MontrealAlouettes.com
LENNOXVILLE – The Alouettes’ 2012 training camp came to an end at Coulter Field on the campus of Bishop’s University Sunday morning. The Alouettes, who have been training hard since camp opened on June 3, appeared to welcome the final whistle by congratulating one another after the final workout came to an end.
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Patrick Lavoie. |
“It was a good camp and our players were outstanding,” explained head coach Marc Trestman. “The news guys were able to pick up the system fast and that’s how you become a good football team.”
With excitement building as the team is now in the final stretch before the debut of the 2012 season, rookie fullback Patrick Lavoie is truly enjoying his experience in the pros.
“I knew training camp was going to be hard,” admitted the Alouettes’ top draft pick in this year’s CFL draft. “Luc Brodeur-Jourdain gave me a few pointers prior to coming here and it helped me be better prepared in terms of knowing what to expect. The only thing I specifically remember him telling me was to get as much sleep as possible before the start of camp, because the days are long and the nights are short.”
Trestman’s men practiced 13 days in Lennoxville, and Lavoie and his fellow rookies saw more homework on their plates than they were perhaps accustomed to in the university rankings.
“More meetings and extra film to watch is the main difference in the CFL compared to in the CIS,” said Lavoie. “You really have to be disciplined and put in work outside of team meetings. Coaches are not here to hold your hand and walk you through everything like in CEGEP or even university.”
While Lavoie is expected to play in the final preseason game on Tuesday, non-import quaterbacks Kyle Graves and Kyle Quinlan are also scheduled to make a brief appearance somewhere in the fourth quarter.
“We will try to get both QBs in the game at some point and give them both exposure against Toronto,” admitted Trestman.
Notes: Linebacker Shea Emry and receiver Brandon London are questionable for Tuesday’s game against Toronto … The Alouettes added non-import defensive back Dylan Hollohan from St. Francis Xavier University to their roster.
The Alouettes will play their second preseason contest on Tuesday June 19, against the Toronto Argonauts at the Rogers Centre. The game is scheduled to start at noon and will be broadcast live on CJAD. With a number of starting spots still up for grabs, the game could well determine the future of more than a handful of players currently on the Alouettes’ roster.
Following Tueday’s encounter, the team will then return to Montreal to begin preparing for their regular season opener, scheduled to kick-off at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 1, when the Alouettes travel to McMahon Stadium to visit the Calgary Stampeders.
