A former running back of the Toronto Argonauts has been named the new commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League. According to Rogers SportsnetFormer Argonauts running back and special teams specialist Bryan Crawford of Hamilton, Ontario, will take over the role from the recently retired David Branch of Bathurst, New Brunswick. Branch served as OHL commissioner from 1979 to 2024.
In addition to a football background, Crawford also has a golf, basketball and Canadian university sport background. He served as manager of athletic programs, interim general manager and director of operations for Ontario University Athletics from 2012 to 2015, senior director of operations for Canada Basketball from 2015 to 2018 and has been the tournament director for the Royal Bank of Canada Canadian Open for golf since 2018.
As a CFL player, Crawford was an elite special teams player for the Argonauts. In his seven seasons with the Argonauts from 2005-2011, he set the Argonauts record for special teams tackles (137). From an offensive standpoint, Crawford had 26 carries for 217 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. His career high came in 2010 with 121 rushing yards.
Crawford also had a standout football career at Queen’s University. He was the Queen’s Rookie of the Year in 2001, the Golden Gaels Special Teams Player of the Year in 2002, and the Most Valuable Player at the 2004 Canadian Interuniversity Sport East West All-Star Game.
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