CALGARY -- The Calgary Stampeders have signed all-star kicker Rene Paredes to a contract extension.
Paredes was named a CFL all-star in 2012 after converting 93 per cent of his field-goal attempts, setting a new Stampeders franchise record. It was the second-best single-season success rate in CFL history, behind B.C.'s Paul McCallum who hit 94.3 per cent of his kicks in 2011.
"In his two seasons with the team, Rene has established himself as one of the league's most reliable kickers," Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel said in a statement. "I look forward to seeing him build on that success in the coming seasons."
The 27-year-old Concordia University alumnus was good on 40 of his 43 field goal attempts in 2012 including 18 in a row to end the regular season. Paredes was 49-for-49 on extra-point conversions and finished third in the CFL with 170 total points. He was also among the league leaders with a 63.2-yard average on kickoffs.
During the 2012 playoffs, Paredes was successful on all eight of his field-goal attempts -- bringing his overall streak of conversions to 26 -- and accounted for a total of 32 points in three games.
In his rookie season in 2011 Paredes converted 35 of 45 field-goal attempts and was perfect on 48 touchdown conversions.
"I've really enjoyed my first two seasons with the Stampeders and I'm very pleased to sign this contract extension that will let me stay in Calgary," said Paredes, who was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and raised in Pierrefonds, Que. "I have great teammates and great coaches and I'm looking forward to the future and a chance to take that final step to winning a Grey Cup championship."
