It is with great sadness the Stampeders learn of the death of alumnus Mike Labinjo. He was 38.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of Mike’s death,” said Stampeders president and general manager John Hufnagel. “He was a big man with a big personality to match and he was a key part of our Grey Cup championship team in 2008. The team offers its condolences to Mike’s family and friends.”

A defensive lineman, Labinjo was drafted by Calgary in 2003 and joined the Stamps in 2007 after playing a total of 10 games with the National Football League’s Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts. In 44 games with the Red and White from 2007 to 2010, the Toronto native recorded 61 defensive tackles including nine tackles for loss, seven special-teams tackles, six sacks, seven knockdowns and two fumble recoveries.

An alumnus of Michigan State University, Labinjo was part of the Stamps’ Grey Cup-winning team in 2008 and was a standout in the West final victory over the BC Lions that year, recording three sacks and a forced fumble and making two touchdown-saving stops as part of a critical goal-line stand.

He followed up that performance with three tackles, a sack and three knockdowns in the Stamps’ Grey Cup victory over Montreal.

Labinjo remained in Calgary at the conclusion of his playing career, working at Solengo Capital and FirstService Residential.