2008 DRAFT A LION PROGRAM A SUCCESS!

(Vancouver) The second installment of the Draft a Lion sponsorship program kicked-off Wednesday evening at the Red Robinson Show Theatre to rave reviews from all parties involved.

Hosted by special guest commissioner Senator Larry Campbell and Lions Director, Community Relations Jamie Taras, the sold-out event featured 20 Lions players in addition to 20 local area businesses each vying for the top pick in the ’08 “draft.”

The sponsor initiative, which provides Vancouver and area businesses with exposure at home games and a link to Lions community programs, launched last season and has 20 proud partners.

The Draft a Lion program was designed to service the needs of local area businesses and organizations that don't have budgets for larger sponsorship packages but still want to support the club.

Participating companies were entered into a draft lottery during the Draft a Lion Dinner Reception to determine the draft order, with each business eligible to draft one Lions player from a roster of 20 following the dinner. With the first pick, Rosedale on Robson chose Lions veteran centre Angus Reid, followed by Brent Johnson (Bosa Properties), Geroy Simon (CAT Rental Store), Javier Glatt (Lafarge) and Jarious Jackson (The Quorum Group) rounding out the top five.

For the first time in Draft a Lion history, there were a number of trades made, including a three-way deal involving Bosa Properties, The Quorum Group and Capo Construction involving the second, fifth and tenth picks. Other notable deals included Burger King and Industrial Alliance Pacific (trading for the 20th and 14th selections respectively) as well as Allwest Electric and Lafarge (fourth and 13th positions). In the largest trade of the evening, Action Athletic Wear traded with Rosedale on Robson, surrendering the first pick in exchange for the seventh.

2008 Draft Order and Selections:

1. Rosedale on Robson - Angus Reid
2. Bosa Properties - Brent Johnson
3. The CAT Rental Store - Geroy Simon
4. Lafarge - Javier Glatt
5. The Quorum Group - Jarious Jackson
6. Nova Drywall - Buck Pierce
7. Action Athletic Wear - Jason Clermont
8. Winroc - Cameron Wake
9. Ticketmaster - Paul McCallum
10. CAPO Construction - Paris Jackson
11. Drake Towing - Ryan Phillips
12. Prime Time Sports - Barron Miles
13. Allwest Electric - Aaron Hunt
14. Industrial Alliance Pacific - Sherko Haji-Rasouli
15. AMJ Campbell Van Lines - Alexis Bwenge
16. GML Mechanical - Kelly Bates
17. Sandman Hotel Group - Tyson Craiggs
18. Moonrakers Pub - Jason Jimenez
19. LMS Steel - Tyrone Williams
20. Burger King - Dean Valli