The Grey Cup had quite the adventure last week in Tsawwassen.
Michael Lionello, offensive assistant coach with the Montreal Alouettes, brought the Grey Cup home to Tsawwassen on Thursday, March 21.
Lionello, grew up in Delta and went to South Delta Secondary for his Grade 12 graduating year.
He then went to the University of Victoria and began his coaching career with Simon Fraser University. He has also coached in the CFL with the B.C. Lions and Toronto Argonauts.
Lionello spent the morning golfing at Tsawwassen Springs and sharing the Cup with family and friends. They also took photos at Centennial Beach and then went to the Canucks game Thursday night against the Montreal Canadians.
At the game, the Canucks put together a short video package and introduced Lionello alongside North Delta’s Tyson Philpot, who scored the game winning touchdown in the Grey Cup championship game in November against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Hamilton.
“I had the cup for a day, and it was a great day,” he said. “It was awesome. The weather turned out great for golf. We went to Pat Quinn’s for a lunch with family and friends. The reaction at the Canucks game was pretty cool. They did a shout-out in the first period and with playing the Habs there was lots of Montreal fans there too.”
Lionello said last year’s season will stay with him forever.
“It was an unreal time. We had a new coach, owner, quarterback, no one picked us to win, so to do what we did and win the playoff games and then the last-second win in the Grey Cup and have the game we did is really special,” he said.
Prep for the new season begins in May.
“Training camp starts on May 11 and we want to do this again,” he said. “Now that you win and then you have time with the Cup you want to experience that all again. Talking with Tyson, he’s had the Cup and taken it around North Delta and experienced that with family and friends, but he told me, I want to give it back and I’m ready to go for next year and get after it again, so that’s awesome to hear.”
