The stage is now set. Defending champion McMaster Marauders will battle Laval Rouge et Or in the VANIER CUP live on TSN, setting up a rematch of last year’s thrilling championship that saw McMaster beat Laval 41-38 in double overtime. The game is widely considered the greatest football game ever played in Canadian Interuniversity Sport.The VANIER CUP kicks off the 100th GREY CUP weekend, as McMaster takes on Laval at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Friday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. ET live on TSN. TSN’s Rod Black and Duane Forde are in the broadcast booth to provide play-by-play and colour commentary, while Lee Jones reports live from the field level. TSN’s Rod Smith hosts the network’s VANIER CUP panel alongside analyst Mike Morreale, Carleton University Ravens head coach Steve Sumarah and University of Manitoba Bisons head coach Brian Dobie.
French-language coverage of the VANIER CUP is available on RDS beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. Complementing its coverage, RDS2 will re-broadcast last year’s VANIER CUP tonight (Tuesday, Nov. 20) at 7 p.m. ET.
Led by quarterback Kyle Quinlan, the top-ranked McMaster Marauders (11-0) beat the Calgary Dinos in a decisive 45-6 victory during Saturday’s MITCHELL BOWL. McMaster advances to its second straight VANIER CUP on a CIS-record 21-game winning streak. In the UTECK BOWL, #2-ranked Laval Rouge et Or (11-1) defeated the Acadia Axemen 42-7 to secure its fourth VANIER CUP appearance in the last five years. Laval won the VANIER CUP in 2008 and 2010 and is looking for a record-breaking seventh national title overall.
The VANIER CUP is also available live on TSN Mobile TV and on-demand on TSN.ca shortly after the live television broadcast. During the game, fans can visit TSN.ca to interact in a live game blog.
Fans on-the-go can follow the VANIER CUP live on TSN Radio and TEAM Radio stations across the country, including TSN Radio 1050 Toronto, TEAM Radio 1410 Vancouver,TSN Radio 1290 Winnipeg, and TSN Radio 690 Montreal. TSN Radio’s Mike Hoganand Sandy Annunziata are calling the game for all stations.
BEST GAME…EVER
Leading up to the highly-anticipated rematch, TSN celebrates last year’s wildly dramatic McMaster-Laval championship during the 30-minute original documentary BEST GAME…EVER, premiering Thursday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN and TSN Mobile TV(encore airs Friday, Nov. 23 at 5:30 p.m. ET on TSN). In arguably the most exciting CIS game ever contested, BEST GAME…EVER relives the instant classic that saw defending champion Laval mount a huge comeback in the second half, forcing McMaster to win its first ever national championship in a closely fought double overtime thriller.
From their pre-season match-up to their eventual championship showdown, BEST GAME…EVER follows McMaster’s mission to win its first VANIER CUP in team history against perennial powerhouse Laval – an institution boasting one of the best football programs in CIS. Along with highlights of the game’s crucial turning points, the documentary also looks at the pivotal role played by McMaster’s star quarterback and game MVP Kyle Quinlan.
The BEST GAME…EVER airs on:
• Thursday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN (premiere)
• Friday, Nov. 23 at 5:30 p.m. ET on TSN
