Elks schedule breakdown: Edmonton will have rest on their side in Labour Day classic against Stampeders

CFL Week 14 – Game 1 Analysis – Monday September 7 in Calgary ***LABOUR DAY CLASSIC***

It is Labour Day, and it is time the Battle of Alberta, football edition. The Elks will be coming off the bye week and 17 days of rest, while the Stamps are playing their 3rd consecutive home game. The Elks will need a solid offensive effort as the Stampeder defense was 2nd in points allowed and 2nd in yards on 1st down in 2025 and likely to continue in 2026. It has also traditionally been an eye opening experience for rookies as the intensity of this game is similar to or beyond a playoff game with tempers tending to flare. The winner of this game not only sets up for a possible series sweep in the next game but sets up well for a playoff position in the west division.

Since COVID, the teams are 0.500 in the Labour Day Classic series which is a big compliment to the Elks as this 2 game Labour Day Couplet has not treated Edmonton well going 5-23 between 2008-2022.

CFL Week 15 – Game 2 Analysis – Saturday September 12 at Commonwealth Stadium ***LABOUR DAY REMATCH***

Winning this game not only lies with the coaching staffs and players but training staffs of both teams as a 5 day turnaround is hard on players. One team will have a chance for a sweep and the other is battling for all its worth.This year, this game not only finishes the back-to-back series with Calgary but starts the last third of the season for Edmonton. The Elks play 3 west and 3 east teams in this final third of the season and beating the Stampeders would start it off nicely with a sweep of this series being the best outcome.

The Labour Day Rematch is not as old as the Labour Day Classic. It started in 1989 where Blake Marshall ran for 3 TD’s and Edmonton defeated the Stampeders, 38-27 in front of 41,327 fans. In 2003, Commonwealth Stadium was packed with 62,444 fans and the Eskimos responded with a 38-0 win against the Stampeders. This game is traditionally the largest attended game of the season for Edmonton. 

The History

From Game 1, Calgary has been Edmonton’s biggest rival. The 245 regular season games played, 133 wins and 109 losses are records of wins and losses against any opponent. The rivalry is highlighted by the Labour Day Classic which started in 1959 and the Labour Day rematch game which started in 1989.  

Edmonton’s inaugural season saw 6 games against the Stampeders, all losses. Edmonton then won 38 of the 48 games in the 50’s. What is interesting is that the two clubs did not meet for a West Final until 1978. The 90’s brought about 7 West Final battles in 9 years. Whenever these provincial rivals hook up, it has a bit more meaning.

The 2 cities have played in: 

11 Western Division Semi-Finals (8-6), *In 1952, 1960 and 1961 Semi-Finals were 2 game total point series.

13 West Division Finals (6-7)

-1978 Edmonton 26  Calgary 13

-1979 Edmonton 19  Calgary 7

-1990 Edmonton 43  Calgary 23

-1991 Calgary 38 Edmonton 36

-1992 Calgary 23 Edmonton 22

-1993 Edmonton 29 Calgary 15

-1995 Calgary 37 Edmonton 4

-1996 Edmonton 15 Calgary 12

-1998 Calgary 33 Edmonton 10

-2001 Calgary 34 Edmonton 16

-2014 Calgary 43 Edmonton 18

-2015 Edmonton 45 Calgary 31

-2017 Calgary 32 Edmonton 28

Common Players/Staff between the two Organizations

Current: Devodric Bynum, Molly Campbell, Des Catellier, D’Antne Demery, Craig Dickenson, Markus Howell, Mark Kilam, Tomas Jack-Kurdyla, Jarius Jackson, Tevin Jones, Daniel Joseph, Marcus Klond, Royce Metchie, Barron Miles, Derrick Moncrief, Godfrey Onyeka, J.C. Sherritt, Kobe Williams, 

Historic: Rahim Abdullah, Randy Ambrosie, Charles Assman, Danny Bass, Bruce Beaton, Leo Blanchard, Johnny Bright, Eddie Brown, Rick Campbell, Jacques Chapdelaine, Vic Chapman, Hugh Charles, Randy Chevrier, Jay Christensen, Scott Coe, Dan Comiskey, Mike Cornell, Marcus Crandell, DaVaris Daniels, Scott Deibert, Matt Dunigan, Dick Dupuis, Craig Ellis, Kai Ellis, Peter Eshenko, Chuck Fenenbock, Otis Floyd, Bruce Green, Richie Hall, Glenn Harper, David Heasman, Bill Henry, Tom Higgans, Max Huber, Tony Hunter, J.P. Izquierdo, Jim Jauch, John Kalin, Jerry Kauric, Jackie Kellogg, Gerald Kunyk, Normie Kwong, Jack Lamb, Mike Levenseller, Gilles Lezi, Peter Loughheed, Jesse Lumsden, Anthony Malbrough, Kelly Malveaux, Demetrious Maxie, Danny McManus, Jerome Messam, Ante Milanovic-Litre, Ken Moore, Steve Myddelton, Mark Nelson, Rod Pantages, Kamau Peterson, Marc Pilon, Chuck Quilter, Thomas Rayam, Bill Redell, Roger Reinson, Justin Renfrow, John Reykdal, Dan Runge, Davis Sanchez, Herb Schumm, Howie Schumm, Tom Scott, Jerry Searight, Siddeeq Shabazz, Corbin Sharun, Kenny Stafford, Todd Storme, Dick Suderman, Bobby Taylor, Steve Taylor, Terry Vaughn, Greg Vavra, Jim Walden, Tony Washington, Clinton Wayne, Dounia Whitehouse, Larry Willis, Odell Willis, Rick Worman, Trey Young, Lou Zivkovich

The Stats

Elks Record when:

Elks Record vs Calgary: 133-109-3 (0.549)

Elks Record vs Calgary at Home: 73-48-1 (0.602)

Elks Record vs Calgary at Away: 60-61-2 (0.496)

Elks Record on September 7: 8-10-1 (0.447)

Elks Record on September 12: 8-2-0 (0.800)

Elks record on Labour Day: 27-31-1 (0.466)

The last 10

Elks Record vs last 10 Calgary Games: 5-5-0 (0.500)

Elks Record vs last 10 Calgary Games at Home: 5-5-0 (0.500)

Elks Record vs last 10 Calgary Games on the Road: 3-7-0 (0.300) 

Last time Edmonton swept season series: 2024

Last time Calgary swept season series: 2022