Doug McNichol, who had a long and stellar career as a football player, began participating in organized sports in his home town of Merritton, near St. Catharines. He played more basketball than football – he was on the Senior Intercollegiate basketball championship team in 1949-1950 – because his school’s football team played only one game a year, against Ridley.

His basketball coach, Angelo Pastore, recognizing his outstanding ability, looked for ways to get him on a college team. As a result Johnny Metras, Western’s renowned coach, offered him a place there, playing basketball. Doug asked if he could try out for football as well – and the rest, as they say, is history.

From 1950 to 1952 he was a lineman for the Western Mustangs, a member of 1950 and 1952 Yates Cup championship team. In 1952, he won the George McCullough Trophy as the team’s MVP. He was also an outstanding basketball player – team captain in 1951 and 1952, on the Ontario-Quebec Athletic Association Basketball Championship team in 1951, and on the All-Star team all three seasons.

In 1953 he was first-round draft choice of the Montreal Alouettes. That season, he was named the Eastern Rookie-of-the-Year, and in 1954 was offered a contract with the New York Giants. That set off a bidding war for his services as a player, won, in the end, by the Alouettes. He stayed with the team for eight seasons, and was named to the Eastern All-Star team six times. In 1958 and 1959, he was selected for the All-Canadian Team.

In 1961, he was traded to the Toronto Argonauts, doubling as a defensive end and tackle for three seasons. After retirement, he coached the East York Argonauts in 1966 and the Bramalea Satellites in 1967, helping each team win the Canadian Senior Championship.

Doug McNichol married his high school sweetheart, Betty McFarlane. They had three children, Scott, Cameron, and Clara. Betty passed away in 1996, and son Scott passed away 1998. Doug still lives in Etobicoke and has 2 grandchildren.