Laval captures Vanier Cup title with victory over Saskatchewan
CBC
Cigar in one hand and a bottle of Prosecco in the other, Laval receiver Kevin Mital strutted into the interview room at Western Alumni Stadium and rhymed off the post-season goals his team accomplished this year.
The Dunsmore Cup, Mitchell Bowl and now the Vanier Cup, he listed in French, slapping the table for extra emphasis as he went.
"It's a sweep," he said, before leaning back in his chair and enjoying a deep haul from the stogie.
Kalenga Muganda and David Dallaire scored touchdowns and Vincent Blanchard tied a Vanier Cup record with five field goals to help the Rouge et Or win the Canadian university football championship for a record 11th time.
Arnaud Desjardins completed 27-of-36 passes for 396 yards and helped Laval raise its game in the second half. Both offences were in form — Laval had 506 total yards to 469 for Saskatchewan — but the Rouge et Or delivered in the big moments.
"We trailed, we weathered the storm and we showed resiliency," said Laval coach Glen Constantin. "We believed in ourselves and the kids performed well."
WATCH | Laval defeat Saskatchewan to win Vanier Cup:
Mital regularly flummoxed the Huskies' defence and shone in a drive that carried over to the start of the fourth quarter.
The Hec Crighton Trophy winner took a shovel pass for a 27-yard gain and later drew a pass interference call in the end zone. Mital then took a direct snap at the one-yard line, faked a run and tossed the ball over the pack to a wide-open Dallaire.
The converted TD gave Laval a 10-point cushion. Daniel Wiebe caught a three-yard TD pass for the Huskies moments later but Blanchard provided insurance with a 25-yard field goal.
Saskatchewan head coach Scott Flory said his squad competed at a high level. "Unfortunately we came up six points short," he added.
WATCH | How the 'Miracle' U of T Blues became Vanier Cup champions:
Mason Nyhus completed 34-of-43 passes for 344 yards for the Huskies.
His one interception — the game's lone turnover — came in the fourth quarter. Caleb Morin couldn't squeeze a high throw from the Laval six-yard line and Felix Petit came down with it.
The province is looking to eliminate time limits for victims of intimate partner violence seeking civil justice.
A former Quebec junior hockey player sentenced to prison last year for sexual assault will get a new trial.
People who use the Indigenous-led overnight shelter on the edge of downtown Winnipeg are weighing their next steps after learning the facility is set to shut down, but Manitoba's premier says nobody will get left behind.
An 81-year-old man from Prince County has died after a single-vehicle crash on Route 14 near Christopher Cross, police say.
The B.C. government has raised the ceiling to $75,000 for potential damages over intimate-image abuse.
A man was found dead inside a house on Elm Street in Niagara Falls after it caught fire on Wednesday night, police say.
It’s been eight days since Suncor’s Sarnia refinery reported an oil spill into the St. Clair River, and it remains unclear what caused the pipeline leak, how much got into the water — and where cleanup efforts are at.
A joint operation involving Edmonton police has led to the deportation of two men, over what police say is a wave of extortions targeting the city's South Asian community.
Red Lake is hoping a petition will help it land federal funding for a new arena.
An N.W.T. MLA says the territory needs to fiercely protect treaty rights and territorial waters, amid Alberta’s merger of two major river basins, and the proposed treatment and release of oilsands tailings into the environment.
The Supreme Court of Canada will hear arguments against the Liberal government's deeply controversial decision to outlaw certain firearms.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is rejecting Opposition accusations of entitlement for using a private jet last fall courtesy of the Saudi government.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s department of Transportation and Infrastructure is promising policy changes after a Conception Bay South family spoke out about the expropriation and resale of the land where their home once stood.