By Nolan Kowal, Sport Performance Specialist

The Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame congratulates the 2019 Winnipeg Blue Bombers on their Grey Cup championship season!

When the Blue Bombers defeated the Hamilton Tiger Cats 33-12 at the 107th Grey Cup in Calgary, it marked the end of a 29-year drought for a CFL championship. To commemorate this historic achievement, the Winnipeg Football Club generously donated several key artefacts to the Hall of Fame and they are now on display at 145 Pacific Avenue inside Sport Manitoba.

Manitoba’s own Andrew Harris became the first player in CFL history to win both the Most Outstanding Canadian and Most Valuable Player in a Grey Cup game. His #33 game-worn jersey is featured in the new exhibit.

But there was even more Manitoba talent on the roster that helped bring home the Grey Cup to its long suffering fan base. Slotback receiver and trick play specialist Nic Demski made several key plays in the big game. Demski’s #10 game-worn jersey is also on exhibit.

Another former University of Manitoba Bison, backup linebacker Thomas Miles, was outstanding on special teams that were also critical to the championship. His #52 game-worn jersey is also on display.

Yet another Bison grad, offensive lineman Geoff Gray (#68), filled in for injured starters admirably all season long. His game-worn helmet is on exhibit as well.

Finally, the future is bright for Manitoba-born stars on the Bomber roster, as University of North Dakota star running back Brady Oliveira (#20) trained hard to overcome an early season ankle injury to join his teammates for the Grey Cup celebrations. His game-worn helmet is also on exhibit.

2019 marks the 11th time the Winnipeg franchise has won the coveted trophy donated by Lord Earl Grey. They were the first western team ever to win it in 1935 when the Winnipeg Rugby Football Club won the championship. Fritz Hanson, aka “the Golden Ghost” ran wild in an 18-12 win over the Hamilton Tigers. The Winnipeg team won again in 1939 (8-7 over the Ottawa Rough Riders) and 1941 (18-16 over Ottawa again).

Then a long championship drought of 17 years was ended in 1958 when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Hamilton Tiger Cats 35-28. They repeated as champions in 1959 with a 21-7 romp over Hamilton. In speaking with players of that era, most will tell you the 1960 Bombers was the best team of the dynasty, but they were upset in the playoffs by the upstart Edmonton Eskimos.

The Bud Grant era resulted in two more Grey Cup championships in 1961 and 1962. The 1961 squad again defeated Hamilton by a score of 21-14. The 1962 Grey Cup was also known as the infamous “Fog Bowl” as CFL Commissioner G. Sydney Halter (another Manitoban and member of our Hall) chose to suspend play and resume the next day due to the foggy conditions. The final score was 28-27 over those same Tiger Cats.

Like the 2019 edition, the strong play of Canadian talent and specifically Manitoba-born talent, was key to the Grey Cup dynasty. Names like Gerry James, Steve Patrick, George Druxman, Cornell Piper , Ed Kotowich, Roger Savoie, Nick Miller and Tony Kehrer all played roles in the wins.

The next era included another championship drought, 22 years this time, that ended in 1984 and again Manitobans played a huge role. Chris Walby, Scott Flagel, Doug MacIver and Kevin Neiles all contributed. Again, the team beat Hamilton, this time by a score of 47-17.

The 1988 Grey Cup saw an underdog Bomber roster defeat the heavily favoured BC Lions by a 22-21 score in which the Winnipeg defense prevailed. The decade was capped in 1990 when the Bombers won their tenth Grey Cup in a 50-11 trouncing of the Edmonton Eskimos.

 

Artefacts on display donated by the Winnipeg Football Club include 2019 championship season game-worn jerseys for Harris, Demski and Miles as well as helmets from Gray and Oliveira. Other championship merchandise on display is available at the Bomber Store or shop on-line at this link: https://www.thebomberstore.com/