Current season, competition or edition: 58th Vanier Cup | |
Sport | Canadian football |
---|---|
Founded | 1965 |
Inaugural season | 1965 |
Organising body | U Sports |
Country | Canada |
Most recent champion(s) | Montreal Carabins (2nd title) |
Most titles | Laval Rouge et Or (11) |
Official website | usports |
The Vanier Cup (French : Coupe Vanier) is a post season college football championship game, used to determine the national champion in U Sports football. The game is the final for the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl. In turn, the participating teams are determined by the winners of 4 bowl games: the Loney Bowl (AUS), Hardy Cup (Canada West), Dunsmore Cup (RSEQ), and Yates Cup (OUA). [1] [2]
The Laval Rouge et Or have won the most Vanier Cups (11), while the Western Mustangs have the most appearances (15). Eighteen teams have won the Vanier Cup, while three others have played for the championship but never won. There are six active teams that have never appeared in the championship game. The most recent game, the 58th Vanier Cup, was played on November 25, 2023, at Kingston, Ontario. In this game, the Montreal Carabins defeated the UBC Thunderbirds 16–9 to win their second championship.
The Vanier Cup was created in 1965 as the championship trophy of the Canadian College Bowl. For the first two years of competition, the Canadian College Bowl was an invitational event, with a national panel selecting two teams to play, similar to other U.S. collegiate bowl games. In 1967, the Canadian College Bowl was declared the national football championship of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union, later Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and now U Sports, with a playoff system determining the two participants. [3]
The Vanier Cup was played in Toronto, Ontario, from its inception in 1965 through 2003. However, after the CIS opened the game to host conference bids in 2001, the possibility arose to have games held outside Toronto. As of 2023, 41 of the 61 Vanier Cups have been played in Toronto, eight in Quebec City, five in Hamilton, one in Regina, one in Saskatoon, one in Vancouver, one in London, Ontario, one in Montreal, and one in Kingston. No games have been staged in the Atlantic region. Four times, the game has been played in the same city and during the same weekend as the Grey Cup: 1973, 2007 and 2012 in Toronto and in 2011 in Vancouver at BC Place Stadium. [4]
The winners trophy is named after Georges Vanier, the former governor general of Canada and was first awarded in 1965 to the winner of an invitational event contested between two teams that were selected by a panel. In 1967, the trophy was declared the official "CIAU National Football Championship" and a playoff system was instituted. From its creation until 1982, it was known as the Canadian College Bowl. The game typically occurs in late November, although it is occasionally played in December.
On June 8, 2020, U Sports announced that all fall athletics championships for the 2020–21 season had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [5]
Note: All Ted Morris Trophy and Bruce Coulter Award winners played for the winning team, unless otherwise noted.
Game | Date | Champion | Score | Runner Up | Stadium | City | Ted Morris Memorial Trophy (Game MVP) | Bruce Coulter Award (starts in 1992) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | November 20, 1965 | Toronto | 14–7 | Alberta | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Gerry Sternberg | — |
2nd | November 19, 1966 | St. F.X. | 40–14 | Waterloo Lutheran | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Terry Gorman | — |
3rd | November 25, 1967 | Alberta | 10–9 | McMaster | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Val Schneider | — |
4th | November 22, 1968 | Queen's | 42–14 | Waterloo Lutheran | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Don Bayne | — |
5th | November 21, 1969 | Manitoba | 24–15 | McGill | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Bob Kraemer | — |
6th | November 21, 1970 | Manitoba (2) | 38–11 | Ottawa | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Mike Shylo | — |
7th | November 20, 1971 | Western | 15–14 | Alberta | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Bob McGregor [A] | — |
8th | November 25, 1972 | Alberta (2) | 20–7 | Waterloo Lutheran | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Roger Comartin Andy MacLeod [B] | — |
9th | November 24, 1973 | Saint Mary's | 14–6 | McGill | Exhibition Stadium | Toronto | Ken Clark | — |
10th | November 22, 1974 | Western (2) | 19–15 | Toronto | Exhibition Stadium | Toronto | Ian Bryans | — |
11th | November 21, 1975 | Ottawa | 14–9 | Calgary | Exhibition Stadium | Toronto | Neil Lumsden | — |
12th | November 19, 1976 | Western (3) | 29–13 | Acadia | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Bill Rozalowsky | — |
13th | November 19, 1977 | Western (4) | 48–15 | Acadia | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Bill Rozalowsky | — |
14th | November 18, 1978 | Queen's (2) | 16–3 | British Columbia | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Ed Andrew | — |
15th | November 17, 1979 | Acadia | 34–12 | Western | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Don Ross | — |
16th | November 29, 1980 | Alberta (3) | 40–21 | Ottawa | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Forrest Kennerd | — |
17th | November 28, 1981 | Acadia (2) | 18–12 | Alberta | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Steve Repic | — |
18th | November 20, 1982 | British Columbia | 39–14 | Western | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Glenn Steele | — |
19th | November 19, 1983 | Calgary | 31–21 | Queen's | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Tim Petros | — |
20th | November 24, 1984 | Guelph | 22–13 | Mount Allison | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Parri Ceci | — |
21st | November 30, 1985 | Calgary (2) | 25–6 | Western | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Lew Lawrick | — |
22nd | November 22, 1986 | British Columbia (2) | 25–23 | Western | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Eric Putoto | — |
23rd | November 21, 1987 | McGill | 47–11 | British Columbia | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Michael Soles | — |
24th | November 19, 1988 | Calgary (3) | 52–23 | Saint Mary's | Varsity Stadium | Toronto | Sean Furlong | — |
25th | November 18, 1989 | Western (5) | 35–10 | Saskatchewan | SkyDome | Toronto | Tyrone Williams | — |
26th | November 24, 1990 | Saskatchewan | 24–21 | Saint Mary's | SkyDome | Toronto | David Earl | — |
27th | November 30, 1991 | Wilfrid Laurier | 25–18 | Mount Allison | SkyDome | Toronto | Andy Cecchini | — |
28th | November 21, 1992 | Queen's (3) | 31–0 | Saint Mary's | SkyDome | Toronto | Brad Elberg | Eric Dell |
29th | November 20, 1993 | Toronto (2) | 37–34 | Calgary | SkyDome | Toronto | Glenn McCausland | Rob Schrauth [C] |
30th | November 19, 1994 | Western (6) | 50–40 (OT) | Saskatchewan | SkyDome | Toronto | Brent Schneider [D] | Xavier Lafont |
31st | November 25, 1995 | Calgary (4) | 54–24 | Western | SkyDome | Toronto | Don Blair | Rob Richards |
32nd | November 30, 1996 | Saskatchewan (2) | 31–12 | St. F.X. | SkyDome | Toronto | Brent Schneider | Warren Muzika |
33rd | November 22, 1997 | British Columbia (3) | 39–23 | Ottawa | SkyDome | Toronto | Stewart Scherck | Mark Nohra |
34th | November 28, 1998 | Saskatchewan (3) | 24–17 | Concordia | SkyDome | Toronto | Trevor Ludtke | Doug Rozon |
35th | November 27, 1999 | Laval | 14–10 | Saint Mary's | SkyDome | Toronto | Stéphane Lefebvre | Francesco Pepe Esposito |
36th | December 2, 2000 | Ottawa (2) | 42–39 | Regina | SkyDome | Toronto | Phill Côté | Scott Gordon |
37th | December 1, 2001 | Saint Mary's (2) | 42–16 | Manitoba | SkyDome | Toronto | Ryan Jones | Kyl Morrison |
38th | November 23, 2002 | Saint Mary's (3) | 33–21 | Saskatchewan | SkyDome | Toronto | Steve Panella | Joe Bonaventura |
39th | November 22, 2003 | Laval (2) | 14–7 | Saint Mary's | SkyDome | Toronto | Jeronimo Huerta-Flores | Philippe Audet |
40th | November 27, 2004 | Laval (3) | 7–1 | Saskatchewan | Ivor Wynne Stadium | Hamilton | Matthew Leblanc | Matthieu Proulx |
41st | December 3, 2005 | Wilfrid Laurier (2) | 24–23 | Saskatchewan | Ivor Wynne Stadium | Hamilton | Ryan Pyear | David Montoya |
42nd | November 25, 2006 | Laval (4) | 13–8 | Saskatchewan | Griffiths Stadium | Saskatoon | Éric Maranda | Samuel Grégoire-Champagne |
43rd | November 23, 2007 | Manitoba (3) | 28–14 | Saint Mary's | Rogers Centre | Toronto | Mike Howard | John Makie |
44th | November 22, 2008 | Laval (5) | 44–21 | Western | Ivor Wynne Stadium | Hamilton | Julian Féoli-Gudino | Marc-Antoine L. Fortin |
45th | November 28, 2009 | Queen's (4) | 33–31 | Calgary | Stade du PEPS | Quebec City | Danny Brannagan | Chris Smith |
46th | November 27, 2010 | Laval (6) | 29–2 | Calgary | Stade du PEPS | Quebec City | Sébastien Levesque | Marc-Antoine Beaudoin-Cloutier |
47th | November 25, 2011 | McMaster | 41–38 (2OT) | Laval | BC Place | Vancouver [6] | Kyle Quinlan | Aram Eisho |
48th | November 23, 2012 | Laval (7) | 37–14 | McMaster | Rogers Centre | Toronto [7] | Maxime Boutin | Arnaud Gascon-Nadon |
49th | November 23, 2013 | Laval (8) | 25–14 | Calgary | Stade Telus | Quebec City [8] | Pascal Lochard | Vincent Desloges |
50th | November 29, 2014 | Montréal | 20–19 | McMaster | Molson Stadium | Montreal | Regis Cibasu | Anthony Coady [9] |
51st | November 28, 2015 | British Columbia (4) | 26–23 | Montréal | Stade Telus | Quebec City [10] | Michael O'Connor | Stavros Katsantonis [11] |
52nd | November 26, 2016 | Laval (9) | 31–26 | Calgary | Tim Hortons Field | Hamilton [12] | Hugo Richard | Cédric Lussier-Roy |
53rd | November 25, 2017 | Western (7) | 39–17 | Laval | Tim Hortons Field | Hamilton | Chris Merchant | Fraser Sopik |
54th | November 24, 2018 | Laval (10) | 34–20 | Western | Stade Telus | Quebec City | Hugo Richard | Adam Auclair |
55th | November 23, 2019 | Calgary (5) | 27–13 | Montréal | Stade Telus | Quebec City | Adam Sinagra | Redha Kramdi |
2020 game cancelled due to 2019 coronavirus pandemic [5] | ||||||||
56th | December 4, 2021 | Western (8) | 27–21 | Saskatchewan | Stade Telus | Quebec City | Evan Hillock | Daniel Valente Jr |
57th | November 26, 2022 [13] | Laval (11) | 30–24 | Saskatchewan | Western Alumni Stadium | London | Kevin Mital | Charles-Alexandre Jacques |
58th | November 25, 2023 [14] | Montréal (2) | 16–9 | British Columbia | Richardson Memorial Stadium | Kingston | Jonathan Sénécal | Nicky Farinaccio |
59th | November 23, 2024 [15] | Richardson Memorial Stadium | Kingston | |||||
60th | November 2025 [16] | Mosaic Stadium | Regina | |||||
61st | November 2026 [16] | Stade Telus | Quebec City |
^ A. Bob McGregor, Ted Morris Trophy winner in 1971, played for the runner-up team.
^ B. In the 1972 game, the Vanier Cup Committee and Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union officials decided to crown co-winners from the same school.
^ C. Rob Schrauth, Bruce Coulter Award winner in 1993, played for the runner-up team.
^ D. Brent Schneider, Ted Morris Trophy winner in 1994, played for the runner-up team.
^ E. The Wilfrid Laurier record includes three games played as Waterloo Lutheran.
Six active teams have never played for the Vanier Cup: Bishop's Gaiters (AUS/RSEQ/OQIFC), Carleton Ravens (OUA), Sherbrooke Vert-et-Or (RSEQ), Waterloo Warriors (OUA), Windsor Lancers (OUA), and York Lions/Yeomen (OUA).
The Vanier Cup's most valuable player is awarded the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy. It was first awarded at the first championship in 1965 and named in honour of Teddy Morris, who died the same year. Morris, a Hall of Fame former Toronto Argonauts player and coach, was an organizer of the first bowl and champion for developing Canadian players.
The Bruce Coulter Award was first awarded in 1992 and is dependent on what position the winner of the Ted Morris Trophy played. If the winner is from the offence, then the Bruce Coulter Award winner will be the most outstanding defensive player or vice versa. It was named after Bruce Coulter, long-time Head Coach of the Bishop's Gaiters and former offensive and defensive player with the Montreal Alouettes in the 1950s. Coulter was inducted as a builder in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1997. [17] [18] [19]
The Vanier Cup final game is regularly broadcast nationally. From 1965 though 1976 it was broadcast on CBC Television, from 1977 through 1988 it was broadcast on the CTV Television Network. In 1989, TSN acquired rights to the game, lasting through to 2012 (besides a one-year stint on The Score in 2008).
In November 2010, the rights to the Vanier Cup were purchased by sports marketing company MRX. [20] The 2011 game was held in Vancouver, on the same weekend as the 99th Grey Cup and for the first time it was fully integrated into the Grey Cup Festival as a festival event. [6]
In 2012, the 48th Vanier Cup, played between Laval and McMaster at Rogers Centre in Toronto became both the most attended and most watched Vanier Cup ever. Held the same weekend and in the same city as the 100th Grey Cup, the game was attended by 37,098. The previous record was set in 1989 at the 25th Vanier Cup, when 32,847 watched the game between Western and Saskatchewan that was also played at SkyDome (now Rogers Centre). [21] The game, broadcast on TSN and RDS was watched by 910,000. [22]
In February 2013, the CIS terminated the option years on their agreement with MRX opting for an open bid process for the hosting of the game. Laval University, in Quebec City, was the only bidder for the game and won the right to host the 49th Vanier Cup. [23] In May, CIS terminated its agreement with TSN, and entered into a six-year deal with Sportsnet to broadcast its championships, including the Vanier Cup. [24]
The switch in venues, the decoupling of the Vanier Cup from Grey Cup week, and the change in broadcaster, led to a precipitous drop in attendance and viewership. A total of 301,000 viewers watched Laval defeat the Calgary Dinos 25-14 Saturday, November 23, 2013, which was a decline of 64 per cent from the previous year. [25] A standing room crowd of 18,543 were on hand at the Telus Stadium which was a decline of 50 per cent from the previous year in Toronto (although a sellout in that venue). In 2019, after several more years of declines, the Vanier Cup returned to CBC. [26]
The Uteck Bowl is one of the two semifinal bowls of U Sports football, Canada's national competition for university teams that play Canadian football. It is held in the easternmost of the two semifinal venues. The Uteck Bowl champion moves on to face the Mitchell Bowl champion for the Vanier Cup. It was named for Larry Uteck, a former professional football player and university coach who died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2002.
The 2008 CIS football season began on August 23, 2008, and concluded with the 44th Vanier Cup national championship on November 22 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, with the Laval Rouge et Or winning their fifth championship. Twenty-seven universities across Canada compete in CIS football, the highest level of amateur play in Canadian football, under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).
The 2009 CIS football season began on August 29, 2009, and concluded its campaign with the 45th Vanier Cup national championship on November 28 at PEPS stadium in Quebec City, Quebec. Twenty-seven universities across Canada compete in CIS football, the highest level of amateur play in Canadian football, under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). The Queen's Golden Gaels defeated the Calgary Dinos 33-31 in the Vanier Cup to claim the 2009 national championship and their fourth in school history.
The 45th Vanier Cup was played on November 28, 2009, at PEPS Stadium in Quebec City, Quebec, and decided the CIS Football champion for the 2009 season. In the first Vanier Cup game played in the province of Quebec, the Queen's Golden Gaels came from behind to defeat the Calgary Dinos 33-31. The Gaels, who were down by 18 points at halftime, scored 25 unanswered points in what was the biggest overcome deficit in Vanier Cup history.
The 44th Vanier Cup was played on November 22, 2008, at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario, and decided the CIS Football champion for the 2008 season. The Laval Rouge et Or dominated the Western Mustangs to win the championship 44-21, en route to a perfect 12-0 season. The win gave Laval its fifth Vanier Cup in school history and its fourth in the last six years.
The 2011 Vanier Cup, the 47th edition of the Canadian university football championship, took place on Friday, November 25, 2011, at BC Place in Vancouver. The McMaster Marauders defeated the Laval Rouge et Or 41–38 in only the second ever Vanier Cup to go into overtime. The Marauders won their first ever national championship while the Rouge et Or lost a Vanier Cup game for the first time. BC Place underwent a renovation, including a retractable roof, and hosted the Vanier Cup on the same weekend it hosted the Grey Cup. This marked the first time the two games were played at the same venue on the same weekend since 2007. This Vanier Cup is notable for being considered one of the best Canadian football games ever played.
The McMaster Marauders football team represents McMaster University based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The team plays U Sports football in the Ontario University Athletics conference. The Marauders have been playing organized football since 1901 when they played their first exhibition game in the Canadian Intercollegiate Rugby Football Union. The team has appeared in four Vanier Cup games, winning one in 2011.
The 2012 Vanier Cup, the 48th edition of the Canadian university football championship, took place on Friday, November 23, 2012 at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The game featured a rematch of the previous year's Vanier Cup game as the McMaster Marauders attempted to become repeat champions against the Laval Rouge et Or. This was the second time in Vanier Cup history that the same two teams played each other in consecutive years.
The 2012 CIS football season began on August 31, 2012 with the Saskatchewan Huskies hosting the Alberta Golden Bears at Griffiths Stadium. The season concluded on November 23 in Toronto, Ontario with the 48th Vanier Cup championship, won by the Laval Rouge et Or after they defeated the McMaster Marauders 37-14. This year, 26 university teams in Canada are scheduled to play Canadian Interuniversity Sport football, the highest level of amateur Canadian football.
The 2013 CIS football season began on August 25, 2013, with ten Ontario University Athletics teams playing that day. The season concluded on November 23 with the 49th Vanier Cup championship in Quebec City, won by the Laval Rouge et Or after they defeated the Calgary Dinos 25–14. This year, 27 university teams in Canada played Canadian Interuniversity Sport football, the highest level of amateur Canadian football. The Carleton Ravens football team re-joined the CIS after a 14-year absence, increasing the number of OUA teams to 11 and necessitating the use of bye weeks in that conference.
The 2014 CIS football season began on September 1, 2014 with ten Ontario University Athletics teams playing that day. The season concluded on November 29 with the 50th Vanier Cup championship at Molson Stadium in Montreal. This year, 27 university teams in Canada are scheduled to play Canadian Interuniversity Sport football, the highest level of amateur Canadian football.
The 2014 Vanier Cup, the 50th edition of the Canadian university football championship, took place on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at Molson Stadium in Montreal, Quebec. It featured the OUA champion McMaster Marauders and the RSEQ champion Montréal Carabins. This was the first appearance for the Carabins and the fourth for the Marauders. It was the first time that the city of Montreal hosted the Vanier Cup and it was organized by the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes as opposed to a member CIS club. For the second consecutive year the championship game was played in the province of Quebec.
The 2015 Vanier Cup, the 51st edition of the Canadian university football championship took place on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at Telus Stadium in Quebec City, Quebec. It was the fourth time that the city of Quebec has hosted the Vanier Cup. For the third consecutive year the championship game was played in the province of Quebec. The game featured the Canada West Champion UBC Thunderbirds and the RSEQ Champion Montreal Carabins. This was the second appearance for the Carabins and the sixth for the Thunderbirds.
The 2015 CIS football season began on August 30, 2015 with ten Ontario University Athletics teams playing that day. The season concluded on November 28 with the UBC Thunderbirds defeating the Montreal Carabins 26-23 in the 51st Vanier Cup championship at Telus Stadium in Quebec City. This year, 27 university teams in Canada played Canadian Interuniversity Sport football, the highest level of amateur Canadian football.
The 2016 CIS football season began on August 28 with ten Ontario University Athletics teams playing that day. The season concluded on November 26 with the 52nd Vanier Cup championship at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario. In 2016, 27 university teams were scheduled to play Canadian Interuniversity Sport football, the highest level of amateur Canadian football.
The Laval Rouge et Or football team represents Laval University in Quebec City in the sport of Canadian football in U Sports. The program began its first regular season in 1996 and has quickly become one of the most successful programs in Canadian university football history. The Rouge et Or have won a record 11 Vanier Cup championships and their most recent victory occurred at the 57th Vanier Cup in 2022. They are also the only program to have played in four straight Vanier Cups and have a record of 11–2 in Vanier Cup games. The Rouge et Or have also won the Dunsmore Cup 16 times since 1999, demonstrating their historical dominance in their conference.
The 2017 U Sports football season began on August 25 with the St. Francis Xavier X-Men visiting the Saint Mary's Huskies in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the Montreal Carabins visiting the Concordia Stingers in Montreal, Quebec. The season concluded on November 25 with the 53rd Vanier Cup championship at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario. This season saw the first conference shift since 2001 with the Bishop's Gaiters moving from the Quebec Student Sport Federation to the Atlantic University Sport conference. 27 university teams in Canada participated in the newly re-branded U Sports football, the highest level of amateur Canadian football. The Western Mustangs defeated the Laval Rouge et Or, 39-17, to win their first Vanier Cup since 1994.
The 2019 U Sports football season began on August 23, 2019, with the Concordia Stingers hosting the Montreal Carabins in Montreal, Quebec. The Atlantic University Sport conference started play the following day and the Ontario University Athletics conference began play on August 25, 2019. The Canada West teams began play during the following weekend, on August 30, 2019. All 27 U Sports football teams played eight regular season games against opponents within the same conference.
The 2021 Vanier Cup, the 56th edition of the Canadian university football championship, was played on December 4, 2021, at Telus Stadium in Quebec City, Quebec. The OUA champion Western Mustangs defeated the Canada West champion Saskatchewan Huskies by a score of 27–21. The Mustangs made their U Sports–leading 15th Vanier Cup appearance and won their eighth championship. The Huskies made their tenth appearance in the title game, and first since 2006, but lost a record-tying seventh Vanier Cup game.
The 1999 CIAU football season began on September 10, 1999, and concluded with the 35th Vanier Cup national championship on November 27, 1999, at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, with the Laval Rouge et Or winning the first Vanier Cup in program history. Twenty-four universities across Canada competed in CIAU football this season, the highest level of amateur play in Canadian football, under the auspices of the Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union (CIAU). The Regina Rams began their first season of play in the CIAU after previously playing in the Canadian Junior Football League.