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The Stampeders special teams will have a familiar face in charge this season.
Newly appointed special-teams coordinator Craig Dickenson spent 2002 and 2004-2009 with the Stamps as a coordinator and has found his way back to the organization to work under his brother and head coach Dave Dickenson.
“It’s been great so far, I love the city of Calgary,” said Craig Dickenson. “I love working for the Stamps, I love representing the horse and looking forward to getting to work for a good organization with my brother leading the way. It’s just been great.”
The brothers have worked together on a Stampeders staff in the past, but Dickenson says this time it’s a little bit different.
“It was early in our careers for both of us,” he said. “Dave was here in 2008 as a player and then the following year he got into coaching as the running backs coach and I was the special-teams coordinator.
“We’ve been here together one other time but it’s different this time with him as the head coach – it’s probably even more enjoyable.”
The veteran coach got right to work this week inserting special-teams plays at rookie camp, which wrapped up on Friday.
“We’re just trying to get a feel for the rookies,” he explained. “Mark Vassett, our new Australian punter, I thought he had a decent day today. The snapper, Jason MacGougan, is a good player from Wilfred Laurier. We’re just trying to start to install our system, our terminology, so when the vets come, (the rookies) aren’t swimming.
“We will be right into it on Sunday, starting with field-goal and then punt and hit the ground running.”
Vassett says Dickenson has been a huge help with getting used to the Canadian game.
“It’s been awesome,” said the second-round global pick out of Colorado. “He’s got a lot of knowledge on the game and he has already been teaching me a lot; it’s been great.”
The Stampeders begin main camp on Sunday before heading off to BC to take on the Lions in their first preseason tune-up Monday, May 19 at 2 p.m. MT. They wrap up exhibition play at home Saturday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. against the Edmonton Elks.