As darkness descended and temperatures dropped during the East Division final, Montreal Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia watched anxiously from the sidelines, hoping his team would get one final chance to secure victory without needing overtime.
Dramatic Finish Seals Championship Berth
When Hamilton Tiger-Cats coach Scott Milanovich opted for a game-tying 23-yard field goal with just 1:46 remaining in regulation time, Maciocia felt a surge of confidence. "I wanted Hamilton to settle for a field goal and put the ball in the hands of our offence," Maciocia revealed to The Gazette. "This is what Davis lives for."
The Alouettes' quarterback Davis Alexander didn't disappoint, engineering two critical second-down conversions with passes to Charleston Rambo that positioned kicker Jose Maltos for a game-winning 45-yard field goal as time expired. The dramatic 19-16 victory sent Montreal to their second Grey Cup appearance in three years, where they'll face the Saskatchewan Roughriders this Sunday at Winnipeg's Princess Auto Stadium.
Overcoming Adversity Through Strong Culture
Maciocia, now heading to his sixth Grey Cup overall and third with Montreal, pointed to the team's resilience during a challenging mid-season stretch as evidence of their championship mentality. The Alouettes endured a five-game losing streak while Alexander battled his second hamstring injury of the season, yet still managed to finish with a 10-8 record and secure second place in the division.
"There was a point in time, for five consecutive games, it was difficult. It was tough," Maciocia admitted. "But there was never any panic in the building. That's what reassured me we were going to be OK. We were able to overcome it, and the way we did it was quite defining."
The general manager identified three essential components for CFL success: a strong head coach, competent quarterback, and quality Canadian talent. While this marks Alexander's first Grey Cup appearance, head coach Jason Maas returns for his second championship game in three seasons after being named CFL Coach of the Year in 2024.
Building Toward Sustained Success
Maciocia, who took over as Alouettes GM in 2020, has steadily built the organization toward this moment. The team lost in the division semifinal at Hamilton in 2021, reached the division final the following season, and finished first overall last year with an impressive 12-5-1 record before falling short in the playoffs.
Reflecting on the team's journey, Maciocia emphasized the importance of organizational culture. "The one constant is the culture we've created and instilled," he stated. "It's quite powerful and can pretty much overcome quite a bit. We live by that and it has been huge for us. That's the real reason we've had success."
As he looks toward the future, Maciocia plans to examine the salary cap in the coming month, seeking ways to maintain a competitive team while keeping the core intact. His philosophy remains clear: "Without commitment there is no start. Without consistency there is no end. You need those two 'C' words for success."
The Alouettes and Roughriders have championship history, having met in two consecutive Grey Cups in 2009 and 2010, with Montreal emerging victorious both times. As the team prepares for Sunday's showdown, Maciocia appreciates the opportunity more with each passing year. "As you get a little bit older, you appreciate Grey Cups more and more; every single one," he said. "You don't take anything for granted. Take it all in and cherish the moments. It never gets old."
