Peterson returns to the Tiger-Cats while Giustini pursues the Elks

In the 2024 Canadian Football League (CFL) draft, Matthew Peterson and Jonathan Giustini were signed to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats lineup. After one season, they both returned to the University of Alberta for their fifth and final year. This year, the Tiger-Cats took them back, but Guistini just left them for the Edmonton Elks. 

Peterson, a running back, was selected in the fourth round and was the 36th pick overall. Giustini, defensive back, kicker, and punter, was selected in the sixth round as the 52nd overall pick. Peterson remains with the Tiger-Cats. Giustini signed with the Elks on March 12, after not having played a game for the east division. 

When they came back to the U of A after their first Tiger-Cats experience, both said they brought back knowledge and speed for the game. 

“[The] biggest thing that I brought back was the speed of game. [It] slowed down at [the] university level compared to being at the pros. I was able to learn from not only the coaches, but [the] vet players at the CFL camp,” Giustini said. 

Peterson said that he will be holding himself to a higher standard now that he’s back with the Tiger-Cats. He said that he has a more “elevated understanding of expectations.” 

“[I’m] bringing not just Matthew Peterson, but [I’m] bringing a more refined Matthew Peterson,” Peterson said. 

Brotherhood, from the Bears to the Tiger-Cats

As recent graduates, they both reflect on the brotherhood that the Golden Bears had to offer. They wanted to make sure the Tiger-Cats feel the same way, not just for them but the whole team. This is something Peterson hopes to translate from the Bears to the Tiger-Cats.

“You can only go as far as your weakest link. We made sure that our group of guys were submitted [to] each other. That way we could perform with each other and go out and be able to play our game,” Peterson said. 

“Those guys know how it is to perform at the highest level. Being able to perform with those guys and make sure that our relationships are submitted at that next level goes hand-in-hand,” Peterson added.

Building one team at a time

The Tiger-Cats haven’t made playoffs since 2023. The Golden Bears had their best season since 2010 in 2023–24, where they went up against University of British Columbia Thunderbirds for the 86 Hardy Cup.

“The [Golden Bears football] program didn’t win a lot, [but] we were part of turning the program around into being a playoff team and being able to win. That’s something that Hamilton is struggling with. They’re looking to turn the team around,” Giustini said.

Peterson added that he “loves building” and that he went to the U of A to build something that can “stand proud.” This is something he wants to bring to the Tiger-Cats, both for the program itself but also the community and fans. 

“I’ve seen the past, and I want to build a better future out there. I want to have the fans proud to be a Tiger-Cat fan and to be part of the Hammer. [I want to] add on to that legacy of the multiple Grey Cups that they have,” Peterson said. 

This last season, the Golden Bears suffered several injuries and thus had players in unfamiliar roles. They also had to bring in youth with little to no U Sports experience to fill open positions . 

“We would run up the scores, but we weren’t able to close the games out, and that’s a team thing. We can’t just eat in the first half, we [have] to be able to eat the whole game, and I think that’s what we lacked this year,” Peterson said. 

“Canadians can ball too,” Peterson says

The pair have been playing together since the provincial level, for about 10 years total. Although they are now split between the Elks and the Tiger-Cats, the initial feeling of getting the chance to continue playing together was “very comfortable” for them.

“Knowing that you have a brother that you’ve been with for at least five years and made such good connections with makes it much more comfortable,” Giustini said. 

Peterson said he is “excited” to play with the Tiger-Cats. According to him, he will have to be more refined in his physical and mental game. 

“I’m kind of foaming out the mouth to be able to show that I can go out there and be able to win games and play my game and my heart out, and just show that Canadians can ball too,” he said. 

CORRECTION: This article was updated at 17:30 on March 21, 2025 to correct when the Tiger-Cats last made the playoffs. The Gateway regrets this error.