TORONTO (U SPORTS) – U SPORTS has announced the return of the East-West Bowl game after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 and McMaster University will host the 18^th edition of the top prospect showcase on at 12:00 pm ET on Saturday May 7th.

U SPORTS also released Monday the list of student-athletes invited to the 2022 event. The West team is mostly made up of U SPORTS football players from Canada West and OUA schools, except Carleton, Ottawa and Queen's, which play for the East squad. The rest of the East team features players from AUS and RSEQ schools.

Four Golden Hawks - all on the defensive side of the ball - have been named to the West team roster. They include defensive backs Ayo Ajayi and Patrick Burke Jr. as well as linebacker Ife Onyemenam and defensive tackle Brandon Omonuwa.

Ajayi, a native of Brampton, Ont., recorded a career-high 13.5 tackles over four games this past season. The 6'0" 185 pound computer science student-athlete was an OUA second-team all-star in 2019.

Burke Jr., hailing from Etobicoke, Ont., had 16 total tackles and two interceptions in six games. 

Onyemenam finished the 2021 season third on the team with 25.5 total tackles. The Toronto, Ont. native and economics major also recorded a sack and had a pair of forced fumbles.

Omonuwa, standing at 6'3" and 275 pounds, played in all six games and recorded 14 tackles. The criminology student-athlete from Etobicoke. Ont., also tallied 1.5 sacks and was named a 2021 OUA second team all-star.

The complete roster can be found here.

Laurier's Manager of Football Operations & Head Coach Michael Faulds commented how the team is "so happy for Ife, Brandon, Patrick, Ayo on being announced to this years East/West game".

"This game is something that all players hope happens in their career, but only a few get the opportunity. These four student-athletes are leaders on our terrific defence, and a good showing at this years event will give them momentum heading into their senior years," Faulds said.

"An added bonus is that the game is being held close by in Hamilton, so many Golden Hawks teammates, friends, and family can come watch them play."
 
U SPORTS is also promising that this year's event will be more than just a game, as it becomes a week-long celebration of amateur football.
 
"We look forward to presenting this year's event as a showcase for Canadian football and to demonstrate the role U SPORTS members play in the development of our sport," said McMaster head coach Stefan Ptaszek. "We plan on offering these elite student-athletes the showcase they deserve while creating opportunities for the next generation of coaches and officials to tap into the knowledge of current U SPORTS leaders."

Tickets for the game are $15 and available for purchase at https://mcmaster.universitytickets.com/, with kickoff scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
 
Although the focus of the East-West Bowl is the game where U SPORTS student-athletes vie for coveted spots on the CFL Scouting Bureau Top 20 Prospects List, this year's event offers expanded programming for football development in the community.
 
Details of these initiatives as well as the identity of the game's head coaches will be announced later this week.
 
"U SPORTS is excited for the return of the East-West Bowl and are working with CUFCA and the Marauders football program to increasing the game's profile as well as developing future next generation of football leaders." said Lisette Johnson-Stapley, U SPORTS Chief Sports Officer.