Music: {allcanada} Proulx named referee for Grey Cup game

Saturday, November 26, 2011

{allcanada} Proulx named referee for Grey Cup game

VANCOUVER - Veteran Andre Proulx will be the referee for the Grey Cup game Sunday between the B.C. Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The CFL made the announcement Thursday.

Proulx, a 14-year veteran, will make his fourth Grey Cup appearance and second as a referee. The resident of Drummondville, Que., has appeared in 249 career CFL games as well as Grey Cups in 2001 (side judge), 2004 (referee) and 2010 (alternate).

Proulx's crew will include umpire Bill Hagans, head linesman Don Cousens, line judge Michel Pinsonneault, side judge Dave Gatza, back judge Don Carmichael and field judge Bryan Taylor. Jeff Harbin and Al Bradbury will serve as alternates while the replay officials will be Jake Ireland and Alan McColman.

According to the CFL, this group of officials was the league's highest-rated crew this season.

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LIKES BEING DISLIKED: When game time arrives, B.C. Lions defensive back Korey Banks has no friends, not even on his own team.

"I don't like anybody,'' Banks said Thursday as the Lions prepared to face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup on Sunday. "I don't like my teammates, coaches, the media.

"When that time of the day hits, I might not like them at that moment. It's a good thing. It's the edge I play with.''

Banks made a big play in the Lions' 40-23 West Division final win over the Edmonton Eskimos. He intercepted a Ricky Ray pass and returned it 46 yards to the Edmonton 10-yard line, setting up B.C.'s second touchdown in a span of 2:26 that allowed the home team to take over the game.

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BROTHERLY LOVE: The Grey Cup game will be a family affair for brothers Henoc and Cauchy Muamba.

Henoc Muamba, 22, is a rookie linebacker and special-teams performer with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers while Cauchy Muamba, 24, is a second-year safety and special-teams player with the B.C. Lions.

It will mark the first time the two brothers have faced each other in the CFL. Winnipeg played B.C. twice earlier this season, but Henoc Muamba spent the first half of the campaign on the injured list.