Both the British Columbia Lions and the Grey Cup arrived in one piece at Vancouver International Airport on Monday afternoon.

The Lions were welcomed by about 100 fans and fire trucks creating an archway of water as they disembarked, with Geroy Simon, the CFL's most outstanding player this season, lugging the newly repaired Grey Cup off the charter aircraft.

Geroy Simon, left, hoists a repaired Grey Cup as Tyrone Williams grins.
(Chuck Stoody/Canadian Press)

"It's solid," Lions president Bob Ackles said of the nearly century-old chalice, which broke in two pieces as B.C. celebrated a 25-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in Sunday's 94th Grey Cup at Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg.

The championship trophy, which also broke in 1987 and 1993, was repaired early Monday by Winnipeg welder Ben Klumper of Quest Metal Products.

"I have a feeling it was broken a few times in the past," laughed Lions offensive guard Kelly Bates, who was shaking the Grey Cup above his head when it snapped in two.

"You know what they did? It was put back together with rivets.

"It's better now. I made the Cup better if you ask me."

"See? It's better now. It just had a couple of screws.

"I thought it would be a lot more solid. It obviously wasn't and now they've fixed it, so it won't do that again."

Keeping Lions intact

That said, talk immediately turned to how best to keep the Lions intact for another championship run in 2007.

"We are just going to enjoy the moment and worry about the business of 2007 at another time," Lions general manager and head coach Wally Buono told reporters in Vancouver.

Linebacker Javier Glatt, wide receiver Paris Jackson, defensive end Brent Johnson and quarterback Buck Pierce have re-signed, with more players expected to do likewise because contracts signed before Saturday's midnight deadline won't count toward the CFL's new salary cap.

"We've agreed on something," Glatt said. "It's something I'm proud of and I'm going to be around for a few more years longer.

"Keeping the core guys together would be nice. Hopefully, this isn't the only one and we string a few [Grey Cups] together."

"We love being here in Vancouver and we love being Lions," said Johnson, the CFL's top defender and top Canadian this season.

"We're trying our hardest to keep the core group together. There's going to be some surprises, but there's more [signings] to come."

Asked what he thought was B.C.'s secret of success this season, Ackles responded: "They're high-character [players] with lots of characters.

"And they're also a very talented group of guys. They remind me of all the championship teams I've ever been with."

With files from the Canadian Press