Close X
Saturday, December 21, 2024
ADVT 
Sports

Former B.C. Lions Standout Rick Klassen Dies At 57 Following Battle With Cancer

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Dec, 2016 02:08 PM
    VANCOUVER — Defensive lineman Rick Klassen, who played 10 seasons in the CFL including nine with the B.C. Lions, has died at 57 following a battle with cancer.
     
    The Lions confirmed Klassen's death Saturday on the team's official Twitter account.
     
    Klassen, from Sardis, B.C., was drafted as an offensive guard by the Lions in 1981, but was converted to a defensive lineman in his rookie season.
     
    He was named the most valuable Canadian of the 1983 Grey Cup, though the Lions lost the title match 18-17 to the Toronto Argonauts.
     
    Two years later he got a chance to hoist the iconic trophy when the Lions downed the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 37-24 to take the 1985 Grey Cup.
     
    Klassen joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the 1988 season before returning to the Lions for the final two years of his career. he announced his retirement after the 1990 season.
     
    Over a span of 160 CFL games, Klassen recorded 66 sacks and added another four and a half in two Grey Cup appearances.
     
    Klassen was voted a member of the Lions' All-Time Dream Team in 2003 as part of the team's 50th anniversary celebrations. He was inducted into the B.C. Lions Wall of Fame in 2007 as part of the Lions' 1985 Grey Cup team.

    MORE Sports ARTICLES

    Marie Philip-Poulin Named Canada's Captain For Women's World Hockey Championship

    Marie Philip-Poulin Named Canada's Captain For Women's World Hockey Championship
    The 25-year-old from Beauceville, Que., leads the host team into this year's tournament starting Monday in Kamloops,

    Marie Philip-Poulin Named Canada's Captain For Women's World Hockey Championship

    B.C. Tests Remote Undersea Glider To Prevent Whale-ship Collisions

    B.C. Tests Remote Undersea Glider To Prevent Whale-ship Collisions
    "The idea behind the gliders is they can work in real time, or near real time," said Duffus. "The glider rises at a certain interval and sends a signal to a satellite."

    B.C. Tests Remote Undersea Glider To Prevent Whale-ship Collisions

    B.C. Lions Say Owner Braley's Condition Improving Since Being Admitted To Hospital

    B.C. Lions Say Owner Braley's Condition Improving Since Being Admitted To Hospital
    The organization released a statement on Saturday with a brief update.

    B.C. Lions Say Owner Braley's Condition Improving Since Being Admitted To Hospital

    Pedro Morales Scores On Another Penalty Kick, Whitecaps Top Dynamo 1-0

    Pedro Morales buried a penalty kick in the first half Saturday as the Whitecaps defeated the Houston Dynamo 1-0.

    Pedro Morales Scores On Another Penalty Kick, Whitecaps Top Dynamo 1-0

    Kohli In Mohali: India Beat Australia In Thriller To Enter World T20 Semis

    Kohli In Mohali: India Beat Australia In Thriller To Enter World T20 Semis
    The Indians did not help their cause by conceeding as many as 14 extras.

    Kohli In Mohali: India Beat Australia In Thriller To Enter World T20 Semis

    Schooled: Impressive Mexico Dominates Canada 3-0 In World Cup Qualifying

    Schooled: Impressive Mexico Dominates Canada 3-0 In World Cup Qualifying
    Javier Hernandez, Hirving Lozano and Jesus Manuel Corona scored Friday as high-flying Mexico dismantled Canada 3-0 in World Cup qualifying.

    Schooled: Impressive Mexico Dominates Canada 3-0 In World Cup Qualifying