Contained in the CFL: Perseverance pays off as Alouettes' Chagnon will get probability on defence

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Frédéric Chagnon might have lived out his days within the CFL enjoying on particular groups, making a good dwelling for six months’ work, realizing he had an influence and was contributing to what’s thought of an vital part {of professional} soccer.

However the Montreal native and Alouettes veteran additionally puzzled, greater than as soon as, what issues could be like if ever he was given a chance to play linebacker, his pure place on defence. In spite of everything, the 6-foot-4, 235 pounder was a part of the 2014 Vanier Cup championship crew at Université de Montréal and was a third-round (twenty fourth general) draft decide — excessive sufficient {that a} vital professional profession appeared cheap — of the B.C. Lions in 2017.

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“I don’t know, perhaps I didn’t get an opportunity, a chance to indicate what I might do,” Chagnon, 30, informed the Montreal Gazette this week. “That’s all proper. I do know my position on particular groups was vital. Particular groups within the CFL are actually vital. I knew you can have a very good profession, an excellent profession, enjoying on particular groups. Guys Like Jason Arakgi did it. (Winnipeg’s) Mike Miller remains to be doing it at present.

“However after all,” Chagnon shortly added, “I needed to play on defence. I simply actually by no means had that probability. I considered it, however perhaps the coaches solely noticed me as a particular groups participant and backup on defence? I can’t inform you why, actually.”

However all the pieces modified for Chagnon on the finish of July, in opposition to Calgary. Center-linebacker Avery Williams was placed on the six-game injured record and Als defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe, realizing his crew was coming off a bye week within the schedule, on a three-game dropping streak and looking for to alter issues up, determined to make the most of a 30 defence — three down linemen and 4 linebackers — on roughly 50 per cent of performs.

That created a gap for Chagnon, one which he has seized with relish.

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In his three video games at linebacker, he has made seven tackles, displayed a ferocity for punishing opponents and hasn’t regarded misplaced whereas persevering with to play on particular groups.

“He has confirmed greater than able to enjoying at a excessive stage, and now he’s had the chance,” Thorpe stated. “When these alternatives come round, it’s a must to profit from them. He has undoubtedly performed that. He’s sensible, instinctual and has a nostril for the soccer. He performs with actually good leverage. We really feel like we haven’t missed a beat with him.”

Chagnon’s story is one in every of perseverance and endurance, of lastly being rewarded for years of toiling in close to anonymity. Nothing ever got here straightforward for him, whether or not it was athletics or teachers.

“That’s been me endlessly, since I used to be younger,” he stated. “In all the pieces. I by no means had the best approach. I needed to work to get my spot in all the pieces and needed to earn it every single day. It’s been like that my complete life, from CEGEP to college. I needed to go up the ladder after enjoying particular groups. I needed to try to get a spot on particular groups and see the way it goes.”

A hockey defenceman at first, Chagnon realized his skating meant a professional profession was unlikely. When his household moved from Lorraine to Blainville, and the world was too removed from his house, his father steered a change in sports activities, given his son’s creating body. Even then, the change didn’t come naturally; Chagnon’s struggles within the classroom proved an extra problem if he needed to play on his highschool crew.

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He initially went to CEGEP Vieux-Montréal however was solely a part of the observe roster earlier than transferring to Lionel Groulx, the place he ultimately caught the attention of Als normal supervisor Danny Maciocia, then the Carabins’ head coach, who recruited him to college.

“He can play on all 4 phases of particular groups,” Maciocia stated. “He’s lengthy. He’s fairly dynamic. He’s a scholar of the sport. Generally it’s only a query of there being a chance. It has to current itself. When it does … it might simply knock as soon as. However in case you get that chance, money in on it by making a few performs, tackles, doing all your job and getting the eye of your coaches, there’s a way I can play this man, I really feel snug with him and there’s a consolation stage that kicks in. As soon as it kicks in, you may construct off that.”

Chagnon spent three seasons with the Lions however struggled as a rookie. The nervousness of being throughout the nation, separated from his household, was overbearing. He signed with the Als as a free agent in 2020, however the season was cancelled attributable to COVID-19. He was launched in July 2021, signed with Ottawa, however returned to Montreal final season.

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However he additionally put the cancelled season to good use, returning to college to finish his enterprise diploma, fulfilling a promise made years earlier to each his father and Maciocia.

Many CFL contracts comprise a bonus clause that kicks in supplied a participant’s on the sector for 51 per cent of the sport. It has been a helpful useful resource for Chagnon — a brand new home-owner in Lasalle and the daddy of a two-year-old boy — the final three weeks.

“It’s good to have the additional cash, however I’m not counting on that to place meals on my desk and pay the mortgage,” he stated.

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