Few people were betting that the Alouettes would reach that Gray Cup final. General manager Danny Maciocia even doubted at times whether the team would be able to start the season. New owner, new head coach, new quarterback, new president. A transition campaign emerged. But those left behind rolled up their sleeves to surprise the CFL.
The Alouettes will face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Gray Cup final on Sunday.
Follow the developments of the meeting here. The score for the Blue Bombers in the first quarter is 3-0.
1st quarter | 08:35 | The Blue Bombers spent more than six minutes on offense and ended their sequence with a 25-yard field goal from kicker Sergio Castillo. 3-0 Winnipeg
Before the game
“I know we were overlooked, I know there weren’t a lot of people who believed in us, but that locker room didn’t care,” said an emotional Maciocia after his team’s win in the Eastern final against the Toronto Argonauts last year Saturday.
“It’s a locker room made up of draft picks, talent that we identified on the other side of the border, and there’s the final third that brings together players that were left out and that nobody wanted,” he continued. We brought them to Montreal and formed a whole group.”
Quarterback Cody Fajardo agreed.
“I enjoyed saying this year that we were like toys that no one wanted [misfit toys], he had imagined. There are several players on this team, myself included, who were rejected by another club before arriving here.
The Journal therefore invites you to discover eight important figures of the Alouettes who have been neglected in the past:
Jason Maas
Everything starts with the head coach. Just a year ago, the former quarterback was no longer part of an organization. At the end of a disappointing season, the Saskatchewan Roughriders announced last November that the offensive coordinator’s contract would not be renewed. A month later, the 47-year-old American, who was already playing under Maciocia for the Edmonton Eskimos, was signed. By instilling a culture based on hard work, Maas was able to bring his players together to lead them to the Gray Cup Final.
Jason Maas Photo Martin Chevalier
Cody Fajardo
The quarterback didn’t always agree and experienced ups and downs throughout his career. He met Maas again, with whom he experienced relegation to hell last year at the Roughriders. During the offseason, the 31-year-old Californian even considered retiring. But Maciocia and Maas showed him they had confidence in his abilities by giving him a two-year contract as soon as the free agent market opened. It was enough to revive Fajardo.
Cody Fajardo Photo Martin Chevalier
Shawn Lemon
The 35-year-old veteran, who sat out during British Columbia Lions training camp, is a master in the art of chasing pivots and brought in reinforcements in the middle of the summer. The defensive lineman quickly made friends by scoring the first touchdown of his career on a fumble return against the Rouge et Noir. The following week, still against Ottawa, the two-time Gray Cup champion reached his 100th quarterback sack in the CFL, at the expense of Dustin Crum.
Shawn Lemon Photo Martin Chevalier
Tyler Snead
The diminutive receiver has always had to prove himself wherever he went. With a height of 1.77 m and a weight of 77 kg, he was unable to secure a place with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL. Then Maciocia gave him the opportunity to showcase himself in Canadian soccer. The 23-year-old rookie did well during the camp in Trois-Rivières, when several receiver positions had to be filled following the departure of, among others, Eugene Lewis. In 15 games, Snead has accumulated no less than 788 yards and five touchdowns.
Tyler Snead Photo Martin Chevalier
Austin Mack
The talented wide receiver could have found his niche in the NFL. Three years ago he even wore the colors of the New York Giants. But injuries took their toll and he failed to establish himself with other organizations. The 26-year-old American was released by the San Francisco 49ers in August 2022 before taking advantage of his opportunity in Montreal, where he dominated by gaining 1,154 yards on 78 receptions. He was also named the Sparrows’ MVP.
Austin Mack Photo Martin Chevalier
Reggie Stubblefield
His story is unusual. The defensive back was sent home after the Alouettes’ final preseason game in early June. The managers told him he would receive a call if a player was injured. Promise kept. Three weeks later, the 25-year-old Texan returned to the team’s entourage more motivated than ever. He particularly stood out in Noel Thorpe’s defensive unit and was named Rookie of the Year.
Reggie Stubblefield (#35) PHOTO SUPPLIED BY CFL, DANIEL CRUMP
Tyrice Beverette
The linebacker almost convinced the Cincinnati Bengals, but the NFL team thanked him during the final cuts in the 2018 camp. So he turned to Canada and wore the colors of the Tiger-Cats. But Hamilton did not see fit to retain his services last winter. The Alouettes took advantage of the opportunity. Beverette proved them right and was even voted the best defensive player of the season among the Als, thanks in particular to 109 tackles, 89 of which were on defense and 20 on special teams, seven sacks and even two touchdowns. On Sunday, he will look to avenge the Ti-Cats’ Gray Cup losses to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2019 and 2021.
Tyrice Beverette (#26) Photo by Patrick Doyle/LCF.ca
Darnell Sankey
The American linebacker hasn’t necessarily been shunned by CFL teams, but his path is a bit atypical. After excelling with the Calgary Stampeders and in Regina under Maas’ orders, he wanted to return to the NFL. To put the odds in his favor south of the border, Sankey played in the XFL and even won top honors with the Arlington Renegades in May. The 29-year-old Californian was still in top form and arrived in Montreal in September. He was able to achieve a rare feat by winning two championships in the same year.
Darnell Sankey (#1) Photo Martin Chevalier