CFL NOTEBOOK
EDMONTON – The Edmonton Elks’ board of governors created a list of more than 20 candidates to serve as the CFL team’s interim top executive.
But there was a clear No. 1 choice at the top of that list, and that was Rick LeLacheur.
LeLacheur was lured out of retirement and introduced as interim president and chief executive officer on Tuesday. He replaces Victor Cui, who parted ways with the team last week.
“We are a proud, community-owned team,” said board of governors chair Tom Richards. “Rick brings us some instant credibility with our shareholders and our community.”
LeLacheur has held the president’s role previously with both Edmonton – winning Grey Cups in 2003 and 2005 – and, later, the B.C. Lions, where he was tasked at finding new ownership for the team. He retired in 2022.
Before LeLacheur became Elks’ president for the first time, he was the head of Economic Development Edmonton, and led the hosting effort for the 2001 World Championship in Athletics.
LeLacheur described himself as a “CFL lifer.”
“On the football side, I’ll take it game by game,” said LeLacheur. “On the business side, I’ll have to look into everything that’s been going on and the financials. It’s no secret that the team has been struggling.
“I’m not going to be able to flip a switch and change things overnight. This is a longer term fix, but I’m committed – to Tom and the board particularly – that I am going to be here for the next four months as we look for a new CEO.”
MONTREAL – Montreal Alouettes quarterback Cody Fajardo is set to return from injury this week against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, head coach Jason Maas confirmed on Tuesday.
Fajardo had missed the last two games with a left shoulder injury sustained during Week 9 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Backup Caleb Evans filled in, helping the Alouettes earn wins against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Week 10 and the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday.
Montreal now faces a quick turnaround, with a matchup Thursday against the West Division-leading Blue Bombers.
Despite that, Maas says the Alouettes did not consider letting Fajardo recover for another week because they’re confident the quarterback won’t do more damage to his injury by playing.
Montreal has won four games in a row and is second in the CFL’s East Division with a 6-3 record.
TORONTO – Canadian Tre Ford was very efficient in leading the Edmonton Elks to their first win of the season.
Ford, of Niagara Falls, Ont., earned the top quarterback grade of 91.7 on Tuesday in the CFL’s weekly honour roll. Ford was recognized for his play in Edmonton’s 24-10 road win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week.
Ford finished 13-of-18 passing for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran five times for 60 yards.
Players in nine specific positions are highlighted as per data points registered and compiled by Pro Football Focus, a sports analytics company.
Teammate Steven Dunbar Jr. (four catches, 92 yards, two TDs) was the top-graded receiver at 76.1 while the Elks offensive line also earned a top grading of 79.7, led by Tomas Jack-Kurdyla (top individual grade of 81.2)
Hamilton’s James Butler (114 yards, TD, on 14 carries) was the top running back (76.9).
MONTREAL – General manager Danny Maciocia says he wondered how his Montreal Alouettes would even hold a training camp during their tumultuous off-season.
Months later, his team is 6-3 and comfortably in second place in the CFL’s East Division despite the ownership uncertainty that led to the loss of several key players in free agency this winter.
Maciocia calls it a “feel-good story,” and credits one person in particular for it: head coach Jason Mass.
The GM heaped praise on the head coach he hired in December while speaking to reporters for a mid-season check-in outside Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.
“I think the best-kept story right now is what Jason Maas has brought to the table,” said Maciocia, whose relationship with Maas dates back to the early 2000s when both were part of Edmonton’s organization.
“He’s been unreal with everything that he’s been able to do with this football team here since he joined us.
“I deem him to be a leader of men. He is passionate. He is genuine. He is authentic. He is a caring individual whose expectations are elevated, and he expects you to play at a certain level because he’s going to coach at a particular level day in and day out.”
The CFL was forced to take over operations of the Alouettes for the second time in roughly four years on the first day of free agency in February before Pierre Karl Peladeau, a billionaire with local roots, bought the team in March.
On Saturday, the Alouettes erased a 17-3 halftime deficit to defeat the host Ottawa Redblacks 25-24 in the final minute for a fourth straight victory. Now they face a short turnaround with a meeting Thursday in Winnipeg against the West Division-leading Blue Bombers (8-2).
(Canadian Press)
