Van Pelt earns Canada West honour with Dinos

WINSTON CHURCHILL GRAD NOMINEE FOR NATIONAL AWARD

A Lethbridge football product is one of four members of the Calgary Dinos to earn a Canada West award.

Fifth-year Dino defensive end and Winston Churchill graduate Joel Van Pelt was named the Canada West’s Outstanding Lineman Thursday.

He joins Dinos quarterback Adam Sinagra (Frank Gnup Memorial Trophy, Player of the Year), Tyson Philpot (Rookie of the Year) and Wayne Harris (Canada West Coach of the Year).

Van Pelt was selected 62nd overall in the 2018 CFL Draft by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and returned from the team’s training camp over the summer in time to join the Dinos.

He had nine tackles for loss in 2018, six of those being sacks and also played a key role for the Dinos defence, which finished first in the conference in terms of yards allowed, averaging 388 per game.

The science student emerged from a crowded group of candidates to be the conference nominee for the J.P. Metras Award, which honours the nation’s top lineman.

Van Pelt is the first Dino to win the nomination since Paul Swiston in 2010 and is looking to become the first Dino to win the Metras since Garret Everson won it in 1988.

“It has been a great year for Joel in every capacity,” said Harris in a release. “You’re never quite sure how a player will adjust coming back from a pro camp, but Joel came back and embraced a leadership role. His physical presence and development have come into their own after five years in the weight room, and we’ve seen how it has impacted his play. His understanding of the game and the level of maturity he has developed have positively influenced his success.”

The Dinos (9-0) host the Saskatchewan Huskies (6-3) in the 82nd Hardy Cup Saturday at McMahon Stadium, looking for their third straight conference title. Kickoff is 1 p.m.