Latest news with #Maciocia
Montreal Gazette
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Alouettes' Swiss Army knife Régis Cibasu hopes to carve up Roughriders
By By the time Régis Cibasu left Université de Montréal, he was the Carabins' all-time leading receiver. He had already been named the conference's outstanding rookie in 2014 and was the Vanier Cup's most valuable player that same season. Cibasu was one of two CIS players invited to the 2018 East-West Shrine game for NCAA draft-eligible prospects, and there were reportedly six to eight NFL teams that had him on their radar, although only Washington sent a representative to his pro day workout in Lachine. While the NFL didn't factor into his future after a rookie mini-camp invitation from the Chicago Bears, and although he was drafted by Toronto in the third round (20th overall) in 2018, Cibasu has been nothing more than a supporting actor in the CFL, scratching and clawing for playing time. 'I'm still proud,' Cibasu, who has been with the Alouettes since 2021, told The Gazette this week after a practice at Stade Hébert. 'Obviously, we always want to be in the top discussion, be a star. But it's the pro level. Everybody's good here. I'm actually blessed to be part of this beautiful team. I think we have a shot to win this year. 'It depends what you want in life. Do you still want to play football professionally? You have to make sacrifices. It is hard because you still want to compete. Sometimes you're on the sidelines, but it's always for the good of the team. Here, we have a good team, a good culture. I'll do whatever they ask me to do to be on this team. When they need me to be ready, I'll be ready. You don't win by yourself. You win with a team.' With Tyson Philpot (knee) missing a third consecutive game Saturday night when the Als host the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Cibasu has been receiving plenty of playing time. In last Thursday's comeback victory at Calgary, the 31-year-old caught two passes for 41 yards. That included a 25-yard reception in the second quarter, one play before McLeod Bethel-Thompson's touchdown to Cole Spieker. Cibasu has been called the Als' Swiss Army knife because of the many other positions he has played, including tight end, fullback and kickoff returner. 'It's great to see what he's doing for us,' said Als receivers coach Mike Lionello. 'He's a big body that's athletic. The way he can move at his size is amazing. Physically, he's so long he can dominate people just with his body. And his effort is relentless. I'm very happy with him.' Lionello had Cibasu under his wing with the Argonauts as a rookie in 2019 and said the learning curve that season was steep. 'But nobody works harder than him. I can't wait to watch him play on Saturday. Kick some ass out there.' Als general manager Danny Maciocia, a former Carabins head coach, recruited Cibasu from CEGEP Édouard-Montpetit and knows the 6-foot-3, 227-pounder as well as anyone. While Maciocia has always been bullish on Cibasu, he said some players fall into a trap that slows their pro development. 'He's a hybrid kind of player,' Maciocia said. 'That makes it difficult at times to identify where he's best suited to play. But he's a talented player who catches the ball well and has good vision getting upfield.' Cibasu reported to training camp in May about 25 pounds lighter than the previous season after running and playing basketball during the winter. He wanted to lose weight to be faster on special teams — long his primary responsibility — and to get off his blocks quicker. He also believes the lighter weight will place less pressure on his knees and hips. Cibasu was plagued by a hand injury last season, limiting him to six games. 'I had the dream of a young guy that wanted to play in the NFL, obviously,' said Cibasu, who was born in Kinshasa, Zaire, but moved with his family to Montreal at age 3. 'That's the big dream of every football player in college. But the CFL is a great spot and it's a great opportunity. You still get to play with fantastic athletes. I'm thankful to be here. 'I feel great. I feel healthy.' In 77 games, Cibasu has caught only 12 passes for 151 yards. His one, and only, touchdown came in 2023 against Hamilton on a 37-yard pass, and his celebration was animated. Head coach Jason Maas told Cibasu to temper his emotions and make it look as though he had been in the end zone before. 'But, coach, I haven't,' Cibasu quipped. 'I was a little excited and got carried away. I have to stay professional.'
Montreal Gazette
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
‘We feel we can overcome any adversity,' defiant Als GM Maciocia says
By And this is why they play the game. The Alouettes went into Calgary last Thursday on a wing and a prayer. They were without starting quarterback Davis Alexander, Canadian receiver Tyson Philpot and returner James Letcher Jr. In the pre-game warm-up, linebacker Najee Murray was scratched with a hamstring injury and they already were missing defensive-tackle Dylan Wynn. But McLeod Bethel-Thompson won his first game as Alexander's replacement, and Jose Maltos kicked three field goals in the fourth quarter — including a career-long 58-yarder with 70 seconds remaining — and the Als prevailed, 23-21. 'We went there and never felt we couldn't win the game, although we knew it wasn't going to be easy,' general manager Danny Maciocia told The Gazette. 'I'll talk about it until I'm blue in the face. Unless you're witnessing it and you're living it first-hand internally, it's hard to explain. There's such a strong bond and belief; the culture internally. We never feel like we're playing short-handed. We feel so strong about the people that are here. We feel we can overcome any adversity. We feel we have the elements in place. 'And,' Maciocia added emphatically, 'we don't give a rat's ass what people think.' While it didn't hurt Montreal's cause when Stampeders starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. suffered an apparent head injury at the end of the third quarter, it didn't appear he would single-handedly win this game. While he completed 15 of 25 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown, Adams also missed seven consecutive passes to close out the first half. And the Als went into the intermission nursing a 14-13 lead following Maltos's 36-yard field goal on the final play of the half after trailing 13-3 earlier in the second quarter. 'V.A. is an outstanding quarterback,' Maciocia said of the former Alouette. 'Obviously when he went down — it's no different than when a lot of other starting quarterbacks go down. There's a significant drop-off. With some others, there's a little one. Good teams find a way. Good teams rally around those types of situations. That's what we did.' Making his third start with Montreal, Bethel-Thompson managed the game effectively. He completed 30 of 40 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown while being intercepted once. His longest completion was to seldom-used Régis Cibasu. Instead, it was backup Caleb Evans, off a flea-flicker, who completed a 42-yarder to Tyler Snead. Snead was the Als' leading receiver, with seven catches for 103 yards. 'He made some big throws at the end,' Maciocia said of Bethel-Thompson. 'We converted some second downs, kept them off balance with quick throws and flip screens, and had our run game going. We took a couple of shots downfield. We kept them on their heels, and that's what we wanted.' Maltos is now in his third season with the Als after launching his CFL career with Ottawa. While he became Montreal's starting place-kicking specialist this season, following the retirement of David Côté, the latter missed much of last season with an injury, solidifying Maltos's hold on the position. At 5-foot-9 and 212 pounds, Maltos is hardly a physical specimen. But his right leg is strong. And accurate. He kicked five field goals against Calgary. While the global initiative launched by former CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie compels teams to include at least one such player on its active roster — the Als have two, including Australian punter Joseph Zema — both he and Maltos have justified their participation with the value they bring. No matter how the Als accomplished their result, they got the win and improved their road record to 3-1 and 5-2 overall. It was a character-building win as the team heads into potentially their most difficult stretch of the schedule, with five consecutive games against West Division opponents. Montreal entertains league-leading Saskatchewan (6-1) Saturday night at Molson Stadium. 'That was as big of a character win as you're going to come across,' Maciocia said. Following team meetings on Monday, the Als returned to practice Tuesday at Stade Hébert. Alexander (hamstring), who is on the six-game injured list, and Philpot (knee) didn't participate. Rush-end Shawn Lemon, having served his two-game suspension after being reinstated by the CFL, is eligible to return against the Roughriders. Lincoln Victor, who replaced Letcher against Calgary, has been released. Victor fumbled twice and was replaced late in the game by Snead. Meanwhile, receiver Austin Mack appears to be injured again and wasn't at practice.
Ottawa Citizen
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
'We feel we can overcome any adversity,' defiant Als GM Maciocia says
Article content And this is why they play the game. Article content The Alouettes went into Calgary last Thursday on a wing and a prayer. They were without starting quarterback Davis Alexander, Canadian receiver Tyson Philpot and returner James Letcher Jr. In the pre-game warm-up, linebacker Najee Murray was scratched with a hamstring injury and they already were missing defensive-tackle Dylan Wynn. Article content Article content But McLeod Bethel-Thompson won his first game as Alexander's replacement, and Jose Maltos kicked three field goals in the fourth quarter — including a career-long 58-yarder with 70 seconds remaining — and the Als prevailed, 23-21. Article content Article content 'We went there and never felt we couldn't win the game, although we knew it wasn't going to be easy,' general manager Danny Maciocia told The Gazette. 'I'll talk about it until I'm blue in the face. Unless you're witnessing it and you're living it first-hand internally, it's hard to explain. There's such a strong bond and belief; the culture internally. We never feel like we're playing short-handed. We feel so strong about the people that are here. We feel we can overcome any adversity. We feel we have the elements in place. Article content 'And,' Maciocia added emphatically, 'we don't give a rat's ass what people think.' Article content Article content While it didn't hurt Montreal's cause when Stampeders starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. suffered an apparent head injury at the end of the third quarter, it didn't appear he would single-handedly win this game. While he completed 15 of 25 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown, Adams also missed seven consecutive passes to close out the first half. Article content And the Als went into the intermission nursing a 14-13 lead following Maltos's 36-yard field goal on the final play of the half after trailing 13-3 earlier in the second quarter. Article content 'V.A. is an outstanding quarterback,' Maciocia said of the former Alouette. 'Obviously when he went down — it's no different than when a lot of other starting quarterbacks go down. There's a significant drop-off. With some others, there's a little one. Good teams find a way. Good teams rally around those types of situations. That's what we did.'
Montreal Gazette
27-07-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Inside the CFL: Bianca Maciocia following in her dad's footsteps with Alouettes
By They live under the same roof, but there will be no ride-share program on this day to the Alouettes' practice at Stade Hébert. Indeed, Als general manager Danny Maciocia and his daughter Bianca, a football operations assistant intern with the team, only travel together when the team has a home game at Molson Stadium. 'When she's at work she's an employee, she's not my daughter,' he explained. An unpaid employee at that, given her intern status. But at least Maciocia and his wife, Sandra Vaz, allow the eldest of their three daughters to continue living rent-free at home. Bianca has been working under the shadow of her father since February, when she first approached him with the idea. She spent three weeks at the Alouettes' 2023 training camp and spent six summers at the Université de Montréal when her father was the Carabins' head coach. Fluent in four languages (English, French, Italian and Portuguese), Bianca hardly required this abrupt change in career paths. She graduated from Concordia University in 2023 with a degree in human relations and organizational development. She had been accepted into the University of Ottawa to pursue a bachelor's degree in sports management, and was in the early stages of working for Air Canada in its flight operation department out of the airline's St-Laurent headquarters. 'I think I've always looked up to my dad,' she said. 'I've always been in awe of what he does, the industry and the type of job. I want to try to work in the industry and do something in the same field. I see it as an industry where there's a lot of opportunity, and there isn't enough representation among women.' It's difficult to determine when the seeds were first planted, although there's a famous 2005 photo of Maciocia holding his daughter on his shoulder, their arms raised and fists clenched, after Edmonton's head coach at the time led the team to a Grey Cup victory against Montreal. Maciocia has spent three decades in football and got his start in the CFL with the Alouettes in 1996 as a volunteer offensive quality-control coach, where he would break down game film and write reports. So, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. And while it's possible Bianca wouldn't be with Montreal except for the direct connection, such hirings aren't unusual in professional football. When Wally Buono was B.C.'s head coach and GM, he hired his daughter, Christie, to work in the front office. Tom Gamble, a senior personnel executive with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, once hired his son to work for him. Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson has his brother, Craig, on his staff as special teams co-ordinator. 'At the end of the day, if you can't take care of your own children, who will?' Maciocia asked rhetorically while admitting he spoke with Buono and Gamble before moving forward. 'If I'm not going to help out my own flesh and blood, who will?' The Alouettes have a history of providing women with significant front-office positions. Catherine Hickman (née Raiche) is the Cleveland Browns' assistant GM. But the former lawyer got her start in Montreal as the team's co-ordinator of football administration before becoming assistant GM under Jim Popp. And, this season, Allyson Sobol was promoted to director of football operations. Bianca reports directly to Sobol and said: 'Maybe I'm just here because I'm his daughter, but I want people to see me as my own person. See what I can bring to the table.' She wears many hats for the Alouettes and has numerous responsibilities. Her tenure began with attending last winter's CFL draft combine in Regina. She was tasked with gathering the players' social insurance numbers and made sure each one has health insurance coverage under the provincial RAMQ program. No task is too big or small. And, to broaden her knowledge, she began taking an online pro scouting course last month. 'I love working with Bianca,' Sobol said. 'She pays a lot of attention to detail. Anything I ask is done without fault. She has been an awesome addition. I'm starting to give her more responsibility.' While both of Bianca's parents supported her decision, Danny also understands he's one of nine CFL GMs and works in a cutthroat business where almost everyone, eventually, will be fired. It's the nature of the industry. 'We had a discussion around the kitchen table (concerning) how she's going to be treated, viewed and looked at,' Danny said. 'She has been nothing short of outstanding. She gets it. She has a feel. She can read the room, read people. I don't think there's going to be too many situations where she's going to get caught off guard. 'But I also told her 'you can do better than this.'' Bianca admitted she walks the fine line between team employee and daughter of the GM, careful never to overstep. While their bond remains strong, there are things that are discussed at Olympic Stadium, while other matters are broached around the dinner table. She inherited her drive, passion — and stubbornness — from her father. While it's far too early in this journey to determine where her career path will lead, Bianca's immediate mandate, provided she returns to the organization next season, is to get on the non-player salary cap. 'I don't know if I tell the general manager,' she said. 'I probably tell my dad. That's one of those conversations you have at home, not the office.'
Ottawa Citizen
27-07-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Inside the CFL: Bianca Maciocia following in her dad's footsteps with Alouettes
They live under the same roof, but there will be no ride-share program on this day to the Alouettes' practice at Stade Hébert. Article content Indeed, Als general manager Danny Maciocia and his daughter Bianca, a football operations assistant intern with the team, only travel together when the team has a home game at Molson Stadium. Article content 'When she's at work she's an employee, she's not my daughter,' he explained. Article content Article content An unpaid employee at that, given her intern status. But at least Maciocia and his wife, Sandra Vaz, allow the eldest of their three daughters to continue living rent-free at home. Article content Article content Bianca has been working under the shadow of her father since February, when she first approached him with the idea. She spent three weeks at the Alouettes' 2023 training camp and spent six summers at the Université de Montréal when her father was the Carabins' head coach. Article content Fluent in four languages (English, French, Italian and Portuguese), Bianca hardly required this abrupt change in career paths. She graduated from Concordia University in 2023 with a degree in human relations and organizational development. She had been accepted into the University of Ottawa to pursue a bachelor's degree in sports management, and was in the early stages of working for Air Canada in its flight operation department out of the airline's St-Laurent headquarters. Article content Article content 'I think I've always looked up to my dad,' she said. 'I've always been in awe of what he does, the industry and the type of job. I want to try to work in the industry and do something in the same field. I see it as an industry where there's a lot of opportunity, and there isn't enough representation among women.' Article content It's difficult to determine when the seeds were first planted, although there's a famous 2005 photo of Maciocia holding his daughter on his shoulder, their arms raised and fists clenched, after Edmonton's head coach at the time led the team to a Grey Cup victory against Montreal. Article content Article content Maciocia has spent three decades in football and got his start in the CFL with the Alouettes in 1996 as a volunteer offensive quality-control coach, where he would break down game film and write reports. So, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. And while it's possible Bianca wouldn't be with Montreal except for the direct connection, such hirings aren't unusual in professional football.
