James West’s 12-year Canadian Football career began as a linebacker with the Calgary Stampeders in 1982. Three seasons with the Stamps saw him play 37 games from 1982-84, completing 13.5 sacks as well as four interceptions and six fumble recoveries. He earned Western Division All-Star honours in 1983, before signing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the fall of 1985. The next 8 years with Winnipeg were highly successful for “Wild” West, who went on to win three division All-Stars with the Bombers (1987, 1988 and 1989) as well as two CFL All-Star honours (1987 and 1989). West also was a finalist for Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 1987. He played in three Grey Cups games with the Bombers, winning twice in 1988 and 1990, before wrapping up his career with one season with the BC Lions in 1993. His career numbers speak for themselves: 51.5 quarterback sacks, 21 interceptions and 19 fumble recoveries. He was inducted in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

Gizmo Williams

Henry “Gizmo” Williams Blazingly fast and legendary kick returner for the Edmonton Eskimos. Two-time Grey Cup Champion.

Henry “Gizmo” Williams began his CFL career with the Edmonton Eskimos in 1986. Undersized and speedy, he became known for his signature post-touchdown forward flip. In 149 regular season games with the Eskimos, Williams set a multitude of CFL records, returning 26 punts for touchdowns, including five in one season. He also returned three kickoffs and two missed field goals for touchdowns, added 21 touchdown passes as a receiver and another on a running play.

At the time of his retirement in 2000, Williams was the CFL’s all-time leader in punt returns with 1,003, punt-return yardage with 11,177, kickoff returns with 335 and kickoff-return yardage with 7,354. He amassed 23,927 all-purpose yards in his career. Williams made 14 postseason appearances, playing in 22 playoff games and five Grey Cup games. In the 1987 Grey Cup game he set a record by returning a missed field goal 115 yards for a touchdown.

He was inducted into the North West Mississippi Junior College Hall of Fame in 2002, and became a member of the Eskimos Wall of Honour that same year. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2006.