By Stampeders.com staff

It’s safe to say Charleston Hughes hasn’t been counting down to the occasion of his 100th regular season game which, barring a mishap in the next couple of days, will happen Saturday when the Stampeders host the Toronto Argonauts.

The veteran defensive end from Saginaw, Mich., had not the slightest idea he was currently at 99 games. He had no clue going into the season that, health permitting, the 100-game milestone was within reach this season.

So when informed of the impending mark, Hughes needed a moment to collect his thoughts.

“Damn, that’s a lot of games,” he said finally. “It feels good to make it to your 100th game, man. A lot of people aren’t really privileged to say that they played 100 games of professional football. It’s a great feeling especially when all of mine have all been with one team. So, it’s an accomplishment to say I made it to my 100th game.”

Charleston Hughes as a fresh-faced rookie in 2008.

The milestone is made all the more remarkable by the fact that Hughes was initially cut by the Stampeders after training camp in 2008 before being called back a short time later. Except for a brief absence when he tried out for the National Football League’s Philadelphia Eagles in 2009, he’s been in Calgary ever since.

“It is kind of an untold story to most but I got sent home and, for whatever reason, came back and now I’m at 100 games,” said Hughes. “It speaks volumes, really, to my career and how much I put out on the field for the Stampeders and for the organization. It just shows how dedicated I am to them as much as they are to me.”

Hughes has been the Stamps leader or co-leader in sacks in each of his first six seasons with the club and he leads the club again this season with eight bagged quarterbacks.

With 62 career sacks, he trails only Will Johnson (99) and Stu Laird (72) on the Stamps’ all-time list.

In addition to being productive, Hughes has been relatively durable with only seven games missed due to injury in seven seasons.

Hughes celebrates a quarterback sack with a motorcycle celebration in the 2014 Labour Day Classic.

“It is a milestone because it is easy to get hurt on this field,” said Hughes. “You know, it is the game of football. No football player on that field is 100 per cent at any given time, so it’s one of those things where you got to push through and fight through injuries and just fight through with mental toughness alone just to be able to stay on the field. So, you know what? It’s a great accomplishment, man.”

Known for his sack celebrations over the years — the surfer, Gangham style and, just last week, the motorcycle — might Hughes have something special in mind if he gets to the QB on Saturday?

“I’m sure I can come up with something,” he chuckled.

And the next goal?

“Now that I know it’s my 100th,” he said with his patented broad smile, “it’s a little bit more motivating to look forward to playing 100 more, if I can.”

 >> Photos: Charleston Hughes so far