Canada's Secret Weapon? Justin Ethier

Building up to the U19 World Championship, the IFAF has featured a team profile every day or so and Canada's turn has finally come.

Much of the information provided is in regards to the team's past results, but one paragraph in particular caught my attention.

Canada's offense in 2014 will be led by coordinator Justin Éthier. One of the most gifted offensive minds in Canadian university football, Éthier returns as Junior National Team offensive coordinator, a position which he previously held at the inaugural 2009 world championship in Canton, Ohio. He's also served on Canada's NFL Global Junior coaching staff from 2000-2007. Éthier led the Rouge et Or offense from 2001 through 2009 capturing four Vanier Cup [Canadian university football national championship] titles in the process. After stepping away following the 2009 season, he returned as Laval's offensive coordinator in 2013.

I've heard of Ethier, but did not realize that he had been involved with the NFL GJC teams.  As a fan then, I have to be grateful for his contributions since he's been involved in just about every junior level international competition.

Not mentioned above is that he joined the Laval program in 1997 and served as special teams coordinator from 1998 to 2000.

And speaking of college programs, let's list the rest of the staff that will join head coach Warren Craney in Kuwait next month.  Returning from the 2012 coaching staff are Brian Guebert (defensive line) and Kamau Peterson (receivers) who are joined by Samir Chahine (offensive line), Brad Collinson (running backs), Ryan Hall (defensive backs), Marcello Lio (quarterbacks), and Kevin MacNeill (linebackers).

The first game is on July 7th against the host Kuwait team.