over a team that had a 3–15 record in the year prior. The Lions immediately improved and finished with a 10–8 record that year, losing the West Semi-Final to the Calgary Stampeders. In the 1994 season, after beginning the year 8–1–1, the Lions finished in third place with an 11–6–1 record. The Lions defeated the Edmonton Eskimos and then the Calgary Stampeders in the playoffs to qualify for the 82nd Grey Cup against the Baltimore Football Club. In the first ever Grey Cup game to feature an American team, Ritchie led his team to a 26–23 victory as the Lions won a Grey Cup in Vancouver for the first time in club history and were also the first West Division team to win the Grey Cup at home. In 1995, the Lions ended their season with a 10–8 record, but were defeated by the Edmonton Eskimos in the West Semi-Final. Montreal Alouettes (II) Ritchie joined the Montreal Alouettes in 1996 in their return to the CFL as he was also on the coaching staff in 1987 when the Alouettes were last in the league. He was promoted to head coach in 1997 and led the team to a 13–5 record, but lost the East Final to the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts. In 1998, the Alouettes finished with a 12–5–1 record, but lost the East Final on a last second field goal to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (II) Ritchie was hired away from the Alouettes in 1999 because of a more lucrative offer from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to become their head coach. The team had a 3–15 record the year before and Ritchie led the Blue Bombers to a 6–12 record in 1999. After an East Final appearance in 2000 with a 7–10–1 record, the Blue Bombers demonstrated dominance in 2001 with a 14–4 record, tied for the most wins in franchise history. However, the heavily favoured Blue Bombers were upset by the 8–10 Calgary Stampeders in the 89th Grey Cup game by a score of 27–19. Following the game, Ritchie was critical of placekicker, Troy Westwood, who missed three of four field goal attempts in the game. Ritchie continued to field strong teams in the following seasons, with a 12–6 record in 2002 and an 11–7 record in 2003, but the team was defeated in the playoffs in both years with no Grey Cup appearances.