Regina Games: A look back at the Regina based Grey Cup matches
The 109th Grey Cup is set. The champions of the CFL East and West Divisions, the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will contest the CFL championship game this sunday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
But there have been other Regina games in the Grey Cup’s illustrous history too. This is the fourth time the grand old trophy will have been contested there.
Which gives us a great excuse to go down memory lane and recall the last three times the title tilt was a in Regina. Starting in 1995, and taking in 2003 and 2013 prior to this years’ conest.
The First of the Regina Games: 1995
Baltimore 37 Calgary 20
This was the first Grey Cup to be played in the province of Saskatchewan. It proved to be historic too. 52,064 people watched on as the Baltimore Stallions raised the Cup. The Stallions had two hugely succesful seasons in the CFL. During their brief existence they went an eye popping 27-9 over two seasons and appeared in back to back championship games.
It was in Regina that they became the first, and only, non-Canadian team to lift the Grey Cup. A 15-3 year was capped by a dominant display against the Calgary Stampeders. The Stallions won their last ever game 37-20, to win the Grey Cup at the second attempt.
They were 23-13 ahead at half time and there would be no comeback from Calgary. The 1995 Stallions went 18-3 between regular season and playoffs. A run highlighted by a 16-game winning streak to see out the season.
The US expansion came to an end after this. But the Stallions left a further legacy. Because the Baltimore franchise moved to Montreal, bringing football back to Montreal nine years after the Alouettes folded before the 1987 season.
Some people had douobts about Regina hosting going in. They need not have worried. “Huddle Up In Saskatchewan” as it was dubbed was an enormous success.
The 91st Grey Cup: 2003
Edmonton 34 Montreal 22
Having led Baltimore to the 1995 Grey Cup hea Coach Don Matthews went on to more success. Back to back 15 win seasons with Toronto in 1996 & 1997 resulted in 2 further championships. He had arrived in Montreal in 2002 and taken a 13-5 squad to another Grey Cup win. Here he was again, back in Regina. leading out the 13-5 defending champion Als. A living bridge between the first and second Regina games.
This time however he would have to concede victory. As Tom Higgins led Edmonton to a 34-22 win in which Montreal was limited to 1 second half point.
This time 50,909 fans were on hand for the spectacle. Mike Pringle, who had played for Baltimore in the last Regina game was there for Edmonton in this one. He opened the scoring with a TD. Then ran for 70 yards in the game. Meaning he set a Grey Cup career record as his 359 career yards rushing in Grey Cup games took him past Winnipeg’s Geno Lewis.
The Hometown Party: 2013
Saskatchewan 45 Hamilton 23
The first game made history. The second game saw success for Edmonton. But this one is the one they remember locally. A game that delivered in every way possible for the die hard green and white fans in Saskatchewan.
Mosaic Stadium added seating so that 44,710 mostly partisan fans were on hand to see Saskatchewan win their 4th ever Grey Cup.
Roughriders’ QB Darian Durant threw for 245 yards and 3 touchdowns. While RB Kory Sheets set a Grey Cup record with 197 yards on the ground, supplemented by 2 toucdowns. All of which saw him take home the MVP award. Jubilant Sask fans watched in delight as the Roughriders built a 31-6 halftime lead and never let it slip.
This year it’s the turn of The Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers to battle it out in a Regina game. Two teams with a long Grey Cup history. But that haven’t squared off since 1950 in the big game. That was the extremely memorable ‘mud bowl’ which people still reference today.
If we can get a game that people still talk about in years to come then we will have done very well. As ever, it will be fun to watch it all play out in the field.
Banner Image Kory Sheets gave a remarkable performance in the 101st Grey Cup game. Image from: regina.ctvnews