Although the Carabins fell to the Thunderbirds in the two teams’ only meeting at the 2015 Vanier Cup in Quebec, there is still one member of the Blues organization who can boast of defeating Western champions throughout his career.
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Denis Touchette, the Carabins’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, wore the colors of the McGill Redmen (now the Redbirds), who surprised everyone by handily defeating the Thunderbirds by a score of 47-11 on November 21, 1987, to win the Vanier Cup. McGill became the first program in Quebec to win the national title.
Led by the late Michael Soles, who rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries to win the game’s MVP award and the Ted Morris Trophy as the best offensive player, McGill was the underdog in this game. The game was played at Varsity Stadium in Toronto. The T-Birds had a 22-game winning streak.
“Like the Alouettes that year, winning the Gray Cup when no one believed in their chances, we weren’t the favorites,” the star defenseman recalled. It was an incredible feeling to win the Vanier Cup as an underdog. It’s been so long, but I remember the coaches gave us a lot of freedom during the week.”
Ambivalent feelings
This spectacular victory also marked the end of the career of Touchette, who was an important part of the McGill tertiary line. In the match recap, the defender shared these conflicting feelings.
“I’m happy we won, but it’s difficult because it’s the end of my career. I will never play football again and I can’t accept that. I didn’t think I would feel this way.”
Crucial interception
A week earlier in Halifax during the Atlantic Bowl, Touchette had thrown a late interception at the expense of three-time Hec Crighton Trophy-winning Chris Flynn, paving the way for a 46-yard field goal that made it 30-29 Victory ensured Redmen and their ticket to the Vanier Cup.
After studying at McGill, Touchette began coaching alongside his work as a physical education teacher and principal at Collège Notre-Dame. From 2006 to 2012, he was first involved with the Cactus, the Spartiates du Vieux-Montréal and the Carabins, before returning to CEPSUM in 2020, shortly after Marco Iadeluca was appointed to lead the team.
“I wasn’t unhappy and didn’t come back to win the first Dunsmore Cup as a coach, but I feel really blessed to now have the opportunity to win the Vanier Cup as a coach.”