The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce that offensive lineman Dimitri Tsoumpas has been named the club’s new player representative with CUPS Health and Education Centres.

Tsoumpas and teammates Joffrey Reynolds, Juwan Simpson and Jon Gott lent a helping hand at CUPS’ Annual “Christmas in January” Dinner on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Knox United Church.

The Stampeders have attended the event for the past several years and the players again mingled with guests, posed for photos, signed autographs and delivered refreshments for the hundreds in attendance.

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“I’m very proud to follow in the footsteps of our former player representatives,” said Tsoumpas. “CUPS is a wonderful organization and I look forward to working with them for the foreseeable future.

“This will be my first year attending the holiday dinner and with Calgary embarking on a 10-year plan to end homelessness, this is an important cause and something I’m glad I could be a part of. It’s always rewarding to lend a helping hand, but even moreso during the holiday season.”

Tsoumpas assumes player representative duties from former Stamps offensive lineman Jeff Pilon, who retired prior to last season. Former Stampeders such as Jay McNeil, Jamie Crysdale, Bruce Covernton and Aldi Henry have also been reps with CUPS.

The Christmas In January dinner was started by the late Shirley Hopkins of the Calgary Food Bank and friends. Having begun as a small dinner designed to bring the holiday cheer to the homeless in Calgary, the event has grown to become one of the hallmark dinners in the aid of the city’s homeless.

The Calgary Stampeders, CUPS and its partners at the Hyatt Regency and Knox United Church have endeavoured to continue this tradition by expanding the scope of the event. Last year alone, more than 500 homeless Calgarians were served with hot meals and desserts and presented with clothes, bags and basic support accessories.