Ex-Ticats looking to run for Tories federally

HAMILTON — Two former Hamilton Tiger-Cats are hoping to have success in the political arena.

In a joint news conference at the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, Peter Dyakowski and Marwan Hage announced Wednesday that they are seeking the Conservative Party nomination in different Hamilton ridings for the next federal election .

Dyakowski is seeking the nomination in Hamilton Mountain, and Hage is running in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.

If the former offensive linemen secure their nominations, they will face an uphill battle in federal ridings that have traditionally not gone the Conservatives’ way.

Hamilton East-Stoney Creek has elected either a Liberal or New Democrat MP since its formation in 2003, while Hamilton Mountain hasn’t elected a representative from a conservative party since 1979.

Scott Duvall of the NDP is the incumbent MP in Hamilton Mountain, while Liberal Bob Bratina, a former mayor of Hamilton, represents Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.

The 34-year-old Dyakowski, who announced his retirement from the Canadian Football League on Nov. 1, appeared in 166 career regular-season games — 149 as a starter — with Hamilton (2007-16) and Saskatchewan (’17).

Hage, who emigrated with his family from Beirut, Lebanon to Montreal in 1990, spent 10 seasons with the Ticats from 2004 to ’13. He was a CFL all-star in ’10. The 37-year-old owns multiple Tim Hortons franchises in the Toronto area.