The Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy is a trophy awarded to the Canadian Football League West Division's most outstanding player, chosen from the nominees from each team in the division. Either this trophy winner or the winner of the Terry Evanshen Trophy also receives the Canadian Football League Most Outstanding Player Award.
The Nicklin Memorial Trophy was donated to the Western Interprovincial Football Union in 1946 by the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, in memory of their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Jeff Nicklin, who was killed in action on March 24, 1945. Nicklin was known as an outstanding defensive end for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before he entered military service.
When first donated, the trophy was awarded annually to the player in the Western Division considered to be the most valuable to his team.CFL Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy - Outstanding Player Western Division Since 1973, the trophy is awarded to the Most Outstanding Player of the West Division. As part of the failed American expansion in 1995, the trophy was awarded to the Most Outstanding Player of the North Division.
Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy winners (1946–1972) Year Player Position Team Jeff Nickln Memorial Trophy winners (1946—1972)1946 Bill Wusyk Wide receiver 1947 Bob Sandberg Running back 1948 Keith Spaith Quarterback 1949 Keith Spaith Quarterback 1950 Lindy Berry Quarterback 1951 Glenn Dobbs Quarterback 1952 Jack Jacobs Quarterback 1953 John Henry Johnson Running back 1954 Jackie Parker Running back 1955 Ken Carpenter Running back 1956 Jackie Parker Quarterback 1957 Jackie Parker Quarterback 1958 Jackie Parker Quarterback 1959 Jackie Parker Quarterback 1960 Jackie Parker Quarterback 1961 Jackie Parker Quarterback 1962 Eagle Day Quarterback 1963 Joe Kapp Quarterback 1964 Tom Brown Linebacker 1965 George Reed Running back 1966 Ron Lancaster Quarterback 1967 Peter Liske Quarterback 1968 Ron Lancaster Quarterback 1969 Ron Lancaster Quarterback 1970 Ron Lancaster Quarterback 1971 Don Jonas Quarterback 1972 Mack Herron Running back
Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy winners (1973–present) Bold indicates a player who went on to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award Year Player Position Team Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy winners (1973—present)1973 George McGowan Wide receiver 1974 Tom Wilkinson Quarterback 1975 Willie Burden Running back 1976 Ron Lancaster Quarterback 1977 Jerry Tagge Quarterback 1978 Tom Wilkinson Quarterback 1979 Waddell Smith Wide receiver 1980 Dieter Brock Quarterback 1981 Dieter Brock Quarterback 1982 Tom Scott Slotback 1983 Warren Moon Quarterback 1984 Willard Reaves Running back 1985 Mervyn Fernandez Wide receiver 1986 James Murphy Wide receiver 1987 Brian Kelly Wide receiver 1988 David Williams Wide receiver 1989 Tracy Ham Quarterback 1990 Craig Ellis Slotback 1991 Doug Flutie Quarterback 1992 Doug Flutie Quarterback 1993 Doug Flutie Quarterback 1994 Doug Flutie Quarterback 1995 Dave Sapunjis Slotback 1996 Robert Mimbs Running back 1997 Jeff Garcia Quarterback 1998 Kelvin Anderson Running back 1999 Allen Pitts Slotback 2000 Dave Dickenson Quarterback 2001 Kelvin Anderson Running back 2002 Milt Stegall Slotback 2003 Dave Dickenson Quarterback 2004 Casey Printers Quarterback 2005 Corey Holmes Running back 2006 Geroy Simon Slotback 2007 Kerry Joseph Quarterback 2008 Henry Burris Quarterback 2009 Joffrey Reynolds Running back 2010 Henry Burris Quarterback 2011 Travis Lulay Quarterback 2012 Jon Cornish Running back 2013 Jon Cornish Running back 2014 Solomon Elimimian Linebacker 2015 Bo Levi Mitchell Quarterback 2016 Bo Levi Mitchell Quarterback 2017 Mike Reilly Quarterback 2018 Bo Levi Mitchell Quarterback 2019 Cody Fajardo Quarterback 2020 Season cancelled – COVID-192021 Zach Collaros Quarterback 2022 Zach Collaros Quarterback 2023 Brady Oliveira Running back 2024 Brady Oliveira Running back 2025 Nathan Rourke Quarterback
Most Outstanding Player in the Western Interprovincial Football Union or Western Football Conference (1953–1972) Note: Prior to 1973 the Canadian Football League West Division's Most Outstanding Player was not the winner of the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy, which was a separate award.
Bold indicates a player who went on to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award
Year Player Position Team Most Outstanding Player in the or (1946—1972) 1953 Billy Vessels Running back 1954 Rollie Miles Halfback/linebacker/Defensive back 1955 Jackie Parker Halfback/Quarterback/Defensive back Ken Carpenter Running back 1956 Jackie Parker Quarterback 1957 Jackie Parker Running back 1958 Jackie Parker Quarterback 1959 Johnny Bright Running back 1960 Jackie Parker Quarterback 1961 Jackie Parker Quarterback 1962 Tommy Joe Coffey Wide receiver 1963 Joe Kapp Quarterback 1964 Lovell Coleman Running back 1965 George Reed Running back 1966 Ron Lancaster Quarterback 1967 Peter Liske Quarterback 1968 George Reed Running back 1969 George Reed Running back 1970 Ron Lancaster Quarterback 1971 Don Jonas Quarterback 1972 Mack Herron Running back
References
External links Excerpt from JEFF NICKLIN: Hero of the Gridiron and the Battlefield film from The War Amps