• Twice awarded the Beaumont trophy as the best wrestler in the WCIAA and chosen as the male athlete of the year at the University of Alberta in 1970.
• MVP of the Edmonton Druids Rugby Club and selected to play on both the Edmonton and the Alberta representative rugby teams.
• The first wrestler named to Canada's Olympic Wrestling team in 1968, placing ninth at the Games.
• Refereed at the national level in wrestling and coached high-school rugby, swimming, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling, winning six City of Edmonton rugby championships.
• The Edmonton Boxing and Wrestling Commission has honoured him for his outstanding contributions to amateur wrestling.

Born in Calgary, Alberta, Brian Heffel (BPE ’65) moved at an early age to Edmonton where he attended school and starred on many high school athletic teams. It was a natural transition for him to move on to the University of Alberta and to enter the field of Physical Education.

In an era when athletic specialization was the norm, Brian Heffel won Block A awards in three sports: wrestling, rugby and swimming. This was a significant accomplishment by a superb athlete. Brian enjoyed rugby and swimming but his great love was the sport of wrestling – a sport where in Canada, he dominated his weight class from 1964 to 1970. Twice awarded the Beaumont trophy as the best wrestler in the WCIAA, Brian was the first wrestler named to Canada’s Olympic Wrestling team for the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. He placed 9th in the world in these games – an excellent result given the outstanding quality of his competitors.

In 1969-1970, while studying for a Master’s degree in Physical Education, Brian’s outstanding athleticism was recognized by the University of Alberta when he was awarded the Wilson Trophy as Male Athlete of the Year. During that year he competed in 70 matches and compiled a record of 68 victories and 2 draws (both to American wrestlers). Brian was also and outstanding rugby player. He was twice named the MVP of Edmonton Druids Rugby Club and he was selected to play on both the Edmonton and the Alberta representative rugby teams. His is a legacy of remarkable athletic accomplishments.

Brian has continued to contribute to society in his professional career as a high school teacher and coach; through his career as a local, provincial and national wrestling referee; and a sport administrator in the city, as well as at the provincial level. Brian Heffel coaches high school rugby, swimming, track & field, volleyball and wrestling. His Bonnie Doon Lancer Senior Rugby teams won six City of Edmonton championships and he lead the Druid Juniors Men’s Rugby team to a city Championship as well. Significantly, the Edmonton Boxing and Wrestling Commission has honoured Brian for his outstanding contributions to amateur wrestling over the past decades. His excellence, dedication and commitment have strengthened amateur wrestling’s positive profile in Edmonton and in Alberta. He is a role model, a leader in whom the University of Alberta can well take pride.

We are fortunate that Brian Heffel came our way and shared with us this great legacy.