Quinlan is Canada’s top university football player

Quinlan Hec

Best in the nation. Marauders QB Kyle Quinlan was given the Hec Crighton Trophy on Thursday as the top player in the CIS. He'll lead the Marauders into tonight's Vanier Cup.


For only the fifth time in University history, a McMaster Marauder has earned the Hec Crighton Trophy as the country’s top football player.

Kyle Quinlan – who quarterbacked the football team to an undefeated regular season in 2012, and will lead the team into tonight’s Vanier Cup – took home the award at last night’s Gibson’s Finest Player Awards. In a unique twist, the ceremony took place at Koerner Hall in the Royal Conservatory of Music, home to McMaster’s original Toronto campus.

The native of South Woodslee, Ont. was quoted in the Toronto Star following the announcement:

“Obviously, the biggest prize is still out there,” Quinlan said, in reference to Friday’s Vanier Cup matchup against the Laval Rouge et Or. “This is a great honour, but individual awards are something you look back on after the season.”

Quinlan wasn’t the only Marauder to earn a national award this week. Defensive end Ben D’Aguilar was given the J.P. Metras Trophy on Thursday as the country’s most outstanding lineman, after setting a new CIS record with 12.5 sacks in one campaign. The previous record of 12 stood for more than two decades.

“Ben is a fantastic athlete and has only scratched the surface of his potential,” head coach Stefan Ptaszek told CBC Hamilton. “His ability to make things happen on the football field has been a great weapon for our defence, and I think he has his best football in front of him.”

Earlier this week, Ptaszek was presented with the Frank Tindall Trophy as CIS coach of the year.

Kickoff for tonight’s Vanier Cup is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. For those who can’t make it to the Rogers Centre, fear not. Viewing parties are planned for Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, London, Hamilton and Montreal. Live coverage of the game will also begin at 7 p.m. on TSN.

Related Stories