By Serena Quinn
After wrapping up an incredible 2013 season that saw the Mustangs go undefeated in regular season play and hoist the 106th Yates Cup, veterans Lirim Hajrullahu and Pawel Kruba will be donning new team colours in 2014 as they take their places in the Canadian Football League.
Hajrullahu will be heading to the pro ranks as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, while Kruba will be staying a bit closer to home after signing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Hajrullahu finished his Mustangs career in style this past season, surpassing Ottawa’s Neil Lumsden as the CIS’ all-time leading scorer with 422 points over his five years with the purple and white. The senior from St. Catharines also set a new OUA mark with 77 career field goals, and tied the OUA single-season record with 22 field goals in 2013. For his efforts on the gridiron, Hajrullahu earned two spots as an OUA First Team All-Star, getting the nod at both punter and kicker, as well as earning CIS Second Team All-Canadian honours as a kicker.
During his time as a Mustang, Hajrullahu has cemented his name in the Western, OUA, and CIS record books, and helped the purple and white to two Yates Cup victories. He will be the second former Mustang on the Winnipeg roster as he joins offensive lineman Chris Greaves, who was drafted by the Blue Bombers as a defensive lineman in 2010.
Kruba becomes the third former Western player on the current Tiger-Cats roster, joining 2005 Hec Crighton winner Andy Fantuz, and defensive back Harold Mutobola.
The Windsor, Ont., native spent five years with the purple and white, finishing his Mustangs career on a high note this past season as he earned the President’s Trophy as the CIS defensive player of the year. A two-time OUA All-Star, Kruba earned CIS First-Team All-Canadian honours in 2013 after a campaign that saw him record 38 tackles, including 29 solo, one forced fumble, and three interceptions (including one that was returned for a touchdown). Over his entire CIS career, Kruba racked up 116 total tackles, 44 tackles for loss, and five interceptions.
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