The Calgary Stampeder Football Club would like to congratulate Jon Cornish for being named the 2013 winner of the Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy as Canada’s top athlete. The Stampeders running back named was voted this year’s winner of the award by a media panel.

Cornish becomes just the third CFL player to win the Lou Marsh Trophy, joining Russ Jackson of the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1969 and Joe Krol of the Toronto Argonauts in 1946.

Cornish turned in one of the greatest seasons in CFL history in 2013 as he helped lead the Stampeders to a league-best 14-4 record.  He was voted both the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian and won his second consecutive rushing title as he ran for 1,813 yards, the fourth-highest total in CFL history.

Cornish also led the league and set a new franchise record with 2,157 yards from scrimmage. He led all running backs with an average of 7.0 yards per carry and was tops in the CFL this season with 14 touchdowns.

His spectacular season featured nine 100-yard games — including five in a row to tie a franchise record — and a career-best 208-yard effort on Oct. 5 against Winnipeg.

This season Cornish became the first Canadian to win the MOP award since Tony Gabriel in 1978. Jackson, who earned the honour in 1963, 1966 and 1969, is the only other Canadian to be named the league’s top player.