Mike Lashuk

Mike Lashuk (December 9, 1938 – October 24, 2023) was a Canadian football player. An award-winning fullback, he played in the Canadian Football League for the Edmonton Eskimos from 1957 to 1963. He was head coach of the University of Calgary Dinosaurs football program for 13 seasons from 1969 to 1976 and 1978 to 1982, with a record of 57–49. He led the team to its first conference championship and their inaugural appearance in the Vanier Cup in 1975.

A native of Edmonton, Lashuk won the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy for Canadian rookie of the year in the west in 1957, rushing for 164 yards and intercepting 2 passes. He played defensive back for a couple of seasons, with 5 interceptions in 1959 and 4 in 1960. He finally got his chance at fullback, teaming up with Eskimo legend Johnny Bright, rushing for 757 yards in 1961 and leading the team with 802 rushing yards in 1962. He retired after 7 seasons in 1963. He played with other well-known figures of Canadian sports and politics including Don Getty, Norman Kwong, and Jackie Parker, among many others.

Mike Lashuk died in Montreal on October 24, 2023, at the age of 84.