Hey Jude: Calgary Stampeders turn to a rookie kicker to start the season against Blue Bombers

Jude McAtamney is stepping in to punt for the Calgary Stampeders after the team's usual punter is off with an injury.

Rene Paredes joined the Calgary Stampeders in 2011 and hadn’t missed a game since. His streak was 247 straight games but that will come to an end on Friday night.

The Stamps announced on Thursday he won’t be in the lineup against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has been placed on the six-game injured list. Head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson knew it wasn’t looking good for the veteran kicker.

“He hasn’t been able to kick, he tried but he’s hurt,” Dickenson said.

“Unfortunately it sucks for him because he’s got a consecutive games streak, but you know we had a little talk and he’s just got to get himself healthy.”

New kicker takes centre stage

Replacing Paredes to start the season will be Jude McAtamney from Derry, Northern Ireland. He was the Stamps first pick in the 2026 global draft and says he’s ready for the challenge.

“I’ve been sticking to my training and preparing myself as if I was going to play anyway,” McAtamney said.

“I think that’s all you can do as an athlete is prepare as if you’re going to play no matter what the situation you’re in and yeah I’m looking forward to it.”

New York Giants

Twenty-six-year-old McAtamney used to play Gaelic football in Northern Ireland, but switched to American football when he went to Rutgers College.

He later went on to play a couple of seasons with the NFL’s New York Giants and appeared in five games.

McAtamney says that experience helped him a lot.

“I was at the Giants with Graham Gano, he was the kicker there when I was there and also Younghoe Koo was there when I was in and a few other kickers came in,” he said.

“I learned a heap from of knowledge and stuff from those guys ... that have done it at a high level for a long time. That experience was invaluable for me.”

Confidence in him

Even though the Stamps will miss having the reliable Paredes on the field Friday night against the Bombers, Dickenson says they have full confidence in McAtamney.

“Jude won the job, straight and simple,” he said.

“He’s got a big leg with good height and helps on our kickoffs as well. Listen every kicker is going to miss but let’s grow the guy and keep building him. Hopefully when the kick matters you make it and get the W.”

Words of advice

On Thursday after walk through, McAtamney was chatting with Duncan O’Mahony — a former Stamps punter who will be among those honoured at this season’s opener for the team’s Grey Cup win in 2001 — when the fellow Irishman offered him some advice.

“(He said it’s) just about keeping it simple,” McAtamney said.

“That’s what it is. Keep your jobs simple and know our process and our job. It’s just about going out and doing what we do in training out in game day.”

The Stamps face the Bombers Friday night at McMahon Stadium.