The Montreal-raised René Paredes has been signed for yet another year with the Calgary Stampeders. He has been with the team for 11 years thus far. This will be his 12th season overall. Stamps fans should be happy, because a big part of their great performance this year, and in recent years, was helped in large part by the Montrealer.
His stats this year show quite the work put in to helping almost nab that top spot in the West Division—something made exceptionally hard by the extraordinarily strong Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the BC Lions, who defeated the Stamps for that number 2 spot in the West Division.
The Lions would go on to lose to the Bombers of course.
And of the stats this past season, Paredes covered just about 90% of the field goal attempts and that is a CFL record—a league record—something he’s done 6 years in a row, as stamperders.com reports.
He played his college ball for Concordia University, the Concordia Stingers, and made quite the impression there. He was first signed in the CFL with the aforementioned Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but after his release from the team in 2011, he was signed with the Calgary Stampeders…a relationship that is still benefitting from that first meeting, so to speak.
And what an 11 year period it’s been. He is a CFL All-Star 5 years so far including 2022, he is a 2-time Grey Cup Champion (with the Stamps of course), and it doesn’t stop there.
He had the following to say about the opportunity to stay with the team he has become so enamored with and certainly is loyal to.
“I’m truly honored and humbled to come back for my 12th season in the Red and White…I can’t wait to get back on the field next year and compete for a championship.”
vi stampeders.com
John Hufnagel, who of course is the Stampeders president and general manager, had this to say on Paredes being re-signed for a 12th season:
“…He is one of the greatest kickers in Canadian Football League history and his consistency and reliability since the beginning of his career have played an important role in our team’s success.”
via stampeders.com (link above)
High praise indeed and well merited, too.
And as far as the praise from the Stampeders fans, that is also there. Something he’s way into giving back to. As of this writing, he is scheduled to do a signing alongside Reggie Begelton at the Stamps Store from 11 in the morning to 1 in the afternoon (November 19th), as per stampeders.com.
In the end it’s that relationship with the Stamps fans (also the team itself), and how much he gives of himself out there on the gridiron that makes him a definite fan favorite and a treasure for a team that is getting nothing but better.
Here’s to the 2023 Season, Stamps fans.
*For all of your CFL News and Info: CFL News Hub
