This year in Montreal! Cette année à Montréal!

My football team (gone North but not forgotten...)

All right, Als! 33-24 over the Argonauts! Whoo Hoo!

By the way ... the Alouettes used to play in Baltimore (where they were the Stallions), and they played for the Grey Cup in '94, and won it in '95 ... before the NFL drove the CFL back north of the border with its expansion/movements and the Ravens came to Baltimore. I had tickets to the Stallions - and I remember how people swore they'd never bow to the NFL, after that whole Cardinals fiasco. But it didn't take much tempt the city back to the NFL, and the Stallions went away...

But the Alouettes (and that's a meaner bird than the Raven) are a great team still.

Bill Beacon (CP) writes:

It's their fifth trip to the Grey Cup in seven years. That their only win so far in that span was in 2002 is what has kept a consistently strong Montreal team from being considered a dynasty and seeded doubts about the team's and quarterback Anthony Calvillo's ability to win the big games.

"We're excited, but man, I'm tired of losing them," said Calvillo, who has started at quarterback in all the preceding games. "I'm going to stress that. I'm going to go out and win because I remember 2002 - that parade and that feeling. The last two times we lost it wasn't a good feeling. We've been here so many dang times it shouldn't bother us anymore. That's how I'm going to approach it."

They'll meet the B.C. Lions (who beat the Rough Riders 30-21 in their final) in Winnipeg on Sunday the 19th for the Cup. It'll be a tough game: the Lions have 26 points to the Alouettes 20, with three more wins. But the Als can pull it off!

A few other notes:

Guard Scott Flory was again selected to the CFL All-Star Team. The 2003, 2005 and 2006 East Division Most Outstanding Lineman, Scott Flory has become the leader of Montreal’s offensive line. Flory was previously a CFL All-Star in 2002, 2003 and 2005, and an East Division All-Star in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.

Als' quarterback Anthony Calvillo earned his fifth East Division All-Star selection this season, passing for 4,714 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Seven other Als made the East All-Stars, too:

Running back Robert Edwards (also in 2005)
239 carries, 1155 yards (3rd CFL), (4.8 avg), 17 touchdowns (1st CFL)

Slotback Ben Cahoon (also in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
99 receptions (2nd CFL), 1,190 yards (5th CFL), 4 touchdowns

Wide receiver Kerry Watkins (also in 2005)
86 receptions (3rd CFL), 1,153 yards (7th CFL), 5 touchdowns

Centre Bryan Chiu (also in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

Defensive tackle Ed Philion (also in 2003, 2004, 2005)
14 defensive tackles, 2 sacks, 2 knockdowns, 1 forced fumble

Linebacker Timothy Strickland (also in 2003, 2004)
56 defensive tackles, 7 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble

Kicker Damon Duval
Field goals: 51/59 (86,4% - 1st CFL), 201 points (2nd CFL)

Passion. Pouvoir. Fierté. Nos Alouettes!

Pride. Passion. Power. Our Alouettes!

This year in Montreal! Cette année à Montréal!