WATERLOO, Ont. – Laurier Athletics and Recreation is excited to announce this year's inductees for the 25th annual Legends of Laurier Football Gala, proudly supported by presenting sponsor Izzio Financial & Sun Life on Thursday, May 1.
The sixth Legends of Laurier Football class of inductees, honouring one Golden Hawk from each decade of the program's history, will include Bob Hamilton (1960-1969), Ted Passmore (1970-1979), Paul and Joe Nastasiuk (1980-1989), Corey Grant (1990-1999), Justin Phillips (2000-2009), Nakas Onyeka (2010-2019), and former assistant coach Don Smith - who will be honoured as a lifetime achievement inductee.
Hamilton (BBA '71) was recruited as a tight end for legendary head coach Dave "Tuffy" Knight's system. An important run blocker, he became a team captain that helped Laurier win the college bowl in 1968 - a team which was inducted to the Golden Hawks Hall of Fame in 1998.
Drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in 1971, he went to the Grey Cup in his first season. He played a total of two seasons in Toronto before retiring from football after another in Hamilton.
Passmore (BA '74) was a former running back who was named a provincial all-star in 1970 and 1972. In that '72 season, he became the fourth CIAU first team all-Canadian in program history while ultimately being named team MVP.
A two-time OUAA champion in 1972 and 1973, as well as an Atlantic Bowl champion, Passmore was inducted into the Golden Hawks Hall of Fame in 1989.
Paul Nastasiuk (BA '88) was a running back/receiver who, in 1983, became one of just three CIAU rookies of the year in program history after being named the program's fifth OUAA rookie of the year.
A two-time OUAA all-star and former team MVP, Paul was selected ninth overall by the BC Lions in the 1986 CFL Draft. He went on to play seven seasons in the league, winning a Grey Cup with Toronto in 1991.
Nastasiuk was inducted to Golden Hawks Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Joe Nastasiuk (BA '89) joined his older brother as a receiver with the Golden Hawks, eventually becoming one of just ten Golden Hawk receivers ever to record 100 or more career reception.
Named a first team OUAA all-star and second team All-Canadian in 1988, Nastasiuk still ranks in the program's top ten for receiving yards in a season, career receptions, career touchdowns, and top five in career receiving yards.
He was inducted to Golden Hawks Hall of Fame in 1994.
Grant (BA ' 99) was the OUA football rookie of the year in 1995. He continued to improve throughout his career and, in 1997, became the Hawks go-to man on offense and special teams. He had 27 catches for 461 yards and scored a team high six touchdowns while averaging 17.1 yards per catch and 12.2 yards on kick off returns.
In 1998, his last season as a Hawk, Grant became an OUA second team all-star, finishing seventh in the CIAU with 34 receptions for 455 yards while tallying four touchdowns and averaging 13.4 yards per catch.
The seventh overall pick in the 1997 CFL Draft by Hamilton, he played 11 seasons and is a two-time Grey Cup champion, winning with Hamilton and Saskatchewan.
For the past three seasons, he has been the head coach of the Carleton Ravens.
Phillips (BA '08), a linebacker recruited by former head coach Rick Zmich, played in four Yates Cups while at Laurier, winning twice. He also won a Uteck Bowl in two appearances and became a Vanier Cup champion in 2005.
He was a second team and first team all-star in 2004 and 2006, respectively. He was also named a second-team All-Canadian after the latter season.
Drafted by Calgary fifth overall in the 2007 CFL Draft, he went on to play seven years for the Stampeders and appearing in three Grey Cups (winning in 2008).
In 2012, Phillips was enshrined in the Golden Hawks Hall of Fame.
Nakas Onyeka (BA '19) was a fellow Yates Cup-winning linebacker with the Golden Hawks in 2016.
Leading up to the provincial championship victory, Onyeka was named to the 2014 OUA all-rookie team and became an OUA second-team all-star the following season.
Prior to the conference title victory in 2016, he was named a first-team all-star and the Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the 10th Golden Hawk to win the award.
He was also named a CIS first-team All-Canadian.
He went on to be drafted by Toronto in the 2017 CFL Draft and helped the team win the 105th Grey Cup.
Of any Laurier defensive player since 2000, Onyeka has the fourth-most tackles in a season and career by any Golden Hawk and remains tied for fifth-most tackles in a game.
In 2021, he was inducted to the Golden Hawks Hall of Fame.
Smith, originally hailing from Crooksville, Ohio, is part of the West Virginia trio, that included Laurier legends Rich Newbrough and Tuffy Knight, who migrated north to Waterloo from Fairmont State University.
Upon his arrival to the region, he was an assistant coach with the Golden Hawks' football team for multiple seasons in the early 1970's and a regular guest coach during camps and winter workouts beyond that, even as he became Laurier's head coach of men's basketball for 11 years (1970-1981) and men's volleyball (1984-1994).
He also served as the interim director of athletics and recreation from 1997-1998 and was inducted to the builders category of the Golden Hawks Hall of Fame in 2000.
Returning as emcee of the evening is Mike Hogan. Hogan, the current Communications Manager and radio play-by-play voice for the Toronto Argonauts is no stranger to the Golden Hawks. From 2003 to 2006, he was the voice of the team on 570 News (now 570 NewsRadio Kitchener), covering four Laurier Yates Cup appearances and the 2005 Vanier Cup championship.
The annual celebration begins at 5:00 pm and will include a welcome reception, silent and online auction, sit-down dinner, induction ceremony, and a "State of the Union" address by Laurier's manager of football operations and head coach Michael Faulds.
Tickets are still available for purchase online!
