Elliott Hicks

Mike Filer

Ryan Downe

By Sean Hatchard
Published in the Times-Transcript on April 15, 2009
Appeared on Page B1

SACKVILLE - The Mount Allison Mounties could be represented at this summer's International Federation of American Football world junior championship and head coach Kelly Jeffrey says that's a sign his team is headed in the right direction.

Mounties defensive back Elliott Hicks, defensive end Ryan Downe and offensive lineman Mike Filer will attend Canadian team regional selection camps this spring, in hopes of landing a spot on the national team that will head to the inaugural world junior football championship June 27-July 5 in Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Hicks and Downe, both of Fredericton, have been selected to a tryout in Montreal May 30-31 while Filer, a native of Brantford, Ont., will perform at a camp in Hamilton April 24-25.

Regional tryouts are scheduled for Hamilton, Montreal and Calgary and from these camps, players will receive an invitation to attend a final selection camp in June in London, Ont., where the 45-man roster will be picked.

Mount Allison also had three players named yesterday to play in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport East West Bowl May 9 in London, Ont. Cornerback Jermaine Oram, defensive back Luke Ekoh and offensive lineman Aaron Harper will suit up in the showcase game for CIS players eligible for the 2010 Canadian Football League draft.

"We've been fortunate that we've been able to land some top local players and players from away and I think we've become a more attractive place to play football," said Jeffrey, who served as interim head coach last season, but landed the full-time job in December after guiding the club to the Atlantic University Sport conference playoffs for only the second time in the last 10 years.

"For them to come here and choose us over other AUS schools shows the progress we're making."

Hicks, Downe and Filer are coming off their rookie season with the Mounties. Hicks recorded six and a half tackles in eight regular-season games. He got into the starting lineup and performed well after starting cornerback Bradley Daye suffered a season-ending injury midway through the season.

"Elliott really came through in a clutch situation and shut down St. FX's top receiver in a close win. He got better every week and he has great natural ability," said Jeffrey. "His speed and athleticism are really excellent."

Downe, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive lineman, made 12 and a half tackles in seven games last season.

"Ryan has really grown into his body and a lot of our veteran defensive linemen think he's going to be a beast when he gets older. He's athletic for his size and can really move and accelerate," Jeffrey said.

Filer started seven of nine games on the Mount Allison offensive line in 2008.

Canada is the top ranked country for the under-20 world junior championship. The eight-team event will also feature the United States, Mexico, Germany, Sweden, France, Japan and New Zealand.

Canada will be guided by Laval Rouge et Or head coach Glen Constantin. His coaching staff includes Acadia Axemen head coach Jeff Cummins and Calgary Dinos head coach and former Saint Mary's Huskies bench boss Blake Nill.