It was last February when Brian Harelimana’s dream came true. The former Université de Montréal Carabins linebacker signed a contract with the Alouettes almost one year after they drafted him. The 25-year-old was successful with “les Bleus” collecting 37 tackles in 2019, as well as three sacks and eight knockdowns. The Carabins Head Coach at the time, Danny Maciocia, liked what he saw and he brought him into the nest.
A few months later, Brian saw his brother Kean also sign with the Alouettes the day after the CFL draft.
“It will be great to be able to play with my brother. We will finally be together after a few years of rivalry,” Brian laughs.
While Brian wore the Carabins’ jersey, his younger brother Kean suited up for the Université Laval Rouge et Or. The older brother speaks with pride as he recalls his four campaigns with “les Bleus”. “At the CEPSUM, there were nearly 5,000 spectators at our games. When we went to the PEPS, there were almost 15,000 in a high-energy environment, which gave both teams motivation,” he said.
The two brothers, very close to each other on a daily basis, admit that they never spoke to each other during a week of games between Université Laval and Université de Montréal. “We stayed focused on our part, we didn’t dare to call each other. However, before the game, we talked a little, and after the game, we hugged.”
“We both wanted to beat each other but I wanted Kean to perform. In an ideal world, I wished a victory and my brother to shine in a loss”.
Was the older surprised when Kean joined the enemy? “At first I was a bit surprised but I must admit that Laval has an excellent football program, one of the best in Canada. My brother wanted to leave the house to live on his own so I was happy for him. My brother waited several weeks before telling me the news, he was embarrassed to become my rival,” says Brian. In hindsight, Brian accepted the decision knowing very well that Glen Constantin had almost succeeded in recruiting him a few years earlier… “I don’t say it very loudly, but yes, Laval had almost convinced me to join their team at the time”.
Brian loved his time at Université de Montréal. He gives credit to Manon Simard and Danny Maciocia for setting up this excellent program that was born in 2002. Since then, it has been one of the best in the RSEQ.
The Laval native never raised the Vanier Cup with the Carabins despite a presence in the final in 2019. Yet when Head Coach Danny Maciocia recruited him, he promised him that he would be a “champion in his city”. “Danny and I have unfinished business together. He went to recruit me and that’s destiny, to win this championship is my motivation.”
