Fratmen’s Slikboer gets a taste of CFL with Ticats
Windsor AKO Fratmen defensive end Adam Slikboer celebrated his team’s Ontario Football Conference title with a road trip.
Hours after his team’s championship win over the Hamilton Hurricanes on Sunday, the 22-year-old Slikboer was on the road to join the Canadian Football League’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“The Ticats brought me and two other players from the CJFL to practice with them for a week, to let us experience what professional football is like and have an opportunity to view our talents live against CFL-level talent,” Slikboer said.
The OFC’s defensive player of the year and an all-star, Slikboer is set to graduate after the Fratmen play in next Saturday’s Canadian Junior Football League final and has aspirations of a pro career.
“It was an experience of a lifetime,” the six-foot-four, 240-pound Slikboer said of his time in Hamilton. “It really made me realize how much work these athletes put in every day to be able to perform at such a high level.
“For sure, I think going up there and taking reps against starting CFL players really showed me what I have to work on this offseason if I am going to play at the next level.”
For now, Slikboer is back with his teammates and focused on next week’s championship game against the defending champion Saskatoon Hilltops.
“I am extremely excited for the final,” Slikboer said. “I think our team is going to turn a lot of heads on (Nov. 11). We have really come together as a unit and it’s going to be an exciting game to play and to watch.”
LANCERS IMPRESSIVE
The No. 7-ranked University of Windsor Lancers women’s basketball team dominated from start to finish in a 62-42 win over the No. 8-ranked Ryerson Rams in OUA action on Friday at the St. Denis Centre.
The Lancers outscored the Rams in all four quarters to improve to 2-0 on the season, while Ryerson is now 1-1.
Windsor’s Carly Steer led all game scorers with 21 points, while Emily Prevost chipped in with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Tyra Blizzard added 13 points and freshman Olivica Osamusali added a gamehigh 11 rebounds for the Lancers.
McCONVILLE HONOURED
LaSalle’s Blake McConville was named the Ontario Hockey League’s Central Division academic player of the month for October.
A rookie forward with the Sudbury Wolves, the 17-year-old McConville is maintaining an 87-percent
average in Grade 12 courses that feature university level chemistry, advanced functions, data management and online sports management.
The six-foot-two, 205-pound McConville, who was a fifth-round draft pick by Sudbury in 2016, has appeared in 12 games for the club this season.
BAGGIO RECOGNIZED
University of Windsor Lancers junior defender Keely Baggio was named a second-team women’s soccer all-star in the OUA’s West Division.
It’s the second-straight year that the five-foot-three Baggio has earned all-star recognition.
The third-year defender was a first-team selection a year ago for the Lancers, who finished this season tied for seventh in the West Division with a 17 points on a 3-58 record.