Laval wins Vanier Cup in Saturday game against Laurier

The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks came up short in the 59th Vanier Cup game on Saturday, falling to the Laval Rouge et Or 22-17.

The Vanier Cup is awarded to Canada’s top university football team every year. Laurier faced Laval in the national final at Queen's University's Richardson Stadium in Kingston. Felipe Forteza led the way in scoring for Laval, kicking six field goals in the national final, a Vanier Cup record. Quarterback Arnaud Desjardins threw for a total 320 passing yards.

Laval is the team with the most Vanier Cup wins with 12.

Laurier has won the Vanier Cup twice in program history, 1991 and 2005. Saturday was the Golden Hawk's sixth appearance in the national final.

Ahead of Saturday’s game, two Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks players received national awards. Quarterback Taylor Elgersma won the Hec Crighton Trophy for the Most Outstanding Player in U SPORTS football and head coach Michael Faulds took home the Frank Tindall Trophy, for the U SPORTS football Coach of the Year.

Laurier fans watch from home university

Wilf’s Restaurant and Bar at Wilfrid Laurier University hosted a watch party event for the game. The establishment was filled with Laurier students and alumni cheering for the purple and gold.

A 2024 Vanier Cup watch party in full swing at Wilf's on Wilfrid Laurier's campus, Nov. 23 (Sidra Jafri/CTV News)

The event had hype people on the microphone to help keep the energy up during breaks in the play.

Colbey Hind was one of the MC's keeping the crowd going.

“Energy's looking pretty good… They're doing a pretty good job [at] getting engaged and being loud. We need them to be and a lot of people are here today, so it's great,” said Hind.

According to Wilf's instagram, the game was playing on all 11 televisions in the space.

Fans could be seen enjoying food and drinks alongside peers as they cheered on the Golden Hawks and took part in chants.

“We’re pretty fired up,” said fourth-year Laurier student Clark Noonan. “We couldn't make it down to Queen’s today but I think there's no place better to watch than the campus bar. So, it's been a great day so far.”

Students echoed each other’s optimism hoping for a turnaround during half-time after Laurier was down 17-7, but Laval held on for the victory.

The 2025 Vanier Cup will take place in Regina, Sask.