Three Stingers Called at 2016 Canadian Football League Draft
Mikael Charland, Roman Grozman, and Arto Khatchikian Drafted by CFL Teams
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Concordia Stingers safety Mikael Charland booked a restaurant in his native Gatineau for his closest friends and family to watch the Canadian Football League draft this past Tuesday. His roommate and teammate, linebacker Arto Khatchikian, also joined the party, mostly in support of his teammate.
Charland expected to go to Winnipeg or Hamilton after, he says, they showed the most interest in him before the draft. Khatchikian didn’t expect to be called at all. The Ottawa Redblacks had called him the day before, but the third-year History major didn’t get his hopes up.
“I was mostly there at the party for [Mikael], supporting and encouraging him in Gatineau,” he said. “I knew I had potential [to go] to the CFL however I didn’t really talk to many teams.”
By the end of the night, both were among a total of three players from the Concordia Stingers football team who had their names called by teams at the 2016 Canadian Football League draft Tuesday night.
Alongside offensive tackle Roman Grozman who was selected in the fourth round by the Calgary Stampeders, both Charland and Khatchikian were selected by the Ottawa Redblacks in the second and seventh round respectively.
“It’s crazy for Arto because we were all surprised. We didn’t really expect to hear his name come out,” said Charland. “Especially that he’s been my roommate and he’s coming to Ottawa with me which is a very nice surprise.”
Charland was the 16th player drafted on Tuesday and it’s a homecoming of sorts for the fourth-year Human Environment student. In addition to being born and raised in Gatineau, he played high school ball in the area was recruited to Concordia from CEGEP Outaouais.
“It’s definitely a good feeling to come back home and to be able to play for the same people that were watching you back in my CEGEP and even in high school,” said Charland. “It’s extra motivation to play even harder for me and to show that people from Gatineau are good at football.”
On the phone, general manager Marcel Desjardins told Charland he would be part of the special teams unit.
“It’s good to see that I got a little insight to see that they wanted me on the special team right away,” said Charland.
Later in the draft, it was Roman Grozman’s turn to be called by a CFL team. The Tel-Aviv, Israel native will join the Calgary Stampeders who drafted him with the 33rd overall pick in the fourth round. Unlike Charland and Khatchikian, Grozman watched the CFL draft with his family and friends from home in Toronto.
“I’m just happy I got drafted,” he said. “Calgary, I’ve only heard great things about it and so far from the time I’ve been a member, it’s been great, it’s been very welcoming.”
Grozman will join former Stingers such as linebacker Max Caron, kicker Rene Paredes, and a close friend in offensive lineman Quinn Smith.
“When [Quinn] was playing here at Concordia we were very tight,” he said.
“I’m very happy for Roman who is going to Calgary with Quinn [Smith], which was one of his good friends when he was here,” said Charland. “I think he is going to do good over there and wish him all the best.”
Three rounds later, Khatchikian was drafted with the 54th selection of the night. Ottawa had traded with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in order to get this pick.
In Charland’s final season with the Stingers, he recorded three interceptions and 46.5 total tackles, while Khatchikian recorded two sacks and 37.5 total tackles. Grozman at one point was predicted to be as a first round pick before falling to the fourth round.
