Dan Wicklum
Encyclopedia
Dan Wicklum is a former Canadian Football League
(CFL) football
player.
Wicklum was raised in Perth, Ontario
, in the Ottawa Valley
, and attended St. John Catholic School and Perth and District Collegiate Institute
. He played football
with the Ottawa Sooners
of the Canadian Junior Football League
. After high school graduation, he entered the University of Guelph
and received a B.S.
in biology in 1990. He played football with the Guelph Gryphons
winning the Vanier Cup
in 1984 and named an OUAA
All-Star in 1987, setting the Guelph record with 119 total tackles
in the season. In 2002, Wicklum was named to the Guelph's Athletics hall of fame.
The CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers
drafted him in the first round of the 1988 Canadian College Draft
. Securing a starting linebacker
role, Wicklum went on to help the team win the Grey Cup
in 1988. In 1989, the Calgary Stampeders
selected him as the first Canadian player in an equalization draft. He then played three seasons for the Stampeders and named Calgary's special team
s Player of the Year twice. There was some controversy in 1991 when a late hit by Wicklum on Toronto
's marquee player Rocket Ismail
caused Ismail to be hospitalised for a concussion. Ismail had already been tackled while returning a punt when Wicklum drove his helmet into Ismail's shoulder and neck. Wicklum was assessed a spearing penalty
but was not ejected.
After retiring from football, Wicklum went on with his education in the field of aquatic ecology, completing an M.S.
in 1994 at the University of Calgary
, and a Ph.D.
in 1998 at the University of Montana, where he also did postdoctoral work, served as Research Assistant Professor, and authored nine scholarly papers.
In 2000, Wicklum became a senior policy advisor for Ralph Goodale
, then Government House Leader
and was later named Executive Director of the Canadian Forest Innovation Council.
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....
(CFL) football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
player.
Wicklum was raised in Perth, Ontario
Perth, Ontario
Perth is a town in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada . It is located on the Tay River, 83 km southwest of Ottawa, and is the seat of Lanark County.-History:...
, in the Ottawa Valley
Ottawa Valley
The Ottawa Valley is the valley along the boundary between Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec along the Ottawa River. The valley is the transition between the Saint Lawrence Lowlands and the Canadian Shield...
, and attended St. John Catholic School and Perth and District Collegiate Institute
Perth and District Collegiate Institute
Perth and District Collegiate Institute is the oldest secondary school in the town of Perth, Ontario. It is part of the Upper Canada District School Board. PDCI was previously known as Perth Collegiate Institute and Perth High School. It is located at 13 Victoria Street, Perth, Ontario...
. He played football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
with the Ottawa Sooners
Ottawa Sooners
The Ottawa Sooners are a Canadian football team based in Ottawa. The team originally played in the Ontario Football Conference of the Canadian Junior Football League. The team had achieved success during its play in the CJFL, winning a total of 4 National Championships...
of the Canadian Junior Football League
Canadian Junior Football League
The Canadian Junior Football League is a national amateur Canadian football league consisting of 19 teams playing in six provinces across Canada. The teams compete annually for the Canadian Bowl...
. After high school graduation, he entered the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
and received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in biology in 1990. He played football with the Guelph Gryphons
Guelph Gryphons
The Guelph Gryphons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west division.-Varsity...
winning the 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...
in 1984 and named an OUAA
Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
All-Star in 1987, setting the Guelph record with 119 total tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
in the season. In 2002, Wicklum was named to the Guelph's Athletics hall of fame.
The CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
drafted him in the first round of the 1988 Canadian College Draft
Canadian College Draft
The Canadian College Draft is an annual sports draft in which the teams of the Canadian Football League select eligible Canadian/non-import players, typically from the ranks of CIS football or NCAA college football...
. Securing a starting linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
role, Wicklum went on to help the team win 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 1988. In 1989, the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
selected him as the first Canadian player in an equalization draft. He then played three seasons for the Stampeders and named Calgary's special team
Special team
Special team may refer to:*American football positions*Özel tim-Özel Harekat Timi...
s Player of the Year twice. There was some controversy in 1991 when a late hit by Wicklum on Toronto
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
's marquee player Rocket Ismail
Raghib Ismail
Raghib Ramadian Ismail is a retired professional American and Canadian football player, who played Wide receiver in both the Canadian Football League and National Football League. He played college football at Notre Dame...
caused Ismail to be hospitalised for a concussion. Ismail had already been tackled while returning a punt when Wicklum drove his helmet into Ismail's shoulder and neck. Wicklum was assessed a spearing penalty
Glossary of Canadian football
This is a glossary of terms used in Canadian football. Glossary of American football also covers many terms used in the Canadian version of the game....
but was not ejected.
After retiring from football, Wicklum went on with his education in the field of aquatic ecology, completing an M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in 1994 at the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
, and a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1998 at the University of Montana, where he also did postdoctoral work, served as Research Assistant Professor, and authored nine scholarly papers.
In 2000, Wicklum became a senior policy advisor for Ralph Goodale
Ralph Goodale
Ralph Edward Goodale, PC, MP was Canada's Minister of Finance from 2003 to 2006 and continues to be a Liberal Member of Parliament...
, then Government House Leader
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Canada)
The Leader of the government in the House of Commons , more commonly known as the Government House Leader, is the Cabinet minister responsible for planning and managing the government's legislative program in the Canadian House of Commons...
and was later named Executive Director of the Canadian Forest Innovation Council.