Football, Athlete, Inducted 2017 |
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A powerful defensive end with the BC Lions, Hebeler joined the Canadian Football League team as a territorial exemption, having honed his craft at Simon Fraser University. As a rookie in 1979, the charismatic local boy established himself as an up-and-comer with a team of young guns. He was a rarity on the defensive end – usually stocked by strapping, beefy American imports – and became a key piece in the Lions’ emergence as a Grey Cup contender in the early 1980s.
Hebeler could invoke fear in an opposing quarterback’s eyes while bringing fans out of their seats as a flamboyant, colourful member of the Orange Crush. In 1981 he racked up an impressive 12 quarterback sacks, then upped that total to 14 in 1982, getting named an All-Canadian all-star in the process.
His final season with the BC Lions was capped with a 37-24 victory over Hamilton for the Grey Cup at BC Place, ending the franchise’s 21-year championship drought. Hebeler ended his career in 1986 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, totaling 56.5 career sacks in 113 CFL regular season games.
He was inducted into the BC Lions Wall of Fame in 2012.