HAMILTON – The Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum’s Class of 2020 features four legends from the Canadian Football League, a record-setting university quarterback and a foundational program-builder.
To be inducted under the Player category are offensive linemen Clyde Brock and Freddie Childress, and quarterbacks Henry Burris and Greg Vavra. In the Builder category, former Calgary Stampeders Head Coach and current President and General Manager, John Hufnagel, as well as, former Saint Mary’s University coach and Athletic Director, Larry Uteck (posthumously), will be inducted.
“I would like to thank the Selection Committee for their commitment and dedication in selecting a truly deserving class,” said Mark DeNobile, Executive Director of the CFHOF. “Like the classes which have come before them, this year’s inductees showcase the best of our game and we are very pleased to see significant representation from throughout the storied history of Canadian football.”
“On behalf of the CFL and our fans, congratulations to the six gentlemen who make up the Class of 2020. They have left an incredible lasting legacy on our great game, inspiring generations of young people and players to strive for the greatness they achieved,” added CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie.
The inclusion of the Class of 2020 brings the total number of Hall of Fame members to 309. Due to concerns involving the COVID-19 pandemic, the CFHOF enshrinement ceremony previously planned for August 14 and the Hall of Fame Game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Ottawa REDBLACKS on August 15 have been postponed.
“This was a difficult, but necessary decision – the health and safety of our Hall of Famers, fans and staff remain our top priority. We look forward to recognizing and celebrating the Class of 2020 alongside our 2021 inductees in a special event next August,” DeNobile added.
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame operates as a non-profit registered charity. Located in Hamilton, Ont., since 1963, it is home to the Zone of Champions which features a bust of each of its 309 members, as well as, more than 80,000 Canadian football artifacts, ranging from equipment and trophies to photos and videos. The Hall relocated to Tim Hortons Field in 2018. Additional information can be found at CFHOF.ca.
2020 CANADIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES:
Brock spent 12 seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as an offensive tackle from 1964 to 1975, playing in 169 regular season games, 27 playoff matches and four Grey Cups. He was selected as a CFL All-Star from 1966 to 1969 and was named a Division All-Star from 1965 to 1969.
Brock was a member of the Roughriders’ first-ever Grey Cup-winning team in 1966 and was inducted into Saskatchewan’s Plaza of Honour in 1995. He was endorsed for induction into the CFHOF by the Veterans’ Committee.
Burris played 18 seasons in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders, the Roughriders, the Tiger-Cats and the REDBLACKS, totaling 277 regular season games and 17 playoff contests. He is a two-time CFL All-Star and was named a Division All-Star on four occasions. In 2015, he was honoured with the Tom Pate Memorial Award for outstanding sportsmanship and dedication to the league and the community.
He played in five Grey Cups and emerged victorious on three occasions (1998 and 2008 with Calgary and 2016 with Ottawa), earning Grey Cup Most Valuable Player twice (2008 and 2016). He was recognized as the league’s Most Outstanding Player in 2010 and 2015. Burris retired with 63,639 passing yards to rank third in CFL history, as well as, 373 touchdown passes and a passer efficiency rating of 93.6.
Childress played with the Shreveport Pirates, the Birmingham Barracudas, the Stampeders and the Roughriders across 13 seasons, appearing in 185 regular season games, 14 playoff matches and three Grey Cups.
He is a two-time Grey Cup champion with Calgary (1998 and 2001), a six-time Division All-Star and was named a CFL All-Star on three occasions (1996 to 1998). In 1998, he was recognized as the league’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
After 12 years as a quarterback with three teams, Hufnagel began a coaching career that spanned 15 years and culminated in a seven-year tenure as the Head Coach of Calgary. He holds a regular season head coaching record of 102-41-1 and a winning percentage of .712 – the highest mark among coaches with more than 100 games. He captured the Grey Cup five times, including once as a player (1984), once as an Assistant Coach (1992), twice as a Head Coach (2008 and 2014) and three times as a GM (2008, 2014 and 2018). He was twice named the recipient of the Annis Stukus Award as the CFL’s Coach of the year (2008 and 2014). Hufnagel was named the Stampeders’ President and General Manager in 2016 and still holds the positions.
Uteck served as an Assistant coach at Saint Mary’s University in 1982, before being named Head Coach the following year – a position he held until 1997. He was a five-time Atlantic University Athletic Association (AUAA) Coach of the Year and a two-time Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU) Coach of the Year. During his tenure, the team captured seven AUAA titles, three Atlantic Bowls (1988, 1990 and 1992) and appeared in three Vanier Cups.
As Athletic Director from 1995-2002, Uteck’s Huskies claimed two Vanier Cups (2001 and 2002) and won four (1999 to 2004) of an eventual six consecutive Atlantic University Sport conference championships. Uteck passed away in 2002. The Atlantic Bowl was renamed the Uteck Bowl in 2003.
Vavra played five seasons at quarterback with the University of Calgary Dinos (1979 to 1983), winning the Vanier Cup in his final year. In 1983, the All-Canadian also became the first Dino to win the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in Canadian University football. He still holds the CIAU – now U SPORTS – single-game record for passing yards (627).
He was named Canada West Player of the year in 1982 and 1983. In his college career, he totaled 8,401 passing yards, 63 touchdown passes and a 50.9 completion rate. Vavra was drafted by Calgary and went on to play 55 regular season games with three teams.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
