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Lee, Lyons among names called at CFL draft

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since Malcolm Lee wore three hats for the St. Thomas More Knights’ varsity football team.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since Malcolm Lee wore three hats for the St. Thomas More Knights’ varsity football team.

A dominating force during his high school years, which ended with the 2013 season, Lee was preparing for a new path at the beginning of this month, projected to be a second round pick in the Canadian Football League draft.

But days before last week's draft news emerged that he, along with a fellow UBC teammate, had tested positive for a banned substance, causing Lee to fall down the ranks before the Calgary Stampeders grabbed him with the 46th overall pick.

By opting in to this year’s draft after the failed test, Lee agreed to undergo a second test. If it shows a similar result for the banned substance, the 22-year-old would be handed a one-year suspension.

The son of CFL legend Orville Lee, who was a product of Simon Fraser University, the younger Lee was a dominating defensive back on the Canada West circuit since transferring back home after red-shirting as a freshman at the University of Nevada.

The six-foot-two, 200-pound defender racked up 19 solo tackles and an interception in his senior season at UBC.

While with the Knights, Lee was named to the provincial all-star team as a senior, in a season where the all-star receiver filled in both at running back and quarterback job due to injuries.

Lee and Stavros Katsantonis, who withdrew his name from draft eligility, were mainstays with the T-birds over the past four years.

Both tested positive for Ligandrol, a banned substance by the CFL that is considered to be treatment for conditions like osteoporosis.

A member of UBC’s 2015 Vanier Cup champions, Lee was the final selection of the fifth round by the Stampeders.

Simon Fraser University’s Brad Lyons, meanwhile, was chosen 60th overall, in the seventh round, by the B.C. Lions. A defensive lineman, Lyons established himself as a dominating figure with the Clan.

The Terry Fox alumnus completed his senior season with 21 tackles in nine games. Lyons registered five tackles for a loss and three sacks. He was a three-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Conference Honourable Mention.

The 6-3, 250-pound Lyons transferred to SFU from South Dakota State and played three seasons for SFU, wrapping up his career with 52 solo tackles, 90 tackles, 28 tackles for a loss and 13 sacks in 28 games.