General manager Ted Goveia of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats has died.<\/p>\n
The Ticats announced his death Friday, saying they were deeply saddened and would honour Goveia’s impact on Canadian football during that evening’s “Team Ted” game against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers.<\/p>\n
“Ted was a highly respected leader, colleague, and friend whose passion and commitment for Canadian football left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. His dedication to the game and to the Tiger-Cats family will never be forgotten,” the team said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The native of Burlington, Ont., who was in his first season as Hamilton’s GM, disclosed in June that he’d been diagnosed with “a serious form of cancer.”<\/p>\n
Although there was no specific mention as to the form of the disease, two league sources said Goveia was battling esophageal cancer.<\/p>\n
“I wanted to keep my health condition in-house until we had a chance to build our team and pick our final roster,” he said. “I am grateful that we were able to focus on fielding the best team possible for 2025 and not have my health become a distraction.<\/p>\n
“I let the players know that I’m not going to be here (at team facilities) every minute of the day, and I’m going to be in treatment and need to focus on my health. I’m still the general manager, but I’ll not always be in the building. But in today’s day and age, everything’s downloaded to my laptop and there’s always the phone.”<\/p>\n
Goveia was named Hamilton’s GM on Dec. 5, 2024, following 11 years with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The appointment was a homecoming for Goveia, who played high school football at Assumption Secondary School and later coached there as well as at other local organizations.<\/p>\n
Goveia’s early days as Ticats’ GM were long and busy as he put together a staff while looking to improve a roster that last year missed the CFL playoffs, all the while getting to know the people in his new workplace.<\/p>\n
But in March, Goveia told The Canadian Press he never had to look far to gain a sense of perspective or appreciation that he’d landed his dream job.<\/p>\n
“The other morning I went into the office at 6:30 a.m.,” Goveia said. “Got up, grabbed my coffee and drove over the [Burlington Skyway]\u00a0bridge, and I’m looking out, and the sun was coming up.<\/p>\n
“I just sat there smiling as I drove, thinking, `Man, I’m 17 minutes from home.’ I do love southern Ontario and appreciate the opportunity to work back at home, for sure.”<\/p>\n
Hamilton (7-11) missed the 2024 CFL playoffs and last won the Grey Cup in 1999. The team currently sits in first place in the East Division at 7-5.<\/p>\n
Goveia will be honoured at tonight’s game<\/p>\n
The Tiger-Cats will honour\u00a0Goveia\u00a0at tonight’s game in Hamilton against Winnipeg which they are calling the “Team Ted” game.<\/p>\n
On Sept. 5, the team announced, by email, that\u00a0the game will give fans “an opportunity to celebrate Canadian football and honour a leader and champion whose influence has been felt across the\u00a0CFL\u00a0and beyond. The ‘Team Ted’\u00a0name was first coined by Tiger-Cats players \u2014 and quickly embraced across the\u00a0CFL\u00a0\u2014 after Ted’s cancer diagnosis, symbolizing the deep respect and support he has earned throughout the football community.”<\/p>\n
The team said\u00a0Goveia\u00a0has set up the\u00a0Ted\u00a0Goveia\u00a0Scholarships, two annual scholarships,\u00a0in partnership with\u00a0McMaster\u00a0University and Mount Allison University, “to support Canadian university football players, helping ensure opportunities for the next generation.”<\/p>\n