Bombers legend Kenny Ploen passes

Started by Blue In BC, February 13, 2024, 10:14:35 PM

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Blue In BC

2019 Grey Cup Champions


Pigskin

Don't go through life looking in the rearview mirror.

blue_or_die

One of the absolute greatest. Thank you, and RIP.
#Ride?

Jockitch

We've lost a fine gentleman.  He is a huge part of why we cheer and love our Blue Bombers
BOMBERS ARE GREY CUP " CHAMPS "
               
          HUSTLE & MUSCLE

blue_gold_84

Such sad news. A legend in every sense of the word. He will be missed.

RIP
#forthew
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ModAdmin

True Bomber great. Also considered Kenny a hero and an all around good guy.
"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one." - John Wooden

Blueforlife

Before my time but I can certainly appreciate the loss to the community this is.

ichabod_crane

Loved when he was on the Bombers pre and post games shows back in the 80's with Cactus Jack Wells and curmudgeon Jack Matheson. Mitch Zalanazky was on the show too and course Bob Irving as well. All legends in Bomber town! Still miss the Happy Honker award given by Cacti after every home game!  :D .....And it turned out nice again!  ;D

Lincoln Locomotive

Truly a sad day for Winnipeg and all CFL fans.....he was a tremendous leader and brought so much glory to the Blue and Gold.   Will go down in Bomber historic as one of the greatest Bomber players of all time!   Such a loss for the the City and the province!
Bomber fan for life

J5V

R.I.P. Mr. Ploen. You were an all-time great! You will be missed, and remembered.
Go Bombers!

ModAdmin

Blue Bombers mourn the passing of Ken Ploen

WINNIPEG, MB., February 13, 2024 - The Winnipeg Football Club is deeply saddened with the news today of the passing of Blue Bombers legend Ken Ploen at the age of 88.

"Ken Ploen was the face of the Blue Bombers for years and then became a part of the fabric of this community following his playing days," said Winnipeg Football Club President & CEO Wade Miller. "He was a four-time Grey Cup champion as a player and a great ambassador for our franchise and our city.

"The WFC would like to extend our deepest condolences to the Ploen family and to his many friends and family in Winnipeg as well as across Canada and the United States."

Ploen came to Winnipeg in 1957, not long after being named the MVP in the Rose Bowl after guiding the University of Iowa to a win. During his 11 years with the Blue Bombers (1957-67) Ploen was part of four Grey Cup championships in 1958, 1959, 1961 and 1962 as a two-way star at quarterback and defensive back.

Ploen was such a gifted athlete he was named an all-star three times, twice as a quarterback and once as a defensive back after leading the team in 1959 with what was then a club record 10 interceptions.

He retired in 1967 as the Blue Bombers all-time leading passer and sixth in the CFL and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1975, to the WFC Hall of Fame in 1984, and added to the club's Ring of Honour in 2016.
"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one." - John Wooden

Waffler

Played in the days of small salaries where players often worked a full time job plus playing. Not even upper decks or permanent end zone seating yet at Winnipeg Stadium. Practice was beside Canada Packers. The old man drove us kids out to see it one time and suffice to say it was hard to breathe. Roll up the windows hard. Don't know how the players did it. Also at a light we pull up right beside Kenny Ploen. He was driving an older model car and we were surprised, I mean he's Kenny Ploen! Isn't he rich?

Sorry to lose him, all due respect to our other players but Kenny was the greatest Bomber. I am forever grateful for the memories, the four cup wins and him making Winnipeg his home.
Buried in the essentially random digits of pi, you can find your eight-digit birthdate. (Is that a wink from God or just a lot of digits?) - David G. Myers
__________________________________________________
Everything seems stupid when it fails.  - Fyodor Dostoevsky

blue_gold_84

https://www.cfl.ca/2024/02/14/cfl-mourns-the-passing-of-kenny-ploen/

TORONTO - The Canadian Football League (CFL) has released the following statement regarding the passing of Kenny Ploen.

"Kenny Ploen will forever have an important place in CFL lore. An accomplished defensive back as well as an excellent quarterback, he led the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to four Grey Cup victories in 1958, 1959, 1961 and 1962, earning him induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1975, and status as one of the true legends of our game.

"Growing up in Winnipeg, and playing minor football, I heard a lot about Kenny and those championship Bomber teams, as we young players were encouraged to meet the standard they set.

"Saddened by news today of his passing, at age 88, we will be forever grateful for Kenny Ploen's many contributions to our league, from the excitement he created in his era, to the inspiration he provided to the generations that followed it."

Randy Ambrosie
Commissioner
Canadian Football League
#forthew
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Horseman