Cam Thorn admits he was blindsided.

After two full seasons with the BC Lions that saw him appear in each and every game — 36 in the regular season and two in the playoffs — the offensive lineman was informed his services were no longer required.

“I was caught so off guard,” acknowledged the 26-year-old Midhurst, Ont., product, “but I think this is a blessing in disguise. I was shocked for a few days but I kept working and waiting for a phone call.”

That call came from the Calgary Stampeders, who brought Thorn in for his first practice in Red and White on Wednesday. The Stamps just happen to have another University of Guelph alum — punter Rob Maver — on the roster.

“I used to snap to him, so it’s pretty cool to have that connection,” said Thorn, who is also acquainted with Stamps guard and fellow Ontarian Shane Bergman.

Moving one province east isn’t that big of an adjustment for Thorn, who had a major adjustment to make just to become a pro. For the first four years of his university career, he played exclusively on the defensive side of the ball.

“(The Lions) told me they were going to going to draft me as an o-lineman,” he said, “so my first time playing o-line was at a pro camp (in 2013).”

The Lions sent him back to Guelph after camp and he remained on the o-line.

So a steep learning curve was surely in order, right? A slow but steady progress towards a professional career?

Hardly. Thorn thrived at his new position, earning first-team Ontario all-star honours and a second-team all-Canadian nod.

“It was pretty wild,” he said. “I never thought it was going to happen. I think most of it was just the aggressiveness off the football and just keep moving. You’ve just got to keep your motor going.

“Now, I’m pretty much an offensive lineman. I’ve had two years (in the CFL) so I’m a vet now and I have to treat myself like a vet. I think I’m getting a lot better with just the knowledge of the game.”