Michael Soles
Encyclopedia
Mike Soles is a former all-star Canadian university and Canadian Football League
fullback.
Soles played his high school football with the hometown St. Thomas High School
and played his university ball in Montreal with McGill University
(1986–89). As a Redman he was a 3 time all-star and rushed for a then team record 2,231 yards in 20 regular season games. His finest moment came in the 1987 Vanier Cup
, when he led the underdog McGill team to an upset 47-11 victory over the heavily favoured University of British Columbia
, rushing for 203 yards and 2 touchdowns. He won the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy as the game MVP. He was elected to the McGill University Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
Soles was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos
and started a 7 year career with them in 1989. His best season was 1992, when he rushed for a career high 656 yards. He won the Grey Cup
in 1993.
He finished his career in his hometown, playing 4 final seasons with the Montreal Alouettes
. Paired with the all-time CFL rushing great Mike Pringle
, Soles became a blocking back, leading the way for Pringle and catching many short yardage passes (for which he was an all-star in 1996.) He won the Lew Hayman Trophy
in 1996 as best Canadian player in the East. When he retired, Pringle paid him a supreme compliment, saying he would have never gained the yards he did without Soles' blocking.
Soles finished his 11 year career with 3,007 rushing yards, 3,501 receiving yards (on 325 catches) and 45 touchdowns.
Soles and his family still live in the West Island of Montreal, and he works in finance.
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....
fullback.
Soles played his high school football with the hometown St. Thomas High School
St. Thomas High School (Quebec)
St. Thomas High School is a high school in the municipality of Pointe-Claire, situated in Quebec, Canada. It is a member of the International Baccalaureate Organization's certified Middle Years Programme. It is the second largest high school operated by the Lester B. Pearson School Board in...
and played his university ball in Montreal with McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
(1986–89). As a Redman he was a 3 time all-star and rushed for a then team record 2,231 yards in 20 regular season games. His finest moment came in the 1987 Vanier Cup
Vanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
, when he led the underdog McGill team to an upset 47-11 victory over the heavily favoured University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, rushing for 203 yards and 2 touchdowns. He won the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy as the game MVP. He was elected to the McGill University Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
Soles was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos
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...
and started a 7 year career with them in 1989. His best season was 1992, when he rushed for a career high 656 yards. He won the 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...
in 1993.
He finished his career in his hometown, playing 4 final seasons with the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
. Paired with the all-time CFL rushing great Mike Pringle
Mike Pringle
Mike Pringle is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician, and former Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh South.-Background:...
, Soles became a blocking back, leading the way for Pringle and catching many short yardage passes (for which he was an all-star in 1996.) He won the Lew Hayman Trophy
Lew Hayman Trophy
The Lew Hayman Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, awarded to the outstanding Canadian player in the East Division. Each team in the East Division nominates a player, from which the winner is chosen. Either the winner of the Hayman trophy or the Dr...
in 1996 as best Canadian player in the East. When he retired, Pringle paid him a supreme compliment, saying he would have never gained the yards he did without Soles' blocking.
Soles finished his 11 year career with 3,007 rushing yards, 3,501 receiving yards (on 325 catches) and 45 touchdowns.
Soles and his family still live in the West Island of Montreal, and he works in finance.