Defensive lineman Connor McGough is pictured signing his new contract with the Calgary Stampeders on Tuesday (Twitter: @calstampeders)

By Mitch Bach / Charles Lefebvre

Putting pen to paper

‘Lost for words’: McGough on signing with Stampeders

Feb 11, 2020 | 1:07 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Local football player Connor McGough will be playing closer to home in the upcoming CFL season.

The former stand-out for the Crescent Heights Vikings has put pen to paper on a two-year contract with the Calgary Stampeders, inking him into the books through the 2021 campaign.

McGough says he penned his signature moments after CFL Free Agency opened at 10:00 a.m. in Calgary. He says the Stamps approached his agent in the days leading up to free-agency, expressing interest in the 6’1″, 249 lbs defender.

“It was pretty smooth,” McGough said. “We came to a mutual respect for one another to get a deal done and I signed off on it this morning. Now it’s official, so it just feels good to have that behind us.”

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The 24-year-old defensive line spent the past three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was selected by the team fourth overall in the 2017 CFL Draft.

“My time in Hamilton the last few years has been a great experience,” said McGough over the phone from Calgary. “I loved it, (made) a lot of memories with the players and coaches, some that I’ll never forget. But it for sure feels good signing here in Calgary. To me, I know it’s not Medicine Hat being home, but Calgary for me now is home, and it feels good to be playing for the home crowd again.”

In his three seasons with the Tiger-Cats, McGough recorded 33 career special-teams tackles, 14 defensive stops including one tackle for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and one knockdown, according to a release from the Stampeders.

The move brings McGough back into McMahon Stadium, where he suited up for four seasons with the University of Calgary Dinos and earned Canada West all-star honours in 2014 and 2016. He was part of two Hardy Cup championship-winning teams with Calgary.

McGough says the last three years in the CFL have taught him valuable professional skills, and the dedication and effort required to play at that level.

Yet, he routinely finds himself reflecting on his days in a Vikings sweater, and even further back when he suited up for the Medicine Hat Pythons.

“Lloyd Bray being there, and Guy Crawford were some of my first head coaches, and it’s cool to see how far I’ve come,” he continued. “Moving to the Vikings with Dustin Ressler, Rod Metz and just having some mentors on my way to high school, Sean Davis being one of those guys. Everything kind of played in part, you know. I was eager to learn and had great coaching staffs and past players who helped me grow into who I am.”

McGough will begin his fourth season in the CFL in Stampeders red and white later this season, in hopes of reaching the Grey Cup game for the second consecutive season.