North Bay native Mike O’Shea was named part of the 2017 class of inductees into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday night at a celebration event at the new Mosiac Stadium in Regina.
“Every class is special and this is one is exemplary,” said Mark DeNobile, Executive Director of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum (CFHOF).
For O’Shea, who is currently the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the news was humbling.
“It’s certainly a moment of pride, a chance to reflect on all the teammates, coaches, family members and friends that have supported me along the way,” O’Shea said after the announcement in Regina.
“I’m a proud Canadian. I love our game, I love our country. I enjoyed going to work every day, it didn’t seem like a job.”
The Widdifield Senior Secondary graduate played 16 seasons in the CFL with Hamilton and Toronto, winning the Grey Cup in 1996, 1997 and 2004.
In 2004, O’Shea proudly shared the Grey Cup trophy with hundreds of local football fans at an event back in the fall of 2004 at North Bay City Hall.
“On behalf of our entire organization, I would like to congratulate Mike on an honour that was both expected and extremely well deserved,” said Blue Bombers President & CEO Wade Miller in a statement.
“Mike has carried himself like a hall of famer from the moment he entered this league, and continues to do so now as the head coach of the Blue Bombers.”
His 271 games played are more than any other linebacker in CFL history, and perhaps more impressively O’Shea missed just one game between 1997 and 2008.
“Even to get to the point of being in the CFL, at every crossroads there was someone there to tell me which way to go, point me in the right direction, giving me encouragement,” O’Shea added.
O’Shea ranks second all-time in defensive tackles and seventh all-time in special team tackles. He also racked up 22 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries and 30 sacks over his career.
The rest of the 2017 class includes quarterback Anthony Calvillo, running back Kelvin Anderson, receiver Geroy Simon, longtime University of Saskatchewan coach Brian Towriss and Calgary football builder Stan Schwartz.
