The memories from last year’s upset loss to the Ottawa REDBLACKS in the biggest game of the year still swirl around the Calgary Stampeders like a prairie snowstorm.

Frustration. Anger. Questions.

As much as the Stampeders don’t want to dwell on the past, trying to heal the wound left by that loss will influence how Calgary prepares this week to play the Toronto Argonauts in Sunday’s 105th Grey Cup presented by Shaw.

“I think everybody gets motivated and driven by something else,” quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell said Tuesday after stepping off the team flight to Ottawa. “I’m sure there are a lot of us out here that are driven by last year and what happened.

“Right now, you see it in guy’s eyes. There’s no smiles from ear to ear. Guys are focused on what to do. We’re talking about meeting times and things like that instead of talking about where to go eat.”

Football coaches usually avoid using the word failure. Calgary coach Dave Dickenson came close when talking about the emptiness the Stampers felt after last year’s game.

“I know last year felt real hollow and (it) didn’t feel like we really accomplished anything that we wanted to accomplish,” he said. “The same thing (this year). Don’t get it done, you will be disappointed.”

The Stampeders rolled through the CFL last season finishing with a league-leading 15-2-1 record. After annihilating the BC Lions 42-15 in the Western Final, beating an 8-9-1 Ottawa team in the Grey Cup seemed only a formality.

With Dickenson being named coach of the year and Mitchell the most outstanding player, Calgary was heavily favoured to win. Instead, the Stampeders lost 39-33 in overtime to the REDBLACKS.

“I think we were a little overconfident,” said Dickenson. “Hopefully if our players did feel overconfidence, or maybe didn’t lock in as much as they should have last year . . . hopefully they learned from that. I do feel our guys are ready to go.”

Calgary led the league again this year at 13-4-1 but didn’t seem as invincible. Mitchell’s completion percent fell to 63.4 per cent from 68 per cent the previous year. He threw for 685 fewer yards, he had nine less touchdown passes and three more interceptions.

The Stampeders ended the season on a three-game losing streak _ although they had already wrapped up first place _ and many people picked them to lose against the Edmonton Eskimos in the West Final.

The Eskimos jumped out to an early 14-0 led in the playoff game but the Stampeders scored 22 points in the second quarter and went on to a 32-28 win.

Mitchell said the doubts helped stoke Calgary’s competitive fire.

“We heard the whispers, heard the rumors,” he said. “I see we weren’t playing great and they (Edmonton) were playing very hot.

“We’re ready for this game. Whether or not we are favourites or not we don’t really care. We were pretty heavy favourites last year, but it didn’t matter.”

Running back Jerome Messam didn’t hesitate when asked if losing to Ottawa is a motivating factor this year.

“Of course,” he said. “To say it wouldn’t would be a lie.

“We had a great season, but we fell short. Now we’re trying to seal the deal this year.” Football players are creatures of habit. One of the challenges during Grey Cup week is trying to prepare yourself like it’s any other week when just about everything is different.

Dickenson, who was a rookie head coach last year, believes he learned some lessons.

“I think we want to be clear on our communications on what is expected from our guys and the importance of making sure you keep your regular schedule and doing the right things,” he said. “I want them to know where they need to be and be organized.”

Mitchell, who seemed to bask in the limelight last year, may be a little more media shy this time around.

“As the week goes on (I might) turn down a couple of media requests, stay in the room a little bit more,” he said.

Middle linebacker Alex Singleton said last year was a lesson learned.

“We know how to handle a lot of the situations now,” said Singleton, the West’s nominee as outstanding defensive player. “The media attention, people always being around. Different schedules, getting changed in the hotel. Things you aren’t used to.”

This will be the fourth time in six years the Stampeders have played in the Grey Cup, but they have just one victory in the previous three games.

Toronto finished the season 9-9. This is the Argonauts’ first appearance in the Grey Cup since beating the Stampeders 35-22 in 2012.

The Stampeders head into Sunday as favourites. Even that adds an extra burden on a team already trying to shed the load of last year’s loss.

“This isn’t new pressure for us,” said Singleton. “This is exactly where we want to be.

“It won’t be so much we need to win it for last year. We need to win it for this year, for what we’ve done this year.”