Raymond Fontaine
Encyclopedia
Raymond Fontaine is a professional Canadian football
linebacker
who most recently played for the Montreal Alouettes
of the Canadian Football League
. He was drafted by the Argonauts in the second round of the 2005 CFL Draft
. He played college football
for the Kentucky Wildcats
.
, Ontario
. For eight years he played junior football
with the Myers Riders, the same club team as Jesse Palmer
and Pat Woodcock
.
, Fontaine was redshirted
. In 2002, as a redshirt freshman, Fontaine played in all of Kentucky's 12 games while playing defensive end
. He recorded nine tackles
. Fontaine played in 11 games as a sophomore in 2003 recording 33 tackles. He recorded a career high six tackles against Louisville
and Ohio
. During his junior season in 2004 at Kentucky, Fontaine played in 11 games and started three at linebacker
. For the second straight season he recorded 33 tackles and added one sack
. As a senior in 2005, he played in 11 games, recording 19 tackles. Fontaine also added two blocked kicks for the first time in his career.
in the second round of the 2005 CFL Draft
but re-joined Kentucky for his senior season. He signed with Toronto on May 17, 2006. As a rookie, Fontaine played in all 18 games and made appearances at special teams and linebacker
. He led the Argonauts and was second in the CFL in special teams tackles with 23. In his debut on July 6, 2006, he dressed as the backup linebacker and made appearances on special teams. He recorded his first defensive tackle in week 6, where he was in the game in third down and goal line situations. Against Calgary
he led all players with three tackles. During the 2006 playoffs he appeared mainly on special teams, recording two tackles in the East Championship game against the Montreal Alouettes
. After the season he was named the Argonauts rookie of the year.
In 2007
, Fontaine played in 16 of 18 games for Toronto, mainly as a backup defensive end
and special teams. He finished second on the team in special teams tackles with 18. Although he was transferred from linebacker to defensive end during training camp
he appeared at middle linebacker in place of Mike O'Shea in week 6 against Winnipeg
. In week 17 at Winnipeg he arguably had his best special teams game recording, a blocked punt and a forced fumble both returned for touchdowns. After his performance he was named CFL Special Teams Player of the Week.
Fontaine recorded his stat of 2008
in week 2 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
, getting one special teams tackle. In week 6 against Saskatchewan
, Fontaine recorded one big tackle in the open field, and then against Hamilton in week 7 he recorded two special teams tackles. He recorded his first defensive tackle of the season in week 8.
On September 1, 2010, Fontaine was released by the Argonauts.
during that same season, culminating in a win in the 98th Grey Cup
.
in the Alberta
oil fields.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who most recently played for the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He was drafted by the Argonauts in the second round of the 2005 CFL Draft
2005 CFL Draft
-Round one:-Round two:-Round Three:-Round Four:-Round Five:-Round Six:...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
.
Early years
Fontaine was born on September 1, 1980, in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. For eight years he played junior football
Junior football
The term junior football could be used to refer to the following:*Football played at the junior level, such as under the auspices of the Scottish Junior Football Association*Football played in the Scottish Junior Football League...
with the Myers Riders, the same club team as Jesse Palmer
Jesse Palmer
Jesse James Palmer is a Canadian-born sports commentator and former college and professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for four seasons in the early 2000s...
and Pat Woodcock
Pat Woodcock
Patrick Ian Woodcock is a Canadian football wide receiver who is currently a free agent.Woodcock attended American College at Syracuse University between 1997 and 2000 and he attended Holy Trinity Catholic High School, which is located in Kanata, Ontario...
.
College career
As a true freshman at KentuckyKentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
, Fontaine was redshirted
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
. In 2002, as a redshirt freshman, Fontaine played in all of Kentucky's 12 games while playing defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
. He recorded nine tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
. Fontaine played in 11 games as a sophomore in 2003 recording 33 tackles. He recorded a career high six tackles against Louisville
Louisville Cardinals football
The Louisville Cardinals football team represents the University of Louisville in college football as a member of the Big East Conference. Howard Schnellenberger started the program's rise to relevancy after winning the Miami Hurricanes' first national championship...
and Ohio
Ohio Bobcats football
The Ohio Bobcats football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Ohio University. The team represents the university as a member of the Mid-American Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 Bowl Subdivision level...
. During his junior season in 2004 at Kentucky, Fontaine played in 11 games and started three at linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. For the second straight season he recorded 33 tackles and added one sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. As a senior in 2005, he played in 11 games, recording 19 tackles. Fontaine also added two blocked kicks for the first time in his career.
Toronto Argonauts
Fontaine was drafted by the Toronto ArgonautsToronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
in the second round of the 2005 CFL Draft
2005 CFL Draft
-Round one:-Round two:-Round Three:-Round Four:-Round Five:-Round Six:...
but re-joined Kentucky for his senior season. He signed with Toronto on May 17, 2006. As a rookie, Fontaine played in all 18 games and made appearances at special teams and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He led the Argonauts and was second in the CFL in special teams tackles with 23. In his debut on July 6, 2006, he dressed as the backup linebacker and made appearances on special teams. He recorded his first defensive tackle in week 6, where he was in the game in third down and goal line situations. Against Calgary
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
he led all players with three tackles. During the 2006 playoffs he appeared mainly on special teams, recording two tackles in the East Championship game against the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
. After the season he was named the Argonauts rookie of the year.
In 2007
2007 CFL season
The 2007 CFL season was the 54th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 50th season of the league, and many special events were held to commemorate the event. Regular-season play began on June 28, 2007 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario and concluded on...
, Fontaine played in 16 of 18 games for Toronto, mainly as a backup defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
and special teams. He finished second on the team in special teams tackles with 18. Although he was transferred from linebacker to defensive end during training camp
Training camp
A training camp is a place, usually with an army-camp-type environment, where people go to learn skills, usually skills involving physical action rather than book subjects, usually for an armed force or an action sport...
he appeared at middle linebacker in place of Mike O'Shea in week 6 against Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
. In week 17 at Winnipeg he arguably had his best special teams game recording, a blocked punt and a forced fumble both returned for touchdowns. After his performance he was named CFL Special Teams Player of the Week.
Fontaine recorded his stat of 2008
2008 CFL season
The 2008 CFL season was the 55th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 51st season for the league. It was also the first CFL season in which all of the league's regular season and post-season games, including the Grey Cup game, were aired on TSN. This meant the CFL...
in week 2 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
, getting one special teams tackle. In week 6 against Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
, Fontaine recorded one big tackle in the open field, and then against Hamilton in week 7 he recorded two special teams tackles. He recorded his first defensive tackle of the season in week 8.
On September 1, 2010, Fontaine was released by the Argonauts.
Montreal Alouettes
Fontaine was later signed with the Montreal AlouettesMontreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
during that same season, culminating in a win in the 98th Grey Cup
98th Grey Cup
The 98th Grey Cup was a Canadian football game played between the Eastern Division champion Montreal Alouettes and Western Division champion Saskatchewan Roughriders to decide the champion of the Canadian Football League for the 2010 season...
.
Personal
During the offseason, Fontaine holds a job as a roughneckRoughneck
Roughneck is a slang term for a person whose occupation is hard-manual labour, typically in a dangerous working environment. The term applies across a number of industries, but is most commonly associated with oil rigs...
in the Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
oil fields.