Week 3 Pre-Game: #WPGvsMTL

MontrealAlouettes.com

The Alouettes will try to make it two in a row on Friday against a Winnipeg Blue Bomber team representing the West for the first time since 2005, but 60 minutes of football isn’t all that’s on the menu to start the weekend on Mount Royal.

Here’s a handy guide to everything that’s happening in and around the stadium on game day.

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The NHL’s Winnipeg Jets may have started the tradition in 1987, but the unbeaten Blue Bombers will feel anything but close to home on Friday when the Alouettes host the team’s first ever ‘white-out’ at McGill Stadium.

Fans are encouraged to wear white to the game as even the Alouettes players will be sporting their white uniforms when they hit the field looking to snap Winnipeg’s two-game winning streak.

Coming off an incredible defensive performance a week ago against B.C., the Alouettes will nevertheless see some reinforcements opposite Winnipeg’s league-leading offence on Friday, as safety Mike Edem is expected to be back in the line-up in time for kick-off.

Last year’s Alouettes Most Outstanding Rookie won’t be the only familiar face returning to McGill Stadium on Friday however, as former head coach Marc Trestman is also back in town for a special half-time ceremony that no Alouettes fan is going to want to miss.

WATCH: MARC TRESTMAN’S MESSAGE TO ALOUETTES FANS »

What is it with the West?

After just two games this season, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers look to be making a case that the CFL’s West Division is in fact the CFL’s Best Division.

Realigned in 2006 after Ottawa ceased operations, Winnipeg went 57-86 over its eight seasons in the East, missing out on the post-season four times across that span, including following last year’s forgettable 3-15 campaign.

Now back in the West with the return of Ottawa however, the Blue Bombers are a perfect 2-0 to start the season, picking up a pair of back-to-back wins over two former Eastern rivals thanks in no small part to the surprising play of quarterback Drew Willy.

Which has us asking: Which Winnipeg team will show up on Friday?

The Bombers who the Alouettes outscored 615-480 since 2008 in the East, or the Bombers who currently lead the majority of the CFL’s offensive categories, including most points scored, average points scored, and most first downs following two weeks in the West?

• BOUNCING BACK: After dropping Week 1 at Calgary 29-8, the Alouettes turned things around with an outstanding defensive game against B.C. at home a week later, 24-9. The week-to-week turnaround of +36 points was similar to September 2012 when the team followed a 43-10 loss to B.C. with a 28-17 win over Saskatchewan.

• BOUNCING BACK, PT. 2: The Alouettes allowed B.C. only 70 net yards in the first half last week and just 153 yards in the first three quarters while building a 20-3 edge with 15:00 to play. That’s in stark contrast to the 425 yards allowed to Calgary in Week 1.

• VETERAN PRESENCE: Of the league’s Top-4 rushing leaders through Week 2, three are first-year players led by Anthony Allen and Nic Grigsby. But bringing a little veteran presence to the number 3 spot is Alouettes RB Brandon Whitaker who has come back strong from injury this year, racking up 135 yards on the ground and three runs for 10+ yards so far in 2014.

• CHIPPING AWAY: With five tackles this season, linebacker Chip Cox is now just one shy (607) of cracking the CFL’s all-time defensive tackles Top-10 list and tying former Alouettes LB Kelly Wiltshire (609) at the ten-spot.

• THE WHYTE STUFF: After ranking last in the CFL a year ago with 32.8 net yards per punt, Alouettes kicker Sean Whyte has upped his 2014 net average to an impressive 40.9 yards, with 4 punts falling inside the 10-yard line.

• 3-0?: Not so fast. The last time Winnipeg started a season with three consecutive wins was back in 2003. The time before that? 1987.

NATIONAL ANTHEM: Valérie Couture & Anne-Julie Hallée

HONORARY CAPTAIN: Jean-Guy Bouffard (Deputy Mayor of Lac-Mégantic)

PRE-GAME: Belairdirect Protector of the Game presentation, AMJ Campbell “Move of the Game” Contest

HALF-TIME SHOW: Special ceremony honouring Marc Trestman’s five seasons in Montreal

RED ZONE PROMO: $10 limited edition Alouettes ‘white-out’ tees, taxes included

PLAYER OF THE GAME VOTING: via the official Alouettes mobile app »

In collaboration with Budweiser and le Dindon du Québec, the west end-zone at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium will be better known as a party zone by Alouettes fans this season!

Beginning when the stadium doors open at 5:30 p.m., the area will be transformed into an open fan zone, allowing supporters to converge in an electric atmosphere from pre-game until the final whistle.

Plus, this week only, former head coach Marc Trestman will be signing autographs at the belairdirect tent between 5:45 p.m. – 6:40 p.m.

REMINDER: Please note that the north entrance to the west end-zone will now close 10 minutes before kick-off until 5 minutes following the final whistle. During the game, access to the west end-zone will be limited to the south entrance only.

SEE IT »

Once again this season, starting two hours before kick-off, Alouettes cheerleaders, alumni, and players, as well as team mascot Touché will be on-site outside of Percival Molson Memorial Stadium’s east entrance to sign autographs, take photos, and mingle with fans.

Already backed by some of the loudest supporters in the CFL, a drumline meanwhile will be adding to the aural ambiance, and major team sponsors will also be doing their part to keep things festive.

Here’s what to expect on Friday:

• Obstacle courses and colouring stations for children

• Face-painting booth

• Uniprix tent

Vote for the belairdirect Protector of the Game!

The belairdirect Protector of the Game trophy is awarded to the Alouettes player who has distinguished himself by protecting his team against their opponents.

Examples include:

• Protecting the running back with an important block leading to a big play on the ground;

• Catching an interception in the end zone;

• Protecting the quarterback from a sack;

After each game, Alouettes fans can vote on who among the three players nominated by Pierre Vercheval should win the trophy.

The official belairdirect Protector of the Game trophy will be presented to the winning player during every home game, on the field following warm-ups.

VOTE »

Can’t make it to the game?

Alouettes season ticket holders can transfer their unused tickets to friends for free via the online account manager.

Need additional tickets?

Alouettes season ticket holders can also purchase extra tickets at their special reduced rate by contacting their account manager at 514-787-2525.

Already a season ticket holder? Get 10% off all Alouettes merchandise at any Red Zoke kiosk in-stadium upon presentation of the membership card found in your season ticket booklet.

The Alouettes and the STM offer you a free and fast direct link between Percival Molson Memorial Stadium and the Square Victoria (orange line) and McGill (green line) metro stations every game day!

Bus service starts two hours before kick-off and continues until halfway through the first quarter.

Departs: Rue Viger / Beaver Hall (north-west side) – Square Victoria metro.

Stop # 1: University / de la Gauchetière;
Stop # 2: University / René-Lévesque;
Stop # 3: University / Ste-Catherine – McGill metro;
Stop # 4: University / Président Kennedy – McGill metro;

Arrives: Avenue des Pins / Avenue du Parc.

Return bus service resumes at the start of the fourth quarter until one hour after the final whistle.

Departs: Avenue du Parc / Avenue des Pins.

Stop # 1: Union / Président Kennedy – McGill metro;
Stop # 2: Union / Ste-Catherine – McGill metro;

Arrives: Rue Viger / Beaver Hall – Square Victoria metro.

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