Toronto (February 20, 2009) - Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) defensive player of the year, Thaine Carter of Kelowna, B.C., is among five Queen's football players selected to participate in the Canadian Football League's (CFL) Evaluation Camp taking place March 6-8 in Toronto.

Also attending the evaluation camp from Queen's is Jim Allin of Belleville, Ont., Dan Bederman of Toronto, Dee Sterling of Kingston, Ont. and Osie Ukwuoma of Mississauga, Ont.

Ukwuoma (DL) is currently ranked No. 5 by the CFL Scouting Bureau while Carter (LB) is ranked No. 15.

Twenty-four Canadian universities and five American colleges will be represented at the camp. Queen's leads all schools in players attending with five. The Ottawa Gee-Gees will send four players while Calgary, Laval and Bishop's each have three.

Sterling and Craig Bearss from the Ottawa Gee-Gees are the two lone Kingston area products invited to take part.

Two other Queen's connections will take part of the evaluation camp including Guelph's Brad Crawford of Hamilton and Calgary's Deji Oduwole of Coquitlam, B.C. Crawford is the younger brother of Bryan Crawford a former Queen's alumni and current member of the Toronto Argonauts. Oduwole is the younger brother of current Gael Jay Oduwole.

The CFL Evaluation Camp takes place from March 6-8 in Toronto. Players will arrive on March 6 and take part in a variety of tests on March 7 and 8. Indoor testing will take place at the Intercontinental Hotel in Toronto while outdoor testing will be completed at the Varsity Centre on campus at the University of Toronto.

A full list of players invited to the CFL Evaluation Camp is available at: http://www.cfl.ca/page/ecamp_09_players

Tickets for the 2009 Queen's football season are now on sale at the Physical Education Centre on campus at Queen's University or by calling 613.533.2500. The Gaels open up their 2009 campaign at home against the Guelph Gryphons on Labour Day Monday.


Queen's Football Player Snapshots:

Jimmy Allin (Belleville, Ont.)
Pos: Defensive Back
- CIS First Team All-Canadian (returner) - 2008
- Two time OUA All-Star (kick return/cornerback) – 2008
- Two time OUA All-Star (kick return/defensive back) – 2007
- CIS Academic All-Canadian 2006-08

Dan Bederman (Toronto)
Pos: Offensive Line
- OUA First Team All-Star (2008)
- OUA Second Team All-Star (2007)

Thaine Carter (Kelowna, B.C.)
Pos: Linebacker
- CIS Presidents' Trophy recipient (Defensive Player of the Year) - 2008
- CIS First Team All-Canadian – 2008
- OUA First Team All-Star – 2008
- Ranked No. 15 by CFL Scouting Bureau - 2008
- 2008 East-West Bowl participant
- OUA Second Team All-Star– 2007

Dee Sterling (Kingston, Ont.)
Pos: Defensive Line
- CIS First Team All-Canadian– 2008
- OUA First Team All-Star – 2008
- 2008 East-West Bowl participant

Osie Ukwuoma (Mississauga, Ont.)
Pos: Defensive Line
- OUA Lineman of the Year – 2008
- CIS First Team All-Canadian – 2008
- OUA First Team All-Star – 2008
- CIS Second Team All-Canadian – 2007
- OUA First Team All-Star – 2007
- 2008 East-West Bowl participant