CFL Gameday: Montreal at Calgary July 1, 2012

The first week of the CFL's 100th season comes to an end fittingly enough on Canada Day in Calgary, where the re-engineered Stampeders will play host to the team that has come the closest to dynasty status in the league over the last decade.

The Alouettes, a team perhaps that is not quite rebuilding, but reloading, bring some familiar names to McMahon Stadium, led by the iconic Anthony Calvillo, back for another trot around the circuit, the nineteenth time he has strapped on a chin strap in the CFL.

The always dangerous veteran can manufacture wins out of desperate situations, as few and far as those have been in Montreal over the last many years, still with the East suddenly chock a block full of marquee quarterbacks, it will be worth watching as a sub plot to the season to see how Calvillo answers the challenge offered by points west of Montreal.

Calgary having settled on Drew Tate as their new on field leader, will hope to build on his efforts of last year, the signs were positive for Stampeder fans once the dramatics of Tate's replacing Burris finally settled out.

The departure of Burris for Hamilton solidifying the Stamps as Tate's team this year, complete with a number of additions and departures that have clearly changed the direction and atmosphere of the Stampeders heading into 2012.

Football in Calgary always seems to revolve around two major questions for Stampeder fans, how the home side is doing compared to their northern cousins in Edmonton and to the crew from east in Saskatchewan.

The last few seasons have provided for much comfort for Stamps fans as both Edmonton and Saskatchewan have had their struggles, this year, if the first week is any indication may be different than those previous ones.

The Stamps can offer up their response to the opening week victories of the neighbours when they take on the Alouettes later today at McMahon.

Game Time 5 PM (MT) 7 ET, 4 PT at McMahon Stadium (TSN, RDS) 


Montreal 10 at Calgary 39  (26,387)

Pre Game

Globe and Mail-- Larry Taylor, Stampeders prepare for season opener against Alouettes
National Post-- Alouettes still counting on Anthony Calvillo
Montreal Gazette-- Trestman optimistic as season approaches
Calgary Herald-- Stamps an unknown commodity going in
Calgary Sun-- All Canadian on Canada Day
TSN-- Hufnagel, Trestman begin season as longest tenured coaches

Team Backgrounders

Montreal Alouettes
Calgary Stampeders

Post Game


CFL.ca-- Game Recap
Globe and Mail-- Upstart QB Drew Tate steals the spotlight in Stamps win...
Montreal Gazette-- Too early to panic over Als?
Calgary Herald-- Stampeders steamroller Alouettes 38-10 in opener
Calgary Sun-- Stamps run to season-opening win
TSN-- Stampeders crush Alouettes ...