Justin Dunk
Ticats.ca
It was a bittersweet day in Steeltown as the Tiger-Cats lost a good old home-grown boy.
On a sunny Wednesday afternoon on the top floor of Ticats headquarters at 1 Jarvis Street, eight-year CFL veteran Ray Mariuz called it a career.
“I’m very happy with my career, I wouldn’t change a single thing about it. I’m fortunate enough to have won a Grey Cup,” Mariuz said. “Probably if I was going to change anything, I would of won a Grey Cup every year, especially one in Hamilton.”
The relationships made along the way have provided the talented Mississauga native with friends for a lifetime.
“I have friends now that I wouldn’t have before that will be friends for life,” Mariuz said. “I’m leaving the game before the game leaves me, so it’s kind of a nice way to look at it.”
While he won’t be suiting up for the Tiger-Cats in any more games, this isn’t the end of Mariuz’s affiliation with the organization. He will be helping out with some initiatives the team has planned in Burlington.
Two Tiger-Cats, Marwan Hage and Agustin Barrenechea were on hand to send their teammate and friend off.
“I lose one of my co-captains on the team,” Hage said. “We worked a lot on and off the field towards the needs of the team and Ray’s input was always positive and constructive. His numbers do the talking, he was the best at what he did. I turned to him a lot during hard times of the year. I’m definitely going to miss playing with Ray, but I am very happy for him,” he added.
Hage is a player known for his countless hours of community work and Mariuz was a player who capitalized on any chance to give back to the people as well.
“He’s a local kid. They recognize him everywhere he goes,” Hage said. “He has done a lot of great work.”
Barrenechea played linebacker and special teams alongside Mariuz in many games with the black and gold.
“I’m very fortunate to have had the opportunity to play with Ray. He truly epitomizes what it means to be a professional, both on and off the field,” said Barrenechea.
“Playing side by side, the dynamic was outstanding when you know what the other guy is going to do. He is one of my closest friends that I’ve made throughout my career.”
However, Barrenechea also knows what it was like to face Mariuz as an opponent in a different coloured jersey.
“We played against each other when he was with Toronto. When you compete against your friends there is always that little extra edge that you want to beat the man across from you.”
Mariuz relished the chance to play for the team he rooted for as a kid.
“I remember as a kid, my dad would take me down to Ivor Wynne Stadium and I remember getting goose bumps standing there during the national anthem. The people of Hamilton are amazing and great fans and just being able to play a game where you have that sort of support behind you, and making the crowd go wild is certainly a surreal experience,” admitted Mariuz.
As the McMaster Univeristy alum’s football career comes to a close, another one is starting to grow.
“I’ve been doing real estate for two years now — I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s gotten to a point where it would be almost a detriment to my real estate career to go back and play another year,” Mariuz said.
“In football you have to train harder to make yourself better than the guy you’re going to be playing on game day. Real estate is similar in that you have to work hard and be better than other agents out there or you’re not going to be successful.”
General manager Bob O’Billovich had high praise for the versatile Mariuz who made 157 defensive tackles along with 157 special teams stops throughout his CFL playing days.
“Our coaches could always rely on him to know his assignments, also to know the assignments of the players around him. He could play any of the linebacker spots. He’s just been a good football player and an even better person. He is the kind of guy every team needs,” O’Billovich said. “The fact that he was drafted in the fourth round and he played eight years in the league says a lot for his desire and ability to make a career like he did in the CFL.”
