Week 6 Pre-Game: #TORvsMTL

MontrealAlouettes.com

Home sweet home! Fresh off a bye week, the Alouettes will look to return to their winning ways this Friday against a Toronto Argonauts squad — headlined by a pair of all-too familiar faces — that has dropped four of its first five meetings to start the young season.

But 60 minutes of football isn’t all that’s on the menu for Friday, so here’s a handy guide to everything that’s happening in and around the stadium on game day.

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The Alouettes have been feeling the heat recently, coming off a disappointing performance during Week 4 in B.C. But that fire will only serve to fuel what the team is expecting to be a bounceback homecoming against the rival Toronto Argonauts on Friday at McGill Stadium. Even though both teams are off to slow starts, the East Division is still up for grabs and a win by either Montreal or Toronto would propel them to the top. 

QB Troy Smith will get the nod under center for the Alouettes, and he’ll look to pick up right where he left off from in his last start at home which saw him pass for 309 yards and 3 TDs in a down-to-the-wire thriller against the Bombers.

On the injury front, SB S.J. Green will not dress, a sizeable loss for the offence but one whose effect will be mitigated by WR Duron Carter’s return to action. In Green’s absence, former St. Louis Rams draft pick Mardy Gilyard will make his CFL debut, lining up second to Chad Johnson at WR while Kenny Stafford will shift over into Green’s usual starting position in the left slot. 

Friday’s game has been a long time coming for a handful of players, and for entirely different reasons. 

Sidelined in Week 1’s road match-up against Calgary, wideout Duron Carter’s ankle is back to full health and he will be lining up right of the snap when the Alouettes take on the Argonauts on Friday night. Carter busted onto the scene as a gamechanging rooke last season, tallying 909 yards on 46 receptions to go along with 5 touchdowns for good measure. The 6’5″ Ohio State product figures to be a huge boost to an Alouettes offensive squad that is still working on finding its footing in the early goings of this season. 

Lining up on the other side of the snap is longtime Alouettes fan-favourite Shea Emry. Emry will make his return to McGill Stadium for the first time since departing and signing with the Argonauts as a free agent this past winter. A consistent force during the course of 6 seasons, Emry, a CFL All-Star in 2012, recorded 261 tackles and 13 sacks while helping Montreal capture back-to-back Grey Cups in 2010 and 2011. The time for pleasanteries will be over once the clock strikes 7:00 p.m. on Friday, however, as the Alouettes offence is well-aware that Emry will be tasked with slowing them down – a fact that does not escape or strike fear in Als halfback Brandon Whitaker.

NATIONAL ANTHEM: Qw4rtz

HONORARY CAPTAIN: David Barrow (Labatt Breweries of Canada)

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

HALF-TIME SHOW: Spalding Cup (Outaouais vs. Montreal-Metro)

RED ZONE PROMO: T.B.D.

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 former Alouettes safety Étienne Boulay 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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