| Sport | Canadian football |
|---|---|
| League | U Sports football |
| Awarded for | Most outstanding player in the league |
| History | |
| First award | 1967 |
| First winner | Mike Eben, Toronto Varsity Blues |
| Most wins | Chris Flynn (3 times) |
| Most recent | Taylor Elgersma, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks |
| Website | usports.ca |
The Hec Crighton Trophy (sometimes referred to as the Hec Crighton Award) is awarded annually to the most outstanding Canadian football player in U Sports. The trophy is named after Hec Crighton who was a former teacher, coach, referee, and the author of the Official Football Rule Book as well as the U Sports Rule Book.[1] It was first presented in 1967 by the board of directors of the Canadian College Bowl.[2]
It is the Canadian equivalent to the American NCAA Heisman Trophy.
The Western Mustangs has produced the most Hec Crighton winners with seven as well as the most individual winners with six (Tim Tindale won the award twice). Chris Flynn has won the Hec Crighton Trophy three times, consecutively, while no other player has won the award more than twice.
Of the 27 active U Sports football programs, seven teams have not had a player win the award.