Former 91ÑÇÉ« football star Dennis Mavrin made his professional debut June 19, when his Saskatchewan Roughriders played the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League (CFL) season opener for both teams.
Right: Dennis Mavrin in action
Mavrin played 39 games in four seasons as a defensive back at 91ÑÇÉ« before signing as a free agent with Saskatchewan in April 2003.
A 5'10", 205 lb. native of Woodbridge, Ontario, he was second in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), with 65 defensive tackles in 2002. A two-time CIS All-Canadian and a four-time Ontario University Athletics (OUA) All-Star, Mavrin is second in 91ÑÇÉ« career interceptions with 12.
Mavrin faced his former 91ÑÇÉ« team mate Jeff Johnson, who is now a running back with the Toronto Argonauts. In four seasons at 91ÑÇÉ«, Johnson became the school's career rushing leader with 3,358 yards. CIS (formerly the CIAU) Rookie of the Year in 1996, he was a two-time CIS All-Canadian and a three-time OUA All-Star. Johnson played two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before moving to the Argonauts in 2002.
Former 91ÑÇÉ« receiver Brian Nugent, a first round draft pick of the Calgary Stampeders in 2002, was released by the Stampeders during this year's training camp but was picked up by the defending Grey Cup champions the Montreal Alouettes.
Nugent, a three-time OUA All-Star, played all 18 regular season games for the Stampeders in 2002. He was in the line-up for Montreal's 23-20 season opening victory over Calgary.