Former Calgary Stampeders Player, Burke Dales Dead at 46

Burke Dales, a former Calgary Stampeders player is dead aged 46. The Stampeders confirmed the player’s death on Sunday.

Dales’ career spanned over nine years, during which he played for Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos and Montreal Alouettes. He played seven seasons with Stampeders from 2005 to 2011 and was part of the Grey Cup-winning team in 2008.

Dales was a native of Collingwood, Ont., and raised in Brockville, Ontario. In 2002, Dales attended the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. He also attended the Montreal Alouettes’s 2003 training camp and sat out the remainder of the 2003 and 2004 seasons before signing with Calgary in 2005.

In 2005, the Calgary Stampeders signed him as a free agent. He announced his retirement from professional football on May 16, 2014.

Confirming his death, the Calgary Stampeders said in a social media post “it is with great sadness the Calgary Stampeders learn of the death of Burke Dales. A member if the Stampeders’ 2008 Grey Cup-championship team, Dales was 46.”

In a separate post, Calgary Stampeders’ team President, John Hufnagel described Dales as bringing an “uncommon level of competitiveness to his position.” The stampeders wrote “Burke excelled during his career with the Stampeders and he brought an uncommon level of competitiveness to his position. We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”

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