Elks face strong Alouettes squad in season home-opener

Edmonton Elks quarterback Tre Ford throws the ball against the B.C. Lions during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
It's early in the Canadian Football League season, and the Edmonton Elks have played just one game and already taken a bye week, but another sizable challenge awaits the new-look Commonwealth Stadium inhabitants.
The Montreal Alouettes look primed for domination from their perch atop the East Division – again, it's early – given their sterling team statistics through two weeks of the 2025 CFL campaign.
They come calling on the Elks Thursday night (7 p.m.) at Commonwealth Stadium, almost two weeks after Edmonton lost their season-opening game to the B.C. Lions.
With the pigskin, the 2-0 Als rank:
2nd in average yards rushing (131) behind Winnipeg (201);
Tied for 2nd in first downs (44);
3rd in average yards per play (7.27); and
4th in net offence (average 396 yards) behind Winnipeg (438), B.C. (428) and Calgary (400).
The Als are seventh in average passing yards (274.5), but the Elks are last in that category (178 yards).
Through two games, starting Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander has thrown for 549 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, and completing 42 of 58 of his passes (72%) for a 99.0 passer rating.
Alouettes vs. Argonauts
Montreal Alouettes defensive back Tiawan Mullen (32) tackles Toronto Argonauts wide receiver DaVaris Daniels (80) during first half CFL action in Montreal on Friday, June 6, 2025.
(Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press)
But it's on defence where the Als are dominant through two weeks of the schedule. Without the football, they rank:
1st in offensive points allowed per game (13.5);
1st in net offence against (255.5 yards);
1st in yards per play (5.21);
1st in rushing yards against (37); and
2nd to the Lions is passing yards allowed per game (241.5).
The Elks, meanwhile, have just one week of statistics to show for the season so far thanks to its bye last week.
And in their lone game so far – a 31-14 Lions' win over them in Week 1 on June 7 – the Elks struggled to find their footing on both sides of the ball, especially as the game went on.
Lions vs. Elks
Edmonton Elks quarterback Tre Ford (2) is stopped by B.C. Lions' Mathieu Betts (90) and Kemoko Turay (58) during the second half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
(ETHAN CAIRNS/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns in the West Division showdown at Vancouver's B.C. Place Stadium, while the Lions' offence feasted on the Elks' defence, collecting 446 yards in net offence – a stat that puts Edmonton last in the nine-team circuit in that category – on 324 yards passing and 124 yards rushing.
Offensively, Elks quarterback Tre Ford threw for 178 yards and an interception, and added 54 yards rushing of his team's 87. Both Elks touchdowns came from short-yardage plunges by backup QB Cody Fajardo. By game's end, the Elks put up 248 yards in net offence.
One of Elks head coach Mark Killam's primary concerns lies on the defensive side, telling media on Wednesday 'finishing has got to be front and centre' for the unit against the Alouettes given its time spent on the field vs. the Lions two weeks ago.
'We played a good first half, but we were on the field for a long time, some long drives – seven-, eight-, 10-play drives in the second half,' Killam, who's in his first year guiding the Elks, said after the pre-game walk-through at Commonwealth Stadium. 'We've got to get off the field.'
Lions vs. Elks
Edmonton Elks' Leonard Johnson (32) stops B.C. Lions' Jermaine Jackson (13) during the second half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
(ETHAN CAIRNS/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
With the ball, Elks offensive lineman Mark Korte said establishing the rush early is something players are focused on to try to establish a rhythm.
He said the run game wasn't 'staying on schedule on first down' and was therefore unable to 'consistently run the ball well early in the game, so then it gets harder for a play-caller to come back to it.'
'When you run early and it doesn't go well, then throughout the course of the game, it can get difficult,' said the 28-year-old Korte, a seven-year CFL veteran and Spruce Grove native.
'One of our points of emphasis is being able to run the ball well early, be on schedule on first down, getting us into second and manageable situations.
'I think that's big for us.'
Lions vs. Elks
Edmonton Elks' quarterback Cody Fajardo, top, tries to score a touchdown against the B.C. Lions during the second half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
(ETHAN CAIRNS/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Full-sized fire truck returns for home-opener
They're going large. Large fire truck, that is.
The Elks are bringing back the original, full-sized version of the team-hued fire truck that drives on the track around the field after touchdowns.
A smaller version of the truck had been used the last few seasons, which Evan Daum, the Elks' vice-president of marketing and fan experience, said had been used since 2019.
He said the original one 'has been refurbished, so it's historically accurate in terms of what it looks like, and we've made some mechanical upgrades so it's a little bit easier to drive.'
'We know how much the fans enjoy it,' Daum told CTV News Edmonton on Wednesday. 'We're looking forward to coming out and having some firefighters on there doing their thing.'
Also on tap for Thursday's opener are pyrotechnics, including in places around the stadium they haven't before been used, an in-house band, more Kids Zone features and an enhanced tailgating experience that includes upgrades to the beer garden, better seating and more signage, Daum said.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Dave Mitchell

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

CBC

41 minutes ago

• CBC

World champion Canadian defender Nicole Gosling poised to be picked early in PWHL Draft

A little more than a year ago, Nicole Gosling was celebrating on the ice in Utica, N.Y., with the rest of Team Canada. The Canadians had just defeated the Americans on home ice in overtime to win the world championship, and it was the defender from London, Ont.'s first title with the senior national team. Now, the 23-year-old is poised for what could be the biggest season of her life. She's projected to be taken high in the 2025 PWHL Draft, which is set for Tuesday in Ottawa, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. She's also one of the defenders fighting for a spot on the blue line for Canada at next year's Olympics. That has been a lifelong dream. "Obviously now there are other goals like playing in the PWHL, winning a Walter Cup, all that," Gosling said in an interview with CBC Sports. "But hopefully one day I could play in an Olympics. That's the ultimate goal, and then hopefully win gold, too. That will always be at the top of my list." She projects as an offensive, intelligent defender for whichever team selects her in the PWHL Draft. The New York Sirens have the first pick, followed by the Boston Fleet, Toronto Sceptres, Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Minnesota Frost, PWHL Vancouver and PWHL Seattle. Gosling is about as pro ready as they come, and projects to slot into a team's top two or four right away. She could play the same role on Team Canada for years to come, as the team ushers in a new wave of talent. "She's just someone that can really take control of a game with the way that she plays," said Clarkson University head coach Matt Desrosiers, who has coached Gosling for the last five seasons. A hockey family Gosling comes from a big family in London where just about everyone plays hockey. Gosling's father, Peter, played, and it was natural for Gosling and her sister to follow suit. Her cousin, Julia Gosling, just finished her rookie season with the Toronto Sceptres and will play next season with Seattle. Julia's father, Paul, is Gosling's father's twin brother. "Playing with her has been great," Nicole Gosling said. "We've had a lot of success together. We train together in the summer and everything, so there's a lot of familiarity there." Another cousin, Katelyn Gosling, played in the now-defunct Canadian Women's Hockey League. Yet another cousin, Cassidy Gosling, competed at Western University. Another distant cousin is famous for another reason. That would be actor Ryan Gosling, who is Gosling's father's cousin's son. "I can't say I've ever met him," Gosling said. Elite vision A lot stood out about Gosling's game for Desrosiers, who'd been following Gosling's career in London long before he talked to her about coming to the upstate New York college. The first thing he noticed was how smart she is. "She's just able to kind of see plays before it happens," Desrosiers said. "She's always had that ability." Desrosiers focuses on producing defenders who are 200-foot, multi-dimensional players. As a result, the school has churned out some of the best defenders in the PWHL, including Montreal's Erin Ambrose, Toronto's Renata Fast and New York's Ella Shelton. The coach sees elements of all of those players in Gosling. Like Ambrose, for example, Gosling can slow the game down and speed it up when she needs to do so. She can also be relied on by coaches who are looking for feedback on how she saw a particular play, almost like a second coach on the ice. "It was a lot of fun coaching her and kind of even learning from her," Desrosiers said. Marie-Philip Poulin named IIHF female player of the year, beating out 5 Americans Some of those defenders have also become mentors to Gosling. Fast has been a roommate at several Hockey Canada camps and Rivalry Series games, and Gosling said the older defender took her under her wing. It's the same story with Shelton and Ambrose. They've helped Gosling feel at ease in a Canadian jersey, whether it's giving her advice in the locker room or helping things feel light and less stressful. Even just watching how the veteran players approach the game has taught Gosling to focus on owning what she's good at rather than dwelling on what she's not accomplished. It's a lesson she plans to take with her to pro hockey. "Next year, no matter where I'm playing or how I may be contributing to the team, I think it's just being able to stay true to what I'm good at," she said. Gosling could find herself on the same team as at least one of those mentors next season. Ambrose's Montreal picks fourth in the draft and could use another top defender, after losing Anna Wilgren and Cayla Barnes to Seattle via expansion. Or maybe Gosling could find herself in Toronto, which picks third. That would give the Sceptres three strong former Clarkson defenders in the top four, should Gosling join Fast and Savannah Harmon. No matter where she ends up, she plans to bring a calm, composed style of play. Expect offence, too. Gosling finished her career at Clarkson as the school's all-time leader in points by a defender. "I understand both sides of the puck of being defensive, but also liking to contribute offensively," Gosling said. "I bring both aspects in that type of sense. I think I can just be relied on in kind of any situation." Teammates experience draft process together Gosling will have one two of her best friends with her at the draft next week: forward Anne Cherkowski and defender Haley Winn, who are both likely to hear their names called early on draft night. Winn has been Gosling's defence partner at Clarkson for most of her college career. Both set a competitive example inside the Golden Knights' locker room. Gosling never shied away from physicality in practice, setting a tone that would prepare the whole team for whatever came at them in a game. Winn, meanwhile, set an example with the hours she put in. The school has a machine that passes pucks to players so they can practice shooting. Winn shot 35,000 pucks on that machine in her first college season. Gosling said a PWHL team will be getting a special player in Winn. "The people who get to spend every day with her, they're going to learn lots," she said. "Her work ethic is unmatched. She's always at the rink, doing extra, taking care of her body." Like Gosling, Winn is pushing for a spot on the Olympic team next year, but for the red, white and blue. She is already a two-time world champion with Team USA. She also led Clarkson in scoring this past season, racking up 46 points in 38 games. Cherkowski, like Gosling and Winn, is another 200-foot player who can do a bit of everything. She can play up and down a lineup, contributing offence but also taking care of the defensive zone. That ability to be versatile is in high demand in the PWHL. "Anyone that will pick her up is honestly going to get a reliable forward, and I think that's what you need in this league is someone that you can rely on in any situation," Gosling said about her teammate. All three have leaned on each other throughout the draft process. Since their college season ended in the spring, it's been a mix of emotions, of new beginnings and endings. Gosling feels some nerves not knowing where she'll end up. But she also feels excitement to go to a new team and to have her draft moment, just like the players she watched on TV at the NHL Draft as a kid.

CTV News

43 minutes ago

• CTV News

Cross-country Ride of Hope reaches Winnipeg, over $900K raised so far

The National Ride of Hope reached Winnipeg with a police escort on June 19, 2025. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg) A cross-country cycling trip to raise funds for cancer research reached Winnipeg on Thursday—having raised hundreds of thousands of dollars along the way. The National Ride of Hope commemorates the 45th anniversary of Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope, raising funds for the Terry Fox Foundation to support life-saving cancer research. Led by Darrell Fox, Terry's younger brother, the group of eight cyclists left Vancouver, B.C. on June 9 and intends to ride roughly 7,000 kilometres over 32 days to St. John's, N.L. Darrell, who grew up in Winnipeg, said that it's exciting and a tad emotional to return to his hometown, speaking to CTV News at Assiniboine Park. 'To make it here and to get this warm reception here is absolutely wonderful,' he said. Darrell said the bike ride is 'easy' compared to his brother's marathon by foot, but added that there's still work do to in the fight against cancer. Darrell Fox Darrell Fox, the younger brother of Terry Fox, said cancer research has come a long way since the 1980 Marathon of Hope. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg) As of Thursday, the National Ride of Hope has raised over $900,000, nearing in on the goal of raising $1 million. The Marathon of Hope began in 1980 after Terry was diagnosed with bone cancer and decided to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research. Terry ran from St. John's, N.L. on an artificial leg to just outside Thunder Bay, Ont., where he was forced to stop after cancer appeared in his lungs. He passed away from cancer nine months later on June 28, 1981. 'We've come a long way in the last 45 years in terms of finding the answers to the disease that is cancer,' said Darrell. 'If Terry was diagnosed with Osteogenic Sarcoma today, he'd likely live. That can't change history for me, but it's certainly changing what could happen in the future, and that's what Terry wanted us to do.' On July 10, the group plans to arrive in St. John's, N.L. where Terry began his marathon by dipping his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean. The Terry Fox Foundation has since raised more than $900 million and funded 1,300 innovative cancer research projects, according to a media release. Donations to the National Ride of Hope in support of cancer research can be made online.

National Post

an hour ago

• National Post

QB Kelly out again as Arbuckle starts third straight game for banged-up Argos

Chad Kelly will have plenty of company on the Toronto Argonauts sideline Friday night. Article content Kelly will miss a third straight start when Toronto (0-2) hosts the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-0). The 2023 CFL outstanding player continues to recover from a leg injury suffered in last year's East Division final. Article content Article content Ditto for receiver/returner Janarion Grant (ankle), the 2024 CFL top special teams player last season, who also has yet to play this year. Article content Joining them among Toronto's walking wounded will be linebackers Wynton McManis (knee) and Jack Cassar (adductor), running back Deonta McMahon (ankle), receiver DaVaris Daniels (hip), defensive lineman Demarcus Christmas (Achilles) and offensive linemen Sage Doxtater (knee), Dylan Giffen (back) and Darius Ciraco (foot). Article content On Thursday, Toronto re-signed Canadian fullback Brandon Calver, who spent the last four seasons with the club. He'll start on offence Friday and also play special teams. Article content Still, it's hardly an ideal scenario for a Toronto team looking to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2019. Article content 'Sometimes the injury bug hits you but we have no excuses,' said Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. 'It's next man up. Article content 'It's professional sports … you have to find a way to overcome it.' Article content Saskatchewan receiver Sam Emilus (foot) won't play but Canadian running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon returns to back up former Argo A.J. Ouellette. Sophomore receiver Joe Robustelli is also back and starts. Article content Ka'Deem Carey won't face his former team. Carey, who ran for 1,060 yards last year in helping Toronto win the Grey Cup, joined Saskatchewan after being among the Argos' final cuts but won't dress Friday. Article content Article content Jake Herslow starts at slotback for Toronto while Canadian Ryan Hunter, the CFL's top lineman last year, moves from right tackle to left guard. American Hampton Ergle starts at tackle. Article content 'He (Williams) showed his physicality breaking through some tackles and getting to the second level,' Dinwiddie said. 'I think he's used to the U.S. game where it's more downhill but you've got to be a bit more patient (in the CFL) and set up some blocks and I think he's getting there.'