http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Chris_Van_ZeylChris Van Zeyl - Revision history2026-06-02T03:43:14ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.1http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Chris_Van_Zeyl&diff=7854245&oldid=previmported>MallardTV: clean up, typo(s) fixed: December 3, 2008 → December 3, 2008, (3)2025-03-30T20:32:43Z<p>clean up, <a href="/wiki143/index.php?title=WP:AWB/T&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="WP:AWB/T (page does not exist)">typo(s) fixed</a>: December 3, 2008 → December 3, 2008, (3)</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Canadian gridiron football player (born 1983)}}<br />
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography<br />
| name = Chris Van Zeyl<br />
| image = 2022, 54, Chris Van Zeyl.jpg<br />
| image_upright = 1<br />
| caption = Van Zeyl with the Tiger-Cats in 2022<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|9|4}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Fonthill, Ontario]], Canada<br />
| death_date = <br />
| death_place = <br />
| team = <br />
| number = <br />
| status = Retired<br />
| import = no<br />
| position1 = [[Offensive tackle]]<br />
| height_ft = 6<br />
| height_in = 6<br />
| weight_lb = 312<br />
| college = [[McMaster Marauders football|McMaster]]<br />
| high_school = [[Notre Dame College School|Notre Dame]]<br />
| CFLDraftedYear = 2007<br />
| CFLDraftedRound = 3<br />
| CFLDraftedPick = 18<br />
| CFLDraftedTeam = [[Montreal Alouettes]]<br />
| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|2007|2008}}<br />
| playing_team1 = [[Montreal Alouettes]]*<br />
| playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|2008|2018}}<br />
| playing_team2 = [[Toronto Argonauts]]<br />
| playing_years3 = {{CFL Year|2019|2023}}<br />
| playing_team3 = [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]]<br />
| career_footnotes = <nowiki/>*Offseason and/or practice squad member only<br />
| career_highlights = * [[Grey Cup]] champion ([[100th Grey Cup|2012]], [[105th Grey Cup|2017]])<br />
* [[CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award]] - {{CFL Year|2019}}<br />
* [[Leo Dandurand Trophy]] - {{CFL Year|2019}}<br />
| CFLAllStar = {{CFL Year|2013}}, {{CFL Year|2017}}, {{CFL Year|2019}}<br />
| CFLEastAllStar = {{CFL Year|2013}}, {{CFL Year|2014}}, {{CFL Year|2016|2019}}, {{CFL Year|2021}}<br />
| CFL = chris-van-zeyl/135432/<br />
}}<br />
'''Chris Van Zeyl''' (born September 4, 1983) is a Canadian former professional [[gridiron football]] [[offensive tackle]] who played for 15 years in the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL) for the [[Montreal Alouettes]], [[Toronto Argonauts]], and [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]]. He is a two-time [[Grey Cup]] champion with the Argonauts and was named a CFL All-Star three times and CFL East Division All-Star seven times. He was also named the [[CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award|CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman]] in {{CFL Year|2019}}. He played [[CIS Football]] for the [[McMaster Marauders football|McMaster Marauders]] as a [[defensive lineman]].<br />
<br />
==University career==<br />
Van Zeyl played for the [[McMaster Marauders football]] team from [[2004 CIS football season|2004]] to [[2007 CIS football season|2007]] as a [[defensive tackle]]. He recorded 42 defensive tackles, 11 sacks, and one forced fumble over his tenure there. He was named a [[2007 CIS football season#First Team|2007 CIS First-Team All-Canadian]] and the Marauder Lineman of the Year.<ref>[https://cflpa.com/players/chris-van-zeyl/ CFLPA Chris Van Zeyl bio]</ref><br />
<br />
==Professional career==<br />
===Montreal Alouettes===<br />
Van Zeyl was drafted in the third round with the 18th overall pick in the [[2007 CFL Draft]] by the [[Montreal Alouettes]] and attended training camp with the Alouettes but returned to McMaster in August. He noted that the Alouettes intention was for him to remain as a defensive lineman as a professional player, which was his preferred position.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.niagarathisweek.com/community-story/3296432-niagara-gridiron-grads-selected-in-the-cfl-draft/|title=Niagara gridiron grads selected in the CFL draft|work=niagarathisweek.com|date=May 11, 2007|access-date=August 20, 2018}}</ref> He re-joined Montreal in October and remained on the [[practice roster]] for the remainder of the [[2007 Montreal Alouettes season]].<ref name="argos bio">{{cite web|url=https://www.argonauts.ca/players/chris-van-zeyl/135432/|title=Chris Van Zeyl|work=Player Roster|publisher=Toronto Argonauts Football Club|access-date=2018-08-20}}</ref> Van Zeyl attended the [[2008 Montreal Alouettes season|2008 Montreal Alouettes]] training camp and was again added to the practice roster but was released on September 3, 2008.<br />
<br />
===Toronto Argonauts===<br />
On September 5, 2008, Van Zeyl signed with the [[Toronto Argonauts]] as a free agent and was assigned to the Argos practice roster.<ref name="argos bio"/> He was converted to the offensive side of the ball as an offensive lineman and remained on the practice roster for the rest of the year.<ref name="2017 extension">[https://www.argonauts.ca/2017/01/31/van-zeyl-signs-three-year-extension-toronto/ Van Zeyl Signs Three-Year Extension in Toronto]</ref> He re-signed with Toronto on December 3, 2008, for the [[2009 Toronto Argonauts season]] but was released at the end of training camp.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=282845|author=The Canadian Press|title=Running back Ebell among 21 players released by Argonauts|date=2009-06-25|publisher=TSN.ca|access-date=2009-06-25}}</ref> He was re-signed to the [[practice roster]] on June 27, 2009. He was signed to the active roster on August 27 and dressed in his first professional regular season game on August 28, 2009, in a loss to the [[Calgary Stampeders]]. He got his first playing opportunity on October 16, 2009, when starting right tackle, [[Brian Ramsay]], suffered an injury and Van Zeyl was pressed into action. He started his first professional game on October 23, 2009, against the [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]] as well as the last two games of the season.<ref name="argos bio"/><br />
<br />
In 2010, Van Zeyl entered the season as the team's starting right offensive tackle and played in 14 regular season games, missing four due to injury. He recorded his first career reception on a 10-yard pass from [[Cleo Lemon]] in the [[Labour Day Classic]] on September 6, 2010, but was injured on the play and had to sit out the next game.<ref>[https://www.cfl.ca/games/1684/toronto-argonauts-vs-hamilton-tiger-cats/?_ga=2.36145632.1724405053.1534292370-2111688326.1477765183 Toronto Argonauts vs Hamilton Tiger-Cats September 6, 2010]</ref><ref name="argos bio"/> He started at right tackle in both playoff games for the Argonauts that year, which were his first post-season starts. He played and started in 15 regular season games in 2011 as the Argonauts missed the playoffs for the third time in four years.<br />
<br />
During the [[2012 Toronto Argonauts season]], Van Zeyl started 17 regular season games at right tackle and recorded his first special teams tackle in week 4 against the [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]].<ref name="argos bio"/> He started in all three post-season games, including the [[100th Grey Cup]] where he earned his first [[Grey Cup]] championship in the Argonauts' victory. In 2013, Van Zeyl started 17 regular season games and one playoff game, primarily at right guard, en route to being named a [[2013 CFL season#2013 CFL All-Stars|CFL All-Star]] for the first time in his career.<ref>[https://www.cfl.ca/2013/12/03/star-power-2013-all-stars-announced/ Star Power: 2013 All-Stars announced]</ref><br />
<br />
On July 8, 2014, Van Zeyl signed an extension through the 2016 season with the Argonauts.<ref>[https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/toronto-argonauts-sign-all-star-tackle-chris-van-zeyl-through-2016-1.1903907 Toronto Argonauts sign all-star tackle Chris Van Zeyl through 2016]</ref> He started in all 17 regular season games that he played in during the [[2014 Toronto Argonauts season|2014 season]] and was named an East All-Star at offensive tackle. In 2015, he played in only 14 regular season games, starting 13, while also starting the East Semi-Final game. In 2016, he started all 18 regular season games for the first time in his career and was again named an East All-Star at offensive tackle.<br />
<br />
During the offseason, Van Zeyl signed another contract extension with the Argonauts on January 13, 2017, through to the [[2019 CFL season]].<ref name="2017 extension"/> He played and started in 16 regular season games for the team and was named a CFL All-Star for the second time in his career.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2017/12/05/stars-aligned-2017-cfl-stars-revealed/|title=Stars Aligned: 2017 CFL All-Stars revealed|date=December 5, 2017}}</ref> He started at right tackle for both post-season games, including his second [[Grey Cup]] championship in the Argonauts' [[105th Grey Cup]] victory over the Stampeders.<ref name="argos bio"/> He started 17 games at right tackle in [[2018 CFL season|2018]] and was once again named an East Division All-Star.<ref name="2018 divstars">{{cite web|title=Star Power: 2018 CFL Divisional All-Stars Announced|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2018/11/07/star-power-2018-cfl-divisional-stars-announced/|publisher=[[Canadian Football League]]|access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref> In a reportedly salary cap-related move, the Argonauts released Van Zeyl on the day before the start of training camp on May 18, 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/05/18/argos-release-ol-chris-van-zeyl/|title=Argos release OL Chris Van Zeyl|date=May 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://3downnation.com/2019/05/18/argos-release-van-zeyl-avoid-40k-report-and-pass-bonus/|title=Argos release Canadian OL Chris Van Zeyl, avoid $40K report and pass bonus|date=May 18, 2019}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Hamilton Tiger-Cats===<br />
On the same day of his Toronto release, the [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]] signed Van Zeyl to a two-year contract on May 18, 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/05/18/report-ticats-ink-van-zeyl-2020/|title=Ticats ink Van Zeyl through 2020|date=May 18, 2019}}</ref> He started 17 regular season games and two post-season games for the Tiger-Cats and was named a CFL All-Star for the third time in his career.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stars Aligned: 2019 CFL All-Stars unveiled |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/11/27/stars-aligned-2019-cfl-stars-unveiled/ |publisher=[[Canadian Football League]]|date=2019-11-27}}</ref> He re-signed with the Tiger-Cats on January 12, 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=CFL's 2019 Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Van Zeyl re-signs with Tiger-Cats |url=https://ticats.ca/article/cfls-2019-most-outstanding-offensive-lineman-van-zeyl-re-signs-with-tiger-cats |website=TiCats.ca |date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=February 22, 2021}}</ref> Van Zeyl played in seven games for the Ticats during the [[2021 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season|2021 season]]. On July 26, 2022, midway through the [[2022 CFL season|2022 season]], the Tiger-Cats placed Van Zeyl on the six-game injured list.<ref>{{Cite web |author=3Down Staff |date=2022-07-27 |title=Hamilton Tiger-Cats move offensive lineman Chris Van Zeyl to six-game injured list |url=https://3downnation.com/2022/07/27/hamilton-tiger-cats-move-offensive-lineman-chris-van-zeyl-to-six-game-injured-list/ |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=3DownNation |language=en-US}}</ref> He only played in six games during the [[2022 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season|2022 season]].<br />
<br />
On May 30, 2023, Van Zeyl was activated from the injured veteran list. At 39 years of age he was the oldest player in the league.<ref>{{Cite web |author=3Down Staff |date=2023-05-30 |title=Hamilton Tiger-Cats activate Canadian OL Chris Van Zeyl, sign one |url=https://3downnation.com/2023/05/30/hamilton-tiger-cats-activate-canadian-ol-chris-van-zeyl-sign-one/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=3DownNation |language=en-US}}</ref> He began the season on the injured reserve list, but was activated on June 21, 2023, before the team's third game.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-21 |title=Hamilton Tiger-Cats Canadian OL Chris Van Zeyl activated from six-game injured list |url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/hamilton-tiger-cats-canadian-ol-chris-van-zeyl-activated-from-six-game-injured-list-1.1975821 |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=TSN |language=en-CA}}</ref> Van Zeyl played in six regular season games in [[2023 Hamilton Tiger-Cats season|2023]] as a backup offensive lineman.<ref name=3DownRetired>{{Cite web |author=3Down Staff |date=2024-04-06 |title=Award-winning Canadian OL Chris Van Zeyl announces retirement from CFL |url=https://3downnation.com/2024/04/06/award-winning-canadian-ol-chris-van-zeyl-announces-retirement-from-cfl/ |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=3DownNation |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
<br />
On April 6, 2024, Van Zeyl announced his retirement from professional football.<ref name=3DownRetired/><ref name=cflRetired>{{Cite web |author=cfl.ca staff |date=2024-04-06 |title=15-year CFL vet Chris Van Zeyl announces retirement |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2024/04/06/15-year-cfl-vet-chris-van-zeyl-announces-retirement/ |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=cfl.ca |language=en-US}}</ref> In his career, he appeared in 192 regular season games, 12 playoff games, and four [[Grey Cup]] games, including two championship victories.<ref name=3DownRetired/><ref name=cflRetired/><br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist|30em}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://ticats.ca/players/135432 Hamilton Tiger-Cats bio]<br />
<br />
{{CFL Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award}}<br />
{{100th Grey Cup}}<br />
{{105th Grey Cup}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Zeyl, Chris}}<br />
[[Category:1983 births]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Canadian football offensive linemen]]<br />
[[Category:McMaster Marauders football players]]<br />
[[Category:Montreal Alouettes players]]<br />
[[Category:Sportspeople from the Regional Municipality of Niagara]]<br />
[[Category:Players of Canadian football from Ontario]]<br />
[[Category:Toronto Argonauts players]]<br />
[[Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players]]</div>imported>MallardTV