Leif Pettersen died this week at only 57, the victim of an apparent heart attack. What a shocker. He appeared to be in very good shape. Pettersen joined TSN as a game analyst for the CFL in 1986, the first year the network began televising CFL games. A former CFL receiver, Pettersen was drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1974 and played in the CFL for eight seasons. In 1976, Pettersen's Roughriders lost one of the most memorable Grey Cups when Ottawa's Tony Gabriel caught a long touchdown pass in the last minute to give the Rough Riders the win. However, even in a losing cause, that game was still a career highlight as Pettersen caught seven passes that day and received the game ball from then CFL Commissioner Jake Gaudaur. Traded to the Tiger-Cats in 1978, Pettersen played four more seasons in Hamilton and had another Grey Cup appearance in 1980. Pettersen had his most productive year in 1979, when he led the Eastern Conference in pass receptions, was an All-Star, and was runner up for the Schenley Award as Most Outstanding Canadian. In addition to his role at TSN, Pettersen worked at RBC Sports Professionals & Private Client Group as Director of Business Development, managing banking and investments for more than 800 athletes, coaches and sports executives across North America. Pettersen, a Toronto native, was a founding Governor of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame.
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