Menu
May 31, 2017

Home is where the heart is for Klassen

Defensive lineman Michael Klassen at 2017 training camp

Even given a change of in-season address and mandatory shift in allegiance, deep down, in the places that count most, the embers of those ol’ home fires continued to crackle and sputter and fizz.

They’d never, truth be told, been fully extinguished.

“It’s a big deal,’’ Michael Klassen is saying Wednesday. “I grew up watching the Stamps. I remember going to the Labour Day Classic and having a blast.

“I was following them on Twitter when it first came out. Whenever in the mid-2000s that was. I still follow them.

“And now I know why.

“Just happy to be home. Weird to be sleeping in my own bed during training camp, though. Out in Montreal everyone gets shipped off to Bishop’s and there you’re sleeping in a cot no wider than your shoulders.

“So this is kinda nice.

“Ultimately this is where I always wanted to be.”

The big man is back where he belongs. All 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds of him. Signed pre-9 a.m.-camp-practice Wednesday by the Stampeders after four years away out east sampling the smoked meat of Montreal.

“It truly is a blessing in disguise,’’ says Klassen, a U of C Dinos standout at defensive tackle for four seasons. “I’m home. I can play in front of family and friends.

“So I’m ecstatic, that’s for sure.”

At 26, armed with the right birth certificate and four years of experience in the league, he adds welcome depth to Calgary’s defensive front.

“I’ve been a fan of his basically since he came out (of college),’’ admitted coach Dave Dickenson. “He’s had some injury things here and there. I think he can play. I’m happy to have him. But he’ll have to earn it.

“We’ll let him come in easy, let him get his feet underneath him and go from there.”

The news Saturday that he’d been released by the Als hit Klassen like a blackjack scything down out of the dark night sky.

“I was in shock,’’ admits Klassen. “A little distraught. A couple sleepless nights. I had no idea if I’d be sitting on my couch for three days, as it ended up being, three months or a year.

“I was ready to just enjoy my summer. I haven’t been to Stampede in four years. I’m a family guy, I like getting outdoors, camping and stuff, and there was never an option in Montreal.

“Being back in Alberta, maybe I can get away and do that kind of stuff on a day off.”

Those who knew him were equally dumbfounded by the news of his dismissal.

“It’s weird,’’ says old Dinos’ teammate Anthony Parker. “I watch TSN to see who got released, like everyone, I guess. Most of the time it’s ‘Okay. Whatever. Doesn’t change my life.’ But when I saw he’d been released on the eve of camp it was disappointing, for sure.

“I knew he’d just re-signed there. So I was upset and confused.

“Then, funnily enough, I was getting here before our meetings last night and I saw him in the parking lot. My first thought was: ‘Maybe we signed him. I sure hope so. Great.’

“And sure enough …

“To be able to play at home after four years away, I couldn’t be happier for him. And for us. He’s a physically gifted, very big human being. He’s going to be a welcome addition on our D-line. And he’s got that Canadian passport.

“He’s a great kid with a positive attitude. You can never have too many of those.”

It a fresh start and a second chance.

“You don’t know how people work their salary caps,’’ says Dickenson. “I’ve noticed a lot of other teams registering new contracts. With me, that means they’ve probably been asked to take a cut.

“Some do. Some don’t.

“I like to think their loss is our gain. I think Mike’s gonna do a good job for us. I’m very excited to have him a part of the Red-and-White.

“I think this is where he belongs. Calgary kid. Good family. So I hope it works out.”

An agreement didn’t take long to finalize. The Stamps sent Klassen’s agent an offer on Tuesday.

“He said: ‘If it’s good enough, do you want to be playing football?’,’’ laughs Klassen. “And I said: ‘Hell, yeah.’

“‘Sign me up.’”

Over his four years, injuries, including a fractured leg, have hampered his progress. A frightening-looking neck issue sustained Nov. 1, 2015, three hours due north at Commonwealth Stadium, for instance, elicited a lot of attention.

“The neck,’’ says Klassen now, “wasn’t a big deal at all. I went down with a little bit of a stinger but because I was complaining about a little neck thing, they had me up on the spine board. It looked a lot scarier than it was.

“Honestly, I was out of that hospital within 20 minutes and I was at the Cactus Club eating dinner with my teammates within the hour.

“Honestly, I’ve been pretty lucky. Yes, I’ve been out two or three times with catastrophic injuries but with all of ‘em  no surgeries were needed and I’ve come back 100 per cent. Versus if something like an Achilles or their ACL (were hurt), so they might never get back to where they’d been before.

“I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in probably in my pro career.”

As one might expect in marking a back-where-he-belongs moment, the air was full of nostalgia Wednesday.

“I played with (Anthony) Woodson, Parker … (Andrew) Buckley, believe or not, was my high-school quarterback,’’ says Klassen. “(Adam) Laurensse I played one year with.

“My mom’s ecstatic. I haven’t told many people yet cause the contract didn’t get signed until right before practice.

“There could’ve been another failed medical. I knew it wouldn’t be an issue but I kinda wanted to wait ’til it was in writing before I started telling people.

“Now I can get on the phone.”

Back home.

Not only personally. But professionally.

“Believe it or not,’’ muses Klassen, nodding to the door leading into the Stamps’ inner sanctum from field-level at McMahon, “for the four years I was with the Dinos and four years I’ve been kinda training on McMahon, I still had never taken a look inside that locker-room.

“This morning was the first time.”

“It’s a real nice set-up. I’m excited.”