DAN’S THE MAN: Dan McCullough, a former Fredericton High School Black Kats and Bishop University Gaiters standout, has made the 46-man roster of the Canadian Football League’s B.C. Lions.

Former CAMFA Player Dan McCullough makes CFL's B.C. Lions

The British Columbia Lions will announce the team's 46-man roster for the 2008 Canadian Football League season today and Fredericton's Dan McCullough will make the grade.

McCullough, a graduate of Bishop's University and a product of the Fredericton High School Black Kats, was competing with veteran Tyson Craiggs for the long-snap position on the team.

The Lions released Craiggs this week after McCullough was getting the majority of long snaps in practice, the Vancouver Province reported.

And two members of the Lions staff confirmed Friday that the 25-year-old McCullough will be the team's long snapper for the 2008 campaign that begins next week.

Earlier this week, the Province newspaper reported that Craiggs had a feeling he had fallen behind in the battle and wanted to know from head coach Wally Buono what his fate was.

When he got it in a face-to-face talk with the coach, he decided his time with the Lions was over.

"He wanted to know where he stood, so we told him," said Buono. Craiggs wasn't at a walk-through Wednesday and Buono said he would try to trade him but he was ultimately released.

McCullough, a six-foot-three, 245-pound defensive lineman, spent half the season last year with the Lions on the practice squad before returning for his fifth and final season at Bishop's.

He worked out hard during the off season and now, his CFL dream will come true.

The long-snapping position is a speciality role but given the amount of kicking and special teams activity in the CFL, McCullough could be a busy man.

Thursday, B.C. defeated the Calgary Stampeders 39-35 in the final CFL exhibition game for both clubs.

Below: 1997 Fredericton Bantam Red Dogs- Dan McCullough #52