Nathan Rourke and the Western Division took center stage at the CFL awards ceremony held on Thursday night. The quarterback for the B.C. Lions, Rourke, clinched the George Reed Trophy for being the CFL’s most outstanding player and was also honored as the top Canadian player at Club Regent Casino.
Rourke now joins an elite group of players, including Brady Oliveira, Jon Cornish, Russ Jackson, and Tony Gabriel, as the only individuals to win both accolades in the same year. Expressing his gratitude, Rourke mentioned, “Those names hold legendary status in the CFL, and the fact that they are Canadian adds to their prestige. Continuing their legacy and upholding the great traditions of this league is an honor that I deeply appreciate.”
Another standout at the awards ceremony was Trey Vaval from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who received recognition in two categories: top rookie and special-teams player. The other notable winners included Mathieu Betts from the B.C. Lions for the defensive player award and Jermarcus Hardrick from the Saskatchewan Roughriders for outstanding lineman.
The voting process involved the Football Reporters of Canada and all nine CFL head coaches, resulting in a total of 53 ballots cast. Additionally, Logan Ferland, an offensive lineman with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, was awarded the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Trophy for showcasing attributes reminiscent of Canada’s veterans. Andrew Peirson from the B.C. Lions was honored with the Tom Pate Memorial Award for his exceptional sportsmanship and community contributions.
During the season, Rourke set personal bests in various categories such as passing yards (5,290), touchdowns (31), rushing yards (564, leading among quarterbacks), and rushing touchdowns (10). The B.C. Lions topped the CFL in offensive points per game (31.1), net yards (430.2), and passing yards per game (325.4). Their remarkable performance led them to win their final six regular-season games, securing the second spot in the West Division with an 11-7 record.
Despite the team’s success, the season concluded with a disappointing 24-21 loss to Saskatchewan following a narrow 33-30 victory over Calgary in the Western semifinal. Reflecting on the defeat, Rourke expressed his desire to have played in the Grey Cup game, stating, “No, you want to play in that game. Not to sound ungrateful, but I’d trade these awards for it in a heartbeat.”
Looking ahead, Saskatchewan is set to face the Montreal Alouettes in the upcoming Grey Cup on Sunday.