Rushon, Lewis, Gauthier take top NFC honours

NEWS RELEASE

NORTHERN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

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Old and new lead 2006 N.F.C. All Stars and Awards listings

Toronto Raider "Mr. Everything" Ricky Clarke is the big winner for the 2006 Northern Football Conference All Stars and Awards lists. Clarke was cited as an All Star at Receiver, Punt Return and Kick Return and was selected as the Special Teams Player of the Year from balloting that was conducted amongst League players and coaches just before the conclusion of the regular season.

Several veterans also proved they are "aging" like fine wine as well. Veteran pivot Mark Demerling of the Oakville Longhorns was tabbed for his 7th nod as he led the loop in passing yardage and also kept adding to his already astronomical career passing totals. Lineman Pat Walsh of Sudbury picked up his 12th All star kudo of his illustrious career with his 6th selection on the Offensive Line. Linebacker Stafford Wilson of Oakville was named at that spot for the 6th time and Wayne Sliwinski of Milton was recognized with his 9th selection over all and first at Defensive Line. The Lineman of the Year should be changed to the "Brandon Lewis Award" as the Sault Steeler veteran was selected for this honour for the 8th time in his career over all and the last six straight years. This is the most that an individual has been recognized for one particular award. Lewis also received his 10th All Star nod along the Defensive line.

The Toronto Maddogs, Oshawa Hawkeyes and Tri City Outlaws led the way with 4 First Team All Stars apiece while the League Champion Sault Ste. Marie Steelers, Milton Marauders, Oakville Longhorns and Sudbury Spartans had 3 First Team All Stars each. Each team in the League garnered at least one First Team All Star.

2006 also sees the continued recognition of Second team All Stars. The complete listing of those earning honours is below:

AWARDS

Most Valuable Player - Jeff Nosal – Tri City (First Outlaw to win this award)

Offensive Player of the Year - Jeff Nosal – Tri City (First Outlaw to win this award)

Defensive Player of the Year - Darren Fleming – Oshawa (First tie since 2003 and fourth time overall); Sean Spencer - Maddogs

Lineman of the Year - Brandon Lewis – Sault (Previously won in '98,99,01,02,03,04 and 05)

Rookie of the Year - Justin Shakell - Quinte (Third Panther to be honoured)(Leo Troy Memorial)

Coach of the Year - Barry Rushon - Sault (Also honoured in 96, 00 and 03)(Sid Forster Memorial)

Special Teams Player - Ricky Clarke - Raiders (First time for this honour) (Mike Jackson Memorial)

Leading Scorer - Josh Gauthier – Sault (First for the Sault since 2003)(August Kangro Memorial)

Championship Game M.V.P. - Jon Nedeljkovic – Milton; Hughroy Simms - Oshawa

OFFENCE ALL STARS

Quarterback

Mark Demerling - Oakville - 86,87,88,89,90,00

Running Back

Dan Leduc – Sudbury - First selection Stephen Gravel – Sudbury - First selection

Receivers

Mike Dingsdale – Oakville (94,97,98,01,02) Chad Murray – Quinte Limestone - 05 Noah Rushon – Sault - First selection Ricky Clarke – Raiders - First at this position

Offensive Line

Michael Sherwin – Maddogs - First selection Mike Milner – Tri City - First at this position Dave Copeland – Milton - 05 Chris Marshall – Oshawa - 97 Pat Walsh – Sudbury - 92,93,96,98,99,00

SPECIAL TEAMS ALL STARS

Punter

Matt Armstrong – Tri City - 03,04

Punt Return

Ricky Clarke – Raiders - 05;

Kicker

John Katsaouni – Tri City - First selection

Kick Return

Ricky Clarke - Raiders - First at this position

DEFENCE ALL STARS

Defensive Line

Brandon Lewis – Sault - 1996,98,99,2000,01,02,03,04,05 Didi Nwagbo – Maddogs - First selection Hughroy Simms – Oshawa - 05 Wayne Sliwinski – Milton - First at this position

Linebackers

Chris Churchill – Sarnia - First selection Darren Fleming – Oshawa - 2003, 04, 05 * Stafford Wilson – Oakville - 94,95,96,97,98,99 * Matt Gauthier – Sault - First Selection * Sean Spencer – Maddogs - 2004

Defensive Back

Sean Weathers – Oshawa - 2005 Jason Nunez – Milton - 2000, 03, 04, 05 Junior Labrosse – Sudbury - First selection Brian Samson – North Bay - First selection * Kris Chamberlain – Maddogs - First selection * Richard Messam – Tri City - First at this position

(* Indicates tie for position)

SECOND TEAM ALL STARS

Quarterback

Jeff Nosal – Tri City

Running Backs

Dave Dinnall – Oshawa Keston Arthurton – Toronto Maddogs Steve Lubin – Toronto Raiders

Receivers

Brandon Dougan – Sudbury Dave Beaulieu – Oshawa Phil Dixon – Oshawa Andy Taylor – Raiders

Offensive Line

Ashton Young – Sault Bruce Vaillancourt – Sudbury Kirk Giffin – Oshawa Mike Younghusband – Oshawa Dave Webster – Oshawa Adam Day – Sault Rob Menard – Sault Lee Becker – Tri City Robert Krautwurst – Tri City

Punter

Clint Broeders – Quinte Steve Devlin – Sarnia

Punt Return

Tom Wighton – Oakville Dan Leduc – Sudbury Scott Jackson – North Bay

Kicker

Rob Horstman – Oshawa

Kick Return

Sterling Bilz – North Bay

Defensive Line

Kevin White – Sudbury Kojo Millington – Milton Andrew Dashper – Tri City Gary Fraser - Raiders

Linebackers

Justin Shakell – Quinte Joe Kerr – Sudbury Derek Wheeler – Raiders Paul Fraser – Raiders

Defensive Backs

Clint Broeders – Quinte Barry McGann – Sarnia Adrian Thorne – Raiders Mike Bartello – Milton Jeff Hardiman – Oakville Scott Jackson – North Bay Jimmy Singh Sandhu – Milton Luke Broeders – Quinte Kurt Morrison – Sault Ryan Saccoccia – Raiders Dustin McKenna – Tri City

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