Global News Edmonton has reported:

Calgary Stampeders equipment manager George Hopkins will step down at the end of the CFL season after 55 years with the team. The 67-year-old Calgarian will stay with the organization as an ambassador, the Stampeders said Thursday.

Hopkins joined the team in 1972 at age 13 as a ball boy and has overseen equipment since 1977. A fixture on the sideline known for wearing shorts in cold weather, he has missed just five games during his career.

Saturday’s game against the B.C. Lions at McMahon Stadium will be Hopkins’ 1,094th, counting pre-season, regular-season and playoff games, as well as the Grey Cup. It is Calgary’s final regular-season game of the season; the team then has a bye week, with its playoff prospects unclear.

Hopkins has been part of six Grey Cup championship teams in Calgary, in 1992, 1998, 2001, 2008, 2014 and 2018. His responsibilities included player safety and ordering, fitting and issuing equipment from head to toe. He also managed the locker room and coordinated equipment transport to other CFL cities.

In the off-season, Hopkins worked with Alberta high schools and minor football programs to inspect equipment and share guidance and knowledge. He is also vice-president of the Calgary Spring Football Association.

“Geo has been an important part of the Calgary Stampeders family, and his contributions extend far beyond his role as equipment manager,” Stampeders president Jay McNeil said. “He has built lasting relationships throughout our club and earned the respect of everyone who has had the privilege of working with him. We thank George for his years of dedication and wish him all the best in this next chapter.”

“I’d like to thank the Stampeders organization for their trust and support throughout all the years,” Hopkins said in a statement. “I’ve had the pleasure to work with so many great people, staff as well as players, and it wouldn’t be fair to single out any and miss lots. I would like to thank my wife Cathy and my kids Jorde and Hunter for understanding all the absences. This is just the end of a chapter.”

The Canadian Press first published the report Oct. 15, 2026.