Canadian Crossing

CFL in Halifax: 2023 Touchdown Atlantic observations

The Toronto Argonauts went 6-0 in the CFL by beating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 31-13 at the 2023 edition of Touchdown Atlantic at Huskies Stadium in Halifax. Toronto had an offensive touchdown, a DaShaun Amos Pick 6, and a Javon Leake punt return touchdown.

The Roughriders finally scored a late touchdown after Jake Dolegala replaced Mason Fine at quarterback. The two combined for 402 passing yards yet had little to show as a result.

What we really care about was the impact of Touchdown Atlantic 2023 and a possible future for the Atlantic Schooners and a 10th CFL team.

#TDAtlantic: The Motion Picture. pic.twitter.com/YI1ChlACtg

— CFL (@CFL) July 30, 2023

If you have been to a sporting event in a downtown stadium — think SkyDome in Toronto, BC Place in Vancouver, TD Place in Ottawa, even Mosaic Stadium in Regina — there is a joy to be within walking distance of restaurants and bars after that sporting event. The game ended just before 8 pm Atlantic time with plenty of time for a lovely dinner or hearing live music in a bar.

The crowd could easily walk to places in downtown Halifax. In 2022, the fans might have driven 90 km back to Halifax but that is the not the same feeling.

Being in Halifax, not Wolfville on Moncton, is part of the point. Downtown Halifax is easy to get around, though uphill is a concern if you have had a few drinks.

The 11,555 crowd is slightly larger than Halifax is used to hosting for events. Halifax and Moncton co-hosted the 2023 World Juniors hockey tournament. Scotiabank Centre (the former Halifax Metro Centre) seats just under 11,000. The idea is to have 9 days where Halifax draws such a crowd. There is a difference between an occasional tournament in the middle of winter versus summer evenings.

"We certainly haven't been shy in making the point that we would really like to be here. We think this is a perfect market for the CFL. We believe we would have a big, very positive contribution to this community and frankly to all of Atlantic Canada," CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said.

"But at some point, you have to say, we’ve tried and done everything we can. I’d like to believe that when all is said and done, the region knows that we love being here, that we respect everything about them and we’d like to be part of their community. But at some point, they have to kind of pull us in the rest of the way.”

This is not Ambroisie's fault in this regard. The CFL played several games in Moncton and even Wolfville before coming to Halifax in the regular season. Let's see how being in Halifax makes an impact on a potential Atlantic Schooners team.

Sue Linnen is battling life-threatening cancer but that didn’t stop the Regina fan from travelling across the country to watch the Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the Toronto Argonauts at Touchdown Atlantic in Nova Scotia on Saturday.https://t.co/gFCG0oA4ka

— CBC Nova Scotia (@CBCNS) July 29, 2023

We talk about how well the Saskatchewan Roughriders fanbase travels for road games. This was a really beautiful story. We hope Sue Linnen, her husband, and her loved ones enjoyed that experience of seeing the Roughriders in Atlantic Canada.

2023 CFL Week 8 preview: Touchdown Atlantic finally comes to Halifax

We mentioned the Nova Scotia history with Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther (born in Truro and played for Saint Mary's). Toronto offensive lineman Gregor MacKellar was born in Timberlea and both MacKellar and linebacker Henoc Muamba played at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish.

Lauther had the opening kickoff and then didn't appear on the field until kicking a field goal with 5:43 left in the 3rd quarter. Lauther ended up with 7 points with an added field goal and extra point. Glad Lauther got to score on his old university field.

Touchdown Atlantic 2023 preview: CFL finally comes to Halifax

3 Down Nation had a nice summary of the 2 viable locations for a potential home for the Atlantic Schooners in Halifax. The distance is about 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) walking from the Wanderers Grounds just north of Sackville Street to Huskies Stadium on Saint Mary's University campus. The walk is downhill from the Wanderers Grounds, uphill from Huskies Stadium.

The consensus is that Wanderers Grounds has a better footprint and is closer to nearby establishments. Huskies Stadium has a few advantages, such as not being on city property.

Duane Forde and Rod Smith talked about the legacy of Huskies Stadium in terms of university football. We tend to believe them but you couldn't really tell that from watching Touchdown Atlantic 2023. Also, if that were true, then Huskies Stadium would have more than 2,000 for its normal capacity.

The expansion to 11,000 looked really tight. The vast majority of seating was on the west side. The east side seats looked more intimate than the west side seats. An expansion might mean getting rid of the track, which would increase intimacy in watching an Atlantic Schooners game.

There is still the thought of a split schedule, where Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium in Moncton could share games with Huskies Stadium in Halifax. The NFL Green Bay Packers played 2-3 home games each year in Milwaukee from 1934–1994. Both stadiums would need a seating expansion.

A Halifax stadium could be a quality home to the Atlantic Schooners, Halifax Wanderers FC, Saint Mary's University, and various outdoor events. That would seem to be enough to justify an outdoor stadium.

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

TSN had a screenshot of the panel in Halifax in 2005 for the preseason game at Huskies Stadium. Dave Randorf was the host with Matt Dunigan, the late Chris Schultz, and Jock Climie. The panel was there in Halifax in 2023 with Kate Beirness, Dunigan, Milt Stegall, and Davis Sanchez. Stegall mentioned "cheap lobster" in the preview. The seafood is so good out in Nova Scotia.

We even saw Dunigan on the Toronto sidelines during the game.

The CFL on TSN panel has been live in Vancouver and Halifax, showing the coast-to-coast part of the coast-to-coast-to-coast part of Canada.

CBS Sports Network earned points just by not screwing up the telecast. The ESPN+ disaster of the 2022 version from Wolfville still burns in our collective minds.

photo credits: @CFL; @CEdwardsTSN
Twitter captures: @CFL; @CBCNS
map credit: Google

Touchdown Atlantic 2023 preview: CFL finally comes to Halifax

There is an excitement about finally having a regular season CFL game in Halifax. Then again, Nova Scotia has had extreme wildfires and now, massive flooding in the summer of 2023.

Touchdown Atlantic during the regular season has been in Moncton, New Brunswick and Wolfville, Nova Scotia in 2022. Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium, formerly Moncton Stadium, hosted regular season games in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2019.

Halifax did host a CFL exhibition game in 2005. The city was scheduled to host another preseason game in 2006 but that was cancelled thanks to the folding of the Ottawa Renegades.

The CFL scheduled a Touchdown Atlantic in 2020 in Halifax but we all know what happened to that game.

There were other CFL preseason games out east before the Touchdown Atlantic concept was born. Saint John, New Brunswick, hosted exhibition games in 1986 and 1987. The 1986 crowd was a sellout at 11,463 fans at Canada Games Stadium. The Ottawa Renegades and Montréal Alouettes had an exhibition game in Quebec City in 2003 at PEPS Stadium in front of 10,358.

Touchdown Atlantic 2022 showcased Nova Scotia and its love for the CFL

2022 CFL Week 6 preview: Touchdown Atlantic comes to Wolfville, NS

CFL finally puts a regular season game in Nova Scotia

Riderville at TDA, the Pre-game Tailgate and more.

Events at this month's #TDAtlantic have been announced ⤵️#CFL https://t.co/WFJErssd0Z

— CFL (@CFL) July 20, 2023

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be the road team and the Toronto Argonauts will be the home team in Halifax on Saturday. These were the same 2 teams that played in Wolfville in 2022.

The CFL has a number of family friendly events surrounding the 2023 version of Touchdown Atlantic.

Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther played his university football at St. Mary's Stadium in Halifax, home of the 2023 Touchdown Atlantic game. Lauther is from Truro, Nova Scotia. Toronto linebacker Hénoc Muamba played for St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Though Muamba will be on the sidelines for this game, being back in Nova Scotia is a thrill for him.

Atlantic Schooners: the mysterious CFL team has a name and an ideal location in Halifax. The success of the Wanderers FC club leads to visions of a shared stadium. If you build it, they will come. Building the stadium has been the most difficult part of a possible 10th CFL team in Atlantic Canada.

Chris Cuthbert picks Stanley Cup final over TSN, jumps to Rogers Sportsnet

Chris Cuthbert called the exhibition game in Halifax for TSN in 2005. Cuthbert got to call a Grey Cup for every CFL team during his time at CBC and TSN. All the boxes have been checked, except for a regular season game in Halifax.

There is a soft spot for sneaking Cuthbert into the booth. We know the rivalry of Sportsnet and TSN wouldn't allow for a kind gesture.

CanadianCrossing.com Nova Scotia coverage

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

CanadianCrossing.com travel coverage

Yes, the CFL wants a 10th team and for that team to be in Atlantic Canada. Nova Scotia should also want the CFL to draw in tourists to visit Halifax as well as elsewhere in the province. Nova Scotia is a gorgeous place to be. More Canadians and yes, Americans, should see how wonderful Halifax is to visit.

Your humble narrator has been to every single CFL city and Moncton. The chase for a CFL game likely led me to Moncton and Regina. I found other great things to do in all of these Canadian cities.

I've been to Nova Scotia a couple of times. There are plenty of great day trips from Halifax such as Lunenberg and Peggy's Cove. I would love to go back for this game.

Touchdown Atlantic is about football but discovery of Nova Scotia is also on the agenda. If you are in Halifax for the game, have a donair, a true lobster roll, and plenty of good fried seafood.

The 2023 version of Touchdown Atlantic airs at 4 pm EDT (5 pm Halifax time) on Saturday from St. Mary's Stadium in Halifax. TSN will have the game in Canada with CBS Sports Network airing the TSN feed in the United States. CFL+ will have the game outside those countries. 

photo credit, Twitter capture, and video credit: @CFL

Canadian film review: Black Ice

Your humble narrator saw Black Cop at the Chicago International Film Festival in October 2017. Writer/director Cory Bowles (Trailer Park Boys) was there and held a post-film Q&A. The after Q&A in the hallway was legendary in my mind. Bowles shared a lot about the history of Africville technically inside Halifax in Nova Scotia.

I thought that night that someone should do a documentary on the history of Africville based on what Bowles told us that night.

Black Ice is several documentaries under a single umbrella united by director Hubert Davis. Akim Aliu starts out the documentary, which feels appropriate. The film goes over the situation from current and recent former Black ice hockey players, including Sarah Nurse, P.K. Subban, Saroya Tinker, Mark Connors, and Wayne Simmonds.

You hear the stories of racism from their perspective. The stuff they ignore and the stuff they can't ignore. I vaguely remember the "banana" incident involving Simmonds. Having him talk about it helped give perspective. Simmonds has played more than 1,000 NHL games. Hard to imagine what he has been through.

Tinker talks about the thrill of playing for Angela James for the Toronto Six to play for a Black coach who can understand her situation.

We learn about the horrible quote by then Toronto Maple Leafs owner Conn Smythe, "I'll give any man $10,000 who can turn Herb Carnegie white.” Carnegie never played in the NHL.

Bill Peters resigns as Calgary Flames head coach in light of racial slurs against player

Canadian film review: Willie

Simmonds also mentions a subtle form of racism in organised hockey. He talks about the conundrum of why you don't see Black centres. This falls into horrible stereotypes for Black athletes that they "can't" be catchers or quarterbacks or centres because they aren't "smart" enough.

As much as I have covered and followed hockey, I confess I hadn't thought about that aspect. I looked up Jarome Iginla and Dustin Byfuglien, two of the smartest NHL players I've seen, regardless of colour (neither of which is in the documentary). Both were on the wing. Hell, Byfuglien was so talented to play defence and as a forward. Simmonds had a point to really ponder that seemingly would also translate to a lack of Black coaches in organised hockey.

The documentary also focuses on the history of Black hockey players in Canada based on the Coloured Hockey League of the Maritimes. The film incorporates research from Darril Fosty and George Fosty's 2004 non-fiction book Black Ice: The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes, 1895-1925.

The film covers the rise and fall of Africville, complete with the literal destruction of the community. This film is one of the few to show old footage of Africville to get a sense of what was lost. The topic deserves a full documentary but this was a good start.

The encouraging part of the documentary is Black coaches teaching young Black boys and girls how to play hockey. One team is called the Seasides after the Africville Seasides, one of the Coloured Hockey League teams.

A key theme in this part of the documentary is the idea of having Black people play together so they might have a friend on and off the ice. The saga of being the only Black player on a team, boys or girls, men or women, was common among many of the adult players.

Too often we hear about the history of Willie O'Ree breaking the NHL colour barrier in 1958 and then Mike Marson was the next Black player 16 years later in 1974. Google Larry Doby to find out the first Black player in the American League, 3 months after Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier.

Canadian film review: Across the Line

Canadian film review: Black Cop

Davis presents the information in an engaging fashion. Sometimes, information can be wonderful and presented poorly. Black Ice does a really good job of keeping the audience from being bored.

The dialogue is definitely triggering, especially the n-word mentions. This is a reality of what these players have been through in their careers.

Seeing young people of colour on the ice is inspirational and educational. Black Ice delves into the history that people of all colours should know.

TIFF selects Top 10 Canadian films of 2022

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Black Ice won the People's Choice Award for documentaries at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. The film made the TIFF Top Ten list of Canadian films for 2022.

Black Ice has aired on TSN and is available on Crave in Canada.

video credits: YouTube/Crave; TSN
photo credit: Black Ice

Canadian film review: Dawn, Her Dad and the Tractor

The family's matriarch has passed on. Don returns home as Dawn (Maya Henry). Her sister Tammy (Amy Groening) is upset over not knowing what had happened to her sibling. John Andrew (Robb Wells), the patriarch, wanders around wondering what to do. Byron (Reid Price), Tammy's fiance, is trying to be helpful.

Running a farm is hard enough when everyone is on board. Now that the children's mother has passed on, there are still farm chores. The tractor becomes a symbol of rebuilding the relationship between Dawn and John Andrew.

Dawn gets love and support from allies in town and one notable detractor. Her family slowly comes around. The tractor looks a lot better after they work on it.

Henry and Groening have strong chemistry as siblings working on layers of issues. They work through love and hate; neither giving an inch (centimetre?).

The film is longtime actor Shelley Thompson's full-length feature debut as writer and director. Thompson makes good use of the soundtrack though most of the songs feel like aimless background music.

The script has some false endings and feels staggered in the final 30 minutes. Thompson develops strong characters, especially with the siblings dynamic. The father is stronger and more aware in the second half of the film.

The story feels rather authentic for a trans person in a small, rural town.

There is a lot of heart in the script. The characters feel like they are in the soil in rural Nova Scotia.

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

The beauty of Nova Scotia is definitely a co-star with filming in Windsor, Chester, Halifax, and Antigonish.

The film has its moments but slips at times where it feels like a TV-movie, which is quite unfortunate. The subject matter and most of its execution tips the scales toward seeing the film. Don't expect too much from the film.

Dawn, Her Dad & the Tractor is currently available on Crave in Canada.

video credit: YouTube/Dawn, Her Dad & the Tractor-Movie
photo credit: Dawn, Her Dad & the Tractor

Touchdown Atlantic 2022 showcased Nova Scotia and its love for the CFL

There's a saying in Atlantic Canada that if you're not of this place then you're from away, but if you come to this place, come to stay.@TSNScianitti takes a closer look at the CFL's Touchdown Atlantic tradition, and what makes this CFL event and Atlantic Canada so unique. pic.twitter.com/zukf1Nljmt

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 16, 2022

Wolfville was not Halifax; the CFL finally played a regular season game in Nova Scotia with Touchdown Atlantic 2022. The wind off the Atlantic Ocean played havoc with some of the kicks, not unlike the wind at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.

The streets of Wolfville and Halifax were filled (mostly) with the green of the Saskatchewan Roughriders fans who made the trip. There were a number in double blue, rooting for the Toronto Argonauts.

The Argos, a seafaring team based on the nickname, were victorious 30-24 at Raymond Field in Wolfville, home of Acadia University. Sure the cliche is true: everyone involved were winners on Saturday.

Football is family 💚🏈

A special moment for @brettlauther in front of the home crowd 🙌#CFLGameday | #TDAtlantic @sskroughriders pic.twitter.com/DPgy9jdDwR

— CFL (@CFL) July 16, 2022

Brett Lauther's family and friends represented 180 of the 10,000 fans. Lauther is from nearby Truro, Nova Scotia and played university football at St. Mary's Stadium in Halifax (where the 2020 Touchdown Atlantic was scheduled).

This is one of the selling arguments to having a presence in Atlantic Canada. Players from the region making the CFL and either playing for the Atlantic Schooners or coming as a visiting player. The TSN crew interviewed Acadia University head coach Jeff Cummins, a former CFL player.

We know the NHL uses this as a theory for keeping a particular team in a city where the maximum capacity next season will be 5,000 because of Auston Matthews. The theory in Atlantic Canada and the CFL is a lot stronger.

Lauther made 3 of 4 field goal attempts for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Remembering an amazing grilled sourdough bread in Halifax

Celebrating advantages of the Halifax Seaport Farmers Market

Searching for a good lobster roll in Nova Scotia

The seafood is amazing on the East Coast. TSN used part of the halftime to talk seafood. The Bar Down segment was a bit baffling. 3 Saskatchewan players looked at pictures of seafood. Their reaction was mostly negative based on pictures, especially the player in the centre who wasn't into seafood.

The seafood is way better than what was portrayed in that segment. We needed to see them eat Atlantic Canada seafood.

Wolfville is normally a town of 4,000 people. There were 10,886 fans plus the TSN personnel and other relevant people. That is a lot to ask on a place without that kind of infrastructure. Credit to Wolfville for rising to the occasion.

We were glad to see Halifax get some of the celebration for Touchdown Atlantic 2022.

2022 CFL Week 6 preview: Touchdown Atlantic comes to Wolfville, NS

CFL finally puts a regular season game in Nova Scotia

CanadianCrossing.com Nova Scotia coverage

McLeod Bethel-Thomson played for Toronto in Moncton in 2019. Boris Bede played for the Alouettes in 2019 and the Argos in 2022 for Touchdown Atlantic. Brandon Banks signed with Hamilton in 2013 after the Touchdown Atlantic visit to Moncton.

We noted Brett Lauther's local roots earlier in this story. Toronto linebacker Hénoc Muamba played his second Touchdown Atlantic, having played for Montréal in 2019 in Moncton. Muamba played for St. Francis Xavier University in nearby Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

.@ESPNPR @ESPN WTF? Show the @CFL game from @TSN. Huge game in terms of the league and you won't show us the feed. We literally pay your salary. Give us what you promised.

— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) July 16, 2022

We hate to mention the major blemish on the U.S. streaming side. ESPN+ picked a horrible time to be asleep at the wheel. The U.S. fans lost the pageantry and the first 2:01 of the game.

Who knows how many American viewers left because the game wasn't on their screen.

ESPN made things even worse by refusing (at press time) to carry the rebroadcast of the game. Every other CFL game is available, except for Touchdown Atlantic 2022.

TSN lost its own feed and missed the first Toronto Argonauts touchdown live.

2020 Touchdown Atlantic in Halifax: What would have been

If CFL plays in 2020, have all the games in the Maritimes

As for the actual game itself, Toronto linebacker Wynton McManis picked a great time for a Pick 6, returning an interception from Cody Fajardo to give the Argos a 30-24 win. Saskatchewan had won 8 straight over Toronto dating back to 2016.

McLeod Bethel-Thompson went 26 for 37 for 276 yards with 2 TDs and an interception. Fajardo was 24 for 34 for 284 yards with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.

Andrew Harris passed TSN panelist Milt Stegall and is now 4th all-time in yards from scrimmage. Stegall finished with 15,209 yards.

Harris had 39 yards rushing, 25 yards receiving for 64 yards for the day. He only needed 46 to pass Stegall.

The veteran running back is still short of 10,000 rushing yards. When Harris reaches that mark, he will be the first Canadian and the 6th CFL player to hit that mark.

Rod Smith and Glen Suitor called the game on TSN with Matthew Scianitti on the sidelines and in the crowd.

The panel made the trip with Kate Beirness, Davis Sanchez, and Milt Stegall there on Friday and Saturday. Matt Dunigan made the trip from Winnipeg on Friday to be there on Saturday in Wolfville.

Stegall talked about how this was his first trip to Atlantic Canada. Sanchez says he thinks Stegall would be someone from Atlantic Canada if he were Canadian.

CFL once again comes to Moncton for 2019 Touchdown Atlantic

Analysis: Could Moncton host a permanent CFL franchise?

CFL hits Moncton, showcasing New Brunswick

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

We know the idea of building a stadium in Halifax to house a team got sidelined during the pandemic. We know the decades-long uphill battle this has been. Let's hope Touchdown Atlantic is a CFL game every year until the Atlantic Schooners start playing for real.

Twitter captures: @TSN_Sports; @CFL; @canadian_xing
photos credit: TSN/CFL

2022 CFL Week 6 preview: Touchdown Atlantic comes to Wolfville, NS

Touchdown Atlantic 2022 is unique because the game won't be in Moncton, NB. The game will finally be in Nova Scotia. Halifax? Nope. Wolfville. Just 90 km away from Halifax.

The week actually starts with the Edmonton Elks in Montréal on Thursday night. ESPN2 will suppose to carry this game but switched out for a game in August.

Calgary travels to Winnipeg for an outstanding showdown on Friday Night Football. This is the second straight week where Winnipeg is in a battle of undefeated teams.

The times shifted for the Saturday doubleheader. The Touchdown Atlantic starts at 3 pm Atlantic time, 2 pm Eastern, and 11 am in Vancouver. This is a Toronto "home game" as Saskatchewan will bring fans even to Wolfville.

Ottawa travels to Hamilton for the (sorry to say) anti-climatic conclusion early on a Saturday evening.

A reminder for our U.S. fans is that any CFL game not on an ESPN cable channel is available on ESPN+. The TSN feeds are used.

The BC Lions will get ready with brunch to watch the Touchdown Atlantic game on Saturday.

TSN

Thursday
Edmonton @ Montréal, 7:30p
Friday
Calgary @ Winnipeg, 8:30p
Saturday
Saskatchewan @ Toronto, 2p (Touchdown Atlantic)
Ottawa @ Hamilton, 5p

Bye week: BC

CFL finally puts a regular season game in Nova Scotia

CanadianCrossing.com Nova Scotia coverage

Not a lot Ottawa could do to change the tide. The West is now 12-1 against the East in 2022 in the CFL.

Edmonton scored as many points as the Peyton Logan 122-yard missed field goal return for Calgary. Logan added a 21-yard touchdown run for the Stampeders. Linebacker Cameron Judge added a fumble recovery for a 63-yard 4th quarter touchdown.

The 1-hour plus weather delay didn't change much in terms of momentum. The Elks liberally used their 3 quarterbacks. Kai Locksley had been the leading receiver when he went into the game as the 3rd quarterback. Tre Ford injured his right shoulder early in the game. Nick Arbuckle was in the game in between injuries to other quarterbacks.

Ford could be out 4 weeks with a collarbone injury.

The Elks are 1-4, playing much better football on the road than at Commonwealth Stadium. The team now has a 10-game home losing streak dating back to the fall of 2019.

2022 CFL Week 5 preview

Winnipeg and BC went in undefeated. The Blue Bombers went into Vancouver and showed in meeting 1 which team was still the best. The Lions did bring in some late first-half magic to make things fun. The teams play twice more many months down the line. They will remember this game well.

Janarion Grant started the game for the Blue Bombers with a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Grant had a second kickoff return called back for a penalty, thwarting a potential $1,000,000 prize for a lucky fan.

Winnipeg ran the ball well, which kept the ball away from Nathan Rourke. Zach Collaros has been the precise, high-percentage play quarterback yet took things up a notch against the Lions. In a battle of impressive quarterbacks, Collaros made sure people remember his performance.

2022 CFL Week 4 preview

Hamilton signed a new punter. He is 40 years old. Except that punter is Jon Ryan. Ryan has mixed in CFL appearances before and after the NFL career with Green Bay and Seattle. He is one of a few Canadians to throw a TD pass in a NFL playoff game.

Ryan played in the CFL for Winnipeg (2004–2005) and then Saskatchewan (2019–2021).

So why Hamilton and why now? All good questions. Ryan has been on a Super Bowl winning team (Seattle, 2014) and would love to have a Grey Cup title.

Ryan averaged 48.1 yards per punt in 28 games in his last 2 seasons.

Tiger-Cats need a good punter for home games in particular since the winds make an impact on wins and losses.

Saskatchewan does travel to Hamilton on October 7.

2022 CFL Week 3 preview

The running game often is pushed to the back seat in the CFL offence game. The Saskatchewan Roughriders has a running quarterback in Cody Fajardo who can't run much these days with a knee brace.

Fajardo threw a pair of touchdowns though the running game was the star of the show.

Jamal Morrow had 145 total yards on 16 carries and 6 catches. Frankie Hickson had 92 rushing yards on 5 carries with a 63-yard touchdown run.

Nate Behar's post-game comments from last night #FridayNightFootball pic.twitter.com/ipLYy7wJzm

— Brian Swane (@BrianSwane) July 9, 2022

This would be the time of year to compare Hamilton with Dane Evans and Ottawa with Jeremiah Masoli. The two were Tiger-Cats teammates. The logical step happened in the offseason where the quarterbacks no longer had to compete with each other on the same sideline.

Both teams being 0-4 is not the best comparison point. Neither team has played a division game yet. The RedBlacks have been close in all but the last game. The Tiger-Cats should have defeated Calgary.

A cheap hit by Garrett Marino on Masoli late in the last game changes that dynamic. The fact that the TSN cameras caught Marino flexing his muscles after the cheap hit should mean a long suspension. When Glen Suitor thinks it's a cheap hit, you know how cheap that was. The move appeared to be retaliation for another cheap hit against Saskatchewan. Milt Stegall on the panel used the word "gutless."

There is a logic that Marino should sit out as many games as Masoli will. No league has done that and it won't start now. A 15-yard or a 25-yard penalty isn't enough. Feel free to punish the incidents that led up to that incident. The longest CFL suspension for on-field incidents is 2 games.

Marino will be out for 4 games under 3 different suspensions. The 2-game suspension for the actual hit matches the previous high mark. We will be curious as to whether he stays on the Roughriders once the suspensions have been served.

Masoli is expected to be out 10-12 weeks. Nate Behar did what a teammate should do.

Masoli vs. Evans was going to be the highlight of the first division game with the teams. The cheap hit delays that moment significantly.

Nick Arbuckle will finally wear an Ottawa uniform. The Elks traded Arbuckle this week for a 4th round pick in the 2023 CFL Draft. Arbuckle was set to play for Ottawa in the 2020 season but never hit the field for the RedBlacks.

The teams will meet in the "forgotten game" following Touchdown Atlantic.

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

Dustin Nielson and Duane Forde with Sara Orlesky handled the backend of the Battle of Alberta in Edmonton. Rod Smith and Glen Suitor with Sara Orlesky were in Regina for the only interdivision game of the week. Nielson and Suitor with Blake Price called the big game with the Blue Bombers in Vancouver. Price was in for Farhan Lalji, who filled in for Kate Beirness on the panel.

video and logo credit: CFL
Twitter capture: @BrianSwane

CFL finally puts a regular season game in Nova Scotia

The idea of Touchdown Atlantic has been to spark interest in a potential expansion franchise in the Atlantic Schooners. The team would be based in Halifax, the largest city in the region or possibly a split with Halifax and Moncton in New Brunswick.

The first CFL game in Atlantic Canada was on June 11, 2005, a preseason game with Hamilton and Toronto that finished in a 16-16 tie. That game was played at Huskies Stadium at St. Mary's University just south of downtown Halifax. The game drew 11,148 with expanded seating.

The CFL scheduled a 2006 preseason game on June 3 for that same stadium. That game was cancelled since the Ottawa Renegades, the host team against Montreal, folded.

When the concept returned in 2010, the CFL focused on the regular season in Moncton since the city has an established stadium. Moncton Stadium, now known as Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium, hosted regular season games in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2019. The attendance was around 20,000 for the first 2 games, falling to about 15,000 in 2013 and 10,000 in 2019.

The CFL finally figured out that putting a game in Nova Scotia was a smart move. The league scheduled a game at Huskies Stadium in 2020. Oops.

The @CFL is in @TownOfWolfville at @AcadiaU setting up.

The @sskroughriders vs @TorontoArgos July 16 at the Touchdown Atlantic event.

The 7,000 temporary seats will help triple the population of Wolfville.#CFL #TouchdownAtlantic #Wolfville #AcadiaU #Football #NovaScotia pic.twitter.com/62HI73FiBm

— Acadia Athletics (@AcadiaAthletics) July 5, 2022

The league shifted the 2022 version to Raymond Field in Wolfville, 90 km north of Halifax.

The facilities in Atlantic Canada have been a concern. Huskies Stadium and Raymond Field needed considerable temporary seating to get to 10,000-11,000. The Atlantic Schooners would have been a reality long ago if there was a viable stadium in Halifax.

There are high schools in Texas that have a nice enough stadium that if you put that structure in Halifax along the water, there would be a 10th team in the CFL.

There has been a hesistancy to build a stadium of any kind in Halifax, despite the potential for expanded tourism. The soccer team HFX Wanderers FC of the Canadian Premier League play at Wanderers Grounds on the Halifax Commons. A larger stadium to suit both teams would be highly logical.

2020 Touchdown Atlantic in Halifax: What would have been

If CFL plays in 2020, have all the games in the Maritimes

CFL once again comes to Moncton for 2019 Touchdown Atlantic

The CFL said the 10,000 seats for Touchdown Atlantic 2022 sold out within an hour after going on sale.

Hopefully, that is a great sign for enthusiasm for the CFL in this region.

We don't know much about Wolfville, so we are intrigued. Touchdown Atlantic starts Saturday at 3 pm Atlantic time, 2 pm Eastern, and 11 am in Vancouver. Saskatchewan serves as the "road team" and Toronto is the "home team": the same teams scheduled for the 2020 contest.

TSN will have the game in Canada with ESPN+ taking the TSN feed in the United States. Rod Smith and Glen Suitor are scheduled to call the game from Wolfville.

Analysis: Could Moncton host a permanent CFL franchise?

CFL hits Moncton, showcasing New Brunswick

Traditionally, the prince searches for the person who fits the glass slipper. Cities beg for teams to come their way. If Halifax showed any kind of enthusiasm for a stadium, this would be a done deal. Playing a regular season game in Nova Scotia is a step way over due, and quite frankly, in the wrong location. Small steps indeed.

CanadianCrossing.com Nova Scotia coverage

We will have tomorrow's preview that will cover the full week of the CFL.

photo credit: CFL
Twitter capture: @AcadiaAthletics

Canadian film review: Peace by Chocolate

Peace by Chocolate is a feel good film based from a very feel good story. Tareq (Ayham Abou Ammar), a Syrian man arrives in Antigonish, Nova Scotia straight from a refugee camp in Lebanon. "Where's the town?" "This is the town."

The family knows people in Toronto but Tareq ends up a long way from there. His father and mother soon arrive. The father Issam (Hatem Ali) was a chocolatier before his plant was blown up in the civil war in Syria.

Tareq wants to be a doctor; his father wants to be useful.

The town has a chocolate place run by Kelly (Alika Autran). Issam thinks he can do better. With relatively primitive equipment, Issam produces amazing chocolates that their Canadian immigration sponsor Frank Gallant (Mark Camacho) helps sell at the local church.

There are tensions at various points. A lot of the film is centered on Tareq, who is the only one who can speak English in the family, applying to medical schools despite his family's needs to have him around.

Jonathan Keijser (director, co-writer with Abdul Malik) gives the audience a no nonsense presentation of the story. Small tidbits such as throwing snowballs at a target and Tareq refusing to eat the chocolate until he does help enrich the story. A seemingly throwaway line when Frank teaches Issam to shovel snow — "Esposito to Henderson" — is one Canadians of a certain era (Summit Series 1972) will appreciate. Turns out Frank and Issam were both born in 1953.

Liam (Laurent Pitre) is the first employee of the chocolate factory in Nova Scotia.

The story seems male-dominated. Tareq asks his sister Alaa (Najlaa Al Khamri) to help with the family business. She says no because she has to care for her daughter (her husband was killed in the civil war).

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

The idea of refugees coming to a new place and creating jobs is an important message. The story doesn't start that way with the grim reality that refugees got help for the first year and then were pretty much on their own. Issam and his family get a lot of help from the community but his chocolatier skill is what pushes everything forward.

The film makes good work of actual Justin Trudeau footage as well as CBC News coverage of the refugee camps and other related events.

Peace by Chocolate feels like a reenactment of the basic story telling with dramatic interpretations. The story is important in a film where the whole family can watch.

Peace by Chocolate is available on demand.

video credit: YouTube/Level 33 Entertainment
photo credit: Peace by Chocolate; me

Jeopardy! champion Mattea Roach finishes amazing run of 23 straight victories

There was, for a time, a difficulty for Canadians to register online to be on Jeopardy!. That was a while back. Mattea Roach just finished an incredible run and now the Canadian tutor is in the top 5 all-time for Jeopardy! contestants.

Roach narrowly lost on Friday, ending her run that resulted in 23 wins and $560,983 U.S. (approximately $722,498 Canadian).

While Roach lives in Toronto, she was also celebrated in her childhood home in Nova Scotia.

Roach talked about the beauty in and around Cape Breton Highlands National Park in response to Ken Jennings' question about her favourite place in Canada. "My mom grew up about a 10-minute drive from the entrance of this national park in Ingonish," Roach said. "My grandparents still live there so I've been lucky enough to visit the beautiful, beautiful scenery there at least once a year pretty much my whole life."

Back in the homeland so I had to pay a visit to some of my earliest hardcore supporters! pic.twitter.com/cOJw8ehi6L

— Mattea Roach (@mattearoach) May 5, 2022

This shot is from the grocery store run by her great-aunt and uncle in Marion Bridge on Cape Breton Island. Maybe there is a relationship to the fantastic Canadian film Marion Bridge.

Roach has called Toronto home for some time. Both areas are taking credit for Roach.

Cape Breton Island invokes Donald Trump to draw Americans to move there

Canadian film review: Marion Bridge

CanadianCrossing.com Nova Scotia coverage

The final Jeopardy question in win #21 had Canadian flair. The clue was "'Terre de nos aïeux' follows the title in the French version of this anthem." If you have watched the anthem before a Montréal Canadiens game, you would know the answer was O Canada.

Clue: The winner of 23 consecutive episodes of @Jeopardy. The youngest “super champion” in the show’s history. And the person who has made us so proud back here at home.

Answer: Who is @MatteaRoach?

Congratulations on your historic run, Mattea! We couldn’t be prouder.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) May 7, 2022

Roach, who is 23, had 23 wins and received congratulations from the 23rd prime minister of Canada.

Saying goodbye to Alex Trebek

Canadians able to go online to apply for Jeopardy!

Canadians can get on Jeopardy!, but it's not an easy path

Jeopardy! contestant comes up blank on Canadian cities

There was a kerfuffle over a NBC News account that referred to Roach as a "lesbian tutor." Roach is a lesbian but would seem to be a tutor who happens to be a lesbian as opposed to a lesbian tutor.

Ask Me Anything: Mattea Roach on competing in Jeopardy! (Cross Country Checkup)

In her 23 wins (not counting the 24th episode), Roach had 633 correct answers and 59 incorrect answers, 6th all time among Jeopardy! champions.

Canada's maple leaf flag turns 50

Watson may know many Jeopardy! questions, but doesn't know Toronto is outside United States

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

Only Ken Jennings, Amy Schneider, Matt Amodio, and James Holzhauer won more games or money during their time on the show. Too bad Alex Trebek wasn't around to see this happen.

Roach will return to Jeopardy! for the Tournament of Champions this fall.

photo credit: Jeopardy! Productions/CBC News
Twitter captures: @mattearoach; @JustinTrudeau

One year after Fox acquires Diggstown rights, unknown when episodes will air

Your humble narrator got an unexpected birthday present last year: Fox acquired the rights to Diggstown, the CBC drama starring Vinessa Antoine.

Since then, your humble narrator has been doing Internet searches on when Fox was going to run at least the first 2 seasons. Season 3 finally aired on CBC this fall. So far, no news is no news.

The CBC drama has been available in the States on BET+. An airing on Fox would reach a wider audience.

Antoine is known in the States for her work on General Hospital. Diggstown has some actors whose faces may be familiar: Natasha Henstridge, Stacey Farber, Brandon Oakes, and Tim Rozon. The show also features fine acting talent in C. David Johnson, Shailene Garnett, Dwain Murphy, Mpho Koaho, and Kim Roberts.

There are 12 episodes over the first 2 seasons. Season 3 has 8 episodes.

New actors for Season 3 include Antoinette Robertson, Crystle Lightning, and Nicole Muñoz.

Canadian TV notebook: Sort Of makes its CBC television debut

CBC will have a lot of holes to fill in the 2021-2022 television schedule

Diggstown is a very liberal program in a sea of U.S. drama shows dominated by violent and conservative crime drama shows from CBS.  The connection with the show and the Black population in Nova Scotia will likely go over the head of most Americans.

U.S. produced network TV shows have few Indigenous actors so Brandon Oakes will stand out.

Yet Fox acquired the rights. When will the network air the show?

The Black Academy will have an awards show on CBC in 2022

2021 CBC television fall preview

Your humble narrator has seen 3 episodes from Season 1, 50% of that season. The 3 episodes were solid drama with a group of actors who seem genuinely happy to be in this space.

One fun tidbit was that Peter Keleghan played the father for Farber's character. Those on both sides of the border might remember that Keleghan played Farber's father-in-law on 18 to Life. You might not remember.

5 Reasons We Love Diggstown (Chatelaine)

CanadianCrossing.com CBC coverage

We've seen the easy transition of Transplant, Coroner, Trickster, and Nurses from Canadian TV to U.S. over-the-air television. Diggstown could make that transition. The fact that Fox hasn't moved on Diggstown is not a good sign. The U.S audience would enjoy the show. If Fox doesn't want that audience, give the show to an outlet that will appreciate the show. 

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian TV coverage

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

Canadians can watch all 3 seasons of Diggstown on CBC Gem. Those on the U.S. side can watch on BET+ and maybe, someday on Fox.

photo credit: Diggstown/CBC