Brian Snelgrove
CFL.ca

He spent more seasons in a Montreal Alouette sweater than any player in club history.

Big #74 spent his entire 14 year CFL career with the Alouettes (1968-81) and played in 197 games. A model of consistency, Peter Dalla Riva rarely missed a game during his storied career.

He retired with 450 receptions for 6,413 yards, both marks good enough for third spot in franchise history. He is also second only to Ben Cahoon in career touchdown receptions with 54.

Dalla Riva was born in Treviso, Italy in 1946 and moved to Canada with his family when he was seven.

“I lived three blocks from Ivor Wynne Stadium,” says the former Als’ tight end, “and football was always in my blood.”

He grew up in Hamilton and played with the Burlington Braves and Oakville Black Knights of the Canadian Junior Football League prior to making it to the CFL in 1968. Dalla Riva was also an outstanding basketball and fastball player in his youth, but fortunately for the Montreal Alouettes, chose a career as a football player.

Dalla Riva played in a golden era of tight ends in the CFL with compatriots Tony Gabriel (Hamilton/Ottawa), who was also a teammate with the Braves, Mel Profit (Toronto) and Herm Harrison (Calgary).

The 6’ 3” 230 pound receiver was a three-time CFL all-star (1972, ’73 and ’75) and led the Als in receiving five times. In both 1975 and ’76 he was the team’s nominee for Most Outstanding Canadian and in ’76 was Montreal’s choice for the Most Outstanding Player award.

“We had some great teams in those years,” says Dalla Riva. ”We had a lot of young guys but Marv (Levy) did a great job coaching and Sam (Berger) did a great job of recruiting. When Sonny (Wade) was in the game everybody would pick it up. He raised the level of our play. Other guys, like Gord Judges, Glen Weir, Don Sweet, we had a lot of great Canadians that were the backbone of our team. Other guys like Dickie Harris, Randy Rhino. We had some great guys on and off the field.”

Dalla Riva played in all six Grey Cups for the Als in the 70’s, and came away with his hands on the trophy on three occasions – 1970, ’74 and ’77. He scored a touchdown in the ‘77 championship game on a seven yard reception from Sonny Wade as the Als romped 41-6 over the Edmonton Eskimos in the so-called “Ice Bowl”.

“That first one is special,” says Dalla Riva. “That was during the time of the FLQ crisis in Quebec and that was quite an experience. We arrived back in Montreal and the army helped us get through the airport. The parade later was unbelievable. It really brought the people and the players together.”

“In ’74 we knew we had something going. We knew we were going to put something together. In ’76 we had a heck of a team; it was very frustrating to lose. In ’77 we had essentially the same team, with a few changes but were successful.”

Dalla Riva counts Jerry “Soupy” Campbell, Mark Kosmos, Wayne Smith and Dan Kepley “and company from the Eskimos” as the best defenders he faced.

His number was retired by the Alouettes in 1981, one of only seven so honoured in the history of the franchise. “That was something else,” says Dalla Riva, “going on the field at half time with my wife and kids. I was very nervous. But I was also very proud.”

Dalla Riva was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Appropriately one of his fellow inductees that year was Herm Harrison. “I really respected those guys,” says Dalla Riva of his fellow entrants. “I got to know Herm very well. He and Whit Tucker and Sam Berger who was everything to Montreal and the CFL.”

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Dalla Riva says of his selection to the Hall. “I was really proud for me, for my mom and dad for my brothers and sister and friends.”

Now 64, Dalla Riva still lives in Montreal and is married with two grown children. He has worked in the customs brokerage business for the past 13 years and is actively involved in numerous community and charity events and enjoys the odd round of golf.

He worked in tandem with Henri Richard at Carling O’Keefe Breweries up until about ten years ago and is still a familiar face at promotions and public relations events for the Alouettes. He has been on the Canadian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee since 1994.

Dalla Riva stays in touch with many of his ex-teammates as well as with former members of the Montreal Canadiens, mostly from his era. “Montreal was a fabulous sports town in the 70’s,” says the former Alouette star. “With the Canadiens doing well with guys like Lafleur; the Expos with Rogers, Carter and Andre Dawson. Playing in Montreal really worked out well for me.”

“It was just fantastic. It was great,” Dalla Riva says looking back on his time in the CFL. “When I got here I went back in to the history of the club, guys like George Dixon, Don Clark. I was proud to be an Alouette. I was proud to represent the city. I was proud to get involved in the community. I really embraced it. I really loved it.”

“ I am an Alouette and will always be an Alouette.”