OTTAWA Joe West, speaking with tear-filled eyes and slumped shoulders, found the strength to talk about a horrific loss.
Just hours before the Stampeders were to take on the Ottawa Redblacks in a Canadian Football League contest, Calgary's wide receiver received the devastating news that his younger brother had been murdered.Brandon Hobdy, 24, was a senior wide receiver for the SAU Muleriders football team.
As news of the tragedy spread among the Stampeders their only thought was their teammate's well-being.
"I think the coaches told him not to play," said Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. "We met him up in his room and told him, 'Man you do not need to play and if you want to fly home right now we'll do whatever it takes to get you home. Dude you do not need to play,' but he said he wanted to play for Brandon and hats off to Joe for wanting to do something like that."
West not only played Sunday, he was a significant factor in the Stampeders' 32-7 victory over the Redblacks with four catches for 129 yards.
After the game West said he considered not playing but knew his brother would have wanted him on the field — Hobdy loved watching him play.
"I just couldn't do it without my teammates," said West. "It was hard, but it was a challenge and every challenge brings change so I just accepted it. I knew I had brothers on my side on the field and we pulled out the win. We got it."
There was no denying the Stampeders were determined to get the win for West, but it was clear today's performance was more about honouring a loved one for West.
"It's not what it means to me, it's what it means to the team, the organization," said West. "I just came out and tried to contribute and do the best I could and that's it."
Teammates were moved by West's determination.
"For somebody to have the most selfless act I've ever seen is unbelievable," said Mitchell. "For Joe to come out and play like that and not only that, to play the way he did, if it was myself I don't know what I would have done. I have three brothers and I just don't know how he did it. It just attributes how great of an athlete he is and person he is, but he knows we're a family here and we're always going to stay a family."