Mike Labinjo played double-A for North Toronto Hockey Association

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When 28-year-old Mike Labinjo, born and raised and schooled in North Toronto, steps onto the field at Olympic Stadium with the Calgary Stampeders this Sunday, he will have accomplished a rare double - playing in both the Super Bowl and the Grey Cup.

"Hopefully this time I can come out with the championship ring," chuckled the former star at St. Michael's College, located on Bathurst Street at St. Clair Avenue, speaking to The Mirror on his cell phone on Wednesday on the Olympic Stadium turf after wrapping up a practice.

He was referring to the fact that he didn't get a ring out of his Super Bowl appearance in 2005 while a rookie for the Philadelphia Eagles. He did get a couple of tackles.

He stuck around the NFL for a couple of years, getting into 10 games (with 19 tackles) in total, but in 2007, after being cut by the Indianapolis Colts, he joined the Calgary Stampeders where he's now in his second year.

"I'm very happy, it's definitely a good stepping stone for me in terms of my career in the CFL. I've come a long way after battling last year with injuries. To come out here and contribute and have the season I've had so far, it's a great feeling."

That season has included a career game in last week's 22-18 western conference win over the B.C. Lions with three sacks, eight tackles and a forced fumble, preventing a possible B.C. touchdown.

He was also his team's nominee for the league's most valuable Canadian and earlier in the year he picked up a defensive player of the week award.

He did miss a few games earlier in the season due to injury.

"I'm still banged up but that's just the price you play for playing this game. I'll be healthy enough to play in this game," he said.

The game features the conference champs throughout the regular season.

"That's what fans want to see. They want to see the best against the best."

And while Calgary won both regular season matches, Labinjo said there's no danger of complacency creeping in.

"I know they (Montreal) are going to be itching to get a win against us this year especially playing at home in front of all their fans."

Although he's living year-round in Calgary, his hometown definitely has a special place. In fact, he went to the Saddledome to see the Calgary Flames host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Remembrance Day with his "white Maple Leaf jersey on."

His football career literally started at St. Mike's where he played his first football in Grade 9.

"St. Mike's was a huge stepping stone in my life. To go to a school like that with the rich sports tradition that it has was huge. Coach (Paul) Forbes was very instrumental in getting me noticed down in the U.S. for my football."

At that time, he was on the other side of the ball putting up huge offensive numbers.

"I was a running back and that's what I got my scholarship to Michigan State for."

Ultimately, they converted him to a defensive end.

An all-round athlete he also "played for North Toronto Hockey Association, double-A."

But eventually, he concedes, he had to make a decision.

"My Grade 12 year I had to make more of a focus on hockey or football and I chose football."

Prior to high school he attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic School on Bedford Park Avenue in the Yonge and Lawrence neighbourhood.

He said he'll have plenty of family and friends making the trip to Montreal on the weekend.