TheJeff Russel Memorial Trophy is aCanadian football award recognizing themost outstanding football player of theQuebec Student Sport Federation (RESQ)[ 1]
The trophy was originally donated to theCanadian Rugby Union in 1928 to honour formerMontreal playerJeff Russel , who was killed in an accident in 1926 while repairing damaged electrical lines for theMontreal Power Company . The trophy was presented to the player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanship, and courage in theInterprovincial Rugby Football Union .[ 2] Canadian Football League's East Division ; either the winner of this trophy or the winner of theJeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy from the CFL’sWest Division would go on to win theCFL's Most Outstanding Player Award .
The trophy was officially retired in 1994 at the request of the Russel family, with theTerry Evanshen Trophy replacing the Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy as the official trophy to be awarded to the Most Outstanding Player of the East Division that same year. In 2003, it was re-established for recognizing players in the Quebec conference ofU Sports football , with the winner being nominated for the nationalHec Crighton Trophy .[ 3]
[ edit ] The Most Outstanding Player in the Quebec University Football League (QUFL). Beginning in 2003, the winner is awarded the Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy.
2024 – Arnaud Desjardins (QB),Laval Rouge et Or [ 4] 2023 –Jonathan Sénécal (QB),Montreal Carabins 2022 –Kevin Mital (WR),Laval Rouge et Or 2021 – Olivier Roy (QB),Concordia Stingers [ 5] 2020 –season cancelled – covid 19 2019 – Adam Vance (QB),Concordia Stingers [ 6] 2018 – Hugh Richard (QB),Laval Rouge et Or [ 7] 2017 – Hugh Richard (QB),Laval Rouge et Or 2016 – Samuel Caron (QB),Montreal Carabins 2015 – Trenton Miller (QB),Concordia Stingers [ 8] 2014 – Hugh Richard (QB),Laval Rouge et Or [ 9] 2013 – Jordan Heather (QB),Bishop's Gaiters 2012 – Rotrand Sené (RB),Montreal Carabins 2011 –Simon Charbonneau-Campeau (WR),Sherbrooke Vert et Or [ 10] 2010 –Simon Charbonneau-Campeau (WR),Sherbrooke Vert et Or [ 11] 2009 –Benoit Groulx (QB),Laval Rouge et Or [ 12] 2008 –Benoit Groulx (QB),Laval Rouge et Or [ 13] 2007 –Jamall Lee (RB),Bishop's Gaiters [ 14] [ 15] 2006 –Benoit Groulx (QB),Laval Rouge et Or [ 16] 2005 – Scott Syvret (QB),Concordia Stingers 2004 – Jeronimo Huerta-Flores (RB),Laval Rouge et Or 2003 –Mathieu Bertrand (QB),Laval Rouge et Or [ 17] [ edit ] Awarded to the player best exemplifying skill, sportsmanship, and courage until 1972, then to The Most Outstanding Player in the East Conference/Division from 1973 until 1993.
1993 –Matt Dunigan (QB),Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1992 –Angelo Snipes (LB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1991 –Robert Mimbs (RB),Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1990 –Mike "Pinball" Clemons (RB),Toronto Argonauts 1989 –Tony Champion (WR),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1988 –Earl Winfield (WR),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1987 –Tom Clements (QB),Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1986 –James Hood (WR),Montreal Alouettes 1985 –Ken Hobart (QB),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1984 –Rufus Crawford (RB),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1983 –Terry Greer (WR),Toronto Argonauts 1982 –Condredge Holloway (QB),Toronto Argonauts 1981 –Tom Clements (QB),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1980 –Gerry Dattilio (QB),Montreal Alouettes 1979 –David Green (RB),Montreal Alouettes 1978 –Tony Gabriel (TE),Ottawa Rough Riders 1977 –Jimmy Edwards (RB),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1976 –Jimmy Edwards (RB),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1975 –Johnny Rodgers (RB),Montreal Alouettes 1974 –Johnny Rodgers (RB),Montreal Alouettes 1973 –John Harvey (RB),Montreal Alouettes 1972 –Garney Henley (WR),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1971 –Mel Profit (TE),Toronto Argonauts 1970 –Bill Symons (RB),Toronto Argonauts 1969 –Russ Jackson (QB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1968 –Larry Fairholm (DB),Montreal Alouettes 1967 –Ron Stewart (RB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1966 –Gene Gaines (DB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1965 –Bernie Faloney (QB),Montreal Alouettes 1964 –Dick Shatto (RB),Toronto Argonauts 1963 –Garney Henley (DB),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1962 –George Dixon (RB),Montreal Alouettes 1961 –Bobby Jack Oliver (DT),Montreal Alouettes 1960 –Ron Stewart (RB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1959 –Russ Jackson (QB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1958 –Sam Etcheverry (QB),Montreal Alouettes 1957 –Dick Shatto (RB),Toronto Argonauts 1956 –Hal Patterson (DB/OE),Montreal Alouettes 1955 –Avatus Stone (DB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1954 –Sam Etcheverry (QB),Montreal Alouettes 1953 –Bob Cunningham (FB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1952 –Vince Mazza (OT),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1951 –Bruce Cummings (FW),Ottawa Rough Riders 1950 –Don Loney (C),Ottawa Rough Riders 1949 –Royal Copeland (RB),Toronto Argonauts 1948 –Eric Chipper (OT),Ottawa Rough Riders 1947 –Virgil Wagner (RB),Montreal Alouettes 1946 –Joe Krol (RB),Toronto Argonauts 1945 –George Fraser (OG),Ottawa Rough Riders 1944 –no award given due to World War II 1943 –no award given due to World War II 1942 –no award given due to World War II 1941 –Tony Golab (RB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1940 –Andy Tommy (FW),Ottawa Rough Riders 1939 –Bill Davies (FW),Montreal Royals 1938 –Wes Cutler (DE),Toronto Argonauts 1937 –Teddy Morris (FW),Toronto Argonauts 1936 –Arnie Morrison (QB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1935 –Abe Eliowitz (RB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1934 –Ab Box (QB),Toronto Argonauts 1933 –Huck Welch (RB),Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers 1932 –Alex Denman (G/FW),Hamilton Tigers 1931 –Gordie Perry (RB),Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers 1930 –Frank Turville (RB),Toronto Argonauts 1929 –D. "Red" Wilson (T),Toronto Argonauts 1928 –Ernie Cox (C),Hamilton Tigers Note: Canadian Football League East Division 's Most Outstanding Player was not the winner of theJeff Russel Memorial Trophy , which was a separate award.
1972 –Garney Henley (WR),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1971 –Leon McQuay (RB),Toronto Argonauts 1970 –Tommy Joe Coffey (WR),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1969 –Russ Jackson (QB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1968 –Bill Symons (RB),Toronto Argonauts 1967 –Tommy Joe Coffey (WR),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1966 –Russ Jackson (QB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1965 –Garney Henley (DB),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1964 –Dick Shatto (RB),Toronto Argonauts 1963 –Russ Jackson (QB),Ottawa Rough Riders 1962 –George Dixon (RB),Montreal Alouettes 1961 –Bernie Faloney (QB),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1960 –Cookie Gilchrist (RB),Toronto Argonauts 1959 –Bernie Faloney (QB),Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1958 –Dick Shatto (RB),Toronto Argonauts 1957 –Hal Patterson (DB/OE),Montreal Alouettes 1956 –Hal Patterson (DB/OE),Montreal Alouettes 1955 –Dick Shatto (RB),Toronto Argonauts 1954 –Alex Webster (RB),Montreal Alouettes 1953 –Tex Coulter ,Montreal &Gene Roberts ,Ottawa
^ "Specific Regulations: Football" (PDF) . La fédération québécoise du sport étudiant. p. 2. Retrieved2008-11-22 .[dead link ^ "Jeff Russel" .Honoured Members . Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Archived fromthe original on 2008-01-26. Retrieved2008-05-31 .^ "Laval's Groulx has arm of steel" . Montreal Gazette. 2008-11-09. Archived fromthe original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved2008-11-22 .^ Piedboeuf, Guillaume (November 8, 2024)."Arnaud Desjardins sacré joueur par excellence au Québec" . ici.radio-canada.ca. Retrieved12 September 2025 . ^ Concordia QB Olivier Roy claims RSEQ's top football award ^ Football universitaire du RSEQ | Adam Vance est choisi joueur par excellence 2019 ^ Football universitaire : Hugo Richard est choisi joueur par excellence 2018 ^ 2015 RSEQ Awards: Miller named MVP, Constantin top coach Archived March 4, 2016, at theWayback Machine ^ 2014 RSEQ Awards: CFC 100 Laval QB Richard Player of the Year; Stingers Donovan Coach of the Year Archived March 4, 2016, at theWayback Machine ^ "Sherbrooke's Charbonneau-Campeau repeats as Hec Crighton nominee" . CIS. 2011-11-07. Archived fromthe original on 2011-11-10. Retrieved2011-11-09 .^ Plante, Claude (2010-11-08)."Simon Charbonneau Campeau joueur par excellence du RSEQ" (in French). La Tribune, Cyberpresse. Retrieved2011-08-15 . ^ "GROULX, GREENWOOD, BOUCHARD, COLLIN ET SINOTTE HONORÉS PAR LA LFUQ" (in French). SIC. 2009-11-09. Archived fromthe original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved2011-08-15 .^ "2008 QUFL major awards announced" . Canadian Interuniversity Sport. 2008-11-03. Archived fromthe original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved2008-11-23 .^ Vleminckx, Serge (2007-11-06)."Jamall Lee, le joueur par excellence" (in French). Le Journal de Montréal. Archived fromthe original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved2008-11-23 . ^ "QUFL announces major award winners" . Canadian Interuniversity Sport. 2007-11-05. Archived fromthe original on January 5, 2008. Retrieved2008-11-23 .^ Boutin, Richard (2006-11-07)."Benoît Groulx: le meilleur au Québec" (in French). Journal de Québec. Archived fromthe original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved2008-11-23 . ^ "QIFC announces major football award winners" . Canadian Interuniversity Sport. 2003-11-03. Archived fromthe original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved2008-11-23 .
Before re-purposing in 1973 the trophy was awarded to the player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanship, and courage in the IRFU or the CFL East
