As the third week of training camp kicks off for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the team continues to seek players who can enhance their performance in key positions. The Tiger-Cats have announced the signing of National defensive lineman David Menard and global punter Nik Constantinou, while releasing American defensive lineman Jarrod Hewitt. The addition of Menard and Constantinou aims to bolster the depth and productivity in crucial areas.
Defensive lineman David Menard, standing at 6’1″ and weighing 259 pounds, hails from Chicoutimi, Quebec. He played U Sports football at the University of Montreal. Menard joins the Tiger-Cats after being released by the BC Lions on May 2nd. The seasoned CFL defensive lineman was initially drafted by the BC Lions in the fourth round of the 2014 CFL Draft.
Menard began his CFL journey with the BC Lions from 2016 to 2018, appearing in 58 games and recording 30 tackles and 9.0 quarterback sacks. In 2020, Menard signed with the Montreal Alouettes, where he played 14 games in 2021, tallying 18 tackles and 8.0 quarterback sacks. He returned to the BC Lions from 2022 to 2023, playing in 36 games and registering 31 tackles and 12 quarterback sacks. Menard earned CFL East All-Star honors and received the Law Hayman Trophy in 2021.
Nik Constantinou, a 6’3″, 225-pound punter from Melbourne, Australia, is the newest member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Before joining the CFL, Constantinou had a brief stint with the Denver Broncos. He played college football at Texas A&M from 2019 to 2023, where he demonstrated his punting prowess in 48 games. The Australian native punted 101 times for 8,126 yards, averaging 42.5 yards per punt, with a longest punt of 65 yards and placing the ball inside the 20-yard line 76 times. His precision and ability to control field position will be a valuable asset for the Tiger-Cats.
