Courtesy Calgary Herald:

From a pure, physical standpoint, no one made a bigger impact on the opening day of Calgary Stampeders training camp than offensive lineman Derek Armstrong.

In one-on-one drills on Sunday, he hammered defensive lineman Miguel Robede to the ground, earning Robede a round of jeers from the fans at McMahon Stadium.

He also engaged in a running battle with linebacker Trey Young, and definitely caught the eye of Stamps head coach and general manager John Hufnagel in his quest to take over at right guard for the released Bobby Singh.

But physical play is nothing new to the six-foot-three, 295-pounder from Smiths Falls, Ont.

What you might not know is that he’s just as capable of knocking down bodies with skates on his feet and a hockey stick in his hands — or, strictly speaking, with his stick and gloves flung to the ice.

“I tried out out for Halifax Mooseheads (of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) when I was 18,” said Armstrong. “My first three shifts (during training camp), I fought three times.

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