ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – When the final whistle blew in CFL’s East and West Finals it was determined that the Stampeders would meet the Argonauts in Rogers Centre to compete for the 100th Grey Cup. In the spirit of sportsmanship, and in keeping with the finest traditions of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), a challenge was issued by the Sailors of HMCS Calgary to the crew of HMCS Toronto. The challenge, which HMCS Toronto quickly accepted, proposed that the Captain of the ship whose namesake city team lost the Grey Cup game would don the opposing team’s colours and hoist their flag when next the ship sailed.
Such a challenge is by no means unprecedented, and the RCN has maintained close ties and has a long history with the CFL. Canadian Warships proudly support their namesake city sports teams, and the 1944 Grey Cup was actually won by an RCN team, when the Reserve Sailors from HMCS Donnacona (Montreal based) defeated the Hamilton Wildcats 7-6 at Civic Stadium (later Ivor Wynne) in Hamilton.
On the 26th of February, Commander Paul Francoeur, Captain of HMCS Calgary, acknowledged the Toronto Argonaut’s 100th Grey Cup victory and honoured the Ship’s debt to HMCS Toronto, proudly flying Argos colours as the ship sailed from Esquimalt Harbour. The crew of HMCS Calgary is looking forward to the 2013 CFL season, while sailors from HMCS Toronto sailors are hoping to repeat their 2012 success.
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