CFL loses 3-time Grey Cup champion Patterson

Harold (Prince Hal) Patterson, a three-time Canadian Football League all-star who won three Grey Cups over his Hall of Fame career, has died.

He was 79.

Patterson spent seven years with the Montreal Alouettes before starting a seven-year run with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1961. He won his first Grey Cup in 1963 and added title wins in '65 and '67.

During his days with the Alouettes, Patterson was a favourite target of legendary quarterback Sam (The Rifle) Etcheverry. Patterson won the league's most outstanding player award in 1956 and set a team record of 11 100-yard receiving games in a single season that year.

The record stood for over half a century, until current Alouettes receiver Jamel Richardson broke it this past season with 12.

Patterson, who played in seven Grey Cup games over his 14-year career, died Monday, the Alouettes said in a news release. There was no immediate word on the cause of death.

Patterson finished his career with 75 touchdowns and 460 receptions for 9,473 yards — a whopping 20.6-yard average.

He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1971. The Alouettes retired Patterson's No. 75 in November 2008.

Funeral services will be held in his native Kansas on Saturday.