Local football notebook: Verdone drafted by CFL's B.C. Lions

The football season is gearing up locally and one of the bigger stories is the selection of Sault native Jordan Verdone by the CFL’s B.C Lions.

The Lions selected Verdonein the fifth round of last weeks CFL Draft.

A former rookie of the year at the CIS level, Verdone was named an All-Canadian in 2011 while playing with the University of Calgary.

“It was just a surreal moment,” Verdone told BCLions.com. “All the hard work I’ve done in the past – all the lifting, going to camps, all the countless hours – finally paid off. You don’t realize it until you actually talk to the head coach. It’s a special moment.”

Verdone, a former member of the Sault Sabercats, was the first member of the University of Waterloo football program that shut down because of steroid abuse to be drafted. Verdone transferred to Calgary to resume his schooling and football career after the Waterloo program shut down.

****
Speaking of the Sabercats, the local Ontario Varsity Football League entry opens up the 2012 season in two weeks.

The Sabercats open the 2012 OVFL season on the road when they travel to TD Waterhouse Stadium to take on the London Mustangs.

The Sabercats full schedule is as follows (home games in italics):

• May 26: at London (3:30 p.m.)
• June 2: at Brantford (8 p.m.)
• June 9: vs. Guelph (1 p.m.)
• June 16: vs. Brampton (1 p.m.)
• June 24: at Hamilton (4 p.m.)
• July 7: vs. Mississauga (1 p.m.)
• July 14: at Cambridge (1 p.m.)
• July 21: vs. Essex (1 p.m.)

All Sabercats home games are at Rocky DiPietro Field.

****
In the Northern Football Conference, the Sault Steelers also open up the 2012 season soon.

The Steelers, with new coach Brandon Lewis set to take over for Seth Cond in a role as player-coach, open the 2012 NFC regular season at the University of Waterloo on May 26 when they take on Tri-City.

The Steelers full schedule (with home games in italics):

• May 26: at Tri-City
• June 9: vs. Tri-City
• June 16: vs. Sarnia
• June 23: at North Bay
• July 7: vs. Ottawa
• July 14: vs. Oakville
• July 21: at Toronto (Titans)
• July 28: at Sudbury

All Steelers games are 7 p.m. starts, with all home games taking place at Rocky DiPietro Field.