Kadie Smith
They broke the Cup.
Before The Calgary Stampeders busted off the top of the Grey Cup this past November at BC Place, the 2006 Grey Cup Champion BC 
Lions did the very same. In fact, the CFL’s trophy has been busted a total of 6 times…three times by the Eskimos, but who’s counting. It’s kind of a given now.
“We just got too aggressive,” laughed Kelly Bates at the time. “I was shaking it and it just snapped.”
Kind of fitting for the team that played hard, fast, and aggressive the entire season, one of the best to date in Lions’ history. Total dominance. They toppled the Montreal Alouettes in the 94th Grey Cup 25-14. Fans in the -3C weather in Winnipeg expected nothing less.
Four players ended the year with league honours with Geroy Simon taking home the MOP title and Wally Buono winning the Annis Stukus trophy as the CFL’s Coach of the Year. In fact, the only major CFL award the Lions didn’t win that year was the Most Outstanding Special Teams Player award; that went to Calgary’s Sandro DeAngelis. Six players were named CFL All-Stars.
Finishing with a 13-5 record, the Lions headed into the Grey Cup seven-point favourites, and didn’t disappoint. Dave Dickenson got the team out to a strong start on the opening drive, setting the Lions up inside the 35 for Paul McCallum to get BC on the board early.
It was McCallum’s six field goals, still a team single-game record, which gave the league’s top offence the majority of their 25 points. And it was their defence that shut down the Als.
Despite throwing for 234 yards, and passing Doug Flutie in career Grey Cup passing yards with 1,468, Anthony Calvillo’s offence had trouble getting on the board. At the half, Montreal had crossed the 55 only twice and the Lions had a 19-3 lead.
The Als made a last push with 4:06 left to play and made inside the Lions’ five-yard line. On first down the Lions stuffed Montreal running back Robert Edwards just short of the goal line. On second down, again Calvillo handed off to Edwards, but BC’s LB Javier Glatt managed to knock the ball out of Edwards hands and the Lions gained possession at their own one-yard line.
McCallum gave up a safety with just under two minutes to play to make the score 25-14, but the Als couldn’t get any closer than BC’s 15 as time ran out. The Lions captured their fifth Grey Cup title.
“That’s still my favourite Grey Cup win, said Geroy Simon, who has since won in front of a home crowd twice. “We were really focused. You always remember your first.”
It was the first win with the Lions for head coach Wally Buono as well who had been brought over by Bob Ackles from Calgary in 2004 and had suffered a tough Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts in his first season in BC.
Dave Dickenson summed up the season perfectly after the win: “We just deserved this. We were the best team all year and in my opinion the best team won.”
Accolades:
Wally Buono – Coach of the Year
Geroy Simon – Most Outstanding Player
– Roger’s Fans’ Choice Award
Aaron Hunt – Most Outstanding Rookie
Brent Johnson – Most Outstanding Defensive Player
– Most Outstanding Canadian
Rob Murphy – Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman
Mark Washington – CFLPA’s Most Oustanding Community Service
CFL All-Stars:
Geroy Simon – WR
Korey Banks – DB
Barron Miles – S
Otis Floyd – LB
Rob Murphy – OT
Tyron Williams – DT