Former Bombers Jauch and Dressler named to Canadian Football Hall

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A former Winnipeg head coach and a former Blue Bombers receiver are part of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2024.  

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Coach Ray Jauch and receiver Weston Dressler were among the seven new inductees named on Friday.  

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Jauch was head coach of the Bombers from 1978 to 1982 and compiled a 45-35 record during that time. He was named coach of the year for his work with the Bombers in 1980.  

Jauch played running back with the Bombers in 1960 and 1961, winning one Grey Cup and then started his coaching career with the St. James Rods junior football program.  

He was with the Edmonton football team from 1966 to 1976, including three years as running backs coach, seven years as head coach and one year as director of football operations. He was named coach of the year in 1970, while with Edmonton, and led the team to a Grey Cup in 1975. 

After his time with the Bombers ended in 1982, he coached mainly south of the border until joining the Saskatchewan Roughriders for five seasons in 1991. He was the head coach in 1994 and 1995. 

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Overall, Jauch amassed 127 victories as a CFL head coach, which puts him sixth on the all-time list. He guided his teams to 11 playoff appearances. 

Dressler is best known for his days with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but he did play with the Bombers from 2016-18 and made an impact both on and off the field with his veteran savvy and locker room presence.  

Dressler’s best year as a Bomber came in 2018, when he caught 80 passes for 1,003 yards and two touchdowns.  

Over his 11-year career, including eight in Saskatchewan, Dressler caught 715 passes (13th all-time) and 10,026 yards (17th).  

He was a two-time CFL all-star and he played in two Grey Cups, winning one in 2013, when the Riders captured the titel at home in Regina.  

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Also to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in September in Hamilton are former Calgary Stampeders defensive back Marvin Coleman and defensive end Vince Goldsmith, former Montreal and Toronto receiver S.J. Green, former Argos kick returner and receiver Chad Owens and builder Ed Laverty of Ottawa. 

Selected to join the media wing of the CFOH are long-time league statistician Steve Daniel of Vancouver and TSN reporter and play-by-play man Farhan Lalji.  

They will be honoured as the annual Football Reporters of Canada breakfast at the Grey Cup in Vancouver in November. 

Twyman@postmedia.com 

X.com/Ted_Wyman 

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