🇨🇦 Canadian QBs and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers

[Stats Junkie]

It is still to be determined whether Taylor Elgersma even reports to Winnipeg, let alone makes the team. He certainly is the most anticipated 🇨🇦 QB in Winnipeg in the past half century.

Here is a list of Canadian QBs to try out for or be property of the Blue Bombers since 1945

Last time it happened for a Blue Bombers QB:
Last 🍁 QB to take a snap at QB – Bud Harden (Aug 9/78)
Last 🍁 QB to throw a pass – Ralph Schoenfeld (Oct 8/67)
Last 🍁 QB to complete a pass – Brian Palmer (Nov 7/65)
Last 🍁 QB to throw/complete a pass in a playoff game – Brian Palmer (Nov 7/65)
Last 🍁 QB to throw a TD pass – Mike Davies (Sep 12/60) – caught by Ernie Pitts
Last 🍁 QB to throw a TD pass in a Grey Cup – Barry Roseborough (Nov 30/57)
Last 🍁 QB to start a game at QB – Geoff Crain (Oct 10/53)
Last 🍁 QB to win a start at QB – Geoff Crain (Sep 28/53)

Taylor Elgersma – Wilfrid Laurier
2025 – QB drafted

Jordan Yantz - Manitoba
2015 - Free Agent QB - Released after pre-season games

Jon Hooton - Manitoba
2005 - Released after pre-season games
2024 – I played against Jon in TFBC

Tommy Denison – Queens
2004 – QB Winnipeg - Released after 1st exhibition game
2004 – QB Calgary – Dressed for 1 game

Darryl Leason – Regina
2001 – Released after 1st exhibition game

Forrest Kennerd - Alberta
1982 – Released prior to exhibition games
Trevor's younger brother

Bud Harden - Manitoba
1978 – Dressed for 2 regular season games
Harden played in 2 pre-season games before being released June 25. He was the surprise starter on June 22 after Harry Knight took ill. Harden returned to the Blue Bombers in August, dressing for a pair of games. On August 9, 1978, Harden played the final 2 minutes at QB, handing the ball off to kill the clock.

Bob Kraemer - Manitoba
1971 – Wingback
1972 – Wingback
1973 – Wingback / 2 games listed as backup QB
1974 – Wingback
1975 – WR - Released after exhibition games
1973 was the only year he got some training camp reps at QB. He had 2 TD passes in his career – one on a halfback pass and the other on a botched FG attempt (holder)
 
Ralph Schoenfeld – Saskatoon Hilltops
1967 – QB Saskatchewan - tyrout
1967 – QB/P Winnipeg - Signed in late August
1968 – QB Winnipeg – Released after 3 exhibition games

Dick Waring – Bowling Green / McMaster
1968 – Released after exhibition games
Andy Sokol was his great-uncle

John Milne - Manitoba
1968 – QB Calgary – tryout
1968 – QB Winnipeg - Acquired in trade after exhibition games / Released prior to regular season
Trade with Calgary – DT/K Norm Winton went the other way

Brian Palmer - Kansas University
1959 – QB – training camp
1960 – QB – spring rookie camp
1963 – QB/DB
1964 – QB/DB – injured (broken left arm) in final exhibition game
1965 – QB/DB – saw limited action at QB
1959 - Blue Bombers wanted him to return to intermediate football for further development but he chose to attend Kansas University.
His biggest moment at QB came in the 1965 West semi-final when took over from an injured Kenny Ploen in the 3rd quarter. When asked about Palmer as a QB, Bud Grant once said that Brian knew the playbook as well as anyone else.

Pete Ohler - Washington
1962-1963 BC Lions
1964 QB Winnipeg Blue Bombers – Suspended List
1964 Oct 1 - Traded to BC Lions
1967-1969 BC Lions
Ohler was selected by the Blue Bombers in the1963-64 equalization draft. After saying he was excited to join the Bombers, Ohler did a sudden about face and 'retired' to focus on teaching in Vancouver. Rather than placing him on the 'retired list' the Blue Bombers put Ohler on the 'suspended list'.
When the BC Lions accused the Blue Bombers of ruining Ohler's career, the Bombers countered by accusing the Lions of tampering.
Late in the season, Ohler was traded to the BC Lions for Wayne Dennis & Ray Osborne. Winnipeg wanted a 3rd player but settled for 2 – they simply needed healthy bodies.

Jack Brandt - Bemidji State
1963 – QB Saskatchewan Roughriders
1963 – Claimed off waivers by Winnipeg
1964 – Retired in June

Mike Davies – Toronto Parkdale
1958 – HB/QB BC Lions
1959- HB BC Lions – tryout
1960 – QB/DB Winnipeg
In February 1960, Davies contacted the Blue Bombers to see if they were in need of a Canadian QB. After doing their due diligence, the Bombers placed Davies on the negotiation list (later signed). The BC Lions countered by placing Keith Pearce, (retired after training camp in 1959), on their list.
Prior to the 1961 season, Davies informed the Bombers that he took a job in the Vancouver area and would not be able to play in Winnipeg. Davies spent the 1961 season as the QB for an intermediate team in New Westminster.

Barry Roseborough - North Dakota
1951 – Training camp
1952 – Released after exhibition games
1956 – QB/DB/P
1957 – QB/DB
1958 – QB/DB
1959 – Failed physical (slipped disc in back)
Son of Cliff Roseborough
1952-1955 – attended University of North Dakota – tuition paid by Blue Bombers
In the 1957 Grey Cup, Roseborough completed a 15 yard pass to Dennis Mendyk for the Bombers only TD of the game.
In the late 1950s, Barry Roseborough was often mentioned in the same circles as Don Getty & Russ Jackson.

Frank Muzychka (-1955) / Frank Macey (1956-) – Winnipeg Rods
1955 – QB/DB Winnipeg – Dislocated Elbow in 1st exhibition game
1956-1958 – HB/QB Sarnia (ORFU)
1959 – DB/QB Winnipeg – Released prior to exhibition games

Gerry Bilodeau – St.James Rams
1959 – Released prior to exhibition games

Jim Tonn – Weston Wildcats
1957 – QB Winnipeg - Released after exhibition games
1958 – QB Winnipeg in training camp / HB for 2 regular season games
1959 – HB Winnipeg in training camp
1959 – BC Lions – played 1 game

Gerry Vincent – Daniel McIntyre
1955 – QB/P – Released after 4 games
1956 – DB/OE/P – Signed mid season
1957 – S/OE/P
1958 – S/OE (Knee injury in October)
Gerry Vincent came to camp in 1955 and learned the QB position from Jack Jacobs. Although he failed to complete a pass in pre-season (3 interceptions) the Bombers chose to start the season with him as the backup QB. Vincent primarily saw action as the punter. Vincent returned to intermediate football in early September for further development.

Geoff Crain – McGill
1953 – QB/DB (2 starts)
1954 – QB/DB
1955 – QB/DB Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa resident Geoff Crain was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in the first IRFU draft. Rather than play for the hated Argos, Crain chose to sign a 3-year contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
As the 1953 playoffs commenced, Crain was #2 on the QB depth chart behind Joe Zaleski. Jack Jacobs had been relegated to #3 QB and was a starter on defence.
Prior to the 1954 season, Crain's eastern rights were traded to the Ottawa Rough Riders and Geoff wanted to play at home. After holding out to start the 1954 season, Crain returned to Winnipeg for the 1954 season with an agreement in place that the Blue Bombers would release him at the end of the year.


Andy Sokol – Western Ontario
1946-1947 – HB Hamilton Tigers
1948-1949 – HB Sarnia Imperials
1950-1954 – HB Winnipeg Blue Bombers / 1952 – backup QB for 3 games
Sokol was the emergency QB for 3 games in 1952 when Joe Zaleski missed some action due to injury. Sokol saw action at QB September 22, 1952 – he fumbled away the first snap he took and the Blue Bombers never got the ball back

Pete Petrow
1949 – HB
1950 – QB (3 starts)
1951 – QB (3 starts)
Petrow started his Blue Bombers career in 1949 as a halfback. In 1950, Petrow learned how to play QB from Jack Jacobs. Petrow started 6 games at QB – 3 each in 1950 & 1951 – and the Bombers went 3-3 in those games.

Bill Todd
1951 – QB
1953 – HB – Released October / never played a game
1953-1956 – HB Saskatchewan Roughriders
1957 – HB Winnipeg Blue Bombers / Released before exhibition games
Todd also learned to play QB from Jack Jacobs. He saw limited action at QB for the Blue Bombers and never completed a pass. He returned to intermediate football for further development in 1952.

Ray Russell - Weston Wildcats
1950 – QB at training camp

Ian Gibb
1949-1952 – Flying Wing Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1950 – Backup QB for 2 games
Gibb served as the emergency QB for a pair of games in 1950 that Jack Jacobs missed due to injury. He never had a tryout at QB nor did he take any snaps.

George Depres – St.Paul's HS
1949 - QB

Ted Lozanski - Isaac Newton
1949 – QB (4 starts)

Elton Hobson – Gordon Bell HS
1945 – HB/QB
1946 – Halfback
1947 – Halfback
1948 – QB/HB (3 starts)
1949 - Halfback

Rick Bergson – Gordon Bell HS
1948 – Backup HB/QB
1949 – HB tryout
Brother of Marvin Bergson

George Toman
1946 – End
1948 – QB/HB

Harry Hood – Kelvin HS
1944 – HB Army Grenades (Camp Shilo)
1945 – HB Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1946 – HB Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1947 – QB Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4 starts)
1948-1952 – QB/HB Calgary Stampeders
Hood passed away in 1954 from cancer. His #5 was retired by the Stamps

Bill Boivin
1935 – Winnipeg Victorias
1937 – HB/FW Winnipegs
1938 – HB Winnipegs
1939 – HB/FW Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1940 – HB Winnipeg Blue Bombers – Retired due to injuries (Coach at U of M)
1941 – HB – Joined Bombers late in season (Coach at U of M)
1942 – RCAF Flyers (City League)
1947 – QB Winnipeg Blue Bombers tryout (Coach at Gordon Bell)
Brother of Lloyd Boivin

Doug Brown - Gordon Bell
1945 – QB Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1 game played)
He was a paratrooper during WWII.

Brownie Krochak – St.John's Tech
1942 – Backup QB RCAF Flyers
1943 – QB Winnipeg United Services Combines (5 starts)
1945 – Guard/backup QB Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2 games played)
Krochak spent 15 days in jail (July 1942) for theft of an exam.

Nate Shore
1939 –Tryout as lineman
1940 – Played in 1 exhibition game
1941 – QB Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3 starts)
1942 – FW/OW/Snap Bombers (City League)
1942 – Snapback (centre) Winnipeg RCAF Bombers (WCRFU)
1943 – Snapback (centre) Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
1945 – QB Winnipeg Blue Bombers (starter in Grey Cup)
1946 – End Winnipeg
1947 – End Winnipeg
1949 – Centre/Guard Edmonton

In the beginning

Jack Millidge – 1st 🇨🇦 starting QB for Winnipegs (1930)
1925 – End/K Tammany Tigers
1926 – End/K Tammany Tigers
1927 – QB/End/K Tammany Tigers
1928 – QB/End Tammany Tigers
1929 – End Tammany Tigers
1930 – QB Winnipegs / retired after game 1 / returned ex. game in November
1930 – QB Winnipeg All-Stars / exhibition game vs. Hamilton Tigers
1931 – Winnipegs (head coach) / played in 1 exhibition game

Lockie McNeil – 2nd 🇨🇦 starting QB for Winnipegs (1930)
1930 – QB
Forced to retire after 2 games due to workplace accident

American non-imports

Hal Ledyard – 🇨🇦🇺🇸 1962-1965
Ledyard started his pro career with the San Francisco 49ers in 1953. In 1956, he made the move to Canada and played 3 seasons with the Ottawa Rough Riders (1956-1958). For the next 2 seasons, Ledyard found himself coaching and playing QB for the Sarnia Golden Bears of the ORFU. When the ORFU folded, Ledyard shopped himself around the CFL. The second time through the league, he informed teams that he would become a Canadian citizen in January 1962 which would give him non-import status. The Blue Bombers took a chance on Ledyard and for 1961 & 1962 he was a great change up to Kenny Ploen. A few games into the 1965 season, Ledyard was traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Jack Jacobs – 🇨🇦🇺🇸 1954
In the early 1950s, American players who were entering their 5th season in Canada qualified as American non-imports. In 1954, Jacobs qualified for this designation. The drop in Jack Jacobs numbers in 1954 were initially attributed to the control that Coach Allie Sherman had on the offence. At the end of the season, it was announced that Jacobs' throwing arm was shot and he required surgery.

CIS / USports internship program
Jackson Tachinski – 2024 (U of M)
Arnaud Desjardins – 2023 (Laval)
Sawyer Buettner – 2019 (Ottawa)
Theo Deezar – 2015 & 2016 (U of M)
Jordan Yantz – 2014 (U of M)
Ben Rossong – 2013 (St.Mary's)
Khaleal Williams – 2012 (U of M)

[Jesse]

This is really cool! Thanks for the info stats!

[Waffler]

Thanks Stats Junkie. I remember some of these guys, at least back to Bob Kramer anyway.

If you ever feel like posting more on the American non-imports I would be interested. There would have been some well known names I assume.

[markf]

Very interesting thank you.

[Blue In BC]

Bob Cameron completed 11 passes in his 20 year career. I realize he was not listed as a QB but I thought I'd mention him.

[Jesse]

Bob Cameron completed 11 passes in his 20 year career. I realize he was not listed as a QB but I thought I'd mention him.

Probably a few kickers who had some passing stats in addition to Cameron as well.

[Blue In BC]

I mentioned Cameron because he was a QB in college.


Bob Cameron was born July 18, 1954 in Hamilton, Ontario. Before joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Cameron had an outstanding varsity career as quarterback with the University of Acadia Axemen. While at Acadia he lead the team to two Vanier Cup appearances and in 1977 won the Hec Crighton Award for most valuable player in Canadian College Football. He is the first Hec Crighton winner to be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Cameron was signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1980 and played his entire 23 season career with the team. Rarely missing a game, he became a symbol for consistency and reliability. At the time of his retirement, Cameron held the record for most consecutive games played with 353.

[Blue In BC]

Probably a few kickers who had some passing stats in addition to Cameron as well.

Guilo Carravata played as a Qb for the Lions as well as their punter. He started a few games and was # 2 for a bunch during his 7 year career. I can't remember if he won any games but his career was 1992-1998.

[Stats Junkie]

Bob Cameron could be on the list with an asterisk. Early in his career (1980-1985), TV announcers often mentioned that Cameron would be the 3rd QB if necessary.

Starting in 1980, CFL teams were required to list 2 players as designated QBs for each game. These QBs were permitted to alternate freely with one another. If one of the QBs was a non-import, that team could dress a second designated import. Designated QBs were not permitted to play as a member of team B and only one desginated QB could be on the field at a time.

1986 was the first time that the CFL permitted teams to list 3 players as designated QBs. The bonus DI for a non-import QB was eliminated.

1987-mid 1990, the CFL reverted back to 2 designated QBs but did not replace the clause about the extra DI.

Mid 1990-1995, teams could once again roster 3 designated QBs. Some teams chose to dress 2 QBs at times and list the punter as the 3rd QB. Winnipeg had 7 games during this period where they only dressed 2 QBs. Each time, the Blue Bombers chose to play a man short rather than list Cameron as the 3rd QB.

1996-1997, the CFL reduced the roster limit by one eliminating the 3rd QB. In 1996, the BC Lions chose to dress a 3rd QB for 16 of 18 games by filling a regular roster spot - they dressed Giulio Caravatta. One of Giulio's 2 career starts (both losses) came in the final 2 games when the Lions only rostered two QBs.

1998-2019, the CFL permitted 3 designated QBs on the roster with the stipulation that the 3rd QB cannot do any kicking.

October 2, 1988. Tom Muecke was listed as the Blue Bombers starting QB with Sean Salisbury as the backup QB. After warm up, Muecke had fluid buildup in the bursa sac on his throwing arm. Unlike the previous week when the Bombers' doctors drained the fluid, the Blue Bombers sent Muecke to hospital to have it done properly. Muecke remained in hospital overnight.

The Blue Bombers went into scramble mode after the Muecke situation and summoned Roy Dewalt. Dewalt was stretching in sweatpants when the CFL contacted the Blue Bombers and advised them that Dewalt could not play – too late to make a roster change. Winnipeg played the game without a backup QB although Muecke was credited with a game played for being on the roster.

Bob Cameron was asked at practice the following week if he had a helmet with extra bars, just in case he had to play QB. Cameron did acknowledge that there was a separate cage available for such an occasion. He also stated that it would have been Perry Tuttle, a QB during his days at Clemson, who would have played QB if Salisbury had been injured. Tuttle knew the playbook.

[TecnoGenius]

Great history, Junkie.  That's very interesting and useful knowledge.  If you know that from memory, I'm impressed.  If you have devised ways to rapidly gather that knowledge together without wasting your entire day, I'm equally impressed (and jealous).

I didn't know that '80 allowed the extra DI if you AR'd a NAT QB.  And now in, what, 2023?, they allowed you to field another IMP when a NAT QB was on the field (about as valuable as the extra DI?  Maybe more?).

Funny how the CFL goes through iterations and often retries similar things decades later.  Also, I'm happy to see the league learned from the tricks of having one of your QBs be the kicker... talk about a cheat code!