Latest news with #Alouettes'
Montreal Gazette
3 days ago
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Inside the CFL: Bianca Maciocia following in her dad's footsteps with Alouettes
By They live under the same roof, but there will be no ride-share program on this day to the Alouettes' practice at Stade Hébert. Indeed, Als general manager Danny Maciocia and his daughter Bianca, a football operations assistant intern with the team, only travel together when the team has a home game at Molson Stadium. 'When she's at work she's an employee, she's not my daughter,' he explained. An unpaid employee at that, given her intern status. But at least Maciocia and his wife, Sandra Vaz, allow the eldest of their three daughters to continue living rent-free at home. Bianca has been working under the shadow of her father since February, when she first approached him with the idea. She spent three weeks at the Alouettes' 2023 training camp and spent six summers at the Université de Montréal when her father was the Carabins' head coach. Fluent in four languages (English, French, Italian and Portuguese), Bianca hardly required this abrupt change in career paths. She graduated from Concordia University in 2023 with a degree in human relations and organizational development. She had been accepted into the University of Ottawa to pursue a bachelor's degree in sports management, and was in the early stages of working for Air Canada in its flight operation department out of the airline's St-Laurent headquarters. 'I think I've always looked up to my dad,' she said. 'I've always been in awe of what he does, the industry and the type of job. I want to try to work in the industry and do something in the same field. I see it as an industry where there's a lot of opportunity, and there isn't enough representation among women.' It's difficult to determine when the seeds were first planted, although there's a famous 2005 photo of Maciocia holding his daughter on his shoulder, their arms raised and fists clenched, after Edmonton's head coach at the time led the team to a Grey Cup victory against Montreal. Maciocia has spent three decades in football and got his start in the CFL with the Alouettes in 1996 as a volunteer offensive quality-control coach, where he would break down game film and write reports. So, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. And while it's possible Bianca wouldn't be with Montreal except for the direct connection, such hirings aren't unusual in professional football. When Wally Buono was B.C.'s head coach and GM, he hired his daughter, Christie, to work in the front office. Tom Gamble, a senior personnel executive with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, once hired his son to work for him. Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson has his brother, Craig, on his staff as special teams co-ordinator. 'At the end of the day, if you can't take care of your own children, who will?' Maciocia asked rhetorically while admitting he spoke with Buono and Gamble before moving forward. 'If I'm not going to help out my own flesh and blood, who will?' The Alouettes have a history of providing women with significant front-office positions. Catherine Hickman (née Raiche) is the Cleveland Browns' assistant GM. But the former lawyer got her start in Montreal as the team's co-ordinator of football administration before becoming assistant GM under Jim Popp. And, this season, Allyson Sobol was promoted to director of football operations. Bianca reports directly to Sobol and said: 'Maybe I'm just here because I'm his daughter, but I want people to see me as my own person. See what I can bring to the table.' She wears many hats for the Alouettes and has numerous responsibilities. Her tenure began with attending last winter's CFL draft combine in Regina. She was tasked with gathering the players' social insurance numbers and made sure each one has health insurance coverage under the provincial RAMQ program. No task is too big or small. And, to broaden her knowledge, she began taking an online pro scouting course last month. 'I love working with Bianca,' Sobol said. 'She pays a lot of attention to detail. Anything I ask is done without fault. She has been an awesome addition. I'm starting to give her more responsibility.' While both of Bianca's parents supported her decision, Danny also understands he's one of nine CFL GMs and works in a cutthroat business where almost everyone, eventually, will be fired. It's the nature of the industry. 'We had a discussion around the kitchen table (concerning) how she's going to be treated, viewed and looked at,' Danny said. 'She has been nothing short of outstanding. She gets it. She has a feel. She can read the room, read people. I don't think there's going to be too many situations where she's going to get caught off guard. 'But I also told her 'you can do better than this.'' Bianca admitted she walks the fine line between team employee and daughter of the GM, careful never to overstep. While their bond remains strong, there are things that are discussed at Olympic Stadium, while other matters are broached around the dinner table. She inherited her drive, passion — and stubbornness — from her father. While it's far too early in this journey to determine where her career path will lead, Bianca's immediate mandate, provided she returns to the organization next season, is to get on the non-player salary cap. 'I don't know if I tell the general manager,' she said. 'I probably tell my dad. That's one of those conversations you have at home, not the office.'
Ottawa Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Inside the CFL: Bianca Maciocia following in her dad's footsteps with Alouettes
They live under the same roof, but there will be no ride-share program on this day to the Alouettes' practice at Stade Hébert. Article content Indeed, Als general manager Danny Maciocia and his daughter Bianca, a football operations assistant intern with the team, only travel together when the team has a home game at Molson Stadium. Article content 'When she's at work she's an employee, she's not my daughter,' he explained. Article content Article content An unpaid employee at that, given her intern status. But at least Maciocia and his wife, Sandra Vaz, allow the eldest of their three daughters to continue living rent-free at home. Article content Article content Bianca has been working under the shadow of her father since February, when she first approached him with the idea. She spent three weeks at the Alouettes' 2023 training camp and spent six summers at the Université de Montréal when her father was the Carabins' head coach. Article content Fluent in four languages (English, French, Italian and Portuguese), Bianca hardly required this abrupt change in career paths. She graduated from Concordia University in 2023 with a degree in human relations and organizational development. She had been accepted into the University of Ottawa to pursue a bachelor's degree in sports management, and was in the early stages of working for Air Canada in its flight operation department out of the airline's St-Laurent headquarters. Article content Article content 'I think I've always looked up to my dad,' she said. 'I've always been in awe of what he does, the industry and the type of job. I want to try to work in the industry and do something in the same field. I see it as an industry where there's a lot of opportunity, and there isn't enough representation among women.' Article content It's difficult to determine when the seeds were first planted, although there's a famous 2005 photo of Maciocia holding his daughter on his shoulder, their arms raised and fists clenched, after Edmonton's head coach at the time led the team to a Grey Cup victory against Montreal. Article content Article content Maciocia has spent three decades in football and got his start in the CFL with the Alouettes in 1996 as a volunteer offensive quality-control coach, where he would break down game film and write reports. So, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. And while it's possible Bianca wouldn't be with Montreal except for the direct connection, such hirings aren't unusual in professional football.
Winnipeg Free Press
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Former Montreal Alouettes player, coach Chandler Jones dead at 33
MONTREAL – Chandler Jones, a former Montreal Alouettes player and coach, has died at age 33. The Alouettes confirmed Jones's death in a release Monday. A cause of death was not provided, but the release said Jones died accidentally on Sunday morning. Jones was the Alouettes' assistant defensive backs coach in 2023 and 2024, helping the team to a Grey Cup title in his first year. He also coached with his alma mater, San Jose State University, from 2017 to 2019. As a player, Jones was a member of the Alouettes' practice roster in 2015. He also spent time in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'Our thoughts are with Chandler's family and loved ones as they navigate this incredibly difficult time,' Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia said in a statement. 'We extend our heartfelt condolences and offer them our full support.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2025.
Ottawa Citizen
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
'It feels great,' tailback Sean Thomas-Erlington says of landing starter's role for Alouettes
Tailback Sean Thomas-Erlington has started games before, just not on a regular basis. Article content But in his eighth CFL season, Thomas-Erlington is the Alouettes' starter and he made veteran Walter Fletcher expendable at the end of training camp. And all this is happening in Thomas-Erlington's career at age 32. Article content 'It feels good to start. It feels great,' Thomas-Erlington told The Gazette. 'I was a bit stressed out. It had been a long time since I'd been the starter (2021 with Hamilton). But as soon as I stepped on the field for that very first drive, I just felt like I was in the right spot at the right time.' Article content Article content The Montreal native got his season off to a good start during last Friday's victory against the Toronto Argonauts. It wasn't so much that Thomas-Erlington gained 86 yards on 17 carries (5.1-yard average) as much as he also blocked effectively for quarterback Davis Alexander. Article content The 5-foot-9, 218-pound Thomas-Erlington ran effectively both early in the game, when the Als were attempting to establish the run, and late, when ball control was paramount during the 28-10 win. Article content He had three straight runs on Montreal's first drive, gaining 27 yards. The Als could have scored a touchdown on the possession, but Alexander overthrew an open Tyson Philpot in the end zone. Instead, Montreal settled for one point when there was a bad snap on Jose Maltos's 38-yard field goal attempt. Article content Article content Late in the fourth quarter, Thomas-Erlington had five straight carries — including an 18-yarder — putting the Als in position for a 30-yard Maltos field goal. Article content Article content 'He's a physical running back, both in protection and in running the ball,' head coach Jason Maas said. 'He's very physical and gives us a lot of energy back there while knowing his assignments. He did a tremendous job at camp. To make the decision we made and to go in that direction was because he was ready to play. He has proven that since he has been here. He's had a great career, too. There's a lot of years of experience in that body and we've seen a lot of great things over those years. I'm just thankful he's on our team and we can get him to play for us the way he did last game.' Article content Thomas-Erlington came to the CFL from Université de Montréal, winning the Vanier Cup in 2014 under head coach Danny Maciocia, now the Als' general manager. But he was drafted only in the eighth round (66th overall) by the Tiger-Cats in 2017. He spent four weeks as a rookie on the practice roster before dressing on special teams.
Ottawa Citizen
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Davis Alexander era off to a good start for Alouettes
Now that Davis Alexander has reached a certain status level as the Alouettes' starting quarterback, he might want to eschew having to play exhibition games next season. Article content Alexander in general, and the Als' offence in particular, struggled mightily in the first half against Ottawa on May 24 in the teams' first exhibition game. Montreal failed to score a touchdown over the opening 30 minutes and even had trouble generating first downs that afternoon. Based on two weeks' of training camp workouts to that point, there was a modicum of reason to wonder — especially since Alexander and the starters didn't play the following week on the road against the Redblacks. Article content Wonder no more. Article content Article content While one game does not a season make, the early reviews on Alexander are positive. Despite starting only four games last season — all wins — the 26-year-old fourth-year veteran showed the moment wasn't too big for him on Friday night. Article content Alexander and his teammates delivered a beat-down on the Toronto Argonauts, handling the visitors with ease during this complete 28-10 victory at Molson Stadium in their regular-season opener before 21,480 Molson Stadium spectators. Article content The Argos might be the defending Grey Cup champions, but on this night they looked like chumps. Article content 'His mental toughness,' said receiver Tyson Philpot, who scored Montreal's first offensive touchdown on a 26-yard pass from Alexander late in the first quarter. 'He raises the level of competition. He demands excellence from all of us. As a receiving corps we know we have to show up for him. Article content Article content 'I think that's the start of the D.A. era right now.' Article content Article content Simply based on statistics, there was nothing spectacular about Alexander. He completed 19 of 26 passes for 205 yards along with the touchdown to Philpot, who suffered a freak season-ending foot injury last August against Hamilton. Alexander also was intercepted once in the third quarter, while underthrowing Philpot on a long attempt that was as good as a punt. Article content In the process, Alexander showed a quarterback need not throw for 300 yards to be effective. He was accurate with his passes and was able to find receivers while moving the pocket. Austin Mack was Montreal's leading receiver, catching five passes for 51 yards. Philpot had four receptions for 48 yards. Article content Alexander utilized seven different receivers. Article content 'I'm not going to say the pre-season doesn't mean anything to me,' Alexander said. 'You know I go out there and compete every single time. Maybe it was knocking a littler bit of rust off? Or just a different type of competitive juice. We've got playmakers everywhere. We had guys making crucial second-down conversions, and our run game was spectacular.
