Eddie Thompson (Canadian football)

Eddie Thompson
Date of birth: May 21, 1917
Place of birth: Toronto, Ontario
Date of death: April 22, 1943
Place of death: Missing in Action
Career information
Position(s): Halfback, Kicker, Quarterback
College: Oakwood Collegiate
Organizations
As player:
1937-39
1940
1942
Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
Camp Borden
Toronto RCAF Hurricanes
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star: 1938, 1939, 1940
Awards: 1939 - Imperial Oil Trophy
Honours: 1940 - Grey Cup champion

Eddie Thompson was an award winning, all-star and Grey Cup champion halfback in the Ontario Rugby Football Union, and he was a war hero who lost his life in World War II.

Thompson played for his hometown Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers from 1937 to 1939, and was a two time all-star and winner of the Imperial Oil Trophy in 1939 as the ORFU most valuable player.[1] He enlisted in the Canadian Forces in 1940 and played football with Camp Borden in 1940.

In 1942 he was co-captain of the famed Toronto RCAF Hurricanes team.[2] He scored 51 points in 1942 and was a key player on the Grey Cup champions.[3]

Flight Lieutenant Edward Blake Thompson was reported "missing in action at sea" on April 22, 1943, and was later presumed dead.[4][5]

References

  1. Thompson Wins Trophy The Montreal Gazette, December 1, 1939
  2. Beaches Meet Hurricanes Saskatoon Star-Phoenix October 3, 1942
  3. Announcement Clears Way for Grid Final Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, November 23, 1942
  4. Eddie Thompson, Toronto Athlete, Actually Belonged to all Canada by Charles Edwards Ottawa Citizen, May 11, 1943
  5. Second World War Service Files: Canadian Armed Forces War Dead