After a forced hiatus in 2020, Canadian football came back to life in 2021, however limiting its season to 14 games, which proved disappointing overall for the Montreal Alouettes.
This 2021 season has been that of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and head coach Mike O’Shea. Not only did the Bombers finish at the top of the Ambrosie Tour with an 11-3 record, the Manitoba squad successfully defended the Gray Cup won in 2019 by defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33-25 in the final. ‘an exciting overtime encounter, only the fourth in the 108 finals.
The CFL expects a return to normal in 2022, when it has published a few days before the end of the year festivities a complete schedule of 18 games for its nine teams. Whether the COVID-19 pandemic will collaborate remains to be seen.
From Adams to Shiltz to Harris
For the Alouettes, the 2021 season will have been a roller coaster ride.
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who both head coach Khari Jones and general manager Danny Maciocia had high hopes for, injured his left shoulder after eight starts and missed the rest of the campaign.
Adams did not know the season he was looking for when he was injured, however, and the Alouettes were 4-4, battling for a playoff berth that would not materialize until late in the fall.
Matthew Shiltz ended up in the starting seat, but it didn’t last long. In order to secure an insurance policy, Maciocia acquired veteran Trevor Harris from Edmonton Elks.
The latter took control of the Montreal attack from the beginning of November. It was he who was stationed in the semi-final of the East, lost to the Tiger-Cats.
The end of the season for the Alouettes has also been very disappointing, as the team has lost four of its last five duels including the playoff game. His only victory came against the Bombers, who had given leave to nine starters for the occasion.
Maciocia was very clear during the club’s review: things will have to change. Jones and his coaching staff were also not confirmed in post by the CEO, who simply spoke of a mutual desire to work together in 2022.
A first suffered quickly: the coordinator of special teams Mickey Donovan was sacked a few days after the balance sheet of the club.
Stanback in the spotlight
Several Alouettes players have nevertheless distinguished themselves during this season. None as much as offensive half William Stanback.
The running back completely dominated the other running backs to finish far ahead with 1,176 rushing yards, more than 300 more than his closest pursuer.
The 30-year-old American bit the dust at the Canadian League’s annual gala, however, with voters preferring Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, who clinched the MVP title.
Pass receivers Eugene Lewis and Jake Wieneke also stood out. Lewis was third on the circuit with 964 yards in the air, in addition to finishing second in passing touchdowns with nine, two short of Wieneke.
Both receivers were scheduled to become free agents in February. Maciocia has already secured Lewis’ services by putting him back on contract in mid-December.
Missed appointment in Quebec
PHOTO PASCAL RATTHE, ARCHIVES THE PRESS
The Carabins secured their ticket to the Uteck Cup by beating the Rouge et Or 28-19.
In college football, the Université de Montréal Carabins and the Université Laval Rouge et Or once again dominated the RSEQ scene, but failed to qualify for the Vanier Cup, which was played in Quebec City.
If the domination was not complete – Concordia University has shown its teeth by beating the Carabins once this season and only finished one game with the Rouge et Or – Montreal still ended its season at 7-1 and Laval at 5-3, thus securing an umpteenth participation in the Quebec final after one-sided semi-finals.
The Carabins secured their ticket to the Uteck Cup by beating the Rouge et Or 28-19. However, they lost to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the Canadian semifinals.
The Vanier Cup went to the Western Mustangs, who triumphed over the Huskies 27-21 in front of just under 6,000 people at Laval University’s Telus stadium.