Tiger-Cats extend Chick

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed international defensive end John Chick to a contract extension through the 2018 season.

The 34-year-old started all 18 regular season games and the Eastern semifinal for the Tiger Cats in 2016, and was named a Canadian Football League all-star and Hamilton’s most outstanding defensive player in his first year with the team.

The six-foot-four, 253-pound product of Utah State finished the season tied for second in the league in sacks (14) and tied for third in forced fumbles (four), while adding 40 defensive tackles, four tackles for a loss, two fumble recoveries and five pass knock-downs.

In seven CFL seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Tiger-Cats, Chick has registered 210 defensive tackles, 67 quarterback sacks, 24 tackles for loss, one interception, 14 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries in 109 career games. The native of Gillette, Wyo., is a three-time CFL allstar and helped the Roughriders win Grey Cup titles in 2007 and ’13.

He was named the CFL’s most outstanding defensive player in ’09.

“John’s performance last season proved that he is still an elite and impactful player in this league,” Kent Austin, Tiger-Cats vice-president of football operations and head coach, said in a statement. “His professionalism, intensity level and the way he prepares himself on a daily basis both mentally and physically is infectious to our locker-room. We’re very excited to have a player of his calibre locked up through 2018.”