YORK LIONS 2 0 1 5 Y E A R B O O K GENERAL INFO Welcome to a new season of OUA football action at York University! QUICK FACTS Name: York University It’s an exciting time for the Lions as they enter the 2015 season. This Location: Toronto, Ontario Founded: 1959 past off-season head coach Warren Craney and his staff put a signifi- Enrolment: 52,000 cant emphasis on recruiting some of the best football players in the Nickname: Lions country and that resulted in a tremendous class that includes multiple Colours: Red & White high-ranked high school players who have the talent to step in and Field: York Stadium make an immediate impact on this team. Capacity: 5,000 Conference: Ontario University Athletics (OUA) President & Vice Chancellor: Dr. Mamdouh Shoukri This year’s four-game home schedule has the potential to be memo- rable. The highlight will come in Week 6 when the Lions host their an- ADMINISTRATION nual night game against the rival Toronto Varsity Blues in the 46th Red Executive Director, Athletics & Recreation: Jennifer Myers & Blue Bowl. Three weeks earlier on Sept. 12 is Homecoming against the Director, Business Development: Duke Dickson Guelph Gryphons, and the home slate also includes the season opener Associate Director, Athletics: Gillian McCullough Associate Director, Recreation: Peter Mumford against the Laurier Golden Hawks on Aug. 30 and the season finale in Manager, Varsity Athletics: Bart Zemanek Week 8 versus the Queen’s Gaels. Manager, Facilities Administration: Craig Okazaki Manager, Sport Injury Clinic: Cindy Hughes The high point of the road schedule is a Week 5 date against the Water- Manager, Marketing & Events: Lisa Arai loo Warriors, where the Lions will be looking for revenge after a narrow Senior Development Officer, Athletics: Bruce Logan one-point, last-minute loss last year. The Lions will also visit Western in SUPPORT STAFF Week 2, McMaster in Week 4 and Carleton over Thanksgiving weekend. Coordinator, Equipment Services: Geoff Carson Equipment Services & Stadium Attendant: Nathaniel Griffith In addition to the fantastic off-season for the football team, it was Coordinator, Athlete Services: Katie Robinson a big summer for the entire Athletics & Recreation Department with Coordinator, Promotions & Game Day Experience: Kim Servinis Coordinator, Sport Information: Alyson Fisher the opening of the brand new stadium for the Pan Am and Parapan Coordinator, Facility Operations: Manny Troitino Am Games. Fans in attendance were treated to world-class track and Coordinator, Game Day Operations: Michael Bianchi field competition in a gorgeous new facility that was widely praised by Digital Media Assistant: Mike Dahiroc everyone who visited, and we are looking forward to celebrating many Administrative Coordinator: Lillian Chan more special memories with our own teams in the coming years. Strength & Conditioning Coaches: Adam Douglas MEDICAL STAFF On behalf of the student-athletes, coaches and staff, I would like to Manager, Sport Injury Clinic: Cindy Hughes thank the fans who continue to support our many programs, and wel- Supervisor, Sport Injury Clinic: Tracy Meloche come new spectators to the exciting game of varsity sport. The atmo- Head Athletic Therapist – Football: James Gardiner sphere you create at home games is incredible and I know our teams Interim Head Athletic Therapist – Football: Chris Kelly Certified Athletic Therapist, Clinic Assistant: Jo Hurtubise love competing in front of a raucous home crowd. Orthopedic Surgeons: Dr. Rick Zarnett, Dr. Jacqueline Auguste Team Dentist: Dr. Paul Piccininni I encourage you to connect with the Lions online at yorkulions.ca, as Sport Medicine Physicians: Dr. Hemen Shukla, Dr. Laura Cruz, Dr. John Ho well as on our social media platforms, to stay up-to-date with all your Neurosurgeon: Dr. Karen Johnston favourite teams throughout the year. Radiologist: Dr. Anthony Mascia Cardiologist: Dr. Yuri Franklah Physiotherapist: Michael Boni All the best to Coach Craney, his staff and the student-athletes for a Registered Massage Therapist: Darren Wharrie successful 2015 season at York Stadium! Sport Chiropractor: Dr. Scott Howitt Osteopath: Angela Greco Athletic Therapist: Marcia Franklin Pedorthist: Annette McClelland Mental Health: Debbie Wilkes Athletic Therapy Program Coordinator: Loriann Hynes Research Consultants: Alison Macpherson, Lauren Sergio, Mazrah Fallah CONTACT INFORMATION York University Athletics & Recreation Jennifer Myers Tait McKenzie Centre Executive Director, Athletics & Recreation 4700 Keele St. Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 416-736-5185 [email protected] 2015 SCHEDULE HOME OPENER 46TH RED & BLUE BOWL WEEK 1 vs. LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS WEEK 6 vs. TORONTO VARSITY BLUES Sunday, Aug. 30, 1:00 PM Friday, Oct. 2, 7:00 PM at York Stadium, Toronto, Ont. at York Stadium, Toronto, Ont. Head coach: Michael Faulds (3rd season) Head coach: Greg Gary (5th season) Colours: Purple, Gold Colours: Blue, White Home field: University Stadium (6,000) Home field: Varsity Stadium (5,000) 2014 result: York 10 at Laurier 27 2014 result: York 0 at Toronto 70 2014 record: 4-4 (6th OUA, Quarter-finalist) 2014 record: 2-6 (9th OUA) WEEK 2 at WESTERN MUSTANGS WEEK 7 at CARLETON RAVENS Friday, Oct. 9, 7:00 PM Monday, Sept. 7, 1:00 PM at Ravens Field, Ottawa, Ont. at TD Waterhouse Stadium, London, Ont. Head coach: Steve Sumarah (3th season) Head coach: Greg Marshall (9th season) Colours: Scarlet, White, Black Colours: Purple, White Home field: Ravens Field (4,500) Home field: TD Waterhouse Stadium (10,000) 2014 result: York 11 at Carleton 53 (pre-season) 2014 result: Western 60 at York 0 2014 record: 4-4 (7th OUA) 2014 record: 6-2 (3rd OUA, Semifinalist) SENIOR DAY HOMECOMING WEEK 8 vs. QUEEN’S GAELS WEEK 3 vs. GUELPH GRYPHONS Saturday, Oct. 17, 1:00 PM Saturday, Sept. 12, 1:00 PM at York Stadium, Toronto, Ont. at York Stadium, Toronto, Ont. Head coach: Pat Sheahan (15th season) Head coach: Stu Lang (6th season) Colours: Blue, Red, Gold Colours: Red, Black, Gold Home field: Richardson Stadium (10,258) Home field: Alumni Stadium (7,000) 2014 result: York 10 at Queen’s 57 2014 result: Did not play 2014 record: 3-5 (8th OUA) 2014 record: 7-1 (2nd OUA, Finalist) WEEK 9 - BYE WEEK 4 at WATERLOO WARRIORS Saturday, Sept. 19, 1:00 PM at Warrior Field, Waterloo, Ont. Head coach: Chris Bertoia (1st season) Colours: Black, Gold Home field: Warrior Field (5,400) 2014 result: Waterloo 32 at York 31 2014 record: 1-7 (10th OUA) WEEK 5 at McMASTER MARAUDERS Saturday, Sept. 26, 1:00 PM at Ron Joyce Stadium, Hamilton, Ont. Head coach: Stefan Ptaszek (10th season) Colours: Maroon, Grey Home field: Ron Joyce Stadium (6,500) 2014 result: McMaster 49 at York 2 2014 record: 7-1 (1st OUA, Yates Cup Champion) School of Engineering, are pleased to support the York University Football Yearbook. We are delighted to be season. Signed, Marcus Gillam Project Leader President & CEO Laing O’Rourke Canada Gillam Group Inc. York FB 15.indd 1 8/20/15 10:40 AM “ SEASON OUTLOOK A lot has changed for the York University Lions football team in just one year and there is a buzz surrounding the program as the squad gets set to take to Hunchak and Janke highlight a rookie receiving group that also includes small the field in 2015. but speedy pass-catchers in Nathaniel Pinto, a local product who grew up just minutes from York, and George Monaghan. The eventful year started with a challenging 2014 season in which the Lions took a step back from the progression they had shown in the years prior. How- The excess of talent at receiver meant a position switch for Jarrett Carson, ever, a new focus on recruiting for head coach Warren Craney and his staff now a running back and described as a true football player who makes things quickly pumped life back into the program and optimism is now higher than it happen with the ball in his hands. He and fullback Mitchell Fraser, a workhorse has been in years. who has come into his own, will have equally important roles off the field as mentors to a number of younger players. “The end of last season was rough on everyone, but we did a lot of soul-search- ing in terms of what we needed to do and where we needed to go. We buckled The talent on offence is matched by a defence that is learning how to play at down and started working on a five-year plan, and one of the most critical as- the CIS level. Craney is known as one of the top defensive minds in the country pects was recruiting. We dove in right away and went after everyone we could. and now that he has the pieces to execute his playbook, the Lions will be a lot We had a new recruiting philosophy on who we were going to recruit: character more dangerous. kids, local kids and also to start recruiting more nationally. We wanted to take a run at a couple of unicorns, and it definitely paid off.” “When we went into our year-end meetings last year on defence, a lot of coaches asked me what I wanted to do and that was to play cat coverage. To Those “unicorns” include a quartet of skill players from Alberta who will all play cat coverage you need cats at defensive back, and we’ve got five cats that make an immediate impact: quarterback Brett Hunchak and his younger broth- can flat out play.” er, receiver Colton, fellow receiver Jacob Janke and linebacker Jakob Butler. All four of them come to York with international experience after representing Craney’s cats include OUA all-rookie team member Rees Paterson, fellow Canada at multiple international events, and they all enjoyed tremendous suc- sophomores Ian Lawrence and Brett Colangelo, veteran leader Josh Small cess with winning high school programs.