Dave Fennell
Encyclopedia
Dave Fennell is a former defensive lineman for the Edmonton Eskimos
of the Canadian Football League
. After graduating from the University of North Dakota
in 1973, he played for Edmonton from 1974–83, and helped lead the team to five straight Grey Cup
championships from 1978-82 as a key member of the "Alberta Crude" defense.
Fennell was named CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player
in 1978, CFL Most Outstanding Canadian
in 1979, and Defensive Star
of the 1978 and 1982 Grey Cup games. He was a CFL and Western All-Star at Defensive Tackle from 1977 to 1981, and was runner-up for the Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1980. His nickname was "Doctor Death."
Fennell is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, and the Eskimos Hall of Fame. In November, 2006, he was voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players
(#24) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network The Sports Network
/TSN.
Fennell earned a law degree from the University of Alberta
in 1979. After retiring from football, he founded Golden Star Resources, one of the largest and most successful mining companies in Canada. He is currently Executive Vice-Chairman and a Director of Miramar Mining Corporation.
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. After graduating from the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
in 1973, he played for Edmonton from 1974–83, and helped lead the team to five straight Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
championships from 1978-82 as a key member of the "Alberta Crude" defense.
Fennell was named CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player
CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award
The Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award is annually rewarded to the best defensive player in the Canadian Football League. This is the third-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it is hosted...
in 1978, CFL Most Outstanding Canadian
CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award
The Most Outstanding Canadian Award is annually rewarded to the best Canadian player in the Canadian Football League. This is the second-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it is hosted. The two nominees...
in 1979, and Defensive Star
Grey Cup Most Valuable Player
The Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player award is awarded annually to the player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup Game, the Canadian Football League's championship game.-Grey Cup Most Valuable Player Award winners:...
of the 1978 and 1982 Grey Cup games. He was a CFL and Western All-Star at Defensive Tackle from 1977 to 1981, and was runner-up for the Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1980. His nickname was "Doctor Death."
Fennell is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, and the Eskimos Hall of Fame. In November, 2006, he was voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players
TSN Top 50 CFL Players
The TSN Top 50 CFL Players was a list of the greatest fifty Canadian Football League players, as selected by a panel of sixty former CFL players, then-current and former coaches, executives, and media members in 2006. The panel was assembled by sports television network TSN in partnership with the...
(#24) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network The Sports Network
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
/TSN.
Fennell earned a law degree from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
in 1979. After retiring from football, he founded Golden Star Resources, one of the largest and most successful mining companies in Canada. He is currently Executive Vice-Chairman and a Director of Miramar Mining Corporation.