Samuel Thomassin, former star offensive player for Laval University’s Rouge et Or and assistant coach of the Concordia Stingers for several months, will be an attentive spectator on Saturday when the two opponents cross swords in a game without a tomorrow at PEPS.
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Thomassin was expected to return to the Stingers this season as an offensive lineman unless he received a call from the CFL to continue his career. The Edmonton Elks signed him as a free agent and he traveled to the capital of Alberta.
What colors will Thomassin show? “After being released by the Montreal Alouettes last year, I trained a bit with the Stingers at the end of the season and in the winter and quickly developed a bond with the players,” said the man who wore the colors of the 2015 Rouge et Oder until 2019. There are also several former Rouge et Or members on the coaching staff.”
“So I have a fondness for Concordia, but I don’t know if I’ll show my colors in the stands,” Thomassin continued. I will not wear the colors of the Rouge et Or. I will wear the colors of the Stingers or I will stay neutral. I hope we have a close game until the end. It would be good for the RSEQ.”
Although he will be on the Stingers’ side, Thomassin has remained in touch with his position coach Carl Brennan. “He was the best coach of my career and we can talk about anything. We talk regularly.”
Although he spent little time with the Stingers last season, Thomassin was on the sidelines during both visits to PEPS. “The first time it was strange to enter the field through the other entrance,” he emphasized. In the playoffs the feelings disappeared and I focused on the task.
An injury that ruins his season
Thomassin suffered a torn calf on the first day of training camp, missed the entire season and is now back in Montreal. “I would like to move on and have expressed an interest in returning to Edmonton, but that is out of my control,” he explained. I’ll be a free agent in February.”
When it comes to continuing his playing career, Thomassin mentions that he has caught the coaching bug. “I really want to work as a coach after my career. Coaching excites me and football takes up a lot of space in my life. Whether it’s Concordia or Brad [Collinson] needs me or in the university network, I’m open.”
Thomassin also followed the Stingers’ progress from a distance. “Polo’s defense [Paul-Eddy St-Vilien] is solid and the ground attack finished first in the RSEQ. I can’t remember the last time this happened. The ground game is crucial in the playoffs and I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens.”