Elks arrive at their stated goal
The Edmonton Elks will play for the 113th Grey Cup on Sunday night in Calgary, with a chance to claim the franchise’s first championship since 2015. The appearance is also significant because Edmonton has reached the playoffs for the first time in the 2020s, turning a goal announced at training camp into an opportunity to finish the season with the league’s top prize.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo identified that target before the season began. The 34-year-old, who has won two CFL championships, said the Elks were not approaching the campaign simply as a return to the post-season. His message was that the roster had the ability to compete for the title, and that the work from the opening day of camp would be measured against that standard.
“We want to win a Grey Cup — and this roster is good enough to win a Grey Cup.”
Six months later, Edmonton is one victory away from delivering on that ambition. The Elks earned their place in the final by defeating the B.C. Lions in the West final. Their opponent will be the Montreal Alouettes, who finished the regular season as the leading team in the East Division. Edmonton and Montreal were also the best regular-season teams in their respective divisions, setting up a final between two clubs that carried strong records into the playoffs.
Montreal brings unfinished business
The Alouettes enter the game with a different form of motivation. Montreal is attempting to win its second Grey Cup in four seasons, but the club is also trying to recover from last year’s championship defeat. That loss left the Alouettes facing the same stage again, this time with an opportunity to turn a repeat appearance into a title.
Montreal’s formula is built around a strong defence and an offence that has been particularly effective through the passing game, according to the source report. That combination will present Edmonton with a demanding test: the Elks must contend with a unit capable of limiting opposing attacks while also managing a Montreal offence that can create pressure through the air.
A championship with different stakes
The final carries broader importance for Edmonton because it closes a long gap between championship opportunities. The Elks have not lifted the trophy since 2015, and their absence from the playoffs through much of the decade had made a return itself a notable milestone. A win in Calgary would convert that progress into the franchise’s first Grey Cup of the current decade and validate the expectation Fajardo set before the season began.
For Montreal, victory would provide a second championship in four seasons and settle the disappointment of last year’s final. The contrasting storylines give Sunday’s game a clear balance: Edmonton is trying to end a lengthy wait, while Montreal is attempting to complete unfinished business. The matchup is scheduled for Sunday night in Calgary.
- Edmonton: seeking its first Grey Cup since 2015.
- Montreal: pursuing its second championship in four seasons.
- Edmonton’s route: a West-final victory over the B.C. Lions.
| Team | Final objective |
|---|---|
| Edmonton Elks | End an 11-year championship drought |
| Montreal Alouettes | Respond to last year’s final loss |
