SPORTS

Stampeders star Jon Cornish named finalist as CFL's top player

The Canadian Press Published Thursday, November 7, 2013 10:23AM EST

In this file photo, Calgary Stampeders' Jon Cornish walks back to the bench after helping injured teammate Micah Johnson to the locker room during first half CFL football action against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday November 1, 2013. (Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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TORONTO -- Jon Cornish is up for two of the CFL's top individual awards.

The Calgary Stampeders running back was named the West Division finalist for the CFL's outstanding player and top Canadian honours Thursday in voting conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the league's eight head coaches.

Toronto Argonauts quarterback Ricky Ray was named the East Division nominee as outstanding player.

Cornish, a native of New Westminster, B.C., will attempt to become the first Canadian to be named the CFL's top player since Tony Gabriel of the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1978.

Cornish was the lone multiple finalist and one of four Stampeders to receive West Division nominations. The others include defensive end Charleston Hughes (defensive player), centre Brett Jones (rookie) and kicker Rene Paredes (special-teams player).

Brendon LaBatte of the Saskatchewan Roughriders was the West Division finalist as top lineman.

Joining Ray as the East Division finalists were Montreal linebacker Chip Cox (defensive player), Winnipeg linebacker Henoc Muamba (Canadian), Toronto centre Jeff Keeping (lineman) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats C.J. Gable (rookie) and Marc Beswick (special-teams player).

There were no unanimous selections. A record eight Canadians received nominations.

The CFL will honour its top performers Nov. 21 in Regina.