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

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Former
Sir Wlfrid Laurier Lancer Brendan Gillanders
has signed a free agent contract with the
Ottawa Redblacks. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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Former
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Lancer and Cumberland Panther, Brendan
Gillanders, is coming home.
After
spending the past two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts,
the 511, 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.)
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