Marc Calixte doesn’t want anyone feeling sorry for him.

The 10-year CFL veteran and the longest-serving of the current Stampeders squad has seen his ups and downs, with the worst of the downs being a knee injury suffered in the Labour Day Classic victory over the Edmonton Eskimos.

“As soon as I got off I knew right away,” said Calixte, who was placed on the nine-game injury list. “It’s not looking good but there’s two ways I can take this and I’m choosing to keep it positive. I want this team to win and I know this this team can go far.”

Calixte has more insight than most into the state of the Stampeders — he’s been in Calgary since 2003, has played for four different head coaches and has seen the team go from a combined 9-27 record during his first two seasons to an 81-53-2 mark in the subsequent 136 games.

Calixte was a member of the Stamps’ 2008 Grey Cup-championship squad.

“We’re a family here with the good and the bad,” said Calixte, who was serving as one of the special-teams captains this season. “That’s why I love this organization so much, everything from the players, the coaches, administration and even the volunteers . . . it’s a great community of guys I’m just glad to be here.”

In addition to supporting his teammates, the 34-year-old Montreal native is focused on the process of healing.

“I’m just trying to do everything right,” he said. “Make sure I rehab properly, eat properly but, most importantly, just making sure I’m there for my teammates. I’ve been in the league a long time and I believe I’ve seen some things a lot of the younger guys haven’t seen.

“I’m going to be more vocal than usual and try to help out as much as I can.”