The Calgary Stampeders (0-0) host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-0) at McMahon Stadium on Saturday night, as both teams kick off their 2025 Canadian Football League campaigns with playoff aspirations after contrasting 2024 finishes.
Mitchell’s homecoming narrative
Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell returns to Calgary, where he won two Grey Cups and became a franchise icon, now leading a Tiger-Cats offense that ranked among the league’s most potent last season. Mitchell’s 5,451 passing yards and 32 touchdowns in 2024 cemented his status as an elite playmaker, but his connection to Calgary adds emotional stakes. The Stampeders’ secondary, anchored by defensive backs Branden Dozier and DaShaun Amos, must contain Mitchell’s chemistry with new weapon Kenny Lawler—a former West Division standout familiar with Calgary’s schemes—and established targets Tim White and Shemar Bridges.
Adams Jr.’s fresh start in Calgary
The Stampeders’ offseason gamble centers on quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., acquired to revitalize an offense that produced a league-worst 410 points last year. Adams inherits a receiving corps led by Reggie Begelton, whose reliability contrasts with the uncertainty surrounding injured deep threat Malik Henry. Newcomers Tevin Jones (731 yards with Edmonton in 2024) and Dominique Rhymes aim to diversify Calgary’s aerial attack, while fourth-year slotback Jalen Philpot seeks a breakout performance against Hamilton’s revamped secondary.
Watch live. Hamilton Tiger-Cats @ Calgary Stampeders, June 8, 01:00 CET (1:00 am, 7 pm June 7 ET)
Defensive redemption arcs
Hamilton’s defense, which surrendered a CFL-high 557 points in 2024, begins a new era under coordinator Brent Monson—a 15-year Calgary staffer now tasked with stifling his former team. Linebacker Kam Kelly and safety Stavros Katsantonis headline a unit eager to erase last season’s struggles. Calgary’s front seven, featuring Clarence Hicks and Folarin Orimolade, faces a dual-threat ground game led by Hamilton’s Greg Bell and Johnny Augustine. Linebacker Derrick Moncrief’s sideline-to-sideline range will be critical to limiting explosive plays.
Lawler’s reunion with western foes
Kenny Lawler’s offseason move to Hamilton adds intrigue, as the veteran receiver brings familiarity with Calgary’s defensive tendencies from his five seasons in the West Division. His contested-catch ability against physical corners like Amos could dictate red-zone efficiency. Conversely, Calgary’s offensive line must neutralize Hamilton’s pass rush to give Adams time to exploit a secondary missing injured starter Reggie Stubblefield.
Legacy stakes at McMahon Stadium
Both franchises carry urgency into Week 1. The Stampeders aim to rebound from their first playoff miss since 2004, while Hamilton seeks to build on last year’s 5-2 finish. History favors Calgary, who defeated the Tiger-Cats 32-24 in last season’s opener, but Mitchell’s mastery of high-pressure moments looms large.
Need to know
Hamilton’s defense will test Adams Jr.’s decision-making without safety Reggie Stubblefield (knee), while Calgary’s offense adjusts to Malik Henry’s absence. McMahon Stadium’s raucous crowd could tip momentum in a clash where quarterback pedigree meets defensive reinvention. For Calgary, a strong start under Adams Jr. is paramount; for Hamilton, silencing doubts about defensive improvements begins now.