Mike Vilimek
Encyclopedia
Mike Vilimek was a professional Canadian football
player who is currently retired. Vilimek played the fullback
position. During the offseasons, Vilimek held marketing and business development positions at Ballard Power Systems
, Protexis Inc., InsiderTrading Inc., and Serebra Learning Corp. and now currently works at ACL (software).
and played tailback and linebacker in high school at Windsor Secondary School
in North Vancouver, British Columbia
. Following high school, Vilimek attended Simon Fraser University
located in Burnaby. As a tailback, Vilimek set school records for most rushing yards in a single game (315) versus Humboldt State on November 3, 2001, and most rushing yards in a single season (1,187) in 2001. Vilimek was also named SFU’s athlete of the year in 2001.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business with a focus on marketing and international business.
but did not sign with the team. Vilimek was drafted in the first round (2nd overall) of the CFL Draft by the Ottawa Renegades
in 2002. Vilimek was transferred to fullback and played on special teams for 3 seasons with Ottawa from 2002 to 2004. As a free agent, Vilimek signed with the Montreal Alouettes
in 2005. In his first season in Montreal, Vilimek scored 5 touchdowns and lead the team in special teams tackles.
Vilimek tore his ACL
in a game versus the Toronto Argonauts
on July 26, 2007, and missed the remainder of the season.
On December 11, 2008, Vilimek was released along with Jeff Keeping
.
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 who is currently retired. Vilimek played the fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
position. During the offseasons, Vilimek held marketing and business development positions at Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems , located in Burnaby, British Columbia -- a suburb of Vancouver -- is a company that designs, develops, and manufactures zero emission proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells. This company has made a bus that uses only hydrogen fuel cells. These fuel cells combine hydrogen and...
, Protexis Inc., InsiderTrading Inc., and Serebra Learning Corp. and now currently works at ACL (software).
Early years
Vilimek was born in VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and played tailback and linebacker in high school at Windsor Secondary School
Windsor Secondary School
Windsor Secondary School is a grade 8-12 high school in North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada.-Description:It was founded in 1961, and currently has an enrollment of 810 students...
in North Vancouver, British Columbia
North Vancouver, British Columbia
There are two municipalities in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, that use the name North Vancouver. These are:*The City of North Vancouver...
. Following high school, Vilimek attended Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
located in Burnaby. As a tailback, Vilimek set school records for most rushing yards in a single game (315) versus Humboldt State on November 3, 2001, and most rushing yards in a single season (1,187) in 2001. Vilimek was also named SFU’s athlete of the year in 2001.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business with a focus on marketing and international business.
Professional career
Vilimek was invited to a mini-camp with the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
but did not sign with the team. Vilimek was drafted in the first round (2nd overall) of the CFL Draft by the Ottawa Renegades
Ottawa Renegades
Ottawa Renegades was the most recent name of a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario founded in 2002, seven years after the storied Ottawa Rough Riders folded...
in 2002. Vilimek was transferred to fullback and played on special teams for 3 seasons with Ottawa from 2002 to 2004. As a free agent, Vilimek signed 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...
in 2005. In his first season in Montreal, Vilimek scored 5 touchdowns and lead the team in special teams tackles.
Vilimek tore his ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in a game versus the Toronto Argonauts
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...
on July 26, 2007, and missed the remainder of the season.
On December 11, 2008, Vilimek was released along with Jeff Keeping
Jeff Keeping
Jeff Keeping is a professional Canadian football defensive tackle and offensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Argonauts in the second round of the 2005 CFL Draft...
.