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By: Todd Saelhof
Advertisement 1 Share this Story : Gaudaur award nominee René Paredes wants to return to Stamps for 'one more year' Gaudaur award nominee René Paredes wants to return to Stamps for 'one more year' Decorated veteran kicker consistent again for Calgary's CFL club in 2024 Author of the article: Article content It didn't take long for the question of retirement to be teed up for veteran René Paredes. Advertisement 2 Article content Gaudaur award nominee René Paredes wants to return to Stamps for 'one more year' Back to video In fact, it was the first query kicked his way by the media on his way out the door for the winter. “Straight at it, huh?” said the 39-year-old star kicker of the Calgary Stampeders, with a smile. “Yeah … I'll be playing one more year.” Bully for the Stampeders … Because even in the face of turning 40 next year, Paredes — who was nominated Tuesday by the team to win the CFL's Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award — continues to be the most consistent offensive weapon for the struggling squad. And he may even be getting better with age. “Ninety-three percent,” said a proud Parades, of his high success rate — actually 93.2 per cent on 41 of 44 field-goal attempts — during the 2024 campaign. Only BC Lions star Sean Whyte had a higher percentage, hitting 50 of 53 attempts for a 94.3 per cent. Advertisement 3 Article content “I've been here for so long, and I work hard at what I do,” Paredes said. “I come in here at 39 years old still training hard, working hard just to do my job and help the team win with points. “And if I'm here next year, I'll give them that.” Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson has made it known he wants the kicker to return in 2025. So it's a done deal, it would seem. “Yeah, I feel pretty good,” said Paredes, who actually entered 2024 fresh off shoulder surgery that didn't seem to hamper his efforts. “I had a pretty good year. Advertisement 4 Article content “I'm still pretty pissed off at those posts that I had this year. I think I hit four this year, which is insane. Two on extra points (and two on field goals). I wish I could take those back, because I thought I could have gone 100 per cent.” Off the field, he was near perfect — if not perfect — in contributing to the well-being of the city. So much so that the Stamps have announced Paredes as the team's nominee for the 2024 Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award. The honour is given annually to the Canadian player who best demonstrates the attributes of the country's veterans, such as strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contribution to Canadian communities. The league award, which has been presented annually since 2010, was created in memory of Jake Gaudaur — the CFL's longest-standing commissioner and a distinguished World War II veteran. Advertisement 5 Article content Born in Venezuela and raised in Montreal, Paredes now calls Calgary home year-round with his wife and two children. He is active in the community, including serving as the leader of a group of players that makes visits to patients at the Alberta Children's Hospital the day before every home game throughout the season. Paredes is the longest-serving member of the team and recently concluded his 10th season as a team captain. The kicker has never missed a contest in his 13-year career, and in 2024 he moved into second place on the franchise's list of career games. His totals this year include a league-leading 23 field goals from at least 40 yards and a CFL-best 92 per cent success rate from 40-plus yards, and he has added 33 extra points and one single this season for a total of 157 points. Advertisement 6 Article content Paredes' season highlights include going six-for-six on field goals in the season-opening win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, a 52-yard game-winning overtime field goal against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 4 and a career-long 57-yard field goal against the Edmonton Elks in the Labour Day Classic. It all added up Stampeders' nominee for the Most Outstanding Special Teams Player award for the eighth time in his career and now this chance to win the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award. The winner of both those honours will be announced at the CFL awards on Nov. 14 in Vancouver as part of Grey Cup Week. All in all, aside from the team's shortcomings in a 5-12-1 non-playoff season, it certainly was another outstanding year for Paredes. “My body feels pretty good right now, so pretty happy about that, as well,” added Parades. “So I'm going into the off-season healthy and see what happens in the off-season. “I'm pretty much doing the same thing I've done every year. I think I feel more comfortable every game. Obviously, when you have good people around you, like (special-teams coordinator Mark) Kilam, (long-snapper) Aaron (Crawford) and (punter) Cody (Grace), things get easier. “But I had a great year.” Another one, to be sure. 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