The precious trophy, which the Alouettes have dreamed of for 13 years, traveled aboard an imposing warship to arrive in Hamilton on Monday and kick off the activities of Gray Cup week.
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The Canadian Football League (CFL) emblem was escorted from Toronto by Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Harry DeWolf and welcomed to the Naval Reserve Division HMCS Star on the shores of Lake Ontario.
As part of a traditional ceremonial ceremony, the commanding officer of HMCS Harry DeWolf, Guillaume Côté, had the honor of presenting the Gray Cup with Tim Horton’s trophy in hand to CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, while the final will be played at the stadium of the same name .
“We always say that football is the ultimate team sport because it requires the contribution of every individual on the field. “What is unique in the CFL and in Canada is that this game brings Canadians together in the most remarkable way,” Ambrosie said, according to a report on the circuit website.
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Harry DeWolf arrives in Hamilton with the Gray Cup. Photo provided by Canadian Football League, Thomas Skrlj
A first since 2010
The CFL, Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Navy used the event to honor the Naval Reserve’s 100 years of service in Canada by unveiling a Halifax-built offshore and Arctic patrol boat that was commissioned into the Navy in the summer of 2020 was put into service. It was named in honor of Vice Admiral Harry DeWolf, a Canadian hero of World War II.
On Sunday, however, the focus will be on football as the Gray Cup will be awarded for the 110th time.
The Alouettes, with a record of 11 wins and seven losses in the regular season, will face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (14-4) at Tim Hortons Field.
Montreal will attempt to win the trophy for the eighth time in its history (1949, 1970, 1974, 1977, 2002, 2009 and 2010). For its part, the Manitoba team has already triumphed twelve times, including once in 2019 and once in 2021.
Members of the HMCS Harry DeWolf crew waved to the crowd as they arrived in Hamilton on Monday. Photo provided by Canadian Football League, Thomas Skrlj
▶ The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who are hosting this 110th Gray Cup despite their Eastern semifinal loss to the Alouettes, announced Monday that the final would be a sellout. For this occasion, 31,000 spectators can be seated at Tim Hortons Field.
Photo provided by Canadian Football League, Thomas Skrlj