A career season by Chris Dobko ended with All-Canadian honours for the Calgary Dinos slotback.
Dobko, 22, was voted to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport second all-star team after leading the Dinos in receptions and receiving yards.
"It's pretty crazy. Ever since I got to Calgary I always wanted to have an opportunity to be an All-Canadian so it's pretty special," said the high school product of the St. Albert High Skyhawks.
It's the latest in a long line of accomplishments for Dobko, the co-MVP for the 2004 Football Alberta Tier 2 bantam provincial champion St. Albert 49ers, the 2007 Haliburton Trophy winner as the pool B MVP in the metro Edmonton league, Team Alberta tailback at the U19 Football Canada Cup in 2008 and two-time Canada West all-star.
"I would have to say it's the highlight so far," said Dobko, one of five Dinos named to the All-Canadian teams this year.
Dobko was more focused on the Vanier Cup than personal accomplishments while recording 50 catches for 659 yards and five touchdowns in only six conference games.
"I didn't really think about it much. I was more concerned in trying to get us to win as many games as we could," said the only football player from St. Albert to play in two Vanier Cups – in 2009 and 2010.
This year Dobko twice set the team record for receptions in a game with 13 against the Manitoba Bisons on Sept. 15 in Winnipeg and 14 against the Bisons on Oct. 27 in Calgary, before teammate Jake Harty had 15 catches against the Regina Rams in the Hardy Cup on Nov. 10 for a new Canada West playoff mark.
In three playoff games Dobko collected 18 catches for 180 yards and one TD as the No. 3-ranked Dinos (8-2) won its record fifth Hardy Cup but lost the Mitchell Bowl for the second straight year.
"I'm satisfied how the year went. I knew I had it in me to do that," said the fourth-year Dino. "I'm just a little upset we didn't win a couple more games."
The Dinos are still licking their wounds after getting pounded 45-6 by the No. 1-ranked McMaster Marauders in the Mitchell Bowl last weekend in Hamilton with a trip to the Vanier Cup on the line.
The Dinos, the top team in almost every offensive category going into the game, were held to only 200 total yards by the defending champions.
McMaster shocked the Dinos by scoring 37 unanswered points, starting midway through the second quarter with 17 points.
The Dinos also committed eight penalties for 66 yards in the quarter, and 17 penalties overall for 127 yards.
"We just fell apart. I haven't really looked at any of the film yet so I can't really completely tell you why. I guess we just blew it," said Dobko, who grabbed four passes for 24 yards in the loss.
He was reluctant to call it the low point of his career.
"It's to early say something like that but it's definitely not a good point," he said.
The Paul Kane High School graduate admitted he would trade his All-Canadian award for another shot at the national championship.
"I would rather be at the Vanier Cup. I would give that back just to be able to go play in that game again."
CFL prospect
The six-foot, 200-pound Dino will now prepare for the CFL draft in the spring. Fifty-two players will be chosen from eligible CIS teams, as well as Canadians playing in the NCAA.
"I'm going to have to get into the gym. There are some things I want to work on. The next couple of months is going to be dedicated to getting myself the opportunity to get drafted," said the 2011 conference leader in receptions with 56 and TD catches with eight and was second in yards with 676.
Dobko wasn't listed in the CFL Scouting Bureau's first edition of the top-15 prospects in September. The next rankings for the 2013 draft class will be released after the Vanier Cup.
"I've never actually had a chance yet to think about what really could happen," said Dobko, who is 51 catches away from the all-time conference receiving record of 173. "Ever since I started playing St. Albert minor football it was always my dream to maybe one day to get the chance to get drafted or play in the CFL."
