The 112th Grey Cup means more to some players, especially former Montreal Alouettes turned Saskatchewan Roughriders returner Mario Alford.
He arrived in Saskatchewan in July 2022 after being traded from by general manager Danny Maciocia for a conditional sixth-round CFL Draft pick in 2023. Asked about any hard feelings he has towards his former team, Alford confirmed it’s always in the back of his mind.
“100 percent, of course, I have those feelings,” he told 3DownNation. “They have been creeping every day since they traded. I feel like when they trade you, they don’t want you anymore. I look at it like that and I feel there is motivation.”
The Greenville, GA native averaged 10.8 yards per punt return and 28.3 yards on kickoff returns during the 2025 regular season. He scored one return touchdown and would love to add another one on Sunday in the CFL championship game.
“I’m very excited about the possibility. They ended my time there. In the back of my mind, I still know they traded me away — I can never forget that,” Alford said.
The 2023 West Division all-star loved his time in Montreal. The five-foot-eight, 180-pounder signed with the Alouettes in September 2019 and played nine games with the team over two seasons. He returned 26 punts for 486 yards with three touchdowns and added nine kickoff returns for 477 yards. After a stint with the Toronto Argonauts, it was in Montreal where his career was kickstarted.
“It was great, they gave me an opportunity. That’s where I took off, where I started making a name for myself in this league. This place will always be in my heart, but you know, they traded me,” Alford said.
The former NFLer used the word “conviction” to describe the way the Green and White play. He feels the unique bond between the players will help Saskatchewan in the Grey Cup, especially on special teams. He believes field position will be key to the team’s success and wants to put his mark on the game from that aspect.
“I have to make plays when they come, don’t try to do too much, let it come to me and try to put the offence in the best position I can,” Alford said.
The Roughriders (13-6) and Alouettes (12-8) meet in the 112th Grey Cup at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on Sunday, November 16, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. EST.
The Alouettes defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Final by a score of 19-16, while the Roughriders came back to defeat the B.C. Lions in the West Final by a score of 24-21. The teams split their two regular-season meetings, though Montreal franchise quarterback Davis Alexander missed both games due to a hamstring injury.
The weather forecast in Winnipeg calls for a high of two degrees with a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN, CTV, and RDS in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally.
This marks the fifth time the Grey Cup will be played in Winnipeg and the second time it will be hosted at Princess Auto Stadium. The venue’s first Grey Cup was held in 2015 when the Edmonton Football Team defeated the Ottawa Redblacks by a score of 26-20, and Michael Reilly was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
