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| DATE: |
Saturday, June 28, 2014 | TV: | TSN, RDS, ESPN2 |
| VS: |
Calgary Stampeders |
RADIO: |
TSN 690 » 98.5 FM » |
| KICK-OFF |
3:00 p.m. | ONLINE: | ESPN3 » |
Beginning on Saturday and running through the entire 2014 season, the Alouettes will be hosting viewing parties for every away game at La Station des Sports on Ste-Catherine Street West, in the heart of downtown Montreal.
Come hang out and catch the game with current Alouettes CB Michael Carter and DB Jamahl Knowles, as well as team cheerleaders.
Plus, Alouettes season ticket holders always save 15% off any order up to $60 at La Station des Sports on game days.
New head coach Tom Higgins makes his official return to the sidelines on Saturday against a Stampeders team he last coached between 2005-2007.
A Week 1 win in Calgary — where the Alouettes have not won since 2009 — would go a long way in helping Alouettes fans forget about a 2013 season that ended too soon, as well as erase any question marks following a pre-season which saw the team go 0-2.
MTL: #5 Larry Taylor (KR/WR)
Larry Taylor impressed in the Alouettes’ pre-season finale, returning two kicks for 75 yards — including a 41-yarder — giving the team great field position. A repeat performance from the explosive return-man on Saturday could be the spark to get the Alouettes offence going early in Week 1.
CGY: #9 Jon Cornish (RB)
Noel Thorpe’s defence left most CFL offences scratching their heads a year ago, but if there was one player who had success against the Alouettes last season, it’s this guy. Despite topping the league in run defence in 2013 with an average of just 88.4 yards allowed per game, the Alouettes nevertheless gave up 199 yards to Cornish alone in two meetings last season, as the BC-native rumbled past secondaries all year long en-route to a pair of CFL Most Outstanding Player and Canadian awards.
Veteran receiver Chad Johnson, who played 11 seasons in the NFL — catching 766 passes for 11,059 yards — will make his regular-season CFL debut on Saturday.
The former Bengals star will be looking to improve on last week’s one-catch pre-season outing and prove he’s still got it, and he’ll have an opportunity to do so in front of a huge audience, as Saturday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN2 south of the border, available in approximately 97 million households in his native U.S.
“I’m well-liked over there, but I’m a visitor now so I just need to go into Calgary and continue to play my game the way I do and protect the football most of all.” -Alouettes KR/WR Larry Taylor on his first game back against his former team.
“Can we get it done? Absolutely.” -Quarterbacks coach Ryan Dinwiddie on a successful start to the season on the road.
“It wasn’t about winning, it was about evaluating […] If you win them it’s fine, if you lose them it’s fine, but your record is still 0-0 when you start the season.” -Head coach Tom Higgins isn’t sweating a 0-2 pre-season record.
“I definitely want to make my own path. That’s why I’m here.” -Quarterback Troy Smith on becoming the Alouettes’ first opening-game starter other than Anthony Calvillo in the last 15 years.
• ROOKIE WATCH: Calgary has a league-low five players in their first CFL season in Week 1’s declared 46-man roster.
• DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY: Saturday’s game will mark the start of the Alouettes’ 60th season in the CFL.
• STARTING STRONG: The Alouettes are 34-31-2 all-time in season openers since 1946, but 14-4 in season opening games since 1996. Saturday’s game in Calgary will be Montreal’s third opposite the Stampeders to start the season since 2009.
• WESTWARD BOUND: Beginning Saturday in Calgary, the Alouettes will face a string of four Western opponents to start the season, before taking on Toronto in Week 6. Seven of the team’s eight first games are against the West.
• NEW BEGINNING: Troy Smith becomes the first player since Tracy Ham in 1999 not named Calvillo to open a regular season as starting QB for the Alouettes.
Despite starting the season on the road for a third-consecutive year, the Alouettes won’t be away from home for long.
The team will host its 2014 regular-season home opener next week on Friday, July 4 when the B.C. Lions come to town, and local acts Jonas, Marjo and Les Respectables are slated to perform at half-time.
Tickets are available now online at ticketmaster.ca or by calling 514-787-2525.
