Editor's note: Toronto quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson status for Sunday is in doubt over COVID-19 protocols for attending last night's Toronto Raptors game. The path to playing is harsh but possible for Bethel-Thompson as well as fellow Argos Dexter McCoil, Charleston Hughes, Llevi Noel and Jeff Richards.
2 of the top 3 Labour Day rivalries in the CFL will be featured in the 2021 CFL division finals in the playoffs. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats make the very short trip to BMO Field in Toronto in the opener. Saskatchewan Roughriders work their way east to Winnipeg to battle the Blue Bombers.
The 33-30 Saskatchewan win over Calgary was the 10th overtime game in CFL history. A touchdown return from a missed field goal that should have counted. A recovered onside kick to start the second half. Missed field goals from 2 very good kickers. Cody Fajardo, the winning quarterback, threw 4 interceptions.
This was the first home playoff win at Mosaic Stadium for the Roughriders. The Stampeders have not won a playoff game in Regina since 1971.
Montréal dominated the first quarter in Hamilton yet only had a 3-0 lead. Hamilton came back with 20 straight points to finish the half. The defence was in charge in the second half for both teams.
The Alouettes had the running game but William Stanback wasn't effective enough and the team didn't really utilize Cameron Artis-Payne in the backfield. The Tiger-Cats took good advantage of the turnovers.
The start times are 30 minutes earlier than traditional. Toronto at Winnipeg in hockey on December 5 got pushed back an hour to 7 pm Central. The games was moved to accommodate Winnipeg sports fans. The NHL team plays downtown while the CFL team plays 10 km (6 miles) south of the arena.
ESPNews
Sunday
Hamilton @ Toronto, 12:30p
Saskatchewan @ Winnipeg, 4p
TSN
Sunday
Hamilton @ Toronto, 12:30p
Saskatchewan @ Winnipeg, 4p
Toronto and Hamilton played 14 games, 4 of them against each other from Labour Day through mid-November.
- September 6 Hamilton 32-19 @ Hamilton
- September 10 Toronto 17-16 @ Toronto
- October 11 Toronto 24-23 @ Hamilton
- November 12 Toronto 31-12 @ Toronto
The teams last met in the 2015 East semifinal in Hamilton with a 25-22 Tiger-Cats win. This will be the first Hamilton-Toronto playoff game at BMO Field. Toronto last hosted the teams in 2013 in the CFL East final. Hamilton won that day 36-24 at Rogers Centre. You might recall, or prefer not to recall, that was days after Rob Ford told the world he had more than enough to eat at home. The Argonauts were ahead when Ford arrived and then the team collapsed on the field.
Winnipeg and Saskatchewan haven't played since the Banjo Bowl. The Roughriders started that series 3-0 and came out at 3-2.
- September 5 Winnipeg 23-8 @ Saskatchewan
- September 11 Winnipeg 33-9 @ Winnipeg
The teams met in the 2019 West final with the road team Blue Bombers pulling out the 20-13 upset over the Roughriders.
Your humble narrator has been to a game in every CFL city and Moncton. The 2 stadiums on display on Sunday — Mosaic Stadium in Regina and Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton — are the only current stadiums where I have not been. I came close a couple of times to get to Hamilton but circumstances did not go my way. I would love to see those stadiums in the near future.
Those stadiums will host the 2021 Grey Cup and 2023 Grey Cup (Hamilton) and the 2022 Grey Cup (Regina) in case someone wants to invite me to those Grey Cup games.
2021 CFL playoffs preview
The viewing audience had better drone coverage in Regina versus the coverage in Hamilton. The quality of the production out west suffered with discolorations at times. We realize colder temperatures could account for the trouble. The production issues will turn off casual fans, especially ones randomly searching for something to watch.
The CFL playoff rosters could have a hiccup with the division finals and the Grey Cup. Players who are unvaccinated (even in an Aaron Rodgers kind of way) can't participate beyond the division semifinals.
The restrictions are for air and rail travel but would also affect traveling by car or even GO train.
2021 CFL Week 16 preview
For many CFL fans, the festivities preceding the Grey Cup is the best part of the end of the CFL season. While the activities are a bit subdued thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still gatherings in the coming week.
There is a section about what to do in Hamilton. After all, the Grey Cup hasn't been to Hamilton in 25 years. The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is inside Tim Hortons Field.
Your humble narrator has been to Hamilton once and that was for a CFL game at the old Ivor Wynne Stadium. There are buses that run from the GO Train station in downtown Hamilton to the stadium. I recall taking the #2 bus to Ivor Wynne Stadium. The new stadium is on the site of the old stadium.
The guide will also be helpful if you come to Hamilton for a regular season game, the 2022 NHL Heritage Classic in March, as well as the 2023 Grey Cup.
CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage
We have seen a few CFL voices disappear lately. Bob Irving, the legendary radio voice of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, will call the West final as his final game for 680 CJOB. The team is dedicating the game to him and will recognize Irving in a pre-game ceremony.
Irving called the 1988 and 1990 Grey Cups for the Canadian Football Network (CFN), the official TV syndication service of the league from 1987-1990. He also called the first half of the 2011 Grey Cup for Bell Media Radio. Rick Ball called the second half.
Short-term solutions for TSN to replace Chris Cuthbert on CFL telecasts
The TSN coverage is laid out for the division finals. The regular pattern gets mixed a bit with Dustin Nielson, Duane Forde, and Matthew Scianitti in Toronto and Rod Smith, Glen Suitor, and Sara Orlesky in Winnipeg. Expect Orlesky to pull double duty at Canada Life Centre for TSN3 for the Winnipeg Jets game that night.
James Duthie set up in Regina with Jim Barker with extra analysis.
Rod Black has done play by play for the Grey Cup since 2012. Black worked with his traditional partner Duane Forde in 2012 and 2013 and with Giulio Caravatta since 2014.
Dustin Nielson would be a good replacement for Black on the radio call, though there are regular CFL radio people who would be fine candidates.
photos and video credit: CFL
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