CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders have signed national defensive back and special teams ace Adam Thibault to a contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.

Thibault, a third round pick in the 2014 CFL Draft, was previously scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 14.

“Adam is a key part of our special-teams units and he has made steady progress every year since joining the club,” said Stampeders president and general manager John Hufnagel. “His decision to remain in Calgary as well as the recent re-signings of Rob Maver, Rene Paredes and Charlie Power will go a long way towards making sure our special-teams unit will be a strength for us in 2017.”

The Laval alum ranked second on the team with 19 special teams tackles in 2016, a year after leading the team with 13 special teams tackles in 2015.

As Hufnagel noted, Thibault’s addition fortifies a group that’s also recently welcomed back its kicker and punter in Maver and Paredes along with fullback Power.

Thibault was selected by the Stamps 24th overall in 2014 and has since gone on to play 39 regular-season games and four playoff contests over three seasons with Calgary, also made two Grey Cup appearances. The Quebec City native has 37 career special-teams tackles as well as two fumble recoveries, including a blocked punt that he returned for a touchdown against Winnipeg in 2015.

“The Stampeders are such a great organization,” said Thibault. “I have a great bond with not only my teammates but the coaches as well. I am ecstatic to be back because there’s no other team I’d rather play with.”