All but a few all-stars from the West
Although the East Division-champion Toronto Argonauts won the Grey Cup, all but a few CFL allstars come from the West.
Twenty-three of the 27 members of the league’s 2017 dream team, announced Tuesday, are from West Division clubs.
Of the four East all-stars, three are from the Argos — centre Sean McEwen, offensive tackle Chris Van Zeyl and receiver S.J. Green.
Ottawa Redblacks receiver Greg Ellingson was the only other East Division player on the all-star team. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes, both of whom missed the playoffs, were the only teams without at least one all-star.
The Calgary Stampeders, who lost 27-24 to Toronto in the Grey Cup game on Nov. 26, boasted six all-stars after posting a league-best 13-4-1 regular season record.
Calgary led the way despite not having a single all-star on offence.
The Stampeders’ all-stars were defensive end Charleston Hughes, defensive tackle Micah Johnson, linebacker Alex Singleton, cornerback Ciante Evans, kicker Rene Parades and special-teams player Roy Finch.
Quarterback Mike Reilly, who was named the league’s most outstanding player for 2017, was among five Edmonton Eskimos who made the all-star team. He was joined by receiver Brandon Zylstra, guard Matt O’Donnell, defensive tackle Almondo Sewell and cover linebacker Kenny Ladler.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers also had five players named to the team: running back Andrew Harris, offensive tackle Stanley Bryant, cornerback Chris Randle, defensive halfback T.J. Heath and safety Taylor Loffler.
Guard Brendon LaBatte was among four Saskatchewan Roughriders on the list. LaBatte, like Sewell a fifth-time CFL all-star, was joined by receiver Duron Carter, defensive end Willie Jefferson and defensive halfback Ed Gainey.
The B.C. Lions had three all-stars — receiver Bryan Burnham, linebacker Solomon Elimimian and punter Ty Long.