By Jake Courtepatte

Linebacker Fraser Sopik traded his red for purple in the 2015 season, and has come full circle back to red in 2019.

The St. Andrew's College graduate was chosen in the fourth round of the Canadian Football League Draft last week by the Calgary Stampeders, after a stellar four-year career with the Western Mustangs of USports. He was the 31st overall pick in the draft.

“I've grown up playing football for as long as I can remember,” said Sopik. “I grew up in Scarborough, just east of the city, and I started playing there when I was six or seven, and have been playing ever since.”

The six-foot, 194-lb. Sopik shone on the field for the Saints in his varsity years, named a two-time OVFL All-Star.

He was a two-time OUA All-Star with the high-powered Mustangs squad, leading the line in tackles in 2018.

“If you want to win, and you want to compete, and you want to be the best, Western is the place to go,” said Sopik, who helped his team to a Vanier Cup victory with the Mustangs in the 2017 season.

Sopik admits his size may be on the lower end of the scale for such an in-your-face, aggressive position, yet his confidence more than makes up for what he lacks on the scale.

“I'm going to go out there, I'm going to try to make plays, I'm going to be aggressive and get in people's faces, I'm going to do all those things because I love this game and I'm competitive.”

After being named both the USports and OUA Outstanding Stand-Up Defensive Player of the Year, Sopik's name gained on team's draft rankings come the CFL Combine last month, where he posted a 4.79 second 40-yard dash as well as ten reps on the bench press, before strapping on the pads and showing his greatest asset: his mental tenacity.

“I'm someone who is versatile,” said Sopik. “I can do a lot of things on the football field, and a lot of things that other people can't. I'm a pretty special player and I think a player that people would be happy to have.”

St. Andrew's varsity head coach Len Gurr shared his own message of congratulations for one of his former stars on Twitter, adding “Another great (St. Andrew's) old boy is headed to the CFL. No doubt that (Sopik) was one of the best players in the CFL Draft. The (Stampeders) are going to be thrilled with this pick. Just wait until the pads go on!”