CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Bombers Welcome Junior Prospect

Published on April 18, 2002 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers News Release


WINNIPEG, MB - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will have a special person at their 2002 training camp in the form of Winnipegger Charles Bazilewich.

Bazilewich (6-1, 245, Valley Huskers (CJFL) '01, DOB: Mar. 27, 1980) is a linebacker and long snapper who most recently played junior football for the Valley Huskers of the British Columbia Football Conference. He becomes the first person to attend a Blue Bombers camp straight out of junior football since Winnipeg Hawkeyes linebacker Todd MacDonald tried out for the club in 1990.

"For the first time in many years, we're very pleased to have a junior football player in our training camp," said Winnipeg's vice-president of player personnel Brendan Taman. "We feel with his long snapping ability he can possibly take the next step in his football journey."

Bazilewich was one of five junior players that recently attended the 2002 CFL Evaluation Camp in Montreal. He impressed scouts with his 26 repetitions of 225 pounds in the bench press test.

Bazilewich played two years of junior football for the Chilliwack-based Valley team under head coach Dave Haynes. Bazilewich was a BCFC All-Star in 2001 that helped guide his Huskers team to the BCFC Championship Final against the Okanagan Sun.

"I'm super excited," Bazilewich said about attending the club's training camp. "It's been a childhood dream of mine to play for the Blue Bombers."

Prior to junior football action in British Columbia, Bazilewich was a product of the Winnipeg High School Football League and Football Manitoba's amateur programs.

Bazilewich played two years for head coach Rick Hudson at Sisler High School. He was one of the stars of the Spartans undefeated team in 1999 - a squad that beat Kelvin High School 38-1 to claim the provincial high-school championship.

Bazilewich began playing football at the age of eight in the North Winnipeg Nomads system. He debuted with their Marlins atom team and progressed through their bantam, minor bantam and midget sides.

The invitation of Bazilewich to the Blue & Gold's camp is another indication that the football club is fully supportive of the development of junior football players.

"With the addition of the Winnipeg Rifles to the Prairie Football Conference this year, we will try to have at least one junior player in our camp in the years to come," Taman said.

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Canadian Football League Stories from April 18, 2002


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