FB: Canada West student-athletes shine at 2025 U SPORTS East-West Bowl
Team West prevails in entertaining 32-20 showdown
May 12, 2025 – Canada West student-athletes shone bright on the national stage last Saturday, leading Team West to a 32-20 victory over Team East in the 2025 U SPORTS East-West Bowl, hosted by the University of Waterloo.
A total of 23 student-athletes from Canada West suited up for the showcase, which annually brings together the top Canadian university football players eligible for next year's CFL Draft.
21 of those CW student-athletes suited up for Team West, while Alberta's Matt Ljuden (OL) and Carter Stuart (OL) joined Team East. UBC, Calgary, Saskatchewan, Regina and Manitoba each had four representatives at the game, with Alberta sending three.
Canada West's contingent played a key role in helping Team West secure victory for a second straight season, providing plenty of offensive fireworks for the 960 fans in attendance at Warrior Field in Waterloo, Ont.
Saskatchewan Huskies quarterback Anton Amundrud showcased his dynamic arm, completing 19 of 29 pass attempts while throwing for a game high 301 yards and a TD. He helped Team West open the scoring with an 11-yard connection to Layomi Ojutalayo (Laurier) in the first quarter.
Team East would rally to take a narrow 11-10 lead into halftime, but Team West pulled away after the break. UBC Thunderbirds receiver Shemar McBean set the tone with one of the biggest plays of the game, hauling in a 55-yard TD reception from Waterloo QB Nick Orr to give Team West a 17-11 advantage in the third quarter.
McBean would go on to be named the Offensive Player of the Game, as the Calgary, Alta. product racked up 142 receiving yards on three receptions, while also adding nine yards in the return game.
Amundrud was especially clutch in the fourth quarter. He led Team West’s first drive of the final frame, connecting for 29 yards with Alberta's Carter Kettyle before handing off to Guelph’s Isaiah Smith for a 4-yard touchdown run. Their next time out, Amundrud found McBean for a 36-yard reception called down at the one-year line, which was subsequently punched in by Donnovan Milloy (Guelph).
Kettyle was a constant threat, making four receptions for a total of 47 yards.
Regina DB Carson Sombach was a defensive standout for Team West, making a pair of solo tackles and an assisted tackle.
CW Coaches on the Sidelines
The Team West coaching staff had plenty of Canada West flavour on the sidelines. Stevenson Bone, who was named the 29th Head Coach in Alberta Golden Bears program history last January, served as a Receivers Coach. He was joined by fellow Golden Bears coach Josh Martin, who acted as Running Backs Coach. The Calgary Dinos were represented by Chris Anstey (Defensive Line Coach) and Adam Blasetti (Offensive Line Coach), while Saskatchewan's Mason Nyhus served as the Offensive Coordinator.
View 2025 U SPORTS East-West Bowl Statistics Here
View the 2025 U SPORTS East-West Bowl Homepage Here
2025 U SPORTS East-West Bowl - Canada West Participants
Team | # | Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | University | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WEST | 84 | CARTER KETTYLE | WR | 6'0 | 194 | ALBERTA | Grovedale, AB |
EAST | 58 | MATT LJUDEN | OL | 5'11 | 289 | ALBERTA | Grande Prairie, AB |
EAST | 63 | CARTER STUART | OL | 6'5 | 330 | ALBERTA | Calgary, AB |
WEST | 9 | OSASERE ODEMWINGIE | LB | 6'0 | 221 | CALGARY | Calgary, AB |
WEST | 42 | BENJAMIN DOBSON | LB | 6'0 | 205 | CALGARY | Cochrane, AB |
WEST | 64 | BRAYDEN SZEMAN | OL | 6'1 | 301 | CALGARY | Vernon, BC |
WEST | 95 | FRANKLIN IBELO | DL | 6'6 | 319 | CALGARY | Calgary, AB |
WEST | 1 | DESHAWN LE JOUR | WR | 6'2 | 226 | MANITOBA | Regina, SK |
WEST | 12 | NATHAN UDOH | WR | 6'1 | 211 | MANITOBA | Winnipeg, MB |
WEST | 71 | VICTOR OLANIRAN | OL | 6'2 | 306 | MANITOBA | Winnipeg, MB |
WEST | 93 | KALEB MACKIE-MCLEOD | DL | 6'3 | 236 | MANITOBA | Winnipeg, MB |
WEST | 10 | COLIN MCKELLAR | LB | 5'11 | 213 | REGINA | Vancouver, BC |
WEST | 28 | CARSON SOMBACH | DB | 5'9 | 196 | REGINA | Regina, SK |
WEST | 72 | ETHAN GRAHAM | OL | 6'5 | 315 | REGINA | Regina, SK |
WEST | 77 | RILEY SCHICK | OL | 6'1 | 312 | REGINA | Lumsden, SK |
WEST | 6 | KAYDEN MILLER | RB | 5'11 | 209 | SASKATCHEWAN | Saskatoon, SK |
WEST | 11 | ANTON AMUNDRUD | QB | 6'1 | 212 | SASKATCHEWAN | Lloydminster, AB |
WEST | 67 | JACK WARRACK | OL | 6'4 | 306 | SASKATCHEWAN | Strathmore, AB |
WEST | 98 | CHARLIE PARKS | DL | 6'1 | 285 | SASKATCHEWAN | Regina, SK |
WEST | 13 | SHEMAR MCBEAN | WR | 5'10 | 194 | UBC | Calgary, AB |
WEST | 15 | BEN SANGMUAH | DB | 6'1 | 200 | UBC | Scarborough, ON |
WEST | 55 | TAAJ JHOOTY | DL | 6'5 | 285 | UBC | Delta, BC |
WEST | 79 | RILEY SCHEFFER | OL | 6'3 | 276 | UBC | Saanichton, BC |
About Canada West
As the leading university athletic conference in the country, Canada West is home to student-athletes that excel in the classroom and their communities. The conference is comprised of 17 member institutions spanning from Victoria to Winnipeg, with over 3,200 student-athletes competing across 14 sports. Canada West’s mission is to train leaders and build champions by providing leadership in the delivery, regulation, and promotion of university level high performance sports programs throughout western Canada.