CFL stars were back on the gridiron Friday night for a preseason matchup at the University of Guelph. The defending Grey Cup champions, the Toronto Argonauts, faced off against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Alumni Stadium. The stands filled quickly with diehard fans, some sporting the double blue while others came decked out in black and gold. “My son is trying to make a spot on the Argos, and I’m fired up to be a fan and watch him,” said one. “Long-time season ticket holder, super fan,” another said, adding, “Go Argos!” Many were eager to get a measure of the teams before the official start to the season. “We came last year to this game. [It’s] always great to see the team in advance. I love coming here and seeing how the team is looking,” self-proclaimed Argos superfan Matthew McKenzie said. “I was here last year for this game, and I just came out to root on our Tiger-Cats,” fan Shelle Papin said. “It’s not too far, just right up in Hamilton. So, Oskee Wee Wee!” Others said it was the overall excitement that brought them out to Alumni Stadium. “I was here last year and the year before,” Tayte Azzoparde, a Guelph Jr. Gryphons U18 player, told CTV News. “It’s a wonderful time.” Friday’s matchup was also a homecoming for some of the players, like Siriman Bagayogo, who used to play for the Guelph Gryphon. Before the action kicked off, the Boatmen brought out the Grey Cup, giving CFL fans a glimpse of the coveted trophy and stoke excitement for the season ahead. The Tiger-Cats were in the lead for much of the game, but the Argos turned it around in the fourth quarter. Toronto defeated Hamilton 30 to 23. The CFL season officially gets underway next week, with the Argos taking on the Montreal Alouettes on June 6. The Ti-Cats, meanwhile, will head to Calgary to play the Stampeders on June 7.
