The Dick Suderman Trophy (French: Trophée Dick Suderman) for the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian is awarded annually to the Canadian player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup game, the championship of the Canadian Football League. This award is presented before the Grey Cup trophy is presented.
The winner does not necessarily have to play for the Grey Cup winning team in order to qualify.
The award was introduced at the 1971 Grey Cup, and the first winner was Dick Suderman, a Canadian defensive end. A year later, just six weeks before the playing of the 1972 Grey Cup, Suderman collapsed and died from a brain hemorrhage after playing a regular season game; the trophy was subsequently renamed in his honour.
Player achievements
editThe most wins by a player is three, for both Don Sweet (completed in 1979) and Dave Sapunjis (completed in 1995). Four other players have won the award twice each.
Dave Sapunjis is the only player to win the award in consecutive (1991, 1992) Grey Cup games.
Garry Lefebvre is the only player to be awarded the trophy for his performance at three distinct positions, in three distinct aspects, during a single (1973) Grey Cup game: defensive back, part of the defense unit of the team; punter, part of the special teams unit of the team; and wide receiver, part of the offense unit of the team. Four other players (one a double winner) have been awarded the trophy for their performance in playing the two distinct, yet related, positions of punter and placekicker.
Andrew Harris and Hénoc Muamba are the only players to win both the Dick Suderman Trophy and the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player award in the same Grey Cup game.
Dick Suderman Trophy winners
editTeam achievements
editTeams represented by Dick Suderman Trophy winners through the years.
| Club | # of Winners | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Eskimos/Elks[a] | 10 | 2015 |
| Calgary Stampeders | 9 | 2018 |
| BC Lions | 7 | 2011 |
| Montreal Alouettes[b] | 7 | 2023 |
| Toronto Argonauts | 5 | 2024 |
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 5 | 2021 |
| Saskatchewan Roughriders | 4 | 2013 |
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 4 | 2014 |
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 1 | 1976[c] |
| Ottawa Redblacks | 1 | 2016[d] |
| Total for 10 Clubs | 51 |
Notes:
- ^ Edmonton Eskimos changed their name to Edmonton Elks as of the 2021 CFL season
- ^ Montreal Alouettes changed their name to Montreal Concordes during a four season (1982–1985) naming dispute; the club did not reach the Grey Cup during those years, and records its own history as all Alouettes
- ^ Ottawa Rough Riders ceased operation after completing the 1996 CFL season
- ^ Ottawa Redblacks started operation as of the 2014 CFL season