The Ottawa stop might have been short on teams, but there wasn’t a shortage of talent in the top tiers. The number one ranked Kitchener Gaels and second ranked Ottawa Capitals lived up to their billing, sending every opponent packing to compete in the championship game.

The Capitals earned their first elite victory over the Gales in the previous Tour stop at Kingston last month. Despite the Capitals carrying that momentum into a home turf advantage, and the fact that the Gaels were without their starting quarterback this time around, the Gaels would still emerge victorious with a decisive decision.

Filling the Gael’s QB void for the second time this season, Steve Dalgity, the former Almonte Hellcat pivot and back up to Capitals great Rod Moors, was nearly flawless in his first full Tour effort in nearly two years. In play-off action alone, Steve led his team to 100 combined offensive points, which was no easy feat considering his opposition.

With his loyal and fellow Almonte alumni receiver, Jamie Finner, Steve, due in part to his leadership, poise, and talent-rich Gael crew, earned his first elite title, making history in the nation’s capital. Congratulations Guys!

Quarter-Finals

Kitchener Gaels 35 vs Ham Dolphins 13

Ott Capitals 24 vs Scar Steelers 16

T.O. Trojans 37 vs Ott Dodd’s Construction 7

Ham Piranhas 28 vs Mtl Hitmen 19

Semi-Finals

Kitch Gaels 27 vs Hamilton Piranhas 25

Ott Capitals 33 vs T.O. Trojans 28

Finals

Kitch Gaels 32 vs Ott Capitals 22

The Ottawa Underdogs have put together one of the most unique squads in Trillium Tour history. After toughing out a 9-man season with a surprising tier 2 Ontario championship last year, the Underdogs opened their doors to the legendary Hughes & Hughes combo, University talent, and much of the Montreal Vandals to bolster their roster and form a Quebec/ Ontario unit.

Taking full advantage of their overstocked and near split Ontario/Quebec line-up, the Underdogs played in the Quebec and Ontario tournament Tours. While Quebec teams have played in our Tour since the beginning, we’ve never seen a team almost evenly comprised of Ontario and Quebec players play together regularly, outside of international ventures.

In their out of Province adventures, the Underdogs were able to finish second in Quebec’s standings. Success had eluded them in Ontario, however, as the Underdogs underachieved, to say the least. The NC Classic was the first Trillium Tour stop where the Underdogs advanced beyond the quarter-finals.

Despite dropping both round-robin matches, the Underdogs had much to build on in those close contests, most notably their 20 to 14 loss to the Gales--the eventual elite champions. The Underdogs strung together consecutive victories to not only advance beyond the quarter-finals, but to also compete for their highest title.

In the A finals the Underdogs met their rival Seminoles, who were fresh off a 20 point come from behind victory over Dodd’s construction, which had to be decided in converts. Their championship meeting was every bit as exciting as their semi-finals with Dodd’s, only it wouldn’t end in their favour.

Tied with only a handful of seconds to go, the Underdogs had the ball just inside Seminole territory. While most teams would have positioned themselves to kick for a winning single, the Hughes and Hughes father and son QB/receiver combo improvised to did what they do best, score exciting touchdowns.

Scoring with little time left on the clock, the Underdogs took the lead beyond dramatic fashion to eventually earn their first title of the season. Congratulations guys!

Quarter-Finals

Mtl Hitmen 29 vs Miss Rebels 14

Ott Dodd’s Construction 29 vs T.O. Dirrty Birdz 6

Ott Seminoles 34 vs Scar Steelers 12

Ott Underdogs 37 vs Hamilton Dolphins 36

Semi-Finals

Ott Underdogs 38 vs Mtl Hitmen 8

Ott Semoniles 23 vs Ott Dodd’s Construction 22

Finals

Ott Underdogs 36 vs Ott Seminoles 30

The Ottawa 360’s began their inaugural season with much pre-season promise, which was deserved considering their roster of talented veteran athletes, most in their football prime. Chemistry, or lack there-of, more than likely played a large role in their early struggles, however, as the 360’s failed to advance beyond a quarter-final game.

Enjoying the home field advantage at the Ottawa stop, and the benefit of precious field experience in league play and earlier tournaments, the 360’s ultimately put together a result befitting their line-up.

Aside from a preliminary blemish, the 360’s finally defeated some able opponents when it mattered. Their best victories were against the improved Montreal Blue Bayou (great tourney in Mtl btw) in the semi’s, and their rival Ottawa Spartans in the finals. Each contest highlighted the 360’s ability to adjust and triumph against polar opposite styles, as offensive and defensive contrasts were on the menu.

In a low scoring affair, the 360’s held off the Blue Bayou with a 7 to 6 victory before opening things up in the finals to outscore the Ottawa Spartans 21 to 14 to earn their first title of the year. Congratulations guys!

Quarter-Finals

Ottawa 360’s 45 vs Ott Silver Bullets 6

Mtl Renegades 14 vs Mtl Shenanigans 13

Ott Knights 7 vs Burl Mandigo’s 0

Ott Silver Bullets 13 vs Mark Mustangs 7

Semi-Finals

Ottawa 360’s 7 vs Mtl Blue Bayou 6

Ott Spartans 32 vs King Vikings 14

Finals

Ott 360’s 21 vs Ott Spartans 14

The defending elite champion Montreal Fleur De Lys (FDL) opened their Trillium Tour in Kingston last month. They looked every bit the part their “champions” label indicates, as they were undefeated throughout that tournament, practically crushing every opponent to earn the top title.

One team FDL didn’t face in Kingston was the Ottawa Devils--the former two time Canadian champions FDL usurped at last year’s Tournament of Champions.

After more perfect performances in Ottawa, four wins, including an intimidating 117 points for and only 7 against, FDL met the equally undefeated and similarly high-scoring Devils in the finals.

What looked like a great game on paper turned into another FDL one-sided performance, as the Quebec-based phenoms overwhelmed the Devils 28 to 9 to capture the second straight AA title. Well played ladies!

Semi-Finals

Ott Devils 32 vs Toronto Rockets 0

Montreal FDL 29 vs Mtl Geants 7

Finals

Montreal FDL 28 vs Ott Devils 9

The Ottawa Jets began their Trillium Tour season with some spotty results, including a lop-sided semi-final loss to the Landell Lightning. They rebounded from more spotty play in Kingston, to not only play well, but earn a title.

Facing tough round-robin competition in Ottawa, the Jets couldn’t be faulted for opening the tourney with 0 and 2 record, or their preliminary loss to the elite Canadian finalist Rockets.

Almost replicating their Kingston performance, the Jets found their offensive stride in elimination play, ejecting the Montreal poison with a convincing 31 to 20 semi-final result.

Equally impressive in their championship game, the Jets issued another one-side send-off to yet another Montreal guest, beating the Titans 26 to 14 to earn their second consecutive title. Congratulations ladies!

Semi-Finals

Ott Jets 31 vs Mtl Poison 20

Mtl Titans 15 vs Mtl Warriros 14

Finals

Ottawa Jets 26 vs Mtl Titans 14

The Early Bird was an unmemorable trip for Ottawa’s Fury girls. Opting out of the Hamilton Bowl, the Fury rebounded nicely in Kingston, posting a 4 and 1 record to earn to the B title.

Splitting their round-robin results in Ottawa, the Fury slipped into the BB division to face familiar opponents. Defeating their rival Mavericks in the semi-finals, the Fury advanced to the finals to face the Montreal Coyotes, their championship adversaries in Kingston.

The Coyotes played to a close 14 to 6 defeat in that meeting. But the Fury, utilizing their home field advantage, produced a better outcome this time around, as they earned a 22 to 6 decision and a second straight Trillium title. Congratulations ladies!

Semi-finals

Mtl Coyotes 28 vs Ott Angels 0

Ottawa Fury 13 vs Ott Mavericks 0

Finals

Ottawa Fury 22 vs Mtl Coyotes 6

It’s nice to see the Ottawa Warriors become familiar faces on the Tour, as their Ottawa and Kingston performances have left an impact in TFO.

Posting a respectful 2 and 1 round-robin result, the Warriors were on the negative side of a two way tie to drop into the B division. Their first elimination contest was the Ottawa Pirates, the team on the positive end of that two way tie, thanks to their round-robin victory over the Warriors.

Learning from their 20 to 12 defeat, the Warriors outlasted the Pirates in a nail-biting 19 to 18 decision, advancing to the finals for the second time this season.

The Warriors were shut-out in their Kingston finals, however, they pulled off a shut-out of their own in Ottawa, handing the visiting Toronto Thunder a 26 to 0 defeat to earn their first title of the year. Congratulations ladies!

Semi-Finals

Toronto Thunder 8 vs Bell Warriors 7

Ott Warriors 19 vs Ottawa Pirates 18

Finals

Ottawa Warriors 26 vs Toronto Thunder 0

Opening their Trillium Tour at the Early Bird with a championship loss to the Fox 40 Whistlers, the Markham Mustangs took a step back in their second outing in Kingston with a quarter-final defeat.

The Ottawa stop saw the Mustangs gain a few steps back, however, as they found themselves competing for another title. Their opponents were the Burlington Mandingo’s, a team they beat 13 to 7 in the semi-finals of their Early Bird excursion.

The Mustangs and Mandingo’s played to much higher scores this time around, however, as both teams combined scored 50 points. Fortunately, for the Mustangs, the end result remained the same in this contest, as they walked away with the victory and their second title of the season. Congratulations guys!

Quarter-Finals

Markham Mustangs 20 vs Ott Boilermakers 19

Ottawa Trojans 19 vs Mtl Shenanigans 13

Ott Alouettes 21 vs Ambulence Chasers 0

Burl Mandingo’s 6 vs Gabriel’s Pizza 0

Semi-Finals

Markham Mustangs 21 vs Ott Alouettes 13

Burl Mandingo’s 36 vs Ott Trojans 6

Finals

Markham Mustangs 29 vs Burl Mandingo’s 21