Nathan Rourke shined alongside the West Division during the CFL awards ceremony on Thursday evening. The B.C. Lions’ quarterback clinched the George Reed Trophy for the CFL’s top player and was honored as the top Canadian athlete at Club Regent Casino. Rourke now joins a select group, including Brady Oliveira, Jon Cornish, Russ Jackson, and Tony Gabriel, as one of the few players to secure both accolades in a single season.
Expressing his gratitude, Rourke acknowledged the legendary status of the previous winners, all of whom were Canadian, and emphasized the importance of carrying on their legacy within the league. Trey Vaval of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers also had a remarkable night, claiming two awards for top rookie and special teams player.
The individual award recipients included Mathieu Betts from B.C. as the defensive player of the year and Jermarcus Hardrick from the Saskatchewan Roughriders as the outstanding lineman. The winners were determined through a voting process involving the Football Reporters of Canada and all nine CFL head coaches, with a total of 53 ballots cast.
Additionally, Logan Ferland from the Saskatchewan Roughriders was honored with the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Trophy, recognizing his embodiment of Canadian veterans’ attributes. Andrew Peirson of the B.C. Lions received the Tom Pate Memorial Award, acknowledging his outstanding sportsmanship and contributions to the community.
Rourke, hailing from Victoria, achieved career-best statistics in passing yards, touchdowns, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns during the season, contributing significantly to the Lions’ offensive prowess and overall performance. Despite their strong regular-season finish and playoff efforts, B.C.’s journey ended with a close defeat to Saskatchewan.
Despite his individual achievements, Rourke remains focused on team success and acknowledged that while the awards are an honor, the ultimate goal is to compete in the Grey Cup. Looking ahead, Saskatchewan is set to face the Montreal Alouettes in the championship game on Sunday.