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Bruce Covernton was recognized for lighting opponents up on the soccer subject and lighting up hearts off it.
However the gentle within the well-regarded Calgary Stampeders offensive lineman went darkish in a single day Tuesday when he died in his sleep at a lot too younger of an age.
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Covernton — a “larger-than-life character” — was simply 57.
“It’s positively a tricky day,” mentioned former Stampeders teammate Jamie Crysdale, his voice stuffed with emotion.
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“Yeah … I imply … Bruce was the ‘Tuna’,” continued Crysdale, who performed alongside Covernton on the Stampeders’ offensive line within the mid-Nineties. “It’s humorous, as a result of whenever you checked out his profession, he performed for a number of years max. However whenever you take a look at how nicely he was recognized on the town, you’ll have thought he performed for 20 years. He was positively an enormous a part of the group and the neighborhood.”
In truth, Covernton performed for 5 years — from 1992 by ’96 — with the Stampeders.
The native of Morris, Man., was an anchor on the o-line, twice incomes CFL West Division all-star honours and being named a league all-star on one event. He performed 72 regular-season video games for the Pink and White and was the crew’s Most Excellent Rookie in 1992 and Most Excellent Offensive Lineman.
“He was robust, tenacious and a (crap)-talker,” mentioned Crysdale with a chuckle. “I really feel sorry for Rocco (Romano), as a result of Rocco performed beside him for a very long time and Bruce was heat-seeking on a regular basis and when he didn’t have anyone to hit, 50% of the time, it was Rocco that obtained hit whereas he was blocking somebody. ’Tuna’ was positively into the bodily facets of the sport.
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“He was a type of guys that simply obtained after it.”
One other former teammate, newly appointed Stamps president Jay McNeil, agreed.
“When Bruce was in his prime, there was no person higher,” McNeil mentioned. “He dominated at left sort out.”
Sadly, the 1992 draftee — a first-overall choose and the first-ever by then-Stamps GM Wally Buono — from NCAA’s Weber State Wildcats had his profession reduce brief by harm.
He was out of motion for all however one sport in 1995 and remained with the crew in ’97 and ’98 regardless of being injured earlier than leaving the game with two Gray Cup rings — in 1992 and ’98 — from championships received with the Stamps.
However soccer adopted him into retirement, as he grew to become an lively member of the Stampeder Alumni Affiliation.
“He all the time tried to make everyone snort,” Crysdale mentioned. “That was his factor. I don’t know if that was only a cowl of his personal disappointment or no matter. However I inform you, he all the time made a degree to be sure that he was the sunshine of the room, attempting to all the time make everyone have a very good time.”
And Covernton was recognized for being a frequent participant in Calgary’s neighborhood actions and causes throughout and after his enjoying profession.
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“It’s pretty public information that he went by numerous ups and downs following the top of his soccer profession, however that made him one of the vital resilient hardest folks I knew,” mentioned McNeil, calling Covernton one among his closest associates. “And his dedication to the neighborhood and to serving to different folks by no means wavered, no matter what was taking place in his life and all his ups and downs. And this isn’t a cliché, however he was really inspirational to all of us due to his willingness to assist folks.
“For that, I’ve super admiration and respect for him.”
Finally, Covernton grew to become a accomplice of Champion Staffing — a staffing and recruitment providers company — in downtown Calgary.
“Currently was the very best I’ve seen him in a very long time,” McNeil mentioned. “His psychological well being was good, as was his bodily well being. He was getting higher. It was nice to see. He was only a nice man to be round. An enormous character, an enormous coronary heart and an incredible good friend.”
Added Crysdale, “He did have an enormous, large coronary heart. After I sit right here and take into consideration all of the those who he has touched through the years, I don’t suppose there’s a constructing or a venue on the town giant sufficient to carry all of the folks that may wish to say, ‘What a very good man.’
“He was.”
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
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