With back-to-back championships in Quebec and impressive recruitment, the University of Montreal Carabiners will be very talented again in 2022.
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While head coach Marco Iadeluca says “every position is at stake,” it would be surprising, if not inconceivable, if Jonathan Sénécal weren’t the starting quarterback or defensive back Kaylyn St-Cyr nailed to the bench. On the other hand, there is a big question mark over the identity of the players who will form the Blues’ attacking line this season.
“Last year we had 70 to 80 game starting experience with all the guys that played. This year we’re going back to judging to find the best combination. We will give everyone a chance. That’s a big scoring challenge,” said attacking line coach Mathieu Pronovost.
Among the big boys who have experience as starters in the varsity circuit, only two remain in the 2022 edition of the Carabins: Marc-Antoine Houde and Alexandre Levac.
The former also returns to the competition after suffering a horrific leg injury during a game against the Concordia Stingers last year.
“It’s the first time since he’s been training with contact,” Pronovost said of Houde on Saturday, the first day of the training camp. He worked so hard to come back, he’s quite a soldier.”
adjust level
Many of them will therefore work hard in the coming days and weeks to find a position to protect Sénécal.
This also applies to Alassane Diouf. The freshman was one of the most desirable athletes in recruiting in 2022. Despite his status, he has yet to prove himself, which is a first for him since he donned shoulder pads and a helmet.
“Unpretentious, I’ve always been a regular and haven’t faced much competition for my position since I started playing football,” said Diouf. I love what I’m living right now! I have to be 100% in every workout and on all my reps. The other guys do it too. If you don’t do your best, you don’t deserve to play.”
Diouf was very honest in his answers and did not hide that he was impressed by the intensity of the first day of the camp.
“It’s a big step up from college,” he said. There is so much talent in this team, it’s impressive.
If he fails to establish himself as a regular at camp, Diouf, like all his offensive teammates, has several chances to earn a regular spot in the 2022 season.
“It may well be that we have young people who are ready at the start but are later overtaken by guys with a little more experience. It’s also possible that our newcomers are moving too fast and won’t be ready before mid-season. We’ll be evaluating the whole season,” said Pronovost.