Ottawa's RedBlacks Are Hungry — and Ready to Hit
Ottawa RedBlacks fans, the wait is almost over. After months of training camp workouts, film sessions, and roster battles, the RedBlacks are finally set to put on the pads for real when they travel to Montreal on Friday night to face the Alouettes in their CFL pre-season opener.
And if you listen to top draft pick Giordano Vaccaro, this team isn't interested in playing pretty football. They want to play physical football.
Who Is Giordano Vaccaro?
Vaccaro is the headlining name coming out of this year's CFL Draft — a highly anticipated prospect who Ottawa selected with an early pick. For a RedBlacks team that has been rebuilding its identity over the past couple of seasons, landing a player of Vaccaro's calibre is a major statement.
The young talent has been vocal about his approach to the game: run hard, hit harder, and impose a physical will on opposing defences. It's the kind of mentality Ottawa fans love to see, and one the coaching staff has been cultivating throughout training camp.
A Team-Wide Mentality Shift
What's notable isn't just Vaccaro's attitude — it's that this mindset seems to have spread through the entire RedBlacks locker room. Players across the roster have echoed a desire to be a more punishing, run-the-ball-down-your-throat team that wears opponents down as the game progresses.
For Ottawa, which has had its share of offensive inconsistency in recent years, establishing a physical identity could be the key to turning the corner in 2026. A team that can control the line of scrimmage tends to control games — and control their own destiny in the CFL East.
Friday Night Lights in Montreal
The pre-season opener against the Montreal Alouettes is a perfect litmus test. Montreal has long been one of the CFL's most competitive franchises and a divisional rival Ottawa will need to contend with all season. A strong showing — even in the exhibition stage — would send an early message about where this RedBlacks squad is headed.
For players like Vaccaro, Friday is also a chance to shake off any nerves and prove they belong at this level. Pre-season games matter for depth chart battles, and every snap counts when roster spots are on the line.
Why RedBlacks Fans Should Be Paying Attention
Ottawa hasn't always had the most star-studded rosters, but this year's squad has genuine intrigue. With Vaccaro drawing comparisons to hard-nosed backs who thrive in the CFL's wide-open game, and a team culture that seems to be buying into a collective, physical identity, there's real reason for optimism at TD Place.
If Friday's pre-season debut shows even a fraction of the fire the team has been promising in training camp, the regular season could be very interesting indeed.
The RedBlacks kick off their regular season schedule after pre-season wraps up — but all eyes will be on the Percival Molson Memorial Stadium this Friday as Ottawa takes its first step toward what the players hope will be a statement year.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
