The Montreal Alouettes announced on Friday the signings of non-import receivers Dave Stala and Geoff Coventry to a pair of new two- and three-year deals, respectively. Stala (6'2'', 198 lbs.), rejoins Montreal after spending the first six seasons of his CFL career with the Alouettes from 2003 to 2008, appearing in a total of 58 games over that span, catching 145 passes for 1,852 yards and seven touchdowns. The Alouettes' sixth-round draft pick (50th overall) in the 2003 CFL Canadian Draft, was also called upon to punt on a few occasions, maintaining a 38.8-yard average on 24 punts with Montreal. "We are happy that we have the opportunity to bring Dave back to his original team so that we can make use of his versatility and give him the chance to finish his career in Montreal," explained Alouettes General Manager and Head Coach Jim Popp. "Dave is a great teammate, a dependable player, a community guy, and a fan favorite. Welcome home Dave!" Most recently, the 34-year-old spent the past five seasons in Hamilton after joining the Tiger-Cats as a free agent in 2009. The former product of Saint Mary's University in Halifax registered 263 catches for 3,336 yards and 20 TDs in 86 regular season games with the Ticats. A native of Poland who grew up in Hamilton, the two-time Tiger-Cats Most Outstanding Canadian had a career-high 85 receptions for 1,015 yards and six TDs in 2010. Coventry (6'2", 190 lbs.) played five years with the Bishop's University Gaiters in the CIS, and helped lead his team to a 6-2 record in 2013. The Orleans, ON native reeled in a season-best seven catches for 142 yards and a touchdown in a dramatic 28-27 win against the University of Sherbrooke at Coulter Field in the 2013 season opener. His longest reception of the season came in the form of a 46-yard TD grab during that same game, as he maintained an impressive 20.2-yard average per reception against the Vert & Or. Coventry was often his quarterback's favourite target on his way to nabbing 37 passes for 525 yards and two touchdowns last season. The 24-year-old was named to the 2013 RSEQ all-star team following his remarkable season. Press release from the Montreal Alouettes
Alouettes ink Ed Gainey and fortify defence The Montreal Alouettes announced on Tuesday that the club has re-signed defensive back and special teams ace Ed Gainey to a new three-year contract with the team. The Alouettes have also added a trio of import defenders to the roster, signing cornerback Mitchell White and defensive end Collins Ukwu to a pair of new two-year deals, and defensive back Trevard Lindly to a new three-year contract. Gainey (5'11", 185 lbs.), had a breakout season with Montreal in 2013 and was one of the most consistent players for the Alouettes on special teams, with a knack for making big plays. The second-year pro scored his first career CFL touchdown after blocking Stampeder Rob Maver's punt and returning it 38 yards for the score in Week 3 at Percival Molson Stadium. "Ed brings a physical presence to the secondary and to special teams," said Alouettes General Manager and Head Coach Jim Popp. "His development will continue heading into his third year and we expect Ed to have a great shot at starting for us in 2014." The 23-year-old followed up on his Week 3 outing with a near encore performance on September 8, scooping up a forced fumble by teammate Bear Woods on Toronto punter Noel Prefontaine before running it back 33 yards to the Argos one-yard line to set up the major on the following play. He finished the season with eight tackles on special teams. In addition to his duties on special teams, the Winston-Sale, NC native also contributed on defence and recorded a career-high 13 defensive tackles. White (5'11", 185 lbs.), joined the Alouettes' practice roster last October having previously signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent earlier in the year. The 23-year-old played five seasons at the Michigan State University from 2008 to 2012 where he appeared in 43 career games. The Livonia, MI native recorded 26 tackles playing both cornerback and safety for the Spartans. During his senior year in 2012, White amassed seven tackles in 13 games. He was also a high-jumper for the Spartans track and field team and competed at the Big Ten Championships. White has an identical twin brother who is currently a member of the Green Bay Packers. Ukwu (6'4'', 260 lbs.), signed with the Minnesota Vikings and participated in the team's training camp in 2013 prior to joining the Alouettes' practice roster last October. The La Vergne, TN native played for the University of Kentucky, appearing in 46 games with the Wildcats. During his four-year collegiate career from 2009 to 2012, Ukwu tallied 109 defensive tackles and was voted by his peers as a permanent team captain for the 2012 season. During his junior year in 2011, he led the Wildcats' defensive linemen in both sacks with 2.5 and in tackles for losses with 6.5. Lindley (6'0'', 183 lbs.), a fourth-round draft pick (105th overall) of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010, played in 11 games in his rookie campaign and tallied 21 tackles and an interception. He was released as part of the team's final roster cut down in 2011, but rejoined the Eagles during the 2012 offseason. A four-year starter at the University of Kentucky (2005-2009), Lindley amassed 158 tackles and 10 interceptions while also holding the school record with 34 pass breakups. The Alouettes also announced on Tuesday that the team has released non-import linebacker Curtis Dublanko. Press release from the Montreal Alouettes
