The Saskatchewan Roughriders captured their first Grey Cup championship in over a decade, fueled by a profound and impactful team meeting held the night before the historic game. Under the leadership of head coach Corey Mace, the team solidified their identity and conviction, leading to a decisive 25-17 victory over the Montreal Alouettes at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on November 16, 2025.
The Calm Before the Storm
At 9 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, the Roughriders gathered for their final team meeting before facing the Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup. This was not a typical rah-rah session, but a deliberate and powerful reflection on the journey that began on the first day of training camp. Corey Mace meticulously revisited the team's core identity, confirming they had become the exact group he had envisioned months earlier.
The meeting's atmosphere was described as electric, with a palpable aura of certainty filling the room. Running backs coach Andrew Harris, a four-time Grey Cup champion as a player, noted the absolute conviction in Mace's address. "The aura in the room was absolute, 1,000 per cent conviction," Harris stated, emphasizing how the team had consistently met every goal set forth from the beginning.
A Vision Realized
The culmination of the meeting was a powerful visual on the final slide. It projected the team's ultimate goal: to be the 2025 Grey Cup champions in Winnipeg on November 16, with green and white confetti falling in celebration. This precise image became reality less than 24 hours later, as the Roughriders hoisted the trophy on their home turf.
Throughout the season, the team had operated on a principle of "conviction" rather than mere "confidence." This distinction, a firm belief in their purpose versus simple self-assurance, was the bedrock of their success. That conviction was evident from the opening kickoff until the final second ticked off the clock, when a last-ditch Hail Mary pass from Montreal fell incomplete.
Player Reactions to the Pivotal Moment
The players felt the meeting's significance deeply. Running back A.J. Ouellette, who secured his second Grey Cup title, confirmed the unique emotional weight of the gathering. "It was different," Ouellette said. "I just felt emotional and felt like it was our time. Mace is the best at knowing what to say, when to say it, at the tone to say it."
Halfback Rolan Milligan described a more internalized focus. "Me personally, I felt locked in (Saturday) night," Milligan shared. "I can feel all of it start to settle in — you know, calm-before-the-storm type of feeling." This collective mindset of poised determination translated directly into their championship-winning performance, ending a 12-year title drought for the province of Saskatchewan and its passionate fans.
