(Posted 12:30 p.m., Feb. 10)
Former Sir Wil Lancer signs free agent deal with Redblacks
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Former Sir Wilfrid Laurier Lancer and Cumberland Panther, Brendan Gillanders, is coming home.

After spending the past two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, the 5’11, 211 lb fullback signed a free agent contract with the Ottawa Redblacks on Tuesday .

Gillanders, 25, played in 15 games for the Argos in 2015 and captained the special teams unit. On offence he made seven catches out of the backfield for 104 yards and had one carry for 11 yards.

On Tuesday, Redblacks general manager Marcel Desjardins said Gillanders would share fullback duties with starter Patrick Lavoie and see action on punt coverage and the kick return unit.

For his part, Gillanders says he can't wait to take the field at TD Place in a Redblacks uniform after playing here last year in the white and powder blue Argos visitor unis the two times they came to town.

"(The decision) came down to not being able to pass up the opportunity to play in my home town in front of family and friends," says Gillanders who began playing football at a young age for the Cumberland Panthers.

In 2006, Gillanders teamed up with Aaron Colbon in leading the Lancers to the NCSSAA junior championship with a win over their arch-rivals the St. Peter Knights. They made it to the senior championship two years later but fell to the St. Mark Lions.

Gillanders and Colbon both ended up at the University of Ottawa, where they were co-starters for the Gee-Gees.

In his final year with the Gee-Gees, Gillanders racked up 1,061 yards in total offence and scored five touchdowns, earning himself a first team OUA all-star selection.

He signed a free agent deal with the Argos in December, 2013.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

Visit www.orleansonline.ca's main page