By Herb Zurkowsky,
Montreal Gazette
Cory Huclack walked into Winnipeg’s Canad Inns Stadium this week, gazed across the field at the stands and arched his head, finding the seat in section X he used to occupy as a child. He always sat next to his father, a former Blue Bombers fullback, learning the game and dreaming one day of emulating his old man and wearing the team’s blue-and-gold colours.
It almost worked out that way.
“It feels a little funny, walking in here as a pro. It’s a little different,” said the Alouettes’ long-snapper and special-teams member. “I used to come to the games as often as I could, going to the big alumni lounge. Being a Bomber was a dream. Everyone in this city shoots for it, but only so many make it.”
Cory Huclack isn’t listed in the Bombers’ media guide, but for a few short months, he was a member of the team. He signed with Winnipeg as a free agent in March and expected to go to training camp and compete for a spot. The 6-foot, 212-pounder played collegiately at the University of Manitoba, acquitting himself well as a linebacker.
The 23-year-old was a two-time Bisons captain, along with being named a second-team all-Canadian last season, when he was selected Canada West’s top defensive player.
But on the eve of Canadian Football League camps opening, Huclack was traded to the Als for Canadian receiver O’Neil Wilson. With Chris Vrantsis yet to play this season because of a back injury, Huclack is part of Montreal’s 42-man roster, serving as the team’s long-snapper and getting his licks in on special teams.
“It has worked out for the best,” said Huclack, who first competed at the Bombers’ stadium in a Pop Warner championship game when he was no more than 10, playing linebacker and running back for the Charleswood Broncos. He would go on to play many minor-league and collegiate games at the stadium.
“In the beginning, I was so happy to sign a pro contract and be able to do it in my home town,” he said. “And then, a month or two later, I’m traded. It was a shock. But I made the (Als) team, can’t complain and I’m happy now. Montreal treats me well.
“I’m just happy to be in the league.”
Huclack figures about 30 family and friends were in attendance on Thursday, when the Als lost 32-23 to the Bombers, dropping Montreal’s season record to 0-2. Huclack’s mother was away on business, but his father and girlfriend were there.
Dan Huclack spent eight seasons in the CFL playing a position generally reserved for Canadians and carrying with it little marquee value, since the primary role of a fullback is to block for the tailback and quarterback. The elder Huclack, who turns 50 in August, spent five seasons with the Bombers, from 1980-84, until fracturing a leg against Saskatchewan. He never again played for Winnipeg. He had a two-game stint with the Als in 1986, their final season of existence before folding, and also played for Hamilton and Toronto.
It was with the Tiger-Cats that he received his 15 minutes of fame. Hamilton, a heavy underdog, upset Edmonton in the 1986 Grey Cup 39-15. Huclack was the game’s leading rusher.
He coached his son through most of his minor-league days and was with him the night the call came from Winnipeg general manager Brendan Taman, informing him of the trade east. Dan Huclack figured the Als must have wanted him badly, since in Wilson, they relinquished a receiver who didn’t always start, but played regularly.
“It was unbelievable, being able to see my son come to town and play in the league,” he said. “This was his goal since he was 4 or 5 … something that he lived for. I was more nervous than him.
“I’m an Alouettes fan now.”
Despite his time in the CFL, and although they talk every other day, the father has been reluctant to dispel too much advice to his son, figuring he should cut his teeth on his own. But he’s always there if the kid needs a sounding board.
“The only thing I warned him about was the speed of the game,” Dan Huclack said. “I also warned him that when he got his first cheque, he’d lose a lot of money in taxes. He called after the first one and said he lost half his pay.”
Only in the CFL.
