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'Big thing we're just trying to do is grow' with familiar and successful roster
Published May 10, 2026 • 6 minute read
Dave Dickenson with the Calgary Stampeders
Head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson, left, talks to the team at the end of practice during the Calgary Stampeders rookie camp at McMahon Stadium on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Gavin Young/Postmedia
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Sunday’s first day of Calgary Stampeders main camp brought to the field a different vibe than in recent seasons past.
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A Grey Cup one, if you will.
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Not only because McMahon Stadium will host the 113th edition of the Canadian Football League championship in November, but because of the terrific turnaround campaign scored by the Red and White in 2025.
“Right now … yeah … you come in and everyone’s talking about it,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson, when asked about the upcoming mission of defending home turf in a possible Grey Cup celebration.
“You can feel a little bit,” continued Dickenson. “And right now, we can talk about the Grey Cup. I know November 15, I want to be coming out of that locker room with the guys — and I sure hope we can do that. But in order to look forward, you’ve got to kind of look where we’re at. And for us, let’s make sure we handle today. We kind of think our guys feel that there’s a heavy competition already. I can tell the rookies are good players. It’s always that when competition is there, you better pay attention to what you’re doing today.”
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Indeed, today is all about bringing their best in an attempt to crack the lineup ahead of the regular-season opener Friday, June 5, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium (7 p.m.).
Of course, after a successful season last year — 11-7 to finish third for a return to the playoffs in the CFL’s West Division — it seems there are fewer questions to answer and fewer spots up for grabs.
Especially since more than half of the 99 campers — 51 — in attendance are returnees.
“The big thing we’re just trying to do is grow,” Dickenson said. “Like everyone should just try to be better — coaches, players … just grow.
“Sometimes you have growing pains, and we know that this is going to get tougher and harder each and every day,” added Dickenson. “But be open to new ideas. Even though you had a good year last year, grow and get better. And obviously, you know another guy’s chasing down your job, so you’re going to have to be better in order to make this team. So we’re just trying to make sure each and every one of us gets better and grows and finds a way to be a better person and the best version of ourselves. If we can do that, I think our team will be a good team.”
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[Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. celebrates his second TD pass against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in first-half CFL action at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025.
'Vernon gives us that opportunity': Stampeders extend contract of QB Adams Jr. with championships in mind](https://calgaryherald.com/sports/stampeders-extend-contract-of-qb-vernon-adams-jr)
2. [Queen's Gaels defensive back Ashton Miller-Melancon intercepts a pass in the Gaels' endzone during Ontario University Athletics action against the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Richardson Stadium. The Gaels won 24-18. The interception was Miller-Melancon's second of the season.
Day 3 of Stampeders rookie camp: Ashton Miller-Melancon a 'dog', 'ball hawk' in trying to crack squad](https://calgaryherald.com/sports/day-3-of-stampeders-rookie-camp-ashton-miller-melancon-a-dog-ball-hawk-in-trying-to-crack-squad)
What does camp look like?
After the Stamps’ three-day rookie camp saw 45 take the field, the team cut three players — American receiver Corey Dyches, American offensive lineman Gerald Mincey and Canadian defensive lineman Jason Janvier-Messier, who was a 2024 draftee by the franchise — ahead of Sunday’s start to the main sessions.
They then signed American receiver Nunu Whatley, a standout with the NCAA’s Arizona Wildcats, to a deal.
That brought the total of hopefuls to 98 under contract, plus young quarterback David Jordan, who is the Calgary Dinos pivot with the Stamps as part of the CFL’s QB internship program.
Here’s a lay of the land at McMahon …
• Two major talents — WR Reggie Begelton (leg fracture) and DL Folarin Orimolade (torn achilles) — are on the injured-veterans list.
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Superstar pass-catcher Begelton said at season’s end last fall he hoped to be ready for Day 1 of camp. He’s not.
And sackmaster Orimolade was hard at work jumping rope on the sidelines Sunday, feeling good but not yet ready for action. Like Begelton, ‘Flo’ is still out indefinitely.
“We would like them back for Week 1 … both,” Dickenson said. “Let’s see what happens.”
• Global DB Bailey Devine-Scott, who rose to become a reliable defender last season, is on the six-game injured list after suffering an injury about a week ago while preparing for the season.
• And American WR Ryan Jones and American OL Ed Montilus have been placed on the suspended list.
Bailey Devine-Scott
Calgary Stampeders DB Bailey Devine-Scott is seen during CFL action in Calgary on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Al Charest/Postmedia file
That left 95 players on the field for the first day of main camp, including 43 fresh faces who made the grade from rookie camp.
“Honestly, I was pretty impressed with how knowledge-based they are,” said Dickenson of his rookie class. “Some of them we got right after the NFL Draft, and they hadn’t had any meetings at all. But they came in and they’re grinding it out and they’re finding ways (to showcase themselves). I think they know what we’re doing now.
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“But that’s pretty much the case always Day 1 and 2, and then around Day 3 or 4, that’s when maybe the overload (of the jump to the professional ranks) comes in a little bit. So let’s see how they respond.”
Who are the off-season additions?
After the success of last season, Dickenson was all about adding to his lineup — and not revamping the roster — over the winter.
That meant fewer big moves, although the Stamps did bring in a few big names via free agency …
• American RB Tyreik McAllister, who was been a runback specialist with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2023 before catching on with the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and the United Football League’s Columbus Aviators the last two seasons.
• Canadian WR Dejon Brissett, who is a two-time Grey Cup winner from his four seasons with the Toronto Argonauts and was named the Most Outstanding Canadian in the Boatmen’s victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 2024 championship game.
• American DB Devodric Bynum, who was a solid defender for the Edmonton Elks the last two campaigns.
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“I’m happy with the team we have here,” said Stamps QB Vernon Adams Jr. “I’m happy with what Dave and (director of player personnel Brendan) Mahoney did in getting majority of the guys back.
“And we added Bynum and Brissett and a former Grey Cup Most Outstanding Canadian, a great returner and running back Tyreik McAllister — he can do it all for us.”
Dejon Brissett playing for the Toronto Argonauts
Dejon Brissett #18 of the Toronto Argonauts is upended by Tyrell Ford #30 of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after making a catch during he first half in CFL action during the 2024 Grey Cup at BC Place on Nov. 17, 2024 in Vancouver, Canada. Rich Lam/Getty Images
Who’s gone from the Stamps?
The talents lost by the Red and White during the off-season are not insignificant, including a couple of key receivers on offence and emerging forces on defence.
Four players retired, including the Stamps’ leading receiver last year and their second-string quarterback.
And a trio of players headed south on contracts with NFL clubs, including their No. 1 draft pick of last spring.
• QB P.J. Walker, who retired only a few weeks back after nine years of pro football, including last year with the Stamps.
• RB Jesrun Antwi, who retired in January after five years of pro football, including last year with the Stamps.
• WR Dominique Rhymes, who led the team with 886 receiving yards last season in his eighth year of pro football.
• WR Damien Alford, who is now with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints after dazzling as a rookie last year as a first-overall selection by the Stamps in the CFL Draft.
• DL Jaylon Hutchings, an all-CFL tackle with the Red and White who was signed by the Minnesota Vikings in January but has since been released by the NFL club.
• LB Jacob Roberts, who is now with the NFL’s Vikings after becoming a key defender in his second season with the Stamps.
• LB Adam Bighill, who retired after playing late last season with the Stamps in trying to return to form from a serious injury.
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“We realized we accomplished some positives last year,” added Dickenson. “I’m not one of these guys that thinks you have to win the Grey Cup to consider it a successful season … I think there’s levels of success. And for us, we want to make sure we’re playing our best football.
“As far as expectations of what we’ve got, we’ve got to be careful on that. Let’s just get better and make sure this week’s important to us and we get better on a daily basis.”
Short yardage
Main camp continues Monday at McMahon (10:15 a.m.) … The Stamps’ first pre-season game goes against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Monday, May 18, at McMahon (1 p.m.) … The second and final pre-season contest for the club is slated for Friday, May 29, against the host Edmonton Elks (7 p.m.).
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
X: @ToddSaelhofPM
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