By Max Campbell
Stampeders.com

Before the Calgary Stampeders last took the field at TD Place to take on the Ottawa RedBlacks, a heavy-hearted Joe West had an important decision to make.

After receiving sudden news of his younger brother’s murder in Arkansas mere hours before the Week 9 matchup a season ago, West declared himself available to play. Not only was the wideout in the lineup on that fateful August day, but he recorded 129 receiving yards on four receptions en route to CFL offensive-player-of-the-week honours.

Now preparing to return to the city for the very first time where his life forever changed, No. 85 is battling mixed emotions.

“Despite the adversity that happened, it’s a bittersweet kind of feeling,” offered West. “I played well, but the circumstances that I played under were pretty tough. I feel that it humbles me and it’s a day-to-day thing. It’s not something I forget about – it’s something that I remember every day.”

The Texas-El Paso product credited his fellow comrades for enabling him to battle through the hardship and has gained a new prospective on life since throughout the past 11 months.

“Being in the locker room with my teammates, we all have brothers and siblings and we always talk and (are) hyping them up and speaking so positive about them because we want so much good for them,” the 31-year-old explained. “It’s just a good reminder that you’re still alive, so as long as I’m alive I can help others get over things that I’ve been through that maybe have challenged me. It’s just an opportunity and every day that’s what we get, so we just have to capitalize on it.”

With the utter shock and sheer disbelief now firmly in the background, the fourth-year Stamp will have the ability to fully focus on football when kickoff arrives on Friday night.

“I think it will help me a lot,” said West of his mindset this time around compared to his mental state in Ottawa last season. “Just preparing a lot for the game plan all week, I feel comfortable. And watching film, I feel good about what I see against the opponent. I’m just going to go out there and be positive and just go the course. Try to make every play a positive play and just get this win.”

The Melbourne, Fla., native has been credited with eight catches for 83 yards after starting all four games thus far in 2015. The only starting receiver yet to deliver a 100-yard performance for the Red and White heading into Week 5, West is motivated to be a key contributor against the RedBlacks while not letting his brother’s tragedy dampen his spirits.

“I’ll go hard,” the six-foot-one, 201-lb target promised. “I go hard every day so I’m going to go hard and be a passionate player for the team, for the city. I’m just going to keep that chip on my shoulder and go out there and prove myself.”