Calgary Stampeders facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Calgary Stampeders

Founded	January 24, 1945
Based in	Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Home field	McMahon Stadium (1960–present) Mewata Park Stadium (1945–1959)
Head coach	Dave Dickenson
General manager	Dave Dickenson
Owner(s)	Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation
League	Canadian Football League
Division	West
Colours	Red, white, black
Nickname(s)	Stamps, Horsemen
Mascot(s)	Ralph the Dog
Grey Cup wins	8 (1948, 1971, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2008, 2014, 2018)
Current uniform
2025 Calgary Stampeders season

The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team. They are based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Stampeders play in the Canadian Football League (CFL). They are part of the West Division.

The team plays its home games at McMahon Stadium. The Stampeders are one of the oldest teams in the CFL. They were officially started in 1945. However, football clubs have been in Calgary since the 1890s.

The Calgary Stampeders have won eight Grey Cup championships. Their most recent win was in 2018. They have played in 17 Grey Cup Championship games in total. The team has also won 20 Western Division Championships. They have a big rivalry with the Edmonton Elks. They also have strong rivalries with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the BC Lions.

Awesome Facts About the Stampeders

Team wordmark

Here are some cool facts about the Calgary Stampeders:

• Founded: 1945
• Helmet Design: Red with a white, running horse. This design has been used since 1967.
• Team Colours: Red, white, and black.
• Nicknames: Stamps, Horsemen.
• Mascot: Ralph the Dog.
• Fight Song: "Ye Men of Calgary."
• Home Stadium: McMahon Stadium.
• Main Rivals: Edmonton Elks, Saskatchewan Roughriders, BC Lions.
• Western Division 1st Place Finishes: 20 times (1946, 1948, 1949, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018).
• Northern Division 1st Place Finishes: 1 time (1995).
• Western Division Championships: 16 times (1948, 1949, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1991, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018).
• Northern Division Championships: 1 time (1995).
• Grey Cup Championships: 8 times (1948, 1971, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2008, 2014, 2018).
• 2023 Regular Season Record: 6 wins, 12 losses.

The Stampeders' Journey: A History

Early Football in Calgary (Before 1945)

Football in Calgary started long before the Stampeders. Records show games as early as 1891. In that year, Edmonton beat Calgary 6–5. Other Calgary teams played over the years. These included the Calgary Tigers and the Calgary Bronks. These teams were very strong in Alberta football. They won many championships. However, none of these older teams are officially part of the Stampeders' history. Football stopped in Calgary during World War II.

The Stampeders Begin (1945–1959)

The Calgary Stampeders officially formed on September 29, 1945. Their first game was on October 20 at Mewata Stadium. They beat the Regina Roughriders 12–0. About 4,000 fans watched the game. The team had great players like Woody Strode and Normie Kwong.

The Undefeated Season of 1948

The year 1948 was amazing for the Stampeders. They had a perfect regular season, winning all 12 games! They also won the Grey Cup that year. They beat the Ottawa Rough Riders in Toronto. Stampeders fans made the Grey Cup a huge party. They held pancake breakfasts and even rode a horse into a hotel lobby! This started the Grey Cup parade tradition.

The Stampeders returned to the Grey Cup in 1949. They had a 13–1 record but lost to the Montreal Alouettes. It took 19 years for them to reach the Grey Cup again. They lost in 1968 but won in 1971. In 1958, the Stampeders joined the new Canadian Football League.

A New Home: McMahon Stadium (1960–1971)

In 1960, the Stampeders moved to their new home, McMahon Stadium. Their first game there was on August 15, 1960. They lost to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. From 1968 to 1971, the Stampeders played in the Grey Cup three times. They won the championship in 1971.

Tough Times and a Comeback (1972–1989)

After their 1971 Grey Cup win, the Stampeders faced many challenges. From 1972 to 1989, they made the playoffs only 7 times. They almost stopped playing after the 1985 season. This was due to low attendance and money problems.

However, fans launched a "Save Our Stamps" campaign in 1986. They sold many season tickets. This helped the team get back on track. It led to their first playoff win since 1979. It also set the stage for two Grey Cup appearances in 1991 and 1992. They won the Grey Cup in 1992.

The Wally Buono Era (1990–2002)

Wally Buono became the head coach in 1990. The next 13 years were very successful for the Stampeders. They had amazing quarterbacks like Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia, and Dave Dickenson. Receivers like Allen Pitts and Terry Vaughn were also key. The team had a strong defense. During this time, they won 153 games and lost 79.

They reached the Grey Cup six times. They won in 1992, 1998, and 2001. They made the playoffs every year in the 1990s. In 2001, Michael Feterik bought the team. Coach Buono left after the 2002 season.

Changes in Coaching (2003–2007)

After Wally Buono left, the Stampeders had three different head coaches in three years. The team struggled during this time. In 2005, a new group of owners bought the team. This group included the organization that owns the Calgary Flames hockey team. They helped the team become stable again.

The Hufnagel Years (2008–2015)

In 2008, former Stampeders quarterback John Hufnagel became the coach. The Stampeders won their sixth Grey Cup that year. They beat the Montreal Alouettes 22–14. Hufnagel was also the team's general manager. He coached until the end of the 2015 season. Then, he handed the coaching job to Dave Dickenson.

Between 2009 and 2014, the Stampeders often reached the Western Final. In 2012, they made it to the Grey Cup but lost. In 2014, they won their seventh Grey Cup. They defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 20–16.

Dave Dickenson Takes Over (2016–Present)

After 2015, Dave Dickenson became the head coach. The Stampeders continued to do well. In 2016, they won the West Division. However, they lost the Grey Cup in overtime. In 2017, they had the best record in the league. But they lost the Grey Cup again.

In 2018, the Stampeders made their third straight Grey Cup appearance. This time, they won the championship! They beat the Ottawa Redblacks 27–16. Their quarterback, Bo Levi Mitchell, was named the Most Outstanding Player. In 2019, they lost in the West Semi-Final. The CFL season was paused in 2020. The team returned in 2021 and 2022, making the playoffs both years. In 2022, Dave Dickenson also became the team's general manager.

Grey Cup Championship Wins

The Calgary Stampeders have won the Grey Cup 8 times. Here are their championship victories:

Famous Stampeders Players

Many great players have been part of the Calgary Stampeders. Some have even been added to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame!

Canadian Football Hall of Famers

These players and coaches who played for or worked with the Stampeders are now in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame:

Retired Numbers

The Stampeders have retired certain jersey numbers to honor special players. This means no other player on the team will wear these numbers again.

The Presidents' Ring

The Presidents' Ring award started in 1967. It was created by team president George McMahon. This award goes to the player who shows the best leadership skills. Many great players have won it. Some, like Henry Burris and Stu Laird, have won it three times.

Wall of Fame

The Stampeders Wall of Fame honors the greatest players and important people who helped the team. It started in 1985.

Images for kids

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  The Calgary Stampeders' uniform.

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  The Calgary Stampeders' team logo.