By Max Campbell
Stampeders.com

Some were true talents while others may have been bluffing, but players and coaches alike came to play on Monday evening.

The inaugural Stampeders Ambassadors Charity Poker Tournament, an event in support of the Stampeders Foundation, took place at Calgary’s Grey Eagle Resort & Casino. This charitable initiative raises money for minor football and generates funds for numerous health and wellness projects in nearby communities.

Registration was open to the public with each poker table featuring an exclusive member of the defending Grey Cup champions. Players such as Bo Levi Mitchell, Eric Rogers and Charleston Hughes joined Stamps coaches including head coach and general manager John Hufnagel.

Ken King, president and CEO of the Calgary Sports and Entertainment, was on hand as well as Stampeders president Gordon Norrie for an action-packed evening. A silent auction, buffet dinner and performance from the Outriders cheerleaders were also notable highlights of the function.

Once eliminated from the competition, each player and coach removed their jersey and autographed the souvenir before presenting it to a lucky player seated at their table.

One of the first players to bow out of the tournament was linebacker Karl McCartney, who was pleased to award his jersey during the meaningful and valued event.

“It was for charity and I wanted to get the guys involved early, so in order to do that I started throwing chips in there, kind of giving things away,” said the good-humoured six-year veteran as he cracked a smile. “So yeah, I lost (my jersey) quick, but I got back in the game so I think I held my own.”

Although poker may not be his forté, McCartney enjoyed the much-anticipated event and hopes his contribution will help make a positive impact on the lives of Central and Southern Albertans.

“I’m not really a gambler because back home in the Bahamas, it’s illegal for Bahamians to gamble,” explained McCartney, who hails from the Nassau, the capital city of the small island nation. “I’m not a big poker player, but it’s a good cause, and whenever you can donate you always have to try to help people in need. We had fun at the table and the guys enjoyed themselves.”

The longest-lasting members of the Stamps contingent were Mitchell, Rene Paredes, Quinn Smith and defensive line coach DeVone Claybrooks, who all still had chips in front of the them when the field had shrunk from 16 tables at the start of the tournament to four.

That group was reduced to three when one member of Team Stamps took out one of his own — Claybrooks won a head-to-head battle with Smith to claim the last of his chips, not to mention his jersey.

Then, just as Paredes was ready to join Table 1, Mitchell was ousted from play at that table. Within minutes, Paredes was also gone as he fell victim to the same player who had eliminated the Stamps QB.

With just two tables remaining and the blinds up to $10,000 and $20,000, Claybrooks was the last member of the Stamps contingent to fall and he promptly turned over a jersey bearing his name as well as the Smith jersey he had claimed earlier.

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