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The Tiger-Cats have hosted the Als five times in the post-season since 1998 — and each time Montreal lost.
Published Nov 07, 2025 • 4 minute read
Tiger-Cats linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox has his arms stretched wide as he celebrates sacking Alouettes quarterback Trevor Harris, seen on the turf int he background.
Tiger-Cats linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox celebrates after sacking Alouettes quarterback Trevor Harris during East Division semifinal action in Hamilton in 2021. The Ticats won 23-12. Photo by Nathan Denette /THE CANADIAN PRESS
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The name has changed over the years. The location has not.
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Whether it was known as Ivor Wynne Stadium, Tim Hortons Field or simply Hamilton Stadium, the perimeter surrounded by Balsam, Melrose and Beechwood Aves. and Cannon St. has been the Alouettes’ Bermuda Triangle over the years in the playoffs; the site where the team’s Grey Cup aspirations have gone to die.
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The Tiger-Cats have hosted the Als five times in the post-season since 1998 — and each time Montreal lost. Even a change of scenery in 2013, when Guelph staged the East Division semifinal while the Ticats’ venue was being renovated, wasn’t enough to change the Als’ fortunes.
And now they’ll do it one more time as the teams meet Saturday afternoon (3 p.m., CTV, TSN1, TSN2, TSN3, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM) in the East Division final. The winner advances to the Grey Cup game Nov. 16 in Winnipeg against either Saskatchewan or B.C.
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While the Als lost two regular-season games against Hamilton this season, quarterback Davis Alexander missed both with a hamstring injury. And when Montreal defeated Winnipeg in the 2023 championship game, it was played in Hamilton — albeit with QB Cody Fajardo as its starter. But none of this history will matter come Saturday afternoon.
“I’m not too concerned about the past. I’m more concerned about the present,” Als head coach Jason Maas said Thursday. “We prepare every week to win, and we’ve got the team to do it. Our guys believe it. We’ve worked extremely hard throughout the season, gone through everything that has made us better.
“Ain’t nobody getting on that plane (Friday) that doesn’t believe we can go in there and win. I believe we’ll be at our absolute best come Saturday.”
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Here’s a brief look at the Als’ defeats over the years:
1998 final: Hamilton 22, Montreal 20: It took a 54-yard field goal from Paul Osbaldiston on the game’s final play to shatter the Als’ dreams. The late Dave Ritchie, Montreal’s head coach at the time, dropped to his knees in disbelief. Little wonder. He probably thought the outcome had been decided 24 seconds earlier, Mac Cody catching a touchdown pass from Tracy Ham, giving Montreal a 20-19 lead.
The wind was swirling that day, as if often did at Ivor Wynne, and Osbaldiston already had missed twice, both from 38 yards. The wind was gusting right to left as Osbaldiston lined up, and his kick drifted a full 10 feet before settling inside the left upright and just over the crossbar.
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2001 semifinal: Hamilton 24, Montreal 12: Tailback Archie Amerson signed with the Ticats that August after being released by Toronto. Given a reprieve, he ended up thrusting a dagger into the Als’ hearts. Amerson scored two touchdowns, including an improbable 94-yard punt return.
What Amerson provided Hamilton, Mike Pringle could not with Montreal.
Late in the first half, the Als were trailing by seven but had the ball at the Ticats’ five-yard line when the usually reliable Pringle fumbled at the worst possible time. Montreal could not recover — literally and figuratively.
2013 semifinal: Hamilton 19, Montreal 16 (OT): If you wanted drama, this overtime thriller provided it. And if you wanted cold, rain and wind, there was plenty of that as well. The conditions were almost unbearable and led to the defensive struggle.
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Sean Whyte kicked a 32-yard field goal with four seconds remaining in regulation before adding a 34-yarder on the Als’ overtime possession. But Hamilton prevailed on QB Dan LeFevour’s two-yard run. Ticats head coach Kent Austin twice gambled on third down instead of attempting a field goal that would have required a second overtime period being played.
2014 final: Hamilton 40, Montreal 24: It was remarkable the Als even made it this far following a 1-7 start to their season under head coach Tom Higgins. Jonathan Crompton was the quarterback following the retirement of Anthony Calvillo and, while he performed admirably to reach the playoffs, he proved to be a post-season dud — at least that afternoon — throwing three interceptions.
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The Als had no answer that day for the diminutive Brandon Banks, who returned two punts for touchdowns. Despite his coaching heroics, Higgins was fired the following August following a rare Montreal victory at B.C.
2021 semifinal: Hamilton 23, Montreal 12: The football gods, yet again, weren’t in the Als’ corner. Quarterback Trevor Harris passed for 364 yards and a touchdown, while Montreal’s offence controlled the ball for more than 33 minutes and produced 410 net yards.
But Harris fumbled three times, was intercepted once and sacked six times behind an offensive line that proved to be nothing more than human pylons arranged in a row. The Als turned the ball over five times. It wasn’t so much what Hamilton did. Instead, the visitors self-destructed and had no chance.
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While the Als have defeated Hamilton the last two times the teams met in the division semifinal — both games were played at Molson Stadium — the teams met there in the 1999 final. Again, bad karma struck the Als during a 27-26 loss.
Tailback Ronald Williams scored three times, including a one-yard run with 1:37 remaining. But the telling blow occurred seconds earlier. On third and one at the Montreal 38, Danny McManus passed 27 yards to Joe Hagins — a linebacker. Hagins was well covered by Barron Miles but made an exceptional catch. Three plays later, Williams scored.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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