Mark Kilam has seen a lot since becoming Calgary’s special-teams coordinator way back in 2010.

But one thing he has yet to witness in his current role is a Stampeders kickoff return for a touchdown, a feat that was last accomplished in 2009 by the long-departed Titus Ryan.

Hoping this season may be the year the streak comes to an end, Kilam knows just how important it is to obtain a game-breaker at that position.

“I think it’s huge,” said Kilam. “It’s usually one of the more dynamic players on your football team. I think that this game is all about field position and if you have somebody that can change that, it’s only going to bring a spark and energy to the rest of the team.”

While one-time Eskimo Skye Dawson and veteran receiver Anthony Parker are no strangers to the task, numerous players have been vying for the job in training camp including a pair of first-year Stamps listed at five-foot-seven.

Aiming to win the returner position in time for Week 1, Reggie Whatley and Roy Finch are two candidates for fielding both kickoffs and punts on behalf of the Red and White in 2016.

“I don’t know if anyone has the inside track,” offered Kilam, currently the longest-tenured CFL coach with one club as he begins his 12th season. “We chart every drop, we chart every catch and we only have a limited amount of full-cover reps during practice so we have to try to make them count. But it’s really one of those jobs where we have to get to the game, we’ve got to put the lights on, we’ve got to put that guy out there by himself and we’ve got to see what he can do.”

Whatley, who happens to share the same alma mater as former Stampeder and fan favourite Keon Raymond, set a school record as a senior at Middle Tennessee State with a 26.9-yard average on 27 kick returns.

“Returning kicks is just something that comes natural to me,” the Rome, Ga., native affirmed. “That’s my safe place, just catching kickoff returns, and I’m getting used to catching punts. I really didn’t do that in college much but I’m getting comfortable with doing that and it should be good.”

As for Finch, the former Oklahoma Sooner ran back the opening kickoff in a 2012 game against Kansas for a 100-yard touchdown. He was a final cut of the NFL’s New England Patriots in 2014 before a five-game stretch with the Ottawa RedBlacks.

“I feel like if you’re a great returner, you’re a great returner. It doesn’t really matter if you’re in the NFL or the CFL or college,” expressed Finch. “I’m very confident and I’m just ready to do my thing. I wish the best for all the returners, but if you don’t have that mindset that you want to take it for yourself, then I don’t know why you’re out here.”

Although Kilam must always concern himself with a wide array of matters related to special teams, celebrating a kickoff run back for six points would definitely be a mission accomplished.

“It would be great,” Kilam acknowledged. “We’ve had a couple (touchdowns) that we had penalties on (during) punt returns last year so hopefully we can clean that up. But it would feel great. I’ll probably be running down the sideline myself.”