Passion powered Caron’s return
Stamps linebacker finally gets his shot after injuries cost him two full seasons
CALGARY — Max Caron is in his third season with the Calgary Stampeders.
He played his first game on Friday night.
The hard-luck linebacker was the feel-good story after the Stamps capped off a perfect record at home with a 31-13 victory over the Toronto Argonauts.
Caron tore his left Achilles tendon in his first pre-season game in 2014. Done for the year.
The Kingston, Ont., product ripped the other Achilles on the first day of training camp in 2015. Done for the year.
A lesser man might have thrown in the towel at that point.
Not Caron. He was determined to make it back.
“This is my passion,” Caron said. “I don’t have a ton of other passions because I put myself into (football).
“There were definitely a lot of dark periods. And with professional football, there’s certainly no guarantee you’re going to come back and play.
“Part of it came down to you only have so much time in life to do what you love. My focus with just to take a run at making the team.
“And then to make the team, stick with them the whole year and get that opportunity (Friday) night, it was a dream come true.”
Caron first realized he had a shot at realizing his dream of playing pro football when he honed his skills at Concordia in Montreal.
Stamps defensive tackle Quinn Smith played on the same Stingers defence for four years and understands why the Stamps were willing to wait nearly three years to get the 27-year-old on the field.
“He’s a very special player,” Smith said. “During my four years of college, he was our captain, he was our leader. I thought he was one of the best players in that (2014 CFL) draft.
“Obviously, there was a series of unfortunate events, but it was a special moment for him to play his first regular season game. I was so happy to see him on the field.
“I wish it came a lot earlier, like 2½ years ago, but I think the coaches know that, no matter where he plays, he’ll be able to contribute.”
Caron played exclusively on special teams, the proving grounds for almost every player, in his pro debut.
Stamps special teams coach Mark Kilam said the 6-foot-2, 222-pounder looked like the second-round steal the team thought they had at the ’14 draft table.
“It was really his first pro game,” Kilam said. “And he got in on a few tackles, so we’re happy he was able to get his feet wet.
“It speaks to the kind of character Max brings. He was somebody we wanted to keep around because we knew he was constantly working and trying to improve. ”
And football is kinda like riding a bike, right Max? Not exactly. “There’s certainly a lot of differences between the Canadian university and the CFL game,” Caron said. “The speed of the game, the timing, it’s not something you can simulate in practice.
“But for the most part, it’s football. You’re putting on pads, going out and trying to smack people.”
He’s officially in the books after bringing down Argos kick returner Devon Wylie in the fourth quarter.