Ben Hladik

Ben Hladik (born March 8, 1999) is a professional Canadian football linebacker for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Ben Hladik
No. 46     BC Lions
Hladik with the Lions in 2023
Born: (1999-03-08) March 8, 1999
Vernon, British Columbia
Career information
StatusActive
CFL statusNational
Position(s)Linebacker
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight235 lb (107 kg)
UniversityBritish Columbia
High schoolVernon Secondary (BC)
CFL Draft2021 / Round: 3 / Pick: 22
Drafted byBC Lions
Career history
As player
2021–presentBC Lions
Career highlights and awards
HonoursFirst Team All-Canadian
(2018)
Second Team All-Canadian
(2019)
Career stats

University career

Hladik played U Sports football for the UBC Thunderbirds from 2017 to 2019.[1] He played in 28 games where he had 189 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, and one interception that he returned 50 yards for a touchdown.[1] He was named a U Sports First Team All-Canadian in 2018 and a Second Team All-Canadian in 2019 and served as the team's defensive captain in both years.[2] He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the 2020 U Sports football season but remained eligible for the 2021 CFL Draft.[2][3]

Professional career

After not playing in 2020, Hladik was ranked as the 16th best prospect in the Canadian Football League's Amateur Scouting Bureau fall rankings for players eligible in the 2021 CFL Draft.[4] He did not appear in the winter or spring rankings, but was still projected to be a high draft pick.[5] Hladik was drafted in the third round, 22nd overall, by the BC Lions in the 2021 draft and signed with the team on May 21, 2021.[6]

He made the team's active roster following training camp and made his professional debut on August 6, 2021, against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.[2] He recorded his first tackles against the Ottawa Redblacks on September 11, 2021, where he had two defensive tackles and two special teams tackles.[2] He played in all 14 regular season games in 2021 where he had two defensive tackles and six special teams tackles.[2]

In 2022, Hladik again made the team's opening day roster and earned more playing time on defense after mostly playing on special teams during his rookie season.[2] Following an injury to Boseko Lokombo, Hladik made his first professional start at linebacker on July 21, 2022, where he had six defensive tackles.[7][8] He later recorded his first career interception on August 6, 2022, against the Edmonton Elks, after picking off Taylor Cornelius.[9] Due to his strong play, Hladik continued to start at linebacker following Lokombo's return to the active roster.[8][10] He played in all 18 regular season games in 2022, starting in 13, where he recorded 59 defensive tackles, six special teams tackles, four pass knockdowns, two sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.[11]

Personal life

Hladik and his wife, Kailyn, were married in April 2020.[12] Hladik's father, Scott, and grandfather, Frank, played high school football in Alberta while his brothers, Bradley and Andy, played football in Vernon.[13]

References
  1. "Ben Hladik". UBC Thunderbirds. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  2. "Ben Hladik". BC Lions. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  3. "2021 CFL Draft to feature some significant changes". Canadian Football League. November 5, 2020.
  4. "Jackson tops fall edition of Scouting Bureau". Canadian Football League. October 8, 2020.
  5. "Canadian Football League clubs high on Okanagan player". Black Press. May 3, 2021.
  6. "Lions Sign Three From 2021 Draft Class: Hladik, Green & Packer". BC Lions. May 21, 2021.
  7. "Hladik ready to fill void with mentor sidelined". BC Lions. July 17, 2022.
  8. "Game Notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  9. "Edmonton Elks vs BC Lions". Canadian Football League. August 6, 2022.
  10. "Lokombo eyeing milestone, peaking for final stretch of '22". BC Lions. September 29, 2022.
  11. "2023 CFL Guide" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  12. "Big Ben's time: UBC's Ben Hladik, part of 'Birds star-studded linebacker class, stops at nothing to impress pro football scouts!". varsityletters.ca. April 22, 2021.
  13. "Life at UBC is all about learning for Ben Hladik". The Province. September 12, 2017.
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