No. 26 Dave Lane – Molson Player of the Month – October 1972
I was shocked to hear this morning about the passing of Dave Lane at the age of 65. A Gryphon alumnus, Lane was a team captain, an All Canadian and a Hec Crighton Trophy nominee who was inducted into the Gryphons Hall of Fame in 1986. Lane graduated with a B.A. in 1975.
A 7th-round draft pick of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Lane went on to enjoy a 5-year CFL career with the Ticats and the Montreal Alouettes. He also went on to coach the Hamilton Hurricanes through one of their most successful eras. Several of his key Hurricanes players moved on to Guelph and were part of the 1984 Vanier Cup team.
Last year, after I found the above photo & story in an old UofG program, I sent it to Dave. He responded and reminisced about his Gryphon playing days. In the photo Dave is receiving a jacket from Paul Kates of Molsons. He would win a Molson’s Player of the Month jacket in each of his first three years as a Gryphon. He still had those jackets when we were corresponding in March 2015.
Lane was active as a Tiger-Cat and CFL alumnus holding several positions with those alumni organizations, in addition to a long career of community service in his hometown of Hamilton. Lane was an executive with East Hamilton Community Services, before becoming the long-time Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Hamilton-Burlington.
Dave Lane introduces Mark Brown at the 4th Annual Gryphon Football Gala Dinner
Photo: Kyle Rodriguez
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