WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Acadia University's Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the addition of Axemen football's Bailey Feltmate to this past year's U SPORTS All-Canadian list.

The late addition of Feltmate comes from the disqualification of another athlete due to a positive doping infraction reported by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) back in January.  It is U SPORTS policy that Major Award winners or All-Canadians who test positive for a banned substance as a result of CCES drug test must relinquish their awards.

The award changes are being made public now following the conclusion of U SPORTS' process to determine new winners for their national awards.

Feltmate, a second-year linebacker for the Acadia Axemen, was the 2017 AUS Defensive Player of the Year. From Moncton, N.B., Feltmate led the AUS in tackles with 44 solo and 29 assisted tackles and finished fourth in U SPORTS.

"I was ecstatic at the fact that I was named as a second-team All-Canadian because this was my goal for the past year and now here it is coming true. At first, I was a little confused and shocked yet so extremely excited. It was apart of my personal goals from day one of my second season. I tried my hardest to be the best teammate I could be to a great group of guys. Receiving the news was exciting but very humbling and I am now looking forward to pushing for more this coming season. Without my amazing teammates and coaches I wouldn't even have the opportunity to be apart of the All-Canadian team," said Feltmate.

Axemen head coach Jeff Cummins was thrilled with the news, knowing Feltmate was very deserving of the recognition as All-Canadian.

"Bailey being recognized as an all Canadian is fantastic for him as he deserves it and has worked very hard to become a well-rounded Linebacker. He is a leader on our defense and will be counted on to command our defense for the rest of his Acadia career," noted Cummins. 

"Bailey is a double All-Canadian as he also attained Academic all Canadian status. He is a great player and a great student-athlete and sits among many great former Axemen how attained All-Canadian status," added Cummins.

The Axemen open football game on August 12 and will take on StFX in exhibition play on Saturday, August 18 before starting the regular AUS season on Friday, August 31 in Antigonish, N.S. versus StFX.