David Chidley, CFL.ca
HAMILTON — After spending 11 seasons in the Canadian Football League, offensive lineman Peter Dyakowski announced his retirement on Thursday.
In 2006, Dyakowski was selected 11th overall by the Tiger-Cats in the CFL Draft after spending his collegiate career as an LSU Tiger, where he won the national championship his freshman year and started all 13 games his senior year.
Once in the CFL, Dyakowski went on to make a lasting impact on the city of Hamilton as a true ambassador of the community. In his later years with the Tiger-Cats, he was the longest-tenured player to be wearing the Black and Gold having experienced Ivor Wynne Stadium, the Guelph experience, as well as Tim Hortons Field.
The 6-5, 320-pound offensive lineman appeared in 166 career CFL regular season games with the Tiger-Cats (2007-16) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (2017), making 149 career starts. Dyakowski appeared in 148 games with 131 career starts during his time with the Tiger-Cats. Unfortunately, he missed the entire 2014 regular season as a result of a knee injury, but returned for the playoffs. Dyakowski saw action in 14 career playoff games, including two Grey Cup appearances in 2013 and 2014 with the Tiger-Cats.
Dyakowski was named the Tiger-Cats’ most outstanding offensive lineman in 2011, an East Division All-Star in 2012 and Hamilton’s nominee for the CFL’s Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award for strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contribution to Canadian communities in 2015. He was also voted by his peers to the CFLPA’s All-Star Team in both 2012 and 2013.
Statement by Peter Dyakowski:
“Looking back on the 12 years since the Ticats drafted me, and looking around myself today, I have nearly too much to be thankful for. I worked and played alongside many of the best people in Canadian football, saw my team become a perennial contender, and somehow wound up with a beautiful wife and two perfect* children. I’ve experienced the highest highs in this city with this team, and I lived through points that were as low as low gets. In both cases I was truly fortunate to have many amazing people helping me along. But no one will have space to print this if I thank everyone I ought to individually. So to everyone, the whole Tiger-Cats organization from top to bottom, Vancouver College, LSU (Geaux Tigers!), the entire CFL (especially the ‘Ders – love you guys), the doctors and therapists who put me back together whenever I broke, the equipment managers who tolerated me being the last guy out of the locker room every single day, nearly all of my past teammates, most of my coaches, and all the people of Hamilton, Thank You!”
