Grey Cup Notebook: Friday

The Canadian Football League (CFL) and the CFL Players’ Association have agreed to terms to facilitate participation in Football Canada’s first-ever Professional National Flag Team Camp from November 29 to December 5 in Chula Vista, Calif.

Twenty CFL players have been invited to the event, where they will learn the rules, techniques, concepts and schemes of the international flag football game, under the guidance and evaluation of Team Canada coaches. Active CFL players have never before taken part in National Team activities.

“Our goal was simple – give CFL players the opportunity to pursue their dreams of representing their country,” said CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston. “Thanks to the collaboration of our clubs and the CFLPA, that opportunity now exists. We’re proud of the players who have been invited to this historic camp and excited to see them showcase their talents as flag football continues its rise on the road to LA28. This is a meaningful step for our players and for the growth of the game in Canada.”

The CFL and its nine member clubs have agreed to the parameters for players to be available for National Team participation, while also coming to terms with the CFLPA on the provision of insurance coverage and health benefits for all participating players while attending camp.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our members to represent their countries on the world’s biggest sporting stage. We’re proud to work with the CFL to ensure our players can pursue this opportunity, while continuing to have the support and protection they deserve as CFL players,” said Solomon Elimimian, President, CFLPA.

CAMP INVITEES
(Name | POS | Team | Hometown | School)

Alonzo Addae | DB | Ottawa | Pickering, Ont. | West Virginia
Cristophe Beaulieu | DB | BC | Blainville, Que. | Laval
Malcolm Bell | DB | Hamilton | Montreal | Michigan State
Tevaughn Campbell | DB | Saskatchewan | Scarborough, Ont. | Regina
Nic Demski | REC | Winnipeg | Winnipeg | Manitoba
Taylor Elgersma | QB | Winnipeg | London, Ont. | Laurier
Samuel Emilus | REC | Saskatchewan | Montreal | Louisiana Tech
Jackson Findlay | DB | BC | Vancouver | Western
Tre Ford | QB | Hamilton | Niagara Falls, Ont. | Waterloo
Tyrell Ford | DB | Edmonton | Niagara Falls, Ont. | Waterloo
Adrian Greene | DB | Calgary | Toronto | Saint Mary’s
Justin McInnis | REC | BC | Pierrefonds, Que. | Arkansas State
Ashton Miller-Melancon | DB | Calgary | Pointe-Claire, Que. | Queen’s
Kevin Mital | REC | Toronto | Saint-Hubert, Que. | Laval
Jalen Philpot | REC | Calgary | Delta, B.C. | Calgary
Tyson Philpot | REC | Montreal | Delta, B.C. | Calgary
Nathan Rourke | QB | BC | Victoria | Ohio
Kian Schaffer-Baker | REC | Saskatchewan | Mississauga, Ont. | Guelph
Stavros Katsantonis | DB | Hamilton | Bakersfield, Calif. | British Columbia
Keelan White | REC | Ottawa | North Vancouver | Montana

CALGARY — With the 113th Grey Cup just days away, the Canadian Football League is ramping up championship weekend, and the biggest off-field announcement of the week came Thursday with DAZN officially completing its broadcast lineup for the 2027 CFL season.

The streaming giant has added two familiar Canadian broadcasting personalities to its expanding football operation, naming James Cybulski as its lead play-by-play announcer and Regina-based broadcaster Brit Dort as the host of its studio coverage.

The announcement completes a group that already includes former CFL players Shawn Lemon, Simoni Lawrence and Chris Streveler, giving DAZN a combination of experienced broadcasting talent and recently retired football personalities as it prepares to enter the CFL’s national television landscape.

Cybulski will handle play-by-play duties for Saturday Night Football in Canada, working alongside Lemon, who is transitioning from the playing field to the broadcast booth. Dort will host the network’s pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage, joined by Lawrence and Streveler.

The move represents a significant development for the CFL as it prepares for a new era of television coverage beginning in 2027.

Under the league’s new six-year broadcasting agreement, reportedly worth approximately $500 million, DAZN will become the exclusive broadcaster of Saturday Night Football in Canada. The package includes 21 consecutive weeks of coverage, one exhibition game and two exclusive playoff contests.

TSN will retain the league’s primary broadcasting rights, including its established coverage of the Grey Cup.

The addition of Lemon and Lawrence was announced Wednesday, while Streveler was brought aboard in September. Lemon, 38, officially retired from professional football to accept the opportunity after an impressive 2026 season with the Toronto Argonauts.

The veteran defensive end recorded nine quarterback sacks, 19 defensive tackles and two forced fumbles in just 11 regular-season appearances. Across 170 career CFL games, Lemon accumulated an impressive 112 sacks and 32 forced fumbles.

Lawrence, meanwhile, enjoyed a distinguished career primarily with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, appearing in 169 regular-season games and earning three All-CFL selections. Streveler, a former Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback, brings a player’s perspective and considerable personality to the operation.

The championship matchup itself offers plenty of intrigue. Montreal enters Sunday’s contest after finishing atop the CFL standings with a 15-4 record, while Edmonton arrives at 14-5 after completing one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent league history.

The Alouettes are making their third Grey Cup appearance in four seasons and are looking to erase the disappointment of last year’s 25-17 loss to Saskatchewan. Montreal captured the championship in 2023 and now has another opportunity to establish itself as the league’s dominant franchise.

Quarterback Davis Alexander has been at the centre of the Alouettes’ success, earning the CFL’s George Reed Most Outstanding Player award. Alexander threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns in Montreal’s 33-23 Eastern Final victory over Winnipeg, demonstrating once again why he has become one of the league’s most dangerous quarterbacks.

On the other sideline, Edmonton has emerged as one of the season’s biggest surprises. After finishing last in the West Division in 2025, the Elks have completed a remarkable turnaround under head coach Mark Kilam.

Edmonton defeated the B.C. Lions 28-16 in the Western Final to reach its first Grey Cup since winning the championship in 2015. Quarterback Cody Fajardo was outstanding, throwing for 274 yards and a touchdown while adding 84 rushing yards and another major.

There is also a compelling personal storyline involving Fajardo. The veteran quarterback helped Montreal win the 2023 Grey Cup before eventually being traded to Edmonton. Now he has an opportunity to defeat his former team on the biggest stage in Canadian football.

The two clubs split their regular-season meetings. Edmonton won the June encounter 32-29 in overtime, while Montreal responded with a convincing 48-30 victory in August.

Historically, Edmonton has enjoyed the upper hand in this championship matchup, winning eight of the previous 11 Grey Cups contested against Montreal. The Elks franchise is also seeking its first championship since 2015, while the Alouettes are attempting to add another title to their recent resurgence.

Officiating for Sunday’s championship game was also announced this week. Veteran referee Ben Major will lead the crew after earning the league’s highest grade among head referees this season. Major brings 22 seasons and 375 games of CFL experience to the assignment, making this his ninth Grey Cup appearance.

The Grey Cup festivities are also taking over Calgary, with a full slate of concerts, fan activities and community events surrounding the championship. The halftime show will feature country music performer Riley Green, while Canadian music legend Sarah McLachlan will perform the national anthem. Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor are scheduled for a special pre-game performance, with the James Barker Band appearing during the SiriusXM Grey Cup Kickoff Show.

Sunday’s game at McMahon Stadium is scheduled for 5 p.m. Mountain Time (6 p.m. Eastern). Canadian television coverage will be provided by TSN, CTV, RDS and Crave, with international streaming options also available through CFL+.

For the CFL, the 113th Grey Cup represents more than simply the conclusion of another season. It is a celebration of the league’s history, an opportunity to showcase its growing national profile and a transition toward an increasingly competitive broadcasting landscape.

And with a resurgent Edmonton franchise looking to reclaim its championship glory and a hungry Montreal team hoping to finish what it started, Calgary should provide a fitting stage for the final chapter of the 2026 CFL season.