Hamilton Tiger-Cats host, then hoist the Grey Cup

Before 34,000 delirious fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium, Ian Sunter kicked Dec. 3, 1972 into a secure and treasured place in Hamilton lore.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats won the 1972 Grey Cup, 13-10, over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Not only did Hamilton get to host the Grey Cup, which was rare for the city, but the home team also played in the game, and won the championship on the game's final play. With the game tied 10-10, the ball on Saskatchewan's 34-yard line and the time on the clock ticking down to zero, the Ticats had one last kick before the game went into overtime.

Ian Sunter, a 19-year-old rookie who showed no nerves, sealed the nail-biting win.

The Tiger-Cats won their first Grey Cup in five years, and became the first team in the modern era of the CFL to win the Cup at home. It was a momentous occasion not just because of the last-minute win but also because of what the win meant to the city.

After the game, crowds of rowdy fans stormed downtown and celebrated for hours. Critics at the time said Hamilton couldn't handle hosting Grey Cup week, but the event went off without a hitch. Since the team formed in 1950 from the merger of the Hamilton Wildcats and the Hamilton Tigers, the Ticats have won eight Grey Cup championships, most recently in 1999.

They'll get another chance to repeat history on Dec. 12 at Tim Hortons Field, when the Tiger-Cats host their first Grey Cup since the famous 1996 Snow Bowl, won by Doug Flutie and the Toronto Argonauts over the Edmonton Eskimos 43-37.

Heading into the COVID-19 shortened return to football 2021 season, the Tiger-Cats were considered a Grey Cup favourite after a record-setting 2019 campaign.

Grey Cup championships won by city

(through 2019 contest. List includes championships won prior to creation of the CFL):

Toronto (24): Argonauts, 17 (1914, 1921, 1933, 1937-38, 1945-47, 1950, 1952, 1983, 1991, 1996-97, 2004, 2012, 2017); University of Toronto, 4 (1909-11, 1920); Balmy Beach, 2 (1927, 1930); RCAF Hurricanes, 1 (1942).

Hamilton (15): Tiger-Cats, 8 (1953, 1957, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1972, 1986, 1999); Tigers, 5 (1913, 1915, 1928-29, 1932); Alerts, 1 (1912); Flying Wildcats, 1 (1943).

Edmonton (14): Eskimos, 14 (1954-56; 1975, 1978-82, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2005, 2015).

Winnipeg (11): Blue Bombers, 9 (1939, 1941, 1958-59, 1961-62, 1984, 1988, 1990, 2019); Winnipegs, 1 (1935).

Ottawa (10): Rough Riders, 7 (1940, 1951, 1960, 1968-69, 1973, 1976); Senators, 2 (1925-26); Redblacks, 1 (2016).

Montreal (9): Alouettes, 7 (1949, 1970, 1974, 1977, 2002, 2009-10); HMCS St-Hyacinthe-Donnacona, 1 (1944); Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, 1 (1931).

Calgary (8): Stampeders, 8 (1948, 1971, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2008, 2014, 2018).

Vancouver (6): B.C. Lions, 6 (1964, 1985, 1994, 2000, 2006, 2011).

Regina (4): Saskatchewan Roughriders, 4 (1966, 1989, 2007, 2013).

Kingston (3): Queen's University, 3 (1922-24).

Sarnia (2): Imperials, 2 (1934, 1936).

Baltimore (1): Stallions, 1 (1995).