The Windsor Lancers are pleased to announce that Lancer Football's starting centre Matt Morencie has signed with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger Cats.
"I've always wanted to play there since I was little," the 21-year-old Morencie said. "I was a fan since I was little, so it's kind of like a dream come true."
The Human Kinetics major was a third-round pick by the CFL's British Columbia Lions in May, but was cut at the end of training camp and returned to play a fifth season for the Lancers.
When the season ended, the OUA first-team all-star in 2008 had a few offers waiting.
"British Columbia showed some interest, so did Winnipeg and so did Hamilton," said Lancers head coach Mike Morencie.
"Being in Ontario is big for him. It allows his family to see him play a lot."
Morencie is still working on a degree in sports management and will remain in Windsor until he graduates in the spring.
"We've signed him and we're going to suspend him so he can finish his courses at the University of Windsor and this allows us to retain his rights. We still expect him to be a good candidate for training camp next year," Tiger-Cats' Bob O'Billovich said.
With the addition of Morencie, the Ticats have three players on the roster who were ranked in the top six by the CFL scouting bureau before the 2009 Canadian Draft -- Simeon Rottier and Matt Carter are the others.
"That's good management," said O'Billovich with a laugh while watching practice at Ivor Wynne yesterday. "You can't ever have enough of these guys. If you have enough good Canadians, that just gives you lots of good options."
With the club expected to lose Cedric Gagne-Marcoux to free agency and centre Marwan Hage heading into his option year, Morencie is hoping he could get some playing time next season.
"I'll probably fight for a backup spot," Morencie said. "They're having a pretty good year this year and should be good the next couple of years."
O'Billovich liked Morencie heading into last year's CFL Draft, but like many teams was scared off when his weight dipped to 268 pounds and he was listed as a tackle.
"This year, he played at 290 or 292 and played centre and that's what we thought was his position," O'Billovich said. "We've been building up our Canadian (linemen) and I think he'll fit in real nice.
"He's a bright guy and he has the intellect to handle playing centre and making the calls."
With information from The Windsor Star and Hamilton Spectator
