VANCOUVER — Ryan Hunter's job was to protect backup quarterback Nick Arbuckle as he led the Argonauts to a 41-24 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver to claim their 19th Grey Cup.
The North Bay product, who was named the CFL's top linesman on Friday at the 2024 Grey Cup Banquet, won his second Grey Cup with the Argonauts as he adds to his trophy case which includes a Super Bowl title with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.
Hunter took to social media and used the word "surreal" to describe his weekend at the Grey Cup and winning his second Grey Cup title.
He was able to share the special moment with his parents who made the trip to Vancouver in anticipation of their son hoisting another Grey Cup.
Many North Bay area fans congratulated Hunter via social media, including the account from his old high school Ecole secondaire Algonquin.
"What an incredible week for our former Baron Ryan Hunter! After being voted the CFL's best lineman, he has now won the Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts beating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41-24. Congratulations Ryan, your second-time Grey Cup Champion," the school stated on social media.
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The six-foot-three, 315-pound Hunter, anchored an offensive line that helped Toronto finish second in the CFL in rushing (121.3 yards per game) and third both in offensive scoring (26.2 points per game) and net offence (368.7 yards per game).
Hunter made 17 starts this season, playing both at guard and tackle. Hunter's Argos have won in their last eight Grey Cup appearances dating back to 1991 and improved to 8-0 all-time against Winnipeg in the big game.
O'Shea Grey Cup heartbreaker
Meantime, another North Bay native in Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea left the Grey Cup with disappointment.
O’Shea tried to explain the raw emotions his team was feeling after losing their third consecutive Grey Cup game Sunday.
“They all have their space to be terrible,” said O’Shea, a Widdifield alum. “It will keep building and building to a point where it’s awful.”
It was the second time in three years the Bombers lost the CFL championship to an underdog Argonauts team. They were also upset 28-24 by the Montreal Alouettes last year.
— With files from The Canadian Press
