Sports stats



CFL Canadian Football League

Bonk, Clemons, Flutie, Pringle, And Shepherd To Be Enshrined

April 2, 2008 - Canadian Football League (CFL) News Release


Hamilton, ON (April 2, 2008) - Four players and one builder were named today to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame class of 2008. They will be officially inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame during induction weekend 2008 to be held in Hamilton, Ontario from September 18th - 20th, 2008. The five inductees are:

JOHN BONK, PLAYER: John Bonk played for 13 years in the CFL from 1972 to 1985. Bonk's pro-football career began when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats invited him to training camp in 1972. Bonk was traded to Winnipeg in October 1973. Bonk started as a linebacker in Winnipeg, but switched to center, the position he played for the rest of his career. He was instrumental in the Blue Bombers 1984 Grey Cup victory. Bonk did not miss a regular season game between 1973 and 1985 (202 games), when a neck injury sidelined him and eventually led him to retire from football following the 1985 season. Bonk was chosen as a Western All-Star and a CFL All-Star in 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985. He won the Schenley award for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 1984, and was awarded the DeMarco-Becket Memorial Trophy for Outstanding Lineman in the West in 1983 and 1984.

MICHAEL "PINBALL" CLEMONS, PLAYER: Michael Clemons, nicknamed "Pinball" for his knack of bouncing off would-be tacklers, was signed as a free agent by the Toronto Argonauts in June 1989. In his first game as an Argo, he was named player-of-the-game with two kickoff returns for 62 yards and five punt returns for 46 yards. Clemons holds the Pro-football record for both regular season combined yards (3,840), set during the 1997 season, and all-time career combined yards (25, 438). In 1999, he became the only person in Pro-Football to pass the career 5,000 yard mark in four separate categories: rushing (5,341), receiving (7,015), kick off returns (6,349), and punt returns (6,025). After retiring as a player in 2000, Clemons went on to become Head Coach of the Argos leading them to Grey Cup victory in 2004. In 2007, he became the Chief Executive Officer of the Argonauts. He has won the Grey Cup three times as a player in 1991, 1996, and 1997. He was chosen as an Eastern All-Star in 1990, 1993, 1994, and 1997, as well as, a CFL All-Star in 1990, and 1997. In 1990 he was also chosen as the CFL's Most Outstanding Player. Pinball has won the Tom Pate Award, given for community involvement, in 1993 and 1996.

DOUG FLUTIE, PLAYER: Doug Flutie signed with the BC Lions in 1990. In 1991, he threw for a record 6,619 yards on 466 completions. In 1992, he signed with the Calgary Stampeders, leading the team to Grey Cup victory that year. Flutie's 48 touchdown passes in 1994 remains a CFL record. He played with the Stampeders until 1996, when he signed with the Toronto Argonauts, leading them to back-to-back Grey Cup victories in 1996, and 1997. He left the CFL with career passing yards of 41,355 and 270 touchdowns. Flutie was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player and made a CFL All-Star in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997. In 2006, Flutie was voted the Number One CFL Player of All Time by TSN. In 2007, he was inducted into both the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.

MIKE PRINGLE, PLAYER: Mike Pringle signed with the Edmonton Eskimos for the 1992 season. He was released by the Eskimos and spent the remainder of the season with the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football. In 1993, Pringle switched leagues to play with the CFL's Sacramento Gold Miners for one season before being traded to the Baltimore Stallions. Pringle made two back to back Grey Cup appearances with the Stallions in 1994 and 1995, winning the Cup in 1995. In 1996, Pringle joined the relocated Baltimore franchise in Montreal. Pringle had a stand out season in 1998 with 2,065 rushing yards setting a record for the most rushing yards during the regular season. The Alouettes would get to the Grey Cup in 2000 and 2002, winning over the Edmonton Eskimos in 2002. Pringle left the Alouettes after the 2002 season and once again signed with the Edmonton Eskimos where he helped them reach and win the Grey Cup in 2003. In Pringle established new CFL records for career rushing yards with he Boston area.hed his career as a member of the New Enc16,425 and tied the all-time touchdown mark with 137. After the 2004 season Pringle announced his retirement. Pringle was a CFL All-Star in 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2003, as well as, the CFL's Most Outstanding player in 1995 and 1998.

TOM SHEPHERD, BUILDER: Tom Shepherd began his involvement with the Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club in 1966. Shepherd has been a member of the Annual Dinner Committee (Plaza of Honour Dinner) for 43 years, and from 1976 -1977 was Chair of the Executive Game Plan (Fundraising). While serving as a Club Director from 1980 - 2005, Tom was a Member of the Management/Executive Committee for 22 years and Treasurer for 20 years. During Shepherd's tenure as Club President and CFL Governor from 1987 to 1989, the Saskatchewan Roughriders won the Grey Cup (1989). Since his term of President, as Founder and President of Friends of Riders Touchdown Lottery, Shepherd has raised over $10 million to keep the team in the province. He also found time to serve as a Director of 1995 Grey Cup Inc. and 2003 Grey Cup Inc. In addition to direct Roughrider involvement, Tom has also been involved in other Saskatchewan football activities as Director and Treasurer of Regina Rams Football Club from 1970-1976 and Director and Treasurer of Gord Currie Youth Development Fund from 1977-2001.

"It's an honour and a privilege to present one of the most exciting classes in the 56-year history of the hall of fame," said Mark DeNobile, the Hall of Fame's Executive-Director.

"These men personify what's great about Canadian football, from electrifying plays on the field to working to make our game and our communities stronger off the field."

The five gentlemen will be officially Inducted into the Hall of Fame during Induction Weekend this September 18th to 20th in Hamilton.

The inductees will be honoured at a golf tournament on Thursday September 18th, take part of the half time celebrations at the September 19th CFL game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Ivor Wynne Stadium. The weekend closes with the Induction Dinner being held at the Hamilton Convention Center on Saturday September 20th.

The new inductees will join the 229 existing Hall of Fame members already included in the Hall's Zone of Champions, which features steel busts of each member of the hall.

Each year a Selection Committee of learned football individuals from across the country elect up to five individuals for induction into the Hall of Fame in two categories: players with at least five years of football in Canada who have achieved "outstanding and extraordinary success" and builders who have made "an outstanding contribution to football in Canada."

The Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum operates as a non-profit registered charity.

Located in Hamilton, Ontario since 1962, and in its current location next to Hamilton City Hall since 1972, the Hall is home to more than 30,000 Canadian football artifacts, ranging from equipment and trophies to photos and videos.

It's open to the public year round, Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 to 4:30, except on statutory holidays and long weekends.

Check out the Canadian Football League Statistics



Canadian Football League Stories from April 2, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central