Brock Gowanlock couldnB次元官网网址檛 help but reflect a little B次元官网网址� but only a little B次元官网网址� as he prepared for his Canadian Football League debut when his Montr茅al Alouettes took on the Calgary Stampeders last Thursday.

B次元官网网址淥n the bus ride over, it hit me and stuff,B次元官网网址� the Duncan product and rookie defensive end said. B次元官网网址淚t was something I had thought about for a long time. But at the end of the day, you canB次元官网网址檛 overthink it. ItB次元官网网址檚 another football game. IB次元官网网址檝e been through training camp with most of these guys a couple of times. At the end of the day, youB次元官网网址檝e still got a job to do.B次元官网网址�

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Gowanlock got into the AlouettesB次元官网网址� 30-27 Week 1 loss on the kickoff, punt and kickoff return teams, and was credited with one special teams tackle in his first regular-season game.

B次元官网网址淭hey had me in the rotation for the D line, but the guys who played stayed pretty fresh,B次元官网网址� he noted. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of special teams in the CFL, so I still got about 30 plays.B次元官网网址�

It was B次元官网网址渟weetB次元官网网址� for Gowanlock to make his CFL debut in Calgary, where his mom, Janice, grew up, and where he had played many games with the University of Manitoba Bisons against the University of Calgary Dinos. Both of his parents and his brother Brendan were in the stands, as well as many members of his momB次元官网网址檚 extended family.

B次元官网网址淚t felt good,B次元官网网址� Gowanlock said. B次元官网网址淚t was a proud moment.B次元官网网址�

A 66th-overall draft pick of the Als in 2020, Gowanlock attended camp last season, and when he didnB次元官网网址檛 make the team, he returned to the U of M for his final season. In eight games with the Bisons, he had 38 tackles, including 5.5 for losses, four sacks, and three recovered fumbles. He was named the Canada West Outstanding Lineman and a second-team All-Canadian last fall, and in April he was named the U of MB次元官网网址檚 Male Athlete of the Year.

B次元官网网址淚t was cool, for sure. It would have been a lot nicer to win a national championship with the team,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never been much about individual awards, but it was definitely an honour to receive that award.B次元官网网址�

Gowanlock signed with the Als just before Christmas, but still had to make the team out of camp, something he may have locked up with his performance in the teamB次元官网网址檚 second preseason game against Ottawa, as he posted three tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery that he returned 44 yards.

Unfortunately, the Als donB次元官网网址檛 visit the BC Lions this season, so Gowanlock will have to wait until at least 2023 to play in front of a home-province crowd.

B次元官网网址淭hat would have been so awesome to go back home, but it is what it is,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淸The Alouettes] didnB次元官网网址檛 play [in Vancouver] last year, either, so we will probably play there next year. That will be a nice homecoming.B次元官网网址�

Gowanlock grew up playing minor football for the Cowichan Bulldogs and rugby for the Cowichan Piggies and Cowichan Secondary Thunderbirds, and he hasnB次元官网网址檛 forgotten his roots.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of guys from the Cowichan program congratulated me, so thanks to all of them,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 playing this year with the pride of Cowichan and looking forward to getting back there in the offseason.B次元官网网址�