It was no secret there were more roster cuts to be made by Stampeders brass before Tuesday’s deadline.

Yet after Calgary had narrowed down their player total to the league-mandated figure of 65, one notable release has since piqued the interest of many.

Veteran long snapper Tim St. Pierre was let go – after five years with the Red and White, nonetheless – which therefore declares 2016 fifth-round draft pick Pierre-Luc Caron as the last man standing at the position.

“I was surprised this morning when I arrived and I saw that, but it’s good news for me,” Caron said, while carefully walking the line between empathy and elation. “I only have good things to say about TSP. He’s a great long snapper and he taught me how things work here.”

St. Pierre, a third-round selection by the Edmonton Eskimos back in 2008, spent a total of eight years in the league before recently receiving his walking papers. He played a total of 105 CFL regular season games but missed the entire 2015 campaign due to injury.

As for the impression St. Pierre made on the 22-year-old Caron over a mere matter of weeks, the four-year first-string long snapper with his hometown Laval Rouge et Or had a ringing endorsement for his predecessor.

“I just learned how it works here in practices,” detailed Caron, who also played linebacker at the CIS level. “When do I warm up, and even during the games, what do I do before going on the field? Just little things like that and even (routines) in the locker room. I was looking up to him.”

With one pre-season game already under his belt, Caron was encouraged by his individual performance and welcomes the responsibility of being Calgary’s one and only long snapper remaining in camp.

“I think I did well,” the six-foot-two, 220-lb. special-teamer expressed regarding last Saturday’s game against the Esks. “I had one bad snap and it was a thing that just stuck in my mind. But looking back at the day, I did well, and it made me confident for the next games. It’s good to know that (the coaching staff) trusts me and all I’ve got to do now is make sure after every game that they still trust me.”

The first-year pro will continue to lean on the proven leadership of not only longtime special teams coordinator Mark Kilam, but also a pair of former CFL all-stars in kicker Rene Paredes and punter Rob Maver as they enter their sixth and seventh years with the Stamps, respectively.

“They know what they’re doing,” commented No. 71 when asked about working with the aforementioned veteran trio. “I think the main goal for the next game is for me to get into a rhythm with the kickers. I came here with the goal of being the starting long snapper (in) Week 1 and we’re almost there. That was my goal and I’ve almost reached it.”