Calgary Stampeders linebacker Scott Coe was named the inaugural winner of the CFL Fan Choice award Saturday but the real beneficiary will be Calgary minor football.

Coe, a Winnipeg native, finished first in an Internet poll of nearly 50,000 fans for the honour.

Gibson's Finest, the award sponsor, made a $10,000 donation to the charity of Coe's choice, which happens to be the Timbits atom football program in Calgary for players from age eight to 10.

"The best awards are the ones fans vote on and it's an honour to be at the Grey Cup representing the fans' choice," said Coe, who has played three of his five CFL seasons in Calgary.

"The Winnipeg Blue Bombers did so much for me when I was growing up playing football that the least I can do is give back to the atom programs that I work with in Calgary because it all starts at the grass roots. … If I can give something back to the kids in Calgary, I'll be glad to do it."

The colourful Coe, who manages to keep reporters guessing just what colour he will dye his hair next, was Calgary's second-leading tackler this season with 57.

Coe, 26, began his CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2002 after being selected in the fifth round of the Canadian college draft. Coe spent his college career at the University of Manitoba, earning all-Canadian honours in 2001 and leading the Bisons to the Vanier Cup final that year.