VANCOUVER | Succeeding the Montreal Alouettes, the Toronto Argonauts are the new reigning Gray Cup champions!
This is a second victory in three years for the Argos, who ignored the absence of quarterback Chad Kelly to win against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday in Vancouver. If Nick Arbuckle did the job as a pivot in attack, we must highlight the contribution of Quebec recruits Kevin Mital and Anthony Vandal, who were in uniform for the Argos during this final won by a score of 41 to 24, all like Laval resident Brian Harelimana and Montrealer Kerfalla Exumé.
Mital also scored an important touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Arbuckle with a little less than six minutes remaining in the third quarter, which then allowed the Argonauts, after converting a point, to lead 17 to 10.
“First career touchdown in the CFL at the Gray Cup and winning in my first year, you can’t ask for a better scenario than that,” commented Mital.
“The odds were against us, but we worked hard and showed resilience throughout the year,” Vandal responded. I am so proud of our team. It’s incredible!”
Photo Benoît Rioux
Beyond the result of this match, the event took the form of a big celebration for all fans of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Winnipeg fans, in blue and gold, were particularly visible among the approximately 50,000 fans present on site, as were those of the British Columbia Lions. Like a big communion, all the teams were represented.
For the love of football
Dressed and made up spectacularly in the colors of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, lovers Cheryl Harrigan and David Blackmore made the trip from London, Ontario.
“We came to have fun during this Gray Cup,” summed up Harrigan.
“And we’re taking a break from our two children,” adds Blackmore, laughing.
To everyone’s surprise, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, came to take his turn before the start of the meeting. The rendition of the national anthem by singer Sofia Camara, in both official languages, was also breathtaking.
Photo Getty Images via AFP
Rare Alouettes fans
Since this edition of the Gray Cup took place on the other side of the country, in Vancouver, Alouettes fans were rather rare. Unlike elsewhere in Canada, it is not totally integrated into the culture of Montreal fans to travel if the local team is not there.
Before Sunday, we had only encountered two “fans” wearing Alouettes colors during the Gray Cup week. The youngest wore a jersey number 13 of Anthony Calvillo, the oldest preferring the 74 of Peter Dalla Riva. Strangely, they did not come from Montreal, but from… Toronto.
In total, we estimate we saw around twenty Alouettes fans at BC Place on Sunday. The representation would undoubtedly have been stronger if, it should be remembered, the Montreal club had not lost against the Argonauts in the Eastern final the previous weekend. The Alouettes dance team minimally took part in the event’s festivities on Saturday evening at the Montreal club’s headquarters located at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Next destination: Winnipeg
After this edition held in Vancouver, Winnipeg will host the 112e Gray Cup, in November 2025, at Princess Auto Stadium. The Blue Bombers will obviously want to participate, which represented a sixth consecutive final for the Manitoba team.
Otherwise, Alouettes fans now have the entire off-season to debate the identity of the quarterback for next year: Cody Fajardo or Davis Alexander? Because the subject is on the lips of many fans, but also on those of many journalists assigned to cover the CFL. Not just in Montreal.
“The Alouettes have everything to become a dynasty in this league,” Mr. Blackmore projected, when he noted that the author of these lines came from Quebec. All that is missing is a larger stadium or the renovation of the Olympic stadium for Montreal to be able to host the Gray Cup. Why not in 2027?
File to follow… We know that the new roof of the stadium must be installed in 2027, at least, according to the schedule presented by the Olympic Park. Otherwise, there is a new commissioner who will first have to be found to succeed Randy Ambrosie within the CFL.
