Former Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Ken Reed dies in car accident

(Riderville.com)

The Saskatchewan Roughriders say former CFL linebacker and defensive end Ken Reed has died.

A spokesperson for the team said Friday that Reed and his wife had died in a car accident in Fort St. John, B.C.

Reed played for Saskatchewan from 1965 to 1970 after spending his first two seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos. He won a Grey Cup with the Riders in 1966, the team's first CFL championship in franchise history.

"Ken Reed was a great player, a mainstay in the local business community and an even better person," Riders president and CEO Jim Hopson said in a release. "Ken came here as a young American football player and helped us win a Grey Cup.

"He made the area his permanent home while opening a successful business following his career. He truly will be missed."

As a Roughrider, Reed played in the 1966, 1967 and 1969 Grey Cup games. He was a member of the 1970 Saskatchewan team that posted a 14-2 record, the best in franchise history, while also being named a West all-star in 1969.

Reed was inducted into the Saskatchewan Roughriders Plaza of Honor in 2006.