Hamilton Hurricanes take on GTA Grizzlies in inaugural Ted Goveia Bowl

The Hamilton Hurricanes of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) face the GTA Grizzlies Friday evening in the inaugural Ted Goveia Bowl at Hamilton Stadium.

One of the most exciting days in Hamilton sports is coming up Monday, where the Ticats take on the Toronto Argonauts in the Labour Day Classic.

Another football game mirroring that game’s excitement is the first Ted Goveia Bowl which begins Friday at 7 p.m.

The game is much more than a rivalry, the event is in honour of Goveia, the general manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats who is currently battling a serious form of cancer.

The Burlington native was named the Ticats GM following a successful 11 years with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

WATCH MORE: Hamilton Hurricanes host inaugural Ted Goveia Bowl in honour of Ticats GM

Friday’s game is also a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.

“Ted got his start in the CJFL and then with the Burlington Minor Football Association, and we wanted to have a tribute to him,” said Barry Emo, the head coach for the Hurricanes. “Something that we could provide that would really honour him, and something that would showcase what Ted has done over the years, and show our appreciation as grassroots football for what he’s done.”

“Cancer is something that affects all of us — it’s not a friendly disease by any stretch of the imagination, and we wanted to help out,” said Emo.

The Labour Day Classic is just days away, which has always been a major day for fans of both teams, and quite the party in Hamilton.

“It’s important this year because the Tiger-Cats are actually really good this year — it has a lot to do with positioning, and the Tiger-Cats are a good enough team that they should be beating the Argonauts each time they meet them,” said CHCH News sports anchor Clint “Bubba” ONeil.

“I’m old enough to remember some really, really bad teams — some teams that maybe had one or no wins going into the Labour Day Classic — which is almost past halfway into the season,” said O’Neil. “The old saying goes, and anyone that’s been around here a little bit knows, that we don’t care what happens all season — I don’t care how many wins we have, just beat the damn Argos.”

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