For the second year in a row, defensive lineman Derek Wiggan is the 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.

Wiggan becomes the 16th player to win the Presidents’ Ring on multiple occasions. Henry Burris, Danny Barrett and Stu Laird each won the award on three occasions while Wiggan joins the group of two-time recipients that also includes 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.

“I congratulate Derek for once again being named the winner of this prestigious award,” said Stampeders president John Hufnagel. “This is further proof of how much he is respected and valued by his teammates and he is also very highly regarded by the Stampeders coaching staff and management. Derek is unquestionably one of the pillars of our team both on and off the field.”

“I’m deeply honoured to have been selected a second time for the Presidents’ Ring,” said Wiggan. “I am very humbled by this. I love coming into work with this group. My teammates motivate me to be the best player, person and leader I can be.”

Wiggan is a seven-year veteran who has played 137 career regular-season and post-season games for the Red and White. He has started all 17 games at tackle this season and has tied his career high with four sacks. Wiggan also has 15 tackles including a tackle for loss.

The 31-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 127 career regular-season games for Calgary, accumulating 159 tackles including 13 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception and two pass knockdowns. He has also appeared in 10 post-season contests and was a member of Calgary’s Grey Cup-championship team in 2018.