Hank Ilesic

Who is Hank Ilesic?

Henry "Hank" Ilesic is a former all-star punter in the Canadian Football League. He also handled place kicking and kickoffs. He was twice an all-star punter and played for the CFL for 19 seasons. He played on seven Grey Cup winning teams, and retired in 2001. He remains third overall for Most Punting Yards, All-Time Regular Season. He played one season in the National Football League.

Ilesic, at 6 feet 1 inch and 210 pounds, went straight from St. Joseph's High School to the CFL, starring with his hometown Edmonton Eskimos at age 17 in 1977. His punting was an essential part of the Eskimos' record-setting five Grey Cup dynasty. He kicked for Edmonton until joining the Toronto Argonauts in 1983, where he won another Grey Cup. He won the record for most punting yards in the regular season in 1986. He remained there until 1993, then played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats until 1995. Ilesic came out of retirement to punt for the B.C. Lions in 1998, playing only three games. Ilesic signed with the Eskimos again in 2001 and to the Ottawa Renegades practice squad in 2005, but did not play in any games.