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“The way I see it any experience is good experience. Being in that situation and knowing how it felt after that got blocked, I don’t want to feel that ever again.”

Crapigna is one of three players who were signed by the Calgary Stampeders, as announced on Wednesday. The others are national defensive lineman Derek Wiggan and international defensive back Ryan Mouton. Both Crapigna and Wiggan attended the Stamps’ 2014 training camp, while Mouton was part of the expanded practice roster at the end of the season.

The 22-year-old Crapigna — a fifth-round pick by the Stamps in the 2014 draft — made an impression in his first CFL training camp, nailing the game-winning field goal in a pre-season game against Winnipeg. He’s hoping he can do even more this time around.

“I don’t know if that requires making two game-winning field goals,” he said jokingly. “I know the guys who are there, they’re highly-skilled at what they do and I think I’m capable of being up there with them. I’ll be training my butt off and doing what I do. I’m obviously very excited to come back to an organization like this, especially after what they did last year.”

Upon his return to school, Crapigna had an all-star campaign which saw him become the all-time CIS field goal leader with 84. It was thanks in part, he admitted, to his Stampeder experience.

“I was joking with my friends and family, when I first came into McMaster all I wanted to do was kick one field goal,” he related. “Just get one under my belt. Now, five years later, it’s a huge difference in what I’m doing. It’s good to be in there and be recognized for all the hard work I put in over the years.