September 5, 2022; Hamilton, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Argonauts defeat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 28-8 in the Labour Day Classic at Tim Hortons Field. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski
It’s rivalry week at Tim Hortons Field and the Toronto Argonauts are making the trip down the QEW with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday. There are a handful of Tiger-Cats who have experienced the rivalry on both sides of the ledger and they unanimously reference the heightened intensity that comes with these games.
- Chris Van Zeyl
June 18, 2022; Hamilton, Ontario, CAN; Calgary Stampeders defeat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33-30 in overtime at Tim Hortons Field. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski
The 15 year veteran of the Canadian Football League has spent virtually his entire career in the QEW rivalry. After a brief stint with the Montreal Alouettes, Van Zeyl caught on with the Argonauts in 2008 and spent the next 10 seasons in double blue, where he was named a CFL all-star on two occasions (2013, ’17) and helped the Argos capture Grey Cup championships in 2012 and 2017.
Van Zeyl moved to the other side of the rivalry in 2019, when he signed with the Tiger-Cats and enjoyed arguably the best individual season of his career, earning the CFL’s Most Outstanding Lineman, a CFL All-Star and a Grey Cup appearance with the Tiger-Cats. The Fonthill, Ontario native is currently listed as a game-time decision for Friday, but could get another taste of the rivalry.
- Ja’Gared Davis
Davis is back in black (and gold) after a season in double blue where he captured his second Grey Cup ring. The pass rusher has spent four of his seven seasons in the QEW rivalry and has made a grey cup appearance every season he’s been in the league—2019, ’21 with Hamilton and 2022 with Toronto. Unfortunately, Davis landed on the 1-game injured list for Friday’s game so he’ll be forced to miss this iteration of the rivalry.
- Antonio Pipkin
The newest member of the QEW rivalry, Pipkin joined the Tiger-Cats on Tuesday following the announcement that Matthew Shiltz has been placed on the 6-game injured list. Pipkin spent one season in double blue (2021), where he suited up in seven games, including one start.
- Orlondo Steinauer
Tiger-Cats President of Football Operations & Head Coach Orlondo Steinauer has the unique distinction of experiencing the QEW rivalry as a coach and a player on both sides. After beginning his career with the Ottawa RoughRiders, Steinauer moved to Hamilton for the 1997 season. He was named a CFL All-Star in 1998 and was a member of the Tiger-Cats 1999 Grey Cup team. His playing rights were traded to the Argonauts after the 2000 season while Steinauer was with the Miami Dolphins. He spent eight seasons in double blue and was named an all start on four occasions (’02-’04, ’07).
Steinauer began his coaching career with the Argonauts in 2010 as their defensive backs coach and spent the next two seasons there before moving down the QEW to take over as the Tiger-Cats defensive backs coach. Steinauer has been in Hamilton ever since—save for one season at Fresno State and earned the Annis Stukus trophy in 2019 as the CFL’s coach of the year.
- Chris Edwards
July 8, 2023; Hamilton, Ontario, CAN; The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeat the Ottawa REDBLACKS 21-13 at Tim Hortons Field. Mandatory Credit: Eddie Sokolowski
The Ticats’ SAM linebacker his getting his first taste of the rivalry in black & gold after spending the last two seasons in double blue. He was named a CFL All-Star in 2021 and will surely have some extra motivation going up against his former team at Tim Hortons Field.
Edwards has started all five games as the Tiger-Cats wide-side linebacker and has made an immediate impact, registering 18 total tackles, two quarterback sacks, one interception and one fumble-recovery touchdown.
- Tommy Condell
Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach Tommy Condell has spent the last nine seasons in the QEW rivalry, with two seasons in Toronto (2017-18) sandwiched between his seven in Hamilton (2013-15, 2019-present). Condell has made five Grey Cup appearances with the southern Ontario teams, including four with Hamilton (2013-14, ’19, ’21) and earned a Grey Cup ring with the Argos in 2017.
Due to injuries to Matt Shiltz and Bo Levi Mitchell, Condell will be working with his third quarterback of the season as Taylor Powell takes the reigns for his first career CFL start.
- Dylan Wynn
The all-star defensive lineman has spent his entire CFL career in the QEW rivalry. Wynn made the move to Hamilton in 2019 have spending 2017-18 in Toronto, where he captured a Grey Cup in 2017. Wynn earned a CFL All-Star nod in 2019 and has been named a CFL East All-Star on three occasions (2017, ’19, ’21). He is still on the 6-game injured list after suffering a season-ending injury last season, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. The pass rusher returned to practice this week—players on the 6-game can return to practice in their fifth week on the injured list, meaning a return could be in the cards for the near future.
- Kiondré Smith*
June 18, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Argonauts defeat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 32-14 at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski
While Smith has no direct connection to the rivalry himself, he certainly grew up with it. The Markham, Ontario native is the son if former three-time CFL All-Star Adrion, “Pee Wee” Smith, who began his career with the Tiger-Cats but spent 10 seasons in double blue and was even roommates with Tiger-Cats Head Coach and former defensive back Orlondo Steinauer. Smith posted three reception for 26 yards in the first meeting between the clubs earlier this season and he’ll be active for Friday’s game.