The two Alouettes players are there, sitting side by side, at the agreed time. Smiling, relaxed, friendly, not pressed for time. To my right, veteran offensive lineman Kristian Matte. On the left, rookie linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku.
The two players will experience a highlight Thursday evening at Percival-Molson Stadium. A crowd of more than 20,000 spectators, perhaps even a full house, is expected for the Alouettes’ home opener against the Ottawa Rouge et Noir.
Photo MARTIN CHEVALIER
This is how Montrealers welcome a champion team. What’s more, the Alouettes won their first two meetings in Winnipeg and Edmonton.
For the city and the province
For Matte, who is on her 14the season with the team, the atmosphere is always the same at Alouettes games, win or lose.
“The crowd is special here,” he says in front of Cantin-Arku, who is all eyes and ears.
“Even when it wasn’t full, it was very noisy. It brought a lot of energy. When we know it will be full, we can’t wait. The crowd is our 13e player.
“The Gray Cup is something we wanted to win [l’an dernier]. Not just for us, but for the city and the province too. We know that the atmosphere will be festive for our first match of the season at the stadium.
Matte, Cantin-Arku and their teammates will not be entitled to defeat in such circumstances.
“No,” says Cantin-Arku.
Gold in bars
For the latter, it is a return to Quebec after five years spent in the United States. At the end of his stay at the University of Memphis, the young man from Sainte-Foy participated in a rookie mini-training camp with the Miami Dolphins.
Danny Maciocia hired him as soon as he was cut by the Dolphins.
Is he still thinking about the NFL?
“To be honest, I’m so happy to be able to play at home that I don’t think about anything else,” says Geoffrey, who is 25 years old.
“The organization welcomed me so well and took such good care of me when I arrived. The experience of playing in front of my mother and my fans is rewarding. It’s worth gold.”
Just as everything is beginning for him, Matte has reached the age where he must deal with a second-in-command role. But he does it without problem.
The veteran is clearly feeling good about himself.
“At a certain age [il a 38 ans], we must be aware that our journey will not always be the same. But I’m willing to help in any way I can.”
Case in point: Last week in Edmonton, he was sent into a third-down, one-yard situation. He made a big block to open the way for backup quarterback Caleb Evans.
Good advisor
Even though he is part of the offensive unit, Matte provides good advice for Cantin-Arku, who plays defense.
“Christian helps me with a lot of things,” he says.
“If I have any questions for him about life off the field, he’s there to answer them.
“On the technical side, he gives me information on the playing style of the offensive linemen, which helps me a lot in the position I play.”
The former color wearer of Cégep Garneau de Québec is particularly eager to achieve his first quarterback sacks, a goal that any defensive player favors.
“I’m getting familiar with the blitz,” said Cantin-Arku, who started the first two games in place of Tyrell Richards, who is injured.
“But the timing is different from what I experienced in American football with the yard gap at the line of scrimmage. I want to put pressure on the opposing quarterback. I want to have an impact for quarterback sacks.”
Let’s hope his first one is soon.
