AUS Football all-stars announced

November 5, 2008 (HALIFAX, NS) - Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2008 football offensive and defensive all-star teams as selected by the conference's four head coaches following regular season play.

The first place Saint Mary's Huskies (7-1) and second place StFX X-Men (4-4) each took home a total of nine all-star positions, while the Mount Allison Mounties (2-6) had six and the Acadia Axemen (1-7) had three players chosen. Five Huskies were named offensive all-stars while five X-Men were selected to the defensive squad.

Saint Mary's defensive back Jeff Zelinski and Acadia receiver Matt Carter are each being honoured for the fourth consecutive season while Mount Allison's Gary Ross and offensive lineman Thomas Elinesky of the Huskies are now three-time all-stars.

Ross, who led the conference in receiving and all-purpose yards in just seven games this year, has now been selected as an all-star receiver and the special teams player of the year in each of his three seasons in the league. His 47 receptions in 2008 were a new Mount Allison school record and one shy of the Atlantic conference record of 48 in a single season.

SMU's Justin Palardy was also a double selection, taking home the place-kicker and punter all-star spots. Justin made 14-of-17 field goal attempts this season, converted all 28 PAT kicks and averaged 39.0 yards per punt, including a league-best 12 that were downed inside the opponents 20-yard line. In just three seasons with the Huskies, Palardy has already established a new school record for FG's made in a career with 42, passing former Saint Mary's place kickers Dana Segin and Mark Dalla Riva this season. He is currently fourth all-time in the conference.  

Running backs James Green of StFX and Allistair Blair of Saint Mary's along with Mount Allison QB Kelly Hughes finished 1-2-3 in rushing this year and were all named to the offensive squad. Playing in only six games due to injury, Green averaged 135.7 rushing yards per game and scored seven TD's, while Blair ran for 568 yards in his seven outings. Hughes led the conference with 1,870 yards passing and rushed for another 616 yards on the ground and 2 TD's.

In just his third season, Kelly became the Mount Allison all-time leader in passing yardage this year, and now owns every Mounties single-game, single-season and career passing record.

2008 Offensive All-Star Team:

OL (C): Steve Patrick, Acadia (5th year - St. Catherine's, ON)
OL (G): Thomas Elinesky, Saint Mary's (5th year - Halifax, NS)
OL (G): Christian Oberegger, StFX (3rd year - Mississauga, ON)
OL (T): Steve Myddelton, StFX (4th year - Barrie, ON)
OL (T): Bryan Jordan, Saint Mary's (5th year - London, ON)
QB: Kelly Hughes, Mount Allison (3rd year - Brampton, ON)
RB: James Green, StFX (4th year - Halifax, NS)
RB: Allistair Blair, Saint Mary's (4th year - North York, ON)
IR: Gary Ross, Mount Allison (3rd year - Windsor, ON)
IR: Matt Carter, Acadia (4th year - Kelowna, BC)
WR: Akeem Foster, StFX (2nd year - Ajax, ON)
WR: Adam Molnar, Mount Allison (3rd year - Beamsville, ON)
Punter: Justin Palardy, Saint Mary's (3rd year - Truro, NS)
Place Kicker: Justin Palardy, Saint Mary's (3rd year - Truro, NS)
Special Teams: Gary Ross, Mount Allison (3rd year - Windsor, ON)

The Atlantic conference's defensive all-star team consists of the league's top three leaders in tackles, the top three players in interceptions and three of the top four sack leaders following regular season play. The StFX X-Men grabbed five spots and the Saint Mary's Huskies took home four positions on the 2008 defensive team.

Mount Allison's Callan Exeter was selected after he smashed the conference's record for tackles in a single season with 77.5 this year. The previous record was 62.5 by StFX's Rob Steiner in 1999. Exeter also added three interceptions this season, second only to fellow all-star Jeff Zelinski of the Saint Mary's Huskies who picked off five passes in 2008, including a 71-yard return for a touchdown.

StFX's Henoc Muamba, Tommy Lynch and David Skillen were all ranked in the top four in tackles by linebackers and were each named to this year's all-star team. Skillen finished second in sacks with 4.0 and led the conference in tackles for a loss with 10.5 in just seven games. Muamba also picked up three interceptions this season, the most of any linebacker in the conference.

Mount Allison's Scott Sheffer and SMU's Dan Schutte finished first and second respectively in tackles among defensive linemen and were also honoured. Both Sheffer and Schutte were selected as 2007 all-stars as well.

The five StFX players selected to this year's defensive squad are all first-time all-stars. Acadia's Tom Labenski, who finished second in the conference in total tackles this season with 42.5, was the only player from the Axemen named to this year's squad.

2008 Defensive All-Star Team:

DT: Dan Schutte, Saint Mary's (2nd year - Red Deer, AB)
DT: Scott Scheffer, Mount Allison (5th year - Bedford, NS)
DE: David Skillen, StFX (4th year - Fredericton, NB)
DE: Karl McCartney, Saint Mary's (2nd year - Bahamas)
LB: Henoc Muamba, StFX (2nd year - Kinshasa, Congo)
LB: Tom Labenski, Acadia (2nd year - Oakville, ON)
LB: Tom Lynch, StFX (2nd year - Mallorytown, ON)
Free Safety: Callan Exeter, Mount Allison (2nd year - Ajax, ON)
DB: Nick Riva, StFX (3rd year - Lasalle, ON)
DB: Joel Lapinski, Saint Mary's (4th year - Regina, SK)
CB: Jeff Zelinski, Saint Mary's (4th year - Mission, BC)
CB: Kwasi Nkansah, StFX (4th year - Oakville, ON)

The 2008 Subway Atlantic University Sport Championship, The Loney Bowl, is taking place this weekend in Halifax, NS. The Saint Mary's Huskies (7-1) host the StFX X-Men (5-4) to battle for the Jewett Trophy, Saturday afternoon at 1:00pm (EastLink).

The winner will advance to the Mitchell Bowl the following weekend in Ontario to face either the Western Mustangs or the Ottawa Gee-Gee's.

Note: The major award winners will be announced on Thursday, November 6th.

For further information, please visit www.atlanticuniversitysport.com