Jason Maas’s Warning to His Alouettes Players

The Grey Cup final between the Montreal Alouettes and the Edmonton Elks promises to be a showdown where every detail could make the difference.

While many fans are eagerly anticipating the showdown between quarterbacks Davis Alexander and Cody Fajardo, the coaches of both teams remind us that football is won by much more than individual performances.

During a media session on Wednesday in Calgary, Jason Maas did not hesitate to highlight his opponent's strengths. The Alouettes' head coach views Edmonton as a particularly physical team, capable of rising to the occasion when the pressure mounts.

His counterpart, Mark Kilam, also expressed great respect for Montreal. In particular, he appreciates the Alouettes' ability to compete in the three fundamental aspects of Canadian football: offense, defense, and special teams.

This philosophy aligns perfectly with his own vision of the game.

For Kilam, this championship game is also an emotionally charged moment. Before coaching the Elks, he spent much of his career with the Calgary Stampeders. In particular, he served as the organization's special teams coordinator from 2010 to 2024.

Competing in the Grey Cup in a city where he worked for nearly two decades therefore adds a special dimension to this game. The coach, however, prefers to emphasize how far his players have come.

After a 7-11 season in 2025, Edmonton completely turned things around, finishing the following campaign with 13 wins in 18 games.

Vincent Blanchard, a key figure from Quebec in the Elks' journey

Edmonton's progress is also built on an effective defense, which allowed only 437 points in 18 games—an average of about 24 points per game.

Special teams are another key component of their success. Quebec kicker Vincent Blanchard had a remarkable season, making 55 field goals out of 59 attempts—a 93.2% success rate.

Kilam did not hesitate to highlight Blanchard's professionalism and progress.

For the Alouettes, the challenge will therefore be to contain a team capable of contributing in every facet of the game.

The Grey Cup won't just be a battle between two quarterbacks: discipline, special teams, and teamwork could also play a decisive role in the outcome of this grand final.

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