TICATS SIGN EIGHT CANADIANS, INCLUDING DRAFT PICKS AND JUNIOR INVITEES

Hamilton, Ontario – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats added eight Canadian players to their roster today, including two CFL Draft selections and three local junior football standouts. 

2011 second-round pick Maurice Forbes and 2010 fourth-round pick Chris Rwabukamba will take part in rookie camp at McMaster’s Ron Joyce Stadium this week. 

Forbes, a 6-3, 300-pound native of Toronto, Ontario, recorded 20.5 tackles and 2.5 quarterback sacks at defensive tackle with Concordia last season. 

Rwabukamba (Rub-uh-come-buh), a 5-11, 180-pound native of Windsor, Ontario, played four seasons as a defensive back at Duke, recording 123 tackles and two interceptions in 45 games. 

Local junior football players Danny Brown, Jamal George and Rob Varallo will also suit up with the Black and Gold.

Brown, a 6-1, 345-pound offensive lineman, and George, a 6-1, 180-pound defensive back, will attend training camp with the Ticats after capturing the Ontario Junior Football Conference championship with the Hamilton Hurricanes in 2010.

Varallo, a 6-4, 250-pound linebacker has played three seasons with the London Beefeaters. 

The Ticats also reinforced their Canadian contingent with the additions of defensive tackle George Kourtesiotis, linebacker Joseph Malabuyoc and receiver Brenden Owens. 

Kourtesiotis (Cur-tus-ee-oh-tis), a 6-4, 275-pound native of Toronto, Ontario, has recorded 44.5 tackles and 4.5 quarterback sacks in four seasons at Laurier. 

Malabuyoc (Mah-lah-boo-yock), a 6-0, 225-pound native of Vancouver, British Columbia, spent the last two seasons at Hawaii. 

Owens, a 6-1, 185-pound native of Regina, Saskatchewan, played four seasons at Regina, hauling in 109 passes for 1,606 yards and 13 touchdowns.  He was named a Canada West All-Star and second-team CIS All-Canadian in 2010. 

About the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a member of the Canadian Football League (CFL) with a rich 142-year history, which includes 15 Grey Cup Championships.  For more information log onto www.ticats.ca

- 30 -