Menu
@
September 1, 2024

7 Things – Elks @ Stamps

 

1. Us

The Stampeders enter the Labour Day Classic having lost two in a row and looking to bounce back against their long-time rival. Calgary is 4-6 on the season and sits fourth in the West Division just two points back of both BC and Winnipeg and three points away from the first place Saskatchewan Roughriders. Standings wise, this is the most important LDC in many years.

2. Them

The Elks fell to the Montreal Alouettes last week but had rattled off three straight wins before that to put them right back in the playoff conversation. Edmonton trails Calgary by just two points heading into this all important Labour Day showdown at McMahon Stadium.

3. Head to Head

This is the first of three meetings between these two over the final nine weeks of the CFL season. The two teams split the season series last year with Calgary winning the LDC at home 35-31 and then Edmonton winning the rematch a week later by a score of 25-23.

 

4. Fast Facts

Calgary is looking to maintain its recent Labour Day momentum as the Stampeders have prevailed in 10 of 11 holiday-Monday meetings with Edmonton since 2012. Overall, the Stampeders have won 14 of 18 regular-season games against Edmonton since Dave Dickenson took over as head coach prior to the 2016 season and are 32-8 in 40 meetings dating back to 2009.

Since 1982 and for all but two seasons since 1969, the Stampeders have faced their provincial rivals at McMahon on the first Monday of September.

Calgary and Edmonton have played 58 times on Labour Day since 1959 and the Stamps lead the series 31-26-1. Including games against other opponents, a total of 68 Labour Day games have been played in Calgary over the years, with the Stamps posting a 41-26-1 record.

The game will be preceded by a CF-18 Hornet flyover, a ceremonial flag party and a performance of the national anthem by the Royal Canadian Air Force Band. Individual members of the Canadian Armed Forces will also take the field alongside the Stampeders’ starting defence as the players are introduced.

Following the game, members of the military will be on the field to meet with Stampeders players and pose for a group photo.

As part of the tribute to the military, part of the proceeds from 50/50 sales will go to Support our Troops and the Calgary Military Family Resource Centre.

Thanks to our Director of Communications Jean Lefebvre for handing off these facts!

BUY NOW

5. Who’s Where

6. Players to Watch:

Stamps: QB Tommy Stevens: When it’s Tommy Time the Stampeders are usually successful. Calgary’s short-yardage QB leads the CFL in touchdowns with eight heading into Week 13. Stevens had a touchdown in last year’s classic which was part of a 22-point fourth-quarter that guided the Stamps to a comeback win.

Elks: RB’s: Edmonton has developed quite the running back room with the emergence of Javon Leake not only as a returner, but a dangerous running back as well. With Leake out of the lineup last week, Kevin Brown stepped up in a big way putting up 105-yards on the ground against Montreal. Also making an impact for the Elks is rookie tailback Justin Rankin who put up 108 rushing yards of his own when he got the start two weeks ago against Hamilton.

7. Quotable

“I definitely want to keep the winning streak alive over here on Monday. It’s nice to be playing for the hometown team now.” – Adam Konar on playing for the Stamps in this year’s Battle of Alberta.