CFL.ca Staff

CALGARY -- The Calgary Booster Club announced the city’s Male and Female Athletes of the Year as chosen by local sports media. Calgary Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris was named as male athlete of the year while Olympic Gold Medalist Carol Huynh has been selected as top female athlete for her success in wrestling.

Henry Burris is the 12th Calgary Stampeder and the fourth quarterback to be awarded the Scott-Mamini Award. Past Stampeders winners include:

Don Luzzi 1959
Harvey Wylie 1963
Lovell Coleman 1965
Wayne Harris 1967
John Helton 1973
Willie Burden 1976
James Syke 1981
Rick Johnson 1987
Dave Sapunjis 1994
Don Blair 1996
Jeff Garcia 1999
Dave Dickenson 2001

Other athletes nominated for the Scott-Mamini Award in 2009 included: Matt Walter (football), Jarome Iginla (hockey), Dion Phaneuf (hockey), Denny Morrison (speed skating) and Karl Alzner (hockey).

Burris will be officially honoured for his award at the Calgary Booster Club Sportsman of the Year Dinner, Wednesday, Apr. 8th at the Round-Up Centre.

“This means a lot,” said Burris, “because people in Calgary are so passionate about their sports and to be chosen from this group of athletes is a true honour.”

Burris enjoyed his finest season as a pro in 2008. He was named the Canadian Football League’s West Division most outstanding player for the first time in his career and was a West Division all-star for the second time. He capped the year by leading the Stamps to a 22-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in the 96th Grey Cup in Montreal and was named the game’s most valuable player.

Burris led all CFL quarterbacks with a 13-5 win-loss record. He set career highs for passing yardage (5,094), touchdown passes (39), completions (381), completion percentage (64.5) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (39:14). He also led all quarterbacks with 595 rushing yards and ran for three touchdowns.