Defensive lineman Derek Wiggan is the 2022 recipient of the Calgary Stampeders’ Presidents’ Ring award.

The Presidents’ Ring has been presented annually since 1967 to the Stampeders player who best demonstrates excellence on and off the field as voted by the players. Candidates are judged on their in-game contributions, leadership, inspiration and motivational skills.

“I congratulate Derek for this very well-deserved honour,” said Stampeders president and general manager John Hufnagel. “He is respected by teammates, coaches and management and over the years he has grown into one of the true leaders in the locker room. Derek’s contributions on the field go well beyond any individual statistics he may accumulate and this award makes it clear his teammates recognize how important he is to our team.”

“It’s an honour to be the Presidents’ Ring winner,” said Wiggan. “I thank my teammates and coaches. I’ve been in this organization a long time and to be mentioned in the same breath as our previous winners is one of the best achievements of my career.”

Wiggan is a seven-year veteran who has played 115 career regular-season and post-season games for the Red and White. He has started all 17 games at tackle this season and is part of a defensive unit that leads the Canadian Football League in sacks and is among the top teams in run defence and fewest points allowed. Wiggan has 21 tackles including a team-leading four tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.

The 30-year-old Queen’s University alumnus is one of the Stampeders’ captains this season and is also the team’s representative for the CFL Players Association.

Wiggan has played 109 career regular-season games for Calgary, accumulating 142 tackles including 12 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception and two pass knockdowns. He has also appeared in nine post-season contests and was a member of Calgary’s Grey Cup-championship team in 2018.

Hall-of-Famer Wayne Harris was the first winner of the Presidents’ Ring and 37 different men have been presented with the award. Henry Burris, Danny Barrett and Stu Laird each won the award on three occasions while two-time winners are Rob Cote, Keon Raymond, Jay McNeil, Alondra Johnson, Wayne Harris, Allen Pitts, Lloyd Fairbanks, Bernie Morrison, Ed McAleney, James Sykes, Willie Burden and Jerry Keeling.