Kristen Odland
Calgary Herald

Growing up in Drummondville, Que., football wasn’t exactly a guy’s main sport of choice.

But Yannick Morin-Plante went against the norm and found himself with the University of Laval Rouge Et Or, winning two Vanier Cups, and eventually making his way into the Canadian Football League draft this spring.

“Yeah, there is a lot of football (in the area), but it’s not a big football city,” the 23-year-old was saying at McMahon Stadium on Monday. “It’s more hockey down there. That’s why I went to Quebec (City) to play football. I’m the only one from Drummondville to play professional, so it’s nice. I grew up watching the Alouettes and the NFL on TV, too.”

The third-round Calgary Stampeders draft pick finds himself far away from home in his first professional football training camp, learning an English-playbook and hanging out in an English-speaking locker-room – all big adjustments for the six-foot, 200-pound rookie receiver.

With long-snapper and Montreal native Randy Chevrier acting as the unofficial buffer, Morin-Plante can ask questions of a handful of other French-speaking players such as receiver Jabari Arthur, and Etienne Lagare, who also went to Laval.

All of which has been making the transition relatively smooth.

“I think it’s going pretty well,” said Morin-Plante who was forced out of his first language earlier at this year’s CFL combine and the CIS’s East/West Bowl in 2012. “I have a lot to learn yet, but I think it’s been going pretty well. I have to make small adjustments on the routes I have to do. I have to learn to play faster and adjust my routes when I see something on the field.

“They play fast, they play hard. So, I have to play faster than them if I want to stand out to the coaches and have a place here. It’s great a competition.”

And, for the most part, everyone speaks the same language on the field.

“It’s not strange because football terms are the same in French and in English,” said Morin-Plante, who played his CEGEP football in Victoriaville. “So when I’m in football, it’s all right. But when I have to talk to the guys about something else, it’s kind of difficult.

“It’s not the first time, but it doesn’t happen very often. But, like I said, same terms, same concepts. It’s not really a big deal for me. English or French.”

Which seems to be working for him.

A versatile body which can be used on special teams in addition to his Canadian passport, Morin-Plante’s game is all about speed. At the 2013 CFL combine, he clocked the third-best time in the 40-yard dash in 4.534 seconds.

Upon watching his film from Laval – where he made 48 catches for 560 yards in four seasons – Stampeders receivers coach Pete Costanza could see his athleticism and speed. And, although his CIS numbers indicated he didn’t have a lot of opportunities, he was still producing with the ones he was given.

“Yannick is all business,” Costanza said. “He’s very professional in the meetings. Takes great notes. Asks a lot of questions. His English is fine. We have no problem communicating with him what we need to do and him understanding it. And when he has made a mistake, he’s the type of kid that he makes it once and corrects it.

“It’s a big transition from CIS to CFL camp … like a lot of other young guys, it’s catching up to the speed of the pro game as opposed to the college game.”

Morin-Plante gave them a reason to consider him, though, in Sunday’s Red/White game where he caught a touchdown pass from Kevin Glenn (which was later blown down).

They’ll see more of him in Friday’s exhibition game against the B.C. Lions as well as the other Canadian receivers fighting for the vacancy left by the injured Johnny Forzani. With Chris Bauman out of the picture for a chunk of time with a broken wrist, Morin-Plante is up against Anthony Parker, Brad Sinopoli, and Arthur – a battle he’s aware of, but trying not to concern himself with.

“To be honest, I don’t really think about it,” he said. “I just want to come here and give all I can give to make sure the coach notices me. I’m not checking on the Internet to see who’s injured or what the depth of the roster is.

“I just come here and play football and do my best. I think it’s the best way for me to get noticed.”