Photos (courtesy of Jeff Chan)

Hamilton (November 20, 2008) – Queen's earned eight All-Canadian selections including six to the first-team as the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) announced the 2008 All-Canadian football team on Thursday evening.

The eight selections are the most in Queen's history since All-Canadians began being presented by the CIS in 1975. On four other occasions the Gaels had recorded four All-Canadian selections and prior to this evening had never put more than two players on a first team.

Leading the way were CIS President's Trophy recipient as defensive player of the year Thaine Carter of Nanaimo, B.C. and OUA Most Valuable Player Mike Giffin of Kingston, Ont., both being named to the CIS All-Canadian First Team.

Giffin was the OUA nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy and led the nation in rushing touchdowns (12) and all-purpose majors (14) for the second year in a row. On the other side of the ball, Carter, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound fourth-year senior, had a team-high 42.5 tackles as Queen's led the OUA for fewest points against (116) and rushing yards allowed (87 yards per game) in conference play.

Joining Giffin on the offense of the First Team was Scott Valberg of Kingston, who was the 10th player in CIS history to record over 1,000-yards receiving. Defensive tackle Dee Sterling of Kingston and defensive end Osie Ukwuoma of Mississauga, Ont. joined Carter on the first team defence.

Jimmy Allin of Belleville, Ont., who was a double OUA All-Star, garnered a First-Team All Canadian selection on special teams unit as a returner.

Gaels chosen as Second Team All-Canadians were quarterback Danny Brannagan of Burlington, Ont. and guard Vince De Civita of Gormley, Ont.

Laval Rouge et Or claimed the most nominations with a record eight first team selections and a single second team selection for a total of nine selections all together.


2008 CIS FOOTBALL ALL-CANADIANS
FIRST TEAM
Offence
Pos. - Athlete - University - Year - Hometown - Academic Program
QB - Benoit Groulx - Laval - 4 - Montreal, Que. - Education
RB - Michael Giffin - Queen's - 4 - Kingston, Ont. - Arts & Science
RB - Jamall Lee - Bishop's - 4 - Port Coquitlam, B.C. - Humanities
WR - Julian Feoli Gudino - Laval - 2 - San José, Costa Rica - Industrial Relations
WR - Scott Valberg - Queen's - 5 - Kingston, Ont. - Arts & Science
IR - Erik Galas - McGill - 5 - Ottawa, Ont. - Physical Education
IR - Gary Ross - Mount Allison - 3 - Windsor, Ont. - Science
C - Louis-David Gagné - Laval - 4 - Quebec City, Que. - Science
T - Simeon Rottier - Alberta - 4 - Westlock, Alta. - Agriculture, Life & Environnemental Sciences
T - Steve Myddelton - StFX - 4 - Barrie, Ont. - Business Administration
G - Vincent Turgeon - Laval - 5 - Montreal, Que. - Science
G - Luc Brodeur-Jourdain - Laval - 5 - St-Hyacinthe, Que. - Business Administration

Defence
DT - Étienne Légaré - Laval - 4 - St-Raymond, Que. - Education
DT - Dedrick Sterling - Queen's - 4 - Kingston, Ont. - Arts & Science
DE - Scott McCuaig - UBC - 4 - Surrey, B.C. - Arts
DE - Osie Ukwuoma - Queen's - 3 - Mississauga, Ont. - Business
LB - Thaine Carter - Queen's - 4 - Nanaimo, B.C. - Arts & Science
LB - Andrea Bonaventura - Calgary - 3 - Hamilton, Ont. - Social Sciences
LB - Joash Gesse - Montreal - 3 - Montreal, Que. - Education
FS - Callan Exeter - Mount Allison - 2 - Ajax, Ont. - BCM
HB - Maxime Bérubé - Laval - 3 - Valleyfield, Que. - Business Administration
HB - James Savoie - Guelph - 2 - Niagara Falls, Ont. - Landscape Architecture
CB - Hamid Mahmoudi - Montreal - 3 - Teheran, Iran - Arts & Sciences
CB - Jeff Zelinski - Saint Mary's - 4 - Mission, B.C. - Science

Special Teams
P - Rob Maver - Guelph - 3 - Brampton, Ont. - Political Science
K - Christopher Milo - Laval - 2 - Montreal, Que. - Industrial Relations
RET - James Allin - Queen's - 4 - Belleville, Ont. - Arts & Science

SECOND TEAM
Offence
Pos. - Athlete - University - Year - Hometown - Faculty
QB - Danny Brannagan - Queen's - 4 - Burlington, Ont. - Business
RB - Matt Walter - Calgary - 2 - Calgary, Alta. - Science
RB - James Green - StFX - 4 - Halifax, N.S. - Business Administration
WR - Jedd Gardner - Guelph - 2 - Niagara Falls, Ont. - Commerce Business
WR - Nathan Coehoorn - Calgary - 2 - Redcliff, Alta. - Social Sciences
IR - Mark Stinson - Toronto - 5 - Calgary, Alta. - Employment Relations
IR - Alain Dorval - Sherbrooke - 5 - Quebec City, Que. - History
C - Kurtis Stolth - Manitoba - 4 - Port Alberni, B.C. - Social Work
T - Scott Evans - Wilfrid Laurier - 5 - Cambridge, Ont. - Computer Science
T - Bryan Jordan - Saint Mary's - 5 - London, Ont. - Arts
G - Hubert Buydens - Saskatchewan - 4 - Saskatoon, Sask. - Arts & Science
G - Vincenzo De Civita - Queen's - 3 - Gormley, Ont. - Health Sciences

Defence
DT - Dan Schutte - Saint Mary's 2 - Red Deer, Alta. - Arts
DT - Dan Oramasionwu - Manitoba - 4 - Winnipeg, Man. - Asper School of Business
DE - Mathieu Brossard - Montreal - 4 - Montreal, Que. - Business Administration
DE - M-A Beaudoin-Cloutier Laval - 3 - St-Basile, Que. - Business Administration
LB - John Surla - Western - 2 - Niagara Falls, Ont. - Social Sciences
LB - Henoc Muamba - StFX - 2 - Kinshasa, Congo - BIS
LB - James Yurichuk - Bishop's - 4 - Brampton, Ont. - Education
FS - Matthew Carapella - Western - 5 - London, Ont. - Social Sciences
HB - Corey McNair - Western - 5 - London, Ont. - Social Sciences
HB - Joel Lipinski - Saint Mary's - 4 - Regina, Sask. - Science
CB - Jon Krahenbil - Saskatchewan - 4 - Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask. - Business
CB - Anthony Deslauriers - Simon Fraser - 3 - Surrey, B.C. - Bachelor of Arts

Special Teams
P - Hugh O'Neill - Alberta - 2 - Edmonton, Alta. - Science
K - Rob Maver - Guelph - 3 - Brampton, Ont. - Political Science
RET - Gary Ross - Mount Allison - 3 - Windsor, Ont. – Science


Queen's All-Canadians (1975-2007)
1975 Darrell Penner, Defensive Back
1976 Darrell Penner, Defensive Back
1977 Dick Bakker, Defensive Tackle
1978 Dick Bakker, Defensive Tackle
1979 Jim Muller, Defensive Line
Ed Andrew, Linebacker
1980 Ross Francis, Offensive Tackle
1981 Tom Macartney, Slotback
1984 Norm Pfenning, Defensive Back
1985 Larry Mohr, Running Back
Mike Schad, Tackle
1986 Frank Kakouros, Offensive Guard (2nd)
1987 Charlie Galunic (2nd)
Tom Langford (2nd)
1988 Jock Climie, Wide Receiver
Matt Clifford, Def. Line (2nd)
1989 Jock Climie, Wide Receiver
Mike Boone, Linebacker (2nd)
Matt Clifford, Def. Line (2nd)
1990 Mike Boone, Linebacker
1991 Ron Herman, Centre
Mike Boone, Linebacker (2nd)
Eric Dell, Defensive Line (2nd)
Jason Moller, Guard (2nd)
1992 Brad Elberg, Running Back
Eric Dell, Defensive Tackle
Joel Dagnone, Safety (2nd)
Tom Black, Centre (2nd)
1993 Mark Robinson, Tackle (2nd)
1994 Jonathan Taylor (2nd)
1995 Paul Greenhow, Cornerback
1996 Jim Aru (2nd)
James Osborne (2nd)
Matt Carlyle (2nd)
1998 Jim Aru, Defensive End (2nd)
James Osborne, Defensive Tackle (2nd)
1999 James MacLean, Inside Receiver
Jason Wimmer, Cornerback
2000 James MacLean, Inside Receiver (2nd)
Jon Landon, Tackle (2nd)
2001 James MacLean, Inside Receiver
2002 Tommy Denison, Quarterback
Brad Smith, Inside Receiver
Jon Landon, Centre (2nd)
2003 Tommy Denison, Quarterback
Craig Spear, Inside Receiver
Jack Gaudreau, Defensive End (2nd)
Matt Kirk, Defensive Tackle (2nd)
2004 Iain Fleming, Inside Receiver (2nd)
2006 Brad Smith, Inside Receiver (1st)
2007 Mike Giffin, Running Back,
Osie Ukwuoma, Defensive End (2nd),
Rob Bagg, Wide Receiver (2nd),
Cody Kennedy, Offensive Line (2nd)
2008 Mike Giffin, Running Back
Scott Valberg, Wide Reciever
Osie Ukwuoma, Defensive End
Dee Sterling – Defensive Tackle
Thaine Carter – Linebacker
Jimmy Allin – Returner
Dan Brannagan – Quarterback (2nd)
Vince Civita Guard (2nd)