Hank Ilesic
Encyclopedia
Henry "Hank" Ilesic is a former all-star punter in the Canadian Football League
. He also handled place kicking and kickoffs. He was twice an all-star punter and played for the CFL for 19 seasons. He played on seven Grey Cup winning teams, and retired in 2001. He remains third overall for Most Punting Yards, All-Time Regular Season.He played one season in the National Football League
.
Ilesic, at 6 feet 1 inch and 210 pounds, went straight from St. Joseph's High School to the CFL, starring with his hometown Edmonton Eskimos
at age 17 in 1977. His punting was an essential part of the Eskimos' record-setting five Grey Cup
dynasty. He kicked for Edmonton until joining the Toronto Argonauts
in 1983, where he won another Grey Cup. He won the record for most punting yards in the regular season in 1986. He remained there until 1993, then played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
until 1995. Ilesic came out of retirement to punt for the B.C. Lions in 1998, playing only three games. Ilesic signed with the Eskimos again in 2001 and to the Ottawa Renegades
practice squad in 2005, but did not play in any games.
Ilesic also punted in 1989 for the San Diego Chargers
, punting 76 times in 14 games for 3049 yards, averaging 40.1. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 1990, but did not play.
Ilesic is the CFL's third all-time leading punter in yardage with 91,753 yards. His 8,004 yards in 1986 is the second most for a season in league history. He was on seven Grey Cup winning teams and is eighth all-time in CFL history for regular season games played with 259. His 19 seasons played ranks his tied for fourth all-time. His is also fifth all-time for scoring single points in the regular season with 185, many coming on his exceptionally long kick-offs.
Unlike most modern-day placekickers, Ilesic kicked with the front of his toe and not the side.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He also handled place kicking and kickoffs. He was twice an all-star punter and played for the CFL for 19 seasons. He played on seven Grey Cup winning teams, and retired in 2001. He remains third overall for Most Punting Yards, All-Time Regular Season.He played one season in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Ilesic, at 6 feet 1 inch and 210 pounds, went straight from St. Joseph's High School to the CFL, starring with his hometown Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
at age 17 in 1977. His punting was an essential part of the Eskimos' record-setting five Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
dynasty. He kicked for Edmonton until joining the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
in 1983, where he won another Grey Cup. He won the record for most punting yards in the regular season in 1986. He remained there until 1993, then played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
until 1995. Ilesic came out of retirement to punt for the B.C. Lions in 1998, playing only three games. Ilesic signed with the Eskimos again in 2001 and to the Ottawa Renegades
Ottawa Renegades
Ottawa Renegades was the most recent name of a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario founded in 2002, seven years after the storied Ottawa Rough Riders folded...
practice squad in 2005, but did not play in any games.
Ilesic also punted in 1989 for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, punting 76 times in 14 games for 3049 yards, averaging 40.1. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 1990, but did not play.
Ilesic is the CFL's third all-time leading punter in yardage with 91,753 yards. His 8,004 yards in 1986 is the second most for a season in league history. He was on seven Grey Cup winning teams and is eighth all-time in CFL history for regular season games played with 259. His 19 seasons played ranks his tied for fourth all-time. His is also fifth all-time for scoring single points in the regular season with 185, many coming on his exceptionally long kick-offs.
Unlike most modern-day placekickers, Ilesic kicked with the front of his toe and not the side.