MONTREAL – The 50th TELUS Vanier Cup festivities officially got underway Wednesday morning with the traditional Meet the Teams media conference at McGill University’s Tomlinson Hall, steps away from Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, where the milestone CIS football championship game will be played on Saturday.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST between the McMaster University Marauders (10-1) and the hometown University of Montreal Carabins (10-1), live on Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360 and Radio-Canada.
The Sun Life Financial All-Canadian Awards Banquet is set for Thursday evening at the Montreal Sheraton Centre (cocktails 5 p.m. / banquet 6:30 p.m.).
“The TELUS Vanier Cup is a highlight of Canadian’s university football schedule each year. It is great to once again be here supporting this great championship and the important role it plays in building the next generation of our athletes,” said Danny Serraglio, vice-president, Sales, Business Solutions, TELUS Québec and Atlantic Canada. “It’s in TELUS’ philosophy to give where we live, and sport is a key part of that commitment.”
Mark Weightman, president and chief executive officer of the Montreal Alouettes, co-organizers of the event, said fans shouldn’t wait too long to get their tickets.
“The enthusiasm for the game is fantastic. More than 20,000 tickets have already been sold. We’re fast approaching our maximum capacity for the Vanier Cup, which is around 23,500.”
For Pierre Lafontaine, chief executive officer of CIS, the first-ever Vanier Cup held in Montreal is much more than just a football game.
“The entire week will be a celebration of 50 years of CIS football. Both at the banquet on Thursday and at Molson Stadium on Saturday, we will honour many individuals who have contributed to make the Vanier Cup the prestigious event it is today, from past championship-winning coaches to former Hec Crighton Award winners.”
Michael Soles, the former McGill and Alouettes great has been engaged in a courageous battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for over nine years, has been named co-president of honour and will do the ceremonial coin toss on Saturday. Soles was the MVP of the 1987 Vanier Cup won the McGill, the only triumph in history by a Montreal-based program.
Former Governor General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson has also been named co-president of honour.
McMaster quarterback Marshall Ferguson has the experience of two CIS championship games as a backup to Hec Crighton winner Kyle Quinlan, including the only national title in Marauders’ history in 2011 in Vancouver.
“We’re very excited to be back in the national final. A lot of the guys have never been to Montreal before. We’re expecting a very blue crowd on Saturday. It’ll be fun.”
Marauders head coach Stefan Ptaszek expects a defensive battle.
“Defence seems to be at the forefront for both teams,” said the 2012 CIS coach of the year, whose troops beat Guelph 20-15 in the Yates Cup before defeating Mount Allison 24-12 in the Mitchell Bowl. “Montreal kept Laval out of the end zone in back-to-back games. That says it all right there.”
Montreal linebacker Byron Archambault, the RSEQ conference nominee for the Presidents’ Trophy, is confident the Carabins will be ready come game day.
“This is a great opportunity for us. Our program has progressed every year in recent years and the same can be said about this season, we have been getting better every week. We’re extremely proud to get a chance to play in the national final in front of our fans.”
Head coach Danny Maciocia said his Carabins are battle tested going into the biggest game in program history.
“Getting to the Vanier Cup is always our goal at the start of the season. Our first win against Laval in our regular season finale created a buzz. Then there was our second win over the Rouge et Or in the Dunsmore Cup, followed by a great challenge last weekend against Manitoba. We showed great mental toughness all year, especially after a disappointing season opener at Laval, and now we’re one win away from something very special.”
50TH TELUS VANIER CUP BY THE NUMBERS
When: Saturday, Nov. 29, 1 p.m. EST
Where: Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, Montreal
Who: Montreal Carabins (10-1) vs. McMaster Marauders (10-1)
TV: Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360 & Radio-Canada (pre-game shows at 12:30 p.m.)
Web: CIS-SIC.tv
Radio: 98,5 fm (Montreal), CHML (Hamilton)
UNIVERSITY OF MONTREAL CARABINS (RSEQ & Uteck Bowl champions)
2014 season summary
Overall record: 10-1
Regular season record: 7-1
Regular season standing: 2nd
Playoff record: 3-0
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 4): No. 2
Top 10 best ranking: No. 2 (poll #10)
Top 10 lowest ranking: No. 5 (polls #2 to 7)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 10
Regular season offence points (33.9 ppg): 2nd RSEQ / 9th CIS
Regular season offence total yards (448.9 ypg): 3rd RSEQ / 15th CIS
Regular season offence passing (312.5 ypg): 2nd RSEQ / 6th CIS
Regular season offence rushing (136.4 ypg): 4th RSEQ / 19th CIS
Regular season defence points (12.5 ppg): 2nd RSEQ / 3rd CIS
Regular season defence total yards (301.6 ypg): 2nd RSEQ / 2nd CIS
Regular season defence passing (183.4 ypg): 1st RSEQ / 1st CIS
Regular season defence rushing (118.2 ypg): 3rd RSEQ / 6th CIS
2014 results
Sept. 6 (away): Laval 40, Montreal 13
Sept. 12 (home): Montreal 41, Bishop’s 7
Sept. 19 (home): Montreal 43, McGill 17
Sept. 27 (away): Montreal 47, StFX 0
Oct. 4 (home): Montreal 22, Sherbrooke 16
Oct. 11 (away): Montreal 36, Concordia 3
Oct. 25 (away): Montreal 56, Bishop’s 8
Nov. 1 (home): Montreal 13, Laval 9
Nov. 8 (home): Montreal 40, Sherbrooke 13 (RSEQ semifinal)
Nov. 15 (away): Montreal 12, Laval 9 OT (Dunsmore Cup)
Nov. 22 (home): Montreal 29, Manitoba 26 (Uteck Bowl)
2014 RSEQ individual honours
Major awards: Byron Archambault (defensive MVP), Alexandre Laganière (Russ Jackson Award nominee)
All-stars offence: Gabriel Cousineau (QB), Mikhaïl Davidson (IR), Philip Enchill (IR), Régis Cibasu (WR), Jean-Christophe Labrecque (C),
All-stars defence: Jean-Samuel Blanc (DE), Mathieu Girard (DT), Byron Archambault (LB), Anthony Coady (S)
All-stars special teams: Mikhaïl Davidson (RET)
All-time head-to-head vs. McMaster
Overall record: 0-0
Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 0-0
Head coach: Danny Maciocia
Season: 4th
Career regular season record: 26-8 (.765)
Career playoff record: 5-3 (.625)
Career overall record (season & playoffs): 31-11 (.738)
Career overall record vs. McMaster: 0-0
Vanier Cup record: 0-0
Vanier Cup wins: –
Vanier Cup losses: –
McMASTER UNIVERSITY MARAUDERS (OUA & Mitchell Bowl champions)
2014 season summary
Overall record: 10-1
Regular season record: 7-1
Regular season standing: 1st
Playoff record: 3-0
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 4): No. 3
Top 10 best ranking: No. 3 (polls #6, 7, 8, 10)
Top 10 lowest ranking: No. 5 (poll #1)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 10
Regular season offence points (36.4 ppg): 3rd OUA / 5th CIS
Regular season offence total yards (482.2 ypg): 5th OUA / 8th CIS
Regular season offence passing (316.1 ypg): 2nd OUA / 5th CIS
Regular season offence rushing (166.1 ypg): 8th OUA / 12th CIS
Regular season defence points (17.8 ppg): 1st OUA / 5th CIS
Regular season defence total yards (333.5 ypg): 1st OUA / 4th CIS
Regular season defence passing (201.4 ypg): 2nd OUA / 6th CIS
Regular season defence rushing (132.1 ypg): 2nd OUA / 7th CIS
2014 results
Sept. 1 (home): McMaster 34, Guelph 27 OT
Sept. 6 (away): McMaster 66, Waterloo 0
Sept. 13 (home): McMaster 37, Carleton 17
Sept. 20 (away): McMaster 49, York 2
Sept. 27 (home): McMaster 28, Queen’s 19
Oct. 4 (away): McMaster 32, Western 29
Oct. 18 (home): McMaster 27, Laurier 10
Oct. 25 (away): Ottawa 38, McMaster 18
Nov. 8 (home): McMaster 42, Ottawa 31 (OUA semifinal)
Nov. 15 (home): McMaster 20, Guelph 15 (Yates Cup)
Nov. 22 (home): McMaster 24, Mount Allison 12 (Mitchell Bowl)
2014 OUA individual honours
Major awards: Nick Shortill (defensive MVP), Daniel Petermann (rookie), Adam Dickson (Russ Jackson Award nominee), Stefan Ptaszek (coach)
All-stars offence (First Team): Daniel Vandervoort (WR)
All-stars defence (First team): Nick Shortill (LB), Joey Cupido (CB)
All-stars special teams (First Team): Tyler Crapigna (PK)
All-stars offence (Second Team): Zach Intzandt (G), Sean Smith (OT)
All-stars defence (Second Team): Mike Kashak (DE), Scott Martin (DB)
All-stars special teams (Second Team): None
All-time head-to-head vs. Montreal
Overall record: 0-0
Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 1-2
2012 (Rogers Centre, Toronto): 37-14 loss vs. Laval
2011 (BC Place Stadium, Vancouver): 41-38 OT win vs. Laval
1967 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 10-9 loss vs. Alberta
Head coach: Stefan Ptaszek
Season: 9th
Career regular season record: 54-18 (.750)
Career playoff record: 13-7 (.650)
Career overall record (season & playoffs): 67-25 (.728)
Career overall record vs. Montreal: 0-0
Vanier Cup record: 1-1
Vanier Cup wins: 2011
Vanier Cup losses: 2012
PAST VANIER CUPS
Year Winners Losers Winning Coach Losing Coach Attendance
2013 Laval 25 Calgary 14 Glen Constantin Blake Nill 18,543
2012 Laval 37 McMaster 14 Glen Constantin Stefan Ptaszek 37,098
2011 McMaster 41 Laval 38 Stefan Ptaszek Glen Constantin
2010 Laval 29 Calgary 2 Glen Constantin Blake Nill 16,237
2009 Queen’s 33 Calgary 31 Pat Sheahan Blake Nill 18,628
2008 Laval 44 Western 21 Glen Constantin Greg Marshall 13,873
2007 Manitoba 28 St. Mary’s 14 Brian Dobie Steve Sumarah 26,787
2006 Laval 13 Sask. 8 Glen Constantin Brian Towriss 12,567
2005 Laurier 24 Sask. 23 Gary Jeffries Brian Towriss 16,827
2004 Laval 7 Sask. 1 Glen Constantin Brian Towriss 14,227
2003 Laval 14 St. Mary’s 7 Glen Constantin Blake Nill 17,828
2002 St. Mary’s 33 Sask. 21 Blake Nill Brian Towriss 17,179
2001 St. Mary’s 42 Manitoba 16 Blake Nill Brian Dobie 19,138
2000 Ottawa 42 Regina 39 Marcel Bellefeuille Frank McCrystal 18,209
1999 Laval 14 St. Mary’s 10 Jacques Chapdelaine Blake Nill 12,595
1998 Sask. 24 Concordia 17 Brian Towriss Pat Sheahan 15,157
1997 UBC 39 Ottawa 23 Casey Smith Larry Ring 8,184
1996 Sask. 31 StFX 12 Brian Towriss John Stevens 14,577
1995 Calgary 54 Western 24 Peter Connellan Larry Haylor 29,178
1994 Western 50 Sask. 40 (OT) Larry Haylor Brian Towriss 28,652
1993 Toronto 37 Calgary 34 Bob Laycoe Peter Connellan
1992 Queen’s 31 St. Mary’s 0 Doug Hargreaves Larry Uteck 28,645
1991 Laurier 25 Mt. Allison 18 Rich Newbrough Marc Loranger 30,191
1990 Sask. 24 St. Mary’s 21 Brian Towriss Larry Uteck 26,846
1989 Western 35 Sask. 10 Larry Haylor Brian Towriss 32,847
1988 Calgary 52 St. Mary’s 23 Peter Connellan Larry Uteck 13,127
1987 McGill 47 UBC 11 Charlie Baillie Frank Smith 14,326
1986 UBC 25 Western 23 Frank Smith Larry Haylor 17,847
1985 Calgary 25 Western 6 Peter Connellan
1984 Guelph 22 Mt. Allison 13 John Musselman Steve Bruno 19,842
1983 Calgary 31 Queen’s 21 Peter Connellan
1982 UBC 39 Western 14 Frank Smith Darwin Semotiuk 14,759
1981 Acadia 18 Alberta 12 John Huard Jim Donlevy 11,875
1980 Alberta 40 Ottawa 21 Jim Donlevy Cam Innes 11,000
1979 Acadia 34 Western 12 John Huard Darwin Semotiuk 19,397
1978 Queen’s 16 UBC 3 Doug Hargreaves Frank Smith 19,124
1977 Western 48 Acadia 15 Darwin Semotiuk Bob Vespaziani
1976 Western 29 Acadia 13 Darwin Semotiuk Bob Vespaziani
1975 Ottawa 14 Calgary 9 Don Gilbert Mike Lashuk 17,800
1974 Western 19 Toronto 15 Frank Cosentino Ron Murphy 24,777
1973 St. Mary’s 14 McGill 6 Al Keith Charlie Baillie 17,000
1972 Alberta 20 Lutheran 7 Jim Donlevy David Knight 10,192
1971 Western 15 Alberta 14 Frank Cosentino Jim Donlevy 13,041
1970 Manitoba 38 Ottawa 11 Henry Janzen Bob O’Billovich
1969 Manitoba 24 McGill 15 Henry Janzen Tom Mooney 9,347
1968 Queen’s 42 Waterloo 14 Frank Tindall David Knight 16,051
1967 Alberta 10 McMaster 9 Clare Drake Jack Kennedy 16,167
1966 StFX 40 Lutheran 14 Don Loney David Knight 13,678
1965 Toronto 14 Alberta 7 Dalt White Gino Fracas 3,488
VENUES
Varsity Stadium, Toronto (seating capacity 21,739): 1965-1972, 1976-1988
CNE Stadium, Toronto (seating capacity 33,135): 1973-1975
Rogers Centre, Toronto (seating capacity 32,000 for Vanier Cup): 1989-2003, 2007, 2012
Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton (seating capacity 28,743): 2004-2005, 2008
Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon (seating capacity: 12,567): 2006
TELUS-UL Stadium, Quebec City (seating capacity 12,300): 2009, 2010, 2013
BC Place Stadium, Vancouver (seating capacity 54,320): 2011
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