CF Montréal will play its ninth TELUS Canadian Championship final on Wednesday, Oct. 21, when Forge FC visits Stade Saputo at 7 p.m. At the conclusion of the match, the Bleu-blanc-noir could lift the current iteration of the Voyageurs Cup for a sixth time.
The Oct. 21 final represents a new opportunity for the Club to add to what is already a rich tournament history. From its early Voyageurs Cup triumphs in the early 2000s to memorable matches at Stade Saputo, several generations of players have helped build a winning tradition.
A history that began before the TELUS Canadian Championship
CF Montréal’s history with the Voyageurs Cup dates well beyond the 2008 inception of the TELUS Canadian Championship.
Dating to when the Club played its home matches at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex, it captured six consecutive Voyageurs Cups from 2002 to 2007. At that time, the trophy was awarded to the top Canadian club in the USL A-League, which later became the USL First Division. Those six titles established Montréal’s early winning tradition with the trophy.
The creation of the Canadian Championship in 2008 provided professional clubs across the country with a new national competition, with the Voyageurs Cup awarded to the winner. Montréal immediately built on its recent success by winning the inaugural edition of the newly established tournament. Led by head coach John Limniatis, the Impact finished atop the standings with seven points, two ahead of Toronto FC. The Club lifted the Voyageurs Cup in front of a hostile crowd at BMO Field.Since then, Montréal has added four more titles: 2013, 2014, 2019, and 2021.
Matches that made history
Certain editions of the tournament occupy a special place in the respective memories of Montréal supporters. In 2013, the Canadian Championship produced one of the greatest comebacks in Club history. After falling 2-0 in the first leg of the tournament semifinals to Toronto FC, the Impact turned the tide with a commanding 6-0 victory at Stade Saputo in the return leg. Marco Di Vaio scored twice and added two assists in the match, while Justin Mapp, Daniele Paponi, Andrew Wenger, and Andrés Romero also found the back of the net for the home side.
A few weeks later, Montréal enjoyed another memorable night. In the final against Vancouver, the Impact secured its second Voyageurs Cup after finishing level 2-2 on aggregate and advancing on away goals. After Vancouver had taken the lead in the second half of the return leg, Hassoun Camara scored Montréal’s crucial second away goal in the 84th minute, a strike that ultimately proved decisive in securing the title at BC Place. The moment remains one of Camara’s most cherished memories. He was inducted into the CF Montréal Wall of Fame in 2025.
“When I arrived in Quebec, I was already aware of this tournament’s importance. To have the opportunity to contribute in that way was a very special moment for me. In fact, it was one of the greatest moments of my career.”
Hassoun Camara
One year later, Montréal did it again. After a 1-1 draw at BMO Field in the first leg, the Impact won the return match 1-0 at Stade Saputo, giving the Club a 2-1 aggregate victory and a second consecutive championship.
Following a five-year absence from the winner’s circle, the Impact reclaimed the Voyageurs Cup in 2019, defeating Toronto FC in a penalty shootout at BMO Field. Two years later, CF Montréal captured its fifth title in the competition, this time on home soil at Stade Saputo. Montréal secured a 1-0 victory over Toronto FC courtesy of a goal from Romell Quioto, while goalkeeper Sébastien Breza preserved the clean sheet with a shutout performance that earned him tournament Most Valuable Player honours.
A gateway to the continental stage
Beyond the Voyageurs Cup itself, the TELUS Canadian Championship also serves as a pathway to continental competition. The tournament winner earns a berth in the next edition of the Concacaf Champions Cup, a competition with which CF Montréal is quite familiar.
In 2015, after winning the Canadian Championship the previous year, the Impact enjoyed a historic run to the final of the CONCACAF Champions League. After eliminating Pachuca and LD Alajuelense, Montréal became the first Canadian club to reach the tournament final, where it fell to Club América before more than 61,000 spectators at Olympic Stadium.
A story written with our fans
The TELUS Canadian Championship's most memorable moments have often been shared between CF Montréal and its supporters.
From the Club's first Voyageurs Cup triumphs to its memorable battles against Toronto and Vancouver, generations of fans have experienced these milestones together, whether at Stade Saputo.
Against Forge FC, CF Montréal will have the opportunity to once again compete for a trophy that holds a special place in its history. A victory would see the Club reclaim the Voyageurs Cup and add another chapter to a tradition that has united generations of players and supporters for more than two decades.
Get your tickets for the final against Forge FC at Stade Saputo on Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m., and be part of history! TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE STARTING AT $32 + TAXES
