Hec Crighton Trophy

The Hec Crighton Trophy (sometimes referred to as the Hec Crighton Award) is awarded annually to the most outstanding Canadian football player in U Sports. The trophy is named after Hec Crighton who was a former teacher, coach, referee, and the author of the Official Football Rule Book as well as the U Sports Rule Book.^[1] It was first presented in 1967 by the board of directors of the Canadian College Bowl.^[2]

Hec Crighton Trophy

Sport	Canadian football
League	U Sports football
Awarded for	Most outstanding player in the league
History
First award	1967
First winner	Mike Eben, Toronto Varsity Blues
Most wins	Chris Flynn (3 times)
Most recent	Taylor Elgersma, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
Website	usports.ca

It is the Canadian equivalent to the American NCAA Heisman Trophy.

The Western Mustangs has produced the most Hec Crighton winners with seven as well as the most individual winners with six (Tim Tindale won the award twice). Chris Flynn has won the Hec Crighton Trophy three times, consecutively, while no other player has won the award more than twice.

Of the 27 active U Sports football programs, seven teams have not had a player win the award.

List of winners

Year	Winner	Pos	School
1967[1]	Mike Eben	Rec	Toronto Varsity Blues
1968[1]	Mike Raham	RB
1969[1]	Dave Fleiszer	FB	McGill Redmen
1970[1]	Paul Paddon	QB	Ottawa Gee-Gees
1971[1]	Mel Smith	Rec	Alberta Golden Bears
1972[1]	Andrew Parici	QB	Windsor Lancers
1973[1]	Dave Pickett		Saskatchewan Huskies
1974[1]	Al Charuk	FS	Acadia Axemen
1975[1]	Brian Fryer	Rec	Alberta Golden Bears
1976[1]	Bob Stracina	Rec/K	Acadia Axemen
1977[1]	Bob Cameron	QB/P/K
1978[1]	Jamie Bone	QB	Western Mustangs
1979[1]	Scott Mallender		Windsor Lancers
1980[1]	Greg Marshall	RB	Western Mustangs
1981[1]	Dan Feraday	QB	Toronto Varsity Blues
1982[1]	Rick Zmich		Ottawa Gee-Gees
1983[1]	Greg Vavra		Calgary Dinos
1984[1]	Phil Scarfone		McMaster Marauders
1985[1]	Larry Mohr	RB	Queen's Golden Gaels
1986[1]	Blake Marshall		Western Mustangs
1987[1]	Jordan Gagner	QB	UBC Thunderbirds
1988[1]	Chris Flynn		Saint Mary's Huskies
1989[1]
1990[1]
1991[1]	Tim Tindale	RB	Western Mustangs
1992[1]	Eugene Buccigrossi	QB	Toronto Varsity Blues
1993[1]	Tim Tindale	RB	Western Mustangs
1994[1]	Bill Kubas	QB	Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
1995[1]	Don Blair	Rec	Calgary Dinos
1996[1]	Éric Lapointe	RB	Mount Allison Mounties
1997[1]	Mark Nohra		UBC Thunderbirds
1998[1]	Éric Lapointe		Mount Allison Mounties
1999[1]	Phil Côté	QB	Ottawa Gee-Gees
2000[1]	Kojo Aidoo	RB	McMaster Marauders
2001[1]	Ben Chapdelaine	QB
2002[1]	Tommy Denison		Queen's Golden Gaels
2003[1]
2004[1]	Jesse Lumsden	RB	McMaster Marauders
2005[1]	Andy Fantuz	Rec	Western Mustangs
2006[1]	Daryl Stephenson	RB	Windsor Lancers
2007[1]	Erik Glavic	QB	Saint Mary's Huskies
2008[1]	Benoit Groulx		Laval Rouge et Or
2009[1]	Erik Glavic		Calgary Dinos
2010[1]	Brad Sinopoli		Ottawa Gee-Gees
2011[1]	Billy Greene		UBC Thunderbirds
2012[1]	Kyle Quinlan		McMaster Marauders
2013[1]	Jordan Heather		Bishop's Gaiters
2014[1]	Andrew Buckley		Calgary Dinos
2015[1]
2016[1]	Noah Picton		Regina Rams
2017[1]	Ed Ilnicki	RB	Alberta Golden Bears
2018[1]	Adam Sinagra	QB	Calgary Dinos
2019[1]	Chris Merchant		Western Mustangs
2021[1]	Tre Ford		Waterloo Warriors
2022[1]	Kevin Mital	WR	Laval Rouge et Or
2023[1]	Jonathan Sénécal	QB	Montreal Carabins
2024[1]	Taylor Elgersma		Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks

Trophies by team

School	Trophies
Western	7
Calgary	6
McMaster	5
Ottawa	4
Saint Mary's	4
Toronto	4
Windsor	3
Alberta	3
Acadia	3
Queen's	3
UBC	3
Laval	2
Mount Allison	2
Wilfrid Laurier	2
Bishop's	1
Regina	1
Saskatchewan	1
Waterloo	1
Montreal	1
McGill	1

Seven active teams have never had a player win the Hec Crighton Trophy: Carleton Ravens (OUA), Concordia Stingers (RSEQ), Guelph Gryphons (OUA) Manitoba Bisons (CanWest), Sherbrooke Vert-et-Or (RSEQ), St. Francis Xavier X-Men (AUS), and York Lions/Yeomen (OUA).

See also

• J. P. Metras Trophy
• Presidents' Trophy
• Peter Gorman Trophy
• Russ Jackson Award
• Jon Cornish Trophy – similar award presented to the top Canadian player in NCAA (American) football