Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy

Last updated
Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy
Sport Canadian football
League Canadian Football League
Awarded for West Division's most outstanding player
CountryCanada
History
First award1946 (1946)
Editions74
Most wins7: Jackie Parker
Most recent Brady Oliveira (WPG)
Website 

The Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy is a trophy awarded to the Canadian Football League West Division's most outstanding player, chosen from the nominees from each team in the division. Either this trophy winner or the winner of the Terry Evanshen Trophy also receives the Canadian Football League Most Outstanding Player Award.

Contents

The Nicklin Memorial Trophy was donated to the Western Interprovincial Football Union in 1946 by the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, in memory of their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Jeff Nicklin, who was killed in action on March 24, 1945. Nicklin was known as an outstanding defensive end for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before he entered military service.

When first donated, the trophy was awarded annually to the player in the Western Division considered to be the most valuable to his team. [1] Since 1973, the trophy is awarded to the Most Outstanding Player of the West Division. As part of the failed American expansion in 1995, the trophy was awarded to the Most Outstanding Player of the North Division.

Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy winners (1946–1972)

YearPlayerPositionTeam
Jeff Nickln Memorial Trophy winners (1946—1972)
1946 Bill Wusyk Wide receiver Calgary Stampeders
1947 Bob Sandberg Running back Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1948 Keith Spaith Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
1949 Keith Spaith Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
1950 Lindy Berry Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1951 Glenn Dobbs Quarterback Saskatchewan Roughriders
1952 Jack Jacobs Quarterback Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1953 John Henry Johnson Running back Calgary Stampeders
1954 Jackie Parker Running back Edmonton Eskimos
1955 Ken Carpenter Running back Saskatchewan Roughriders
1956 Jackie Parker Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1957 Jackie Parker Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1958 Jackie Parker Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1959 Jackie Parker Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1960 Jackie Parker Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1961 Jackie Parker Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1962 Eagle Day Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
1963 Joe Kapp Quarterback BC Lions
1964 Tom Brown Linebacker BC Lions
1965 George Reed Running back Saskatchewan Roughriders
1966 Ron Lancaster Quarterback Saskatchewan Roughriders
1967 Peter Liske Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
1968 Ron Lancaster Quarterback Saskatchewan Roughriders
1969 Ron Lancaster Quarterback Saskatchewan Roughriders
1970 Ron Lancaster Quarterback Saskatchewan Roughriders
1971 Don Jonas Quarterback Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1972 Mack Herron Running back Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy winners (1973–present)

Bold indicates a player who went on to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award

YearPlayerPositionTeam
Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy winners (1973—present)
1973 George McGowan Wide receiver Edmonton Eskimos
1974 Tom Wilkinson Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1975 Willie Burden Running back Calgary Stampeders
1976 Ron Lancaster Quarterback Saskatchewan Roughriders
1977 Jerry Tagge Quarterback BC Lions
1978 Tom Wilkinson Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1979 Waddell Smith Wide receiver Edmonton Eskimos
1980 Dieter Brock Quarterback Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1981 Dieter Brock Quarterback Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1982 Tom Scott Slotback Edmonton Eskimos
1983 Warren Moon Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1984 Willard Reaves Running back Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1985 Mervyn Fernandez Wide receiver BC Lions
1986 James Murphy Wide receiver Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1987 Brian Kelly Wide receiver Edmonton Eskimos
1988 David Williams Wide receiver BC Lions
1989 Tracy Ham Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1990 Craig Ellis Slotback Edmonton Eskimos
1991 Doug Flutie Quarterback BC Lions
1992 Doug Flutie Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
1993 Doug Flutie Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
1994 Doug Flutie Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
1995 Dave Sapunjis Slotback Calgary Stampeders
1996 Robert Mimbs Running back Saskatchewan Roughriders
1997 Jeff Garcia Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
1998 Kelvin Anderson Running back Calgary Stampeders
1999 Allen Pitts Slotback Calgary Stampeders
2000 Dave Dickenson Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
2001 Kelvin Anderson Running back Calgary Stampeders
2002 Milt Stegall Slotback Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2003 Dave Dickenson Quarterback BC Lions
2004 Casey Printers Quarterback BC Lions
2005 Corey Holmes Running back Saskatchewan Roughriders
2006 Geroy Simon Slotback BC Lions
2007 Kerry Joseph Quarterback Saskatchewan Roughriders
2008 Henry Burris Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
2009 Joffrey Reynolds Running back Calgary Stampeders
2010 Henry Burris Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
2011 Travis Lulay Quarterback BC Lions
2012 Jon Cornish Running back Calgary Stampeders
2013 Jon Cornish Running back Calgary Stampeders
2014 Solomon Elimimian Linebacker BC Lions
2015 Bo Levi Mitchell Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
2016 Bo Levi Mitchell Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
2017 Mike Reilly Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
2018 Bo Levi Mitchell Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
2019 Cody Fajardo Quarterback Saskatchewan Roughriders
2020 Season cancelled – COVID-19
2021 Zach Collaros Quarterback Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2022 Zach Collaros Quarterback Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2023 Brady Oliveira Running back Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2024 Brady Oliveira Running back Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Most Outstanding Player in the Western Interprovincial Football Union or Western Football Conference (1953–1972)

Note: Prior to 1973 the Canadian Football League West Division's Most Outstanding Player was not the winner of the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy, which was a separate award.

Bold indicates a player who went on to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award

YearPlayerPositionTeam
Most Outstanding Player in the Western Interprovincial Football Union or Western Football Conference (1946—1972)
1953 Billy Vessels Running back Edmonton Eskimos
1954 Rollie Miles Halfback/linebacker/Defensive back Edmonton Eskimos
1955 Jackie Parker Halfback/Quarterback/Defensive back Edmonton Eskimos
Ken Carpenter Running back Saskatchewan Roughriders
1956 Jackie Parker Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1957 Jackie Parker Running back Edmonton Eskimos
1958 Jackie Parker Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1959 Johnny Bright Running back Edmonton Eskimos
1960 Jackie Parker Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1961 Jackie Parker Quarterback Edmonton Eskimos
1962 Tommy Joe Coffey Wide receiver Edmonton Eskimos
1963 Joe Kapp Quarterback BC Lions
1964 Lovell Coleman Running back Calgary Stampeders
1965 George Reed Running back Saskatchewan Roughriders
1966 Ron Lancaster Quarterback Saskatchewan Roughriders
1967 Peter Liske Quarterback Calgary Stampeders
1968 George Reed Running back Saskatchewan Roughriders
1969 George Reed Running back Saskatchewan Roughriders
1970 Ron Lancaster Quarterback Saskatchewan Roughriders
1971 Don Jonas Quarterback Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1972 Mack Herron Running back Winnipeg Blue Bombers

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