The Twelve Days of Wisewood: Day 1 - DB Brayden Laurie

University of Calgary football Head Coach Wayne Harris confirmed that cornerback Brayden Laurie has signed a USports of Intent to attend the school beginning in September 2017.

A 5’9”, 165 lbs. defensive back, Brayden has been a two year starter for the Henry Wisewood Warriors in the Calgary Senior High School League under Head Coach Cody Ehrmann. Laurie played his minor football for the Bulldogs in the Calgary Midget Football League and was a member of the Alberta U18 team this past summer.

An excellent student, Brayden will enroll in the Faculty of Kinesiology at U of C. He is the son of Stephen and Helania Laurie.

“I liked my meeting with Coach Harris as well as the academic part of the program at Calgary. I know the coaches with the Dinos and wanted to stay here,” stated Laurie who started his football career as a receiver before moving to the other side of the football.

“The team atmosphere at Calgary is excellent and I know players on the team,” added Laurie who spoke with Simon Fraser, Manitoba, and Alberta in the recruitment process.

“Brayden is a hard working skilled secondary player from Wiswood and should follow in the radition of solid Henry Wisewood defensive backs,” states recruiting coordinator Matt Berry.

Laurie who originally hails from Victoria, BC heard good things about current secondary coach Marcello Rapini and how he develops defensive backs which helped influence his decision.

Award Winning Lineman Joins Dinos

The University of Calgary Dinos announced one of the outstanding offensive linemen in Calgary High School football, George Gagnon, has signed a USports Letter of Intent to attend the school in the fall of 2017.

The 18-year old, 6’2”, 270 lbs. Gagnon brings an impressive list of credentials both on and off the football field.

An honors student in High School serves as Student Council President and currently maintains a 92% academic average while enrolled in international baccalaureate courses yet has found time to play multiple sports at St. Mary’s High School.

On the football field George was a member of the Alberta U18 team that played in the Canada Cup. He has been the starting offensive center for the Saints for the past two years as well as their long snapper. He was instrumental in leading the Saints, coached by Bill McConkey to the Division II Calgary championship in 2016. Gagnon played his minor football in the Falcons organization.

George has won numerous awards for his academic and athletic excellence including being the 2016 recipient of the Stan Schwartz Heart of the Champion Award and earning the prestigious Harry Hood Award for the Most Outstanding Student Athlete in Calgary High School football in 2016.

“George is a strong athletic athlete who has played on both sides of the football plus has played basketball and rugby. He is an excellent student and a smart football player,” states University of Calgary Head Wayne Harris.

Gagnon received numerous offers from CIS schools including Queen’s and St. Francis Xavier. His father, Paul, played football for the X-Men and was an Atlantic University Sport all-star tight end for two years.

“Calgary his one of the top programs in the country, and I wanted to stay home and play in front of my family and friends,” stated Gagnon on his decision to enroll in the Biological Sciences program at the University of Calgary with career aspirations to pursue medical studies.

George is the son of Paul Gagnon and Angela Schneider.

Calgary Lineman to Return Home with Dinos

George Hutchings is returning home. The University of Calgary Football Dinos confirmed that the 6’3”, 300 lbs offensive guard has signed a USports Letter of Intent and will enroll at the U of C in the fall of 2017.

Hutchings is currently attending St. Andrews College in Aurora, Ontario playing for the Saints who compete in the Conference of Independence Schools Athletic Association and has been attending the college preparatory school for the past two years. Prior to attending St. Andrews, Hutchings played for St. Mary’s High School in Calgary for two seasons.

“He (George) is an elite level lineman in the country. He has played for both Team Canada and Alberta and is a force at one of the top High School program in the nation,” states University of Calgary offensive coordinator Ryan Sheahan of Hutchings who started in the International Bowl in Arlington, TX for Canada’s U18 team that defeated the United States. In addition George was an all-star for Alberta at Canada Cup in 2015.

“St. Andrews College does things right and produces great players, George is a great worker and an outstanding student,” Sheahan stated.

Hutchings is currently ranked 33^rd according the pre-season CFC rankings and is projected to either play guard or center along the offensive line for the Dinos.

While in Calgary Hutchings was a Calgary Bantam all-star for the Wildcats and was a member of the Calgary Bantam Selects all-star team.

Hutchings will enroll in the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary and stated that was “one of the big factors in making his decision along with playing with many of his friends.”

“A lot of my best friends already play at Calgary. Coming there is like being part of a family,” stated Hutchings who was pursued by numerous USports schools including Western, Guelph, UBC, Regina and McGill. George is good friends with current Dinos receiver Kelton Bailey and defensive lineman Isaac Mabiala as well as recent recruited defensive lineman Justin Sambu, whom he played with on Team Canada.

George is the son of Brian and Anna Hutchings.