physical and gifted receiver,” said Buono, who also earned the league’s official Scotiabank CFL Coach of the Year award in 2006. “He’s the type of player who would prefer to run through you than around you and he’s what we want in BC.”
Nicolson’s performance peaked in the playoffs, leading Ottawa in receiving averaging 69 yards per game in the post-season. He was the Gee-Gees’ top receiver in the 2006 Mitchell Bowl against the University of Saskatchewan, hauling in six catches for 109-yards and a touchdown.
“I am very pleased for Adam that he was selected in the first round of the draft,” said Piché. “We projected him as a potential first rounder because of his skill and dedication to continually improve himself. This is the culmination of a lot of hard work by a solid young man.”
Other members of the Gee-Gees football team who were selected in the 2007 draft include fourth year offensive lineman Kyle Kirkwood (Sudbury, Ont.) (5th round, 40th overall) by the Lions and projected transfer student from Queen’s University Ian Hazlett (5th round, 38th overall) who was selected by Calgary.
Other 2006 Sportexe Coach of the Year alumni include: Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints (NFL); Art Briles, Houston (NCAA Division I-A); David Bennett, Coastal Carolina (NCAA Division I-AA); Bill O’Boyle, Chadron State (NCAA Division II); Frank Miriello, Washington & Lee (NCAA Division III); Dino Kaklis, Bethel College (NAIA); Brad Franchione, Blinn College (Junior College); Bill Redell, Westlake Village-Oaks Christian (High School); Todd Bernett, Vancouver College (Canadian High School).
Sportexe, which also announces winners of its Arena Football League and NFL Europa awards later this year, is the official coach of the year award for arenafootball2 to be presented during ArenaCup8 to be held in Bossier City, La., on Aug. 25.
“Adam Nicolson and Kyle Kirkwood will certainly strengthen the Lions’ grip on the CFL’s Grey Cup,” said football insider and Sportexe spokesperson Aaron S. Lee. “Coach Piché does a remarkable job of preparing his young athletes for the next level, whether it’s the game of professional football or the game of life. And this job has not gone unnoticed by Sportexe or Coach Buono and the B.C. Lions.”
Sportexe can be found underfoot of many of the nation’s elite athletes from the NFL, NCAA and CIS, and is the exclusive turf provider for the Arena Football League, arenafootball2, Major Indoor Soccer League and the National Lacrosse League. Sportexe clients also include numerous high school and recreational fields across North America.
• Sportexe •
About Sportexe:
With offices in Ontario, Texas, and Georgia, Sportexe is dedicated to delivering top notch synthetic turf solutions to each and every client. As an acknowledged leader in the industry, the U.S Company prides itself on delivering products that feature the latest in innovation and superior engineering with an emphasis on research and development. Currently Sportexe is the exclusive or official turf system supplier for The Arena Football League, (AFL/AF2), National Lacrosse League (NLL), Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), U.S. Indoor Soccer Association, and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). Additionally, Sportexe partners with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). Sportexe has also made tremendous progress in the international scene by securing relationships with both the International Hockey Fédération (FIH), and the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA).
For additional information and an inside look at their cutting-edge products, please visit www.sportexe.com
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Sportexe CFL Coach of the Year winner Wally Buono selected Nicolson, a 6-foot-4, 219-pound biology student, who played a vital role for Ottawa under Sportexe CIS Coach of the Year Denis Piché in 2006.
The Gee-Gees recorded its best regular season record in the Ontario University Athletics conference (7-1) and the Yates Cup championship, both firsts since Ottawa re-joined the conference in 2001.
The Gee-Gees, which play at Frank Clair Stadium at Lansdowne Park featuring Sportexe synthetic turf, had the best overall defense in the country allowing only 97 points in conference play – and with Nicolson’s help – led the OUA on offense with 276 points scored. Ottawa topped all OUA schools with 11 conference all-star selections.
Nicolson was Ottawa’s leading receiver in 2006 hauling in 45 passes for 727 yards and three touchdowns. He caught a timely 43-yard touchdown pass at Laurier in week 2 as the Gee-Gees handed the then-defending Vanier Cup champions their first loss in three years.
“Adam is a tough, physical and gifted receiver,” said Buono, who also earned the league’s official Scotiabank CFL Coach of the Year award in 2006. “He’s the type of player who would prefer to run through you than around you and he’s what we want in BC.”
Nicolson’s performance peaked in the playoffs, leading Ottawa in receiving averaging 69 yards per game in the post-season. He was the Gee-Gees’ top receiver in the 2006 Mitchell Bowl against the University of Saskatchewan, hauling in six catches for 109-yards and a touchdown.
“I am very pleased for Adam that he was selected in the first round of the draft,” said Piché. “We projected him as a potential first rounder because of his skill and dedication to continually improve himself. This is the culmination of a lot of hard work by a solid young man.”
Other members of the Gee-Gees football team who were selected in the 2007 draft include fourth year offensive lineman Kyle Kirkwood (Sudbury, Ont.) (5th round, 40th overall) by the Lions and projected transfer student from Queen’s University Ian Hazlett (5th round, 38th overall) who was selected by Calgary.
Other 2006 Sportexe Coach of the Year alumni include: Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints (NFL); Art Briles, Houston (NCAA Division I-A); David Bennett, Coastal Carolina (NCAA Division I-AA); Bill O’Boyle, Chadron State (NCAA Division II); Frank Miriello, Washington & Lee (NCAA Division III); Dino Kaklis, Bethel College (NAIA); Brad Franchione, Blinn College (Junior College); Bill Redell, Westlake Village-Oaks Christian (High School); Todd Bernett, Vancouver College (Canadian High School).
Sportexe, which also announces winners of its Arena Football League and NFL Europa awards later this year, is the official coach of the year award for arenafootball2 to be presented during ArenaCup8 to be held in Bossier City, La., on Aug. 25.
“Adam Nicolson and Kyle Kirkwood will certainly strengthen the Lions’ grip on the CFL’s Grey Cup,” said football insider and Sportexe spokesperson Aaron S. Lee. “Coach Piché does a remarkable job of preparing his young athletes for the next level, whether it’s the game of professional football or the game of life. And this job has not gone unnoticed by Sportexe or Coach Buono and the B.C. Lions.”
Sportexe can be found underfoot of many of the nation’s elite athletes from the NFL, NCAA and CIS, and is the exclusive turf provider for the Arena Football League, arenafootball2, Major Indoor Soccer League and the National Lacrosse League. Sportexe clients also include numerous high school and recreational fields across North America.
• Sportexe •
About Sportexe:
With offices in Ontario, Texas, and Georgia, Sportexe is dedicated to delivering top notch synthetic turf solutions to each and every client. As an acknowledged leader in the industry, the U.S Company prides itself on delivering products that feature the latest in innovation and superior engineering with an emphasis on research and development. Currently Sportexe is the exclusive or official turf system supplier for The Arena Football League, (AFL/AF2), National Lacrosse League (NLL), Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), U.S. Indoor Soccer Association, and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). Additionally, Sportexe partners with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). Sportexe has also made tremendous progress in the international scene by securing relationships with both the International Hockey Fédération (FIH), and the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA).
For additional information and an inside look at their cutting-edge products, please visit www.sportexe.com
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Contact
Sportexe
Nic Vlcek
512-744-0342
www.sportexe.com
Nic Vlcek
512-744-0342
www.sportexe.com
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