Canadian Football Hall of Fame to welcome Alondra Johnson

Middle linebacker Alondra Johnson, offensive linemen Jim Mills and Rudy Phillips, defensive lineman Glen Weir and longtime Calgary Stampeders director Tony Anselmo are headed to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Johnson, Mills, Phillips and Weir will be inducted in the players category while Anselmo will go in as a builder.  Builders are those who have made an outstanding contribution to football in Canada other than as a player.

The five will be formally inducted during ceremonies to be held Sept, 24-26 in Winnipeg, bringing the Hall of Fame membership to 239. The Canadian Football Hall of Fame has been located in Hamilton since 1963.

"This is a very deserving class. These gentlemen played at a high level, rarely in the spotlight, but are very deserving of this honour, especially being voted in by their peers," Hall of Fame executive director Mark DeNobile said in a news release.

"These men personify what's great about Canadian football, from electrifying plays on the field while working to make our game and our communities stronger off the field."

Johnson broke into the CFL in 1989, signing a free-agent contract with B.C. and was the Lions' nominee for top defensive player that season.

He joined the Stampeders two years later and was named a Western Division all-star in 1991, 1992, 1997, 1998 and 2000. Johnson was also named an all-Canadian in 1995, 1998 and 2000.

3 Grey Cup rings

A three-time Grey Cup champion, he was voted defensive player of the game in the 1998 CFL championship after posting seven defensive tackles, a record at the time.

In 2002, Johnson surpassed the 1,000 mark in defensive tackles and sits third all-time.

Mills, an offensive tackle, was a West all-star in 1988, 1990, '91, '92 and '93 with B.C. while taking home all-Canadian honours in 1988, '90 and '91.

The CFL's most outstanding lineman back-to-back in 1990 and '91, he played one season for the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1994 before ending his playing career with the Lions the following season.

Phillips, a one-time offensive guard, was named the league's best lineman in 1982 and '83. After the '84 season, he pursued a career in the National Football League but returned to the CFL in 1986 with the Edmonton Eskimos.

An East all-star in 1982 and '83, the three-time all-Canadian was given the nod in the West in '86.

Weir rarely missed a game in 13 CFL seasons, earning him the reputation as one of the most durable players in Montreal Alouettes history.

Weir a 3-time all-Canadian

An East all-star six times and all-Canadian on three occasions, the defensive tackle was named most outstanding defensive player in the 1977 Grey Cup.

Weir began his professional career in 1972 with the Alouettes following a trade from Hamilton. His breakout season came three years later when Weir was chosen as an East all-star and all-Canadian. In addition, he was Montreal's nominee for the Schenley Awards outstanding defensive player.

Anselmo has been actively involved with the Stampeders since 1973 and part of the McMahon Stadium Society since 1974.

In 1991, Anselmo was a major partner in the successful transition of the Stampeder Football Club from a community-based team to private ownership.

The founder and director of the Stampeder Football Club Wall of Fame Committee, Anselmo is also an active member of the Stampeder Alumni Association and member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

"Tony Anselmo typifies a tremendous group of people in our league, builders who are true CFL stars without ever wearing a number," CFL commissioner Mark Cohon said in a statement. "He deserves to be honoured for his contribution to making the Calgary Stampeders a first-class organization and McMahon Stadium a wonderful place to watch Canadian football."