HEART AND SOUL: Redblack’s DB Antoine Pruneau retires

1. Ottawa Redblacks
2. soccer
3. CFL

Antoine Pruneau Picture through Tony Caldwell/Postmedia

Former Ottawa Redblacks head educator Rick Campbell as soon as mentioned of soccer buzz noticed Antoine Pruneau, “You need to short off his proper arm and he’d be like, ‘Let’s journey, I’m in a position.’ “

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That used to be in a nutshell on the Pruneau soccer farmland. The Redblacks introduced Thursday that the 33-year-old is retiring, retiring from an eight-year CFL profession that incorporated 3 Grey Cup appearances, one Grey Cup win and enough quantity of fearless tossing his frame into the whole thing that comes up moved within the farmland.

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It used to be Pruneau’s tenacity that at all times stood out, his want to be excellent and to be excellent for his workforce. It used to be his ball-to-the-wall enjoying taste that still thrashed him maximum of 2018-21. Accidents like a damaged fibula, torn labrums, a small crack within the neck, damaged fingers – the record used to be lengthy. Once in a while he performed injured, there have been no lawsuits. No self pity. He simply went out and did his activity. He used to be the center and soul of the workforce. When the workforce gained, he celebrated. When the workforce misplaced, he used to be enraged and annoyed. There used to be no blame, he checked out himself within the reflect and mentioned, ‘What could I have done better.’ An actual workforce man.

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“Not only did he give his all at all times, he played with extreme discipline and extreme intelligence,” mentioned Bob Dyce, Redblacks head educator, who become the Redblacks particular groups coordinator in 2016. “His strength was really his discipline and he took it as a personal struggle to always win his 1v1 matches. He continued to do that until last year.”

Pruneau used to be an OG, an latest Redblack who used to be decided on fourth total within the 2014 CFL Draft. His taste off and on the farmland endeared the chief of the workforce’s “French Mafia” to Ottawa’s soccer enthusiasts, nation, teammates and coaches.

“I’m trying to use positively the memories we’ve built together over the seven years that I’ve coached him,” Dyce mentioned. “Then you get to a point where it’s a little bit selfish; That’s the point where I get sad that I won’t see him every day. He brought such passion to the building and the pitch – it’s very difficult to replace. He really bled Redblacks. You can’t have a great career like Antoine if you aren’t invested in all aspects. That’s why he was such a great professional.”

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Pruneau ended his CFL profession because the Redblacks’ all-time chief in video games performed (122) and 448 general tackles (374 on protection and 74 on particular groups), plus 10 interceptions, 4 sacks and 4 pressured fumbles. Upcoming shedding his position as foundation protection and in a lesser position within the 2022 season, enjoying most commonly particular groups, Pruneau performed all 18 video games. He had 18 defensive tackles and 13 extra on particular groups.

“Antoine was what you would call a standard bearer,” Dyce mentioned. “It would be very difficult for any starter to say they are too tired to play against special teams when they see the level Antoine played in free safety and then went on as one of the most dominant players on our cover teams has. Such types are few and far between. We certainly have a challenge replacing him.”

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Supply: ottawasun.com