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Power thrilled to continue at home career with Stampeders

"There's generally not a long career for guys so to be able to go past the average is something I'm thankful for and proud of and to be able to do it at an organization I grew up watching in the area I call home is made all the more special."
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Okotoks' Charlie Power has re-signed with the Calgary Stampeders for the 2021 season, his eighth with the CFL team. (Photo by David Moll/Calgary Stampeders)

Okotoks football pride will continue to be on display at McMahon Stadium. 

The Calgary Stampeders announced Okotokian fullback and special teams ace Charlie Power has re-signed for his eighth season with the Canadian Football League squad. 

"I was really happy to be able to re-sign for another year,” said Power, the 2009 Holy Trinity Academy alum. "Calgary has kind of always been home, Okotoks is my home, but the area has been my home and this organization has been like a second family to me over the past eight, nine years. There wasn't any doubt in my mind that if I was going to be playing that it was going to be here and I'm just glad we were able to get it done.

"There's generally not a long career for guys so to be able to go past the average is something I'm thankful for and proud of and to be able to do it at an organization I grew up watching in the area I call home is made all the more special."

Though the CFL season was cancelled in 2020, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Power has impressed in his most recent opportunities with the Stamps. 

In 2019, the 29-year-old was third on the team with 15 special teams tackles along with a forced fumble along with a career best four receptions on offence. All told, the University of Saskatchewan alumnus has 69 special teams tackles over seven seasons. 

Having last season not go ahead was disappointing yet understandable for Power, who is one of the Stamps player reps, as the CFL and CFLPA explored the possibilities of a bubble set-up and condensed schedule before ultimately pulling the plug on any league action in 2020.

"It was disappointing as I'm sure everyone in the league and the fans would attest to, but that's the situation we find ourselves in and we've got to go with it," Power said. "It kind of rekindled my love for the game and for the CFL, having that absence.

"It was unfortunate, but I'm excited and hopeful that this season we can get back to business as usual."

The back-and-forth during 2020 was particularly difficult on the CFL players relying exclusively on that income, Power said.

"I know it was frustrating for a lot of guys, I'm lucky enough that I have work outside of football that has kept me afloat, but I know that guys that were relying on that income, having that up in the air, unsure if were going to have a season or not, was tough to deal with," said Power, the co-owner of Spiritleaf Heritage Links. "And on top of that, you've got to make sure you're staying in shape to where if there was a season at the last moment you can go in and compete."

Earlier in the winter, the Stamps players were allowed to train at the stadium for workouts with two in at a time before the more stringent restrictions were handed down by the province in mid-December restricting that kind of training.

One silver lining to the pandemic has been the rare instance for rest time it allowed for the athletes in the absence of game action.

"Guys that had those nagging injuries, I know Bo (Levi Mitchell) with his shoulder, I'm sure a full year off being able to rehab and just let that shoulder rest is going to do him a lot of good," Power added. "Some of the guys that had some of the big knee injuries last season, to be able to rest and for an old guy like me I got a year older, but didn't have that year of wear and tear so my body feels great.

"I think you'll see a healthier start to the season for sure."

Power is a two-time Grey Cup champion, having hoisted the trophy with the Stamps in 2018 and while a member of the practice squad in 2014. 

“Charlie is a mainstay of our team who does unheralded work for us both on offence and special teams,” said Stampeders president and general manager John Hufnagel in a team release. “He’s also a local product who does great work in the community and we’re pleased that he has agreed to remain with the Stamps.”

The CFL has announced a 2021 schedule with the Stamps’ regular season set to kick-off on June 12 and training camp getting underway in mid-May under the best case scenario.

"I wouldn't be surprised if that gets pushed back a bit and we see a bit of a condensed season, just with the way vaccines are rolling out and everything," Power said. "I don't think there's a chance we'll have a full stadium of fans, but if we can get to a place where we have limited fans for as many games as possible, I think that would put the league in the best shape to be able to survive as a business.

"It's one of those things, we'll see."


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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