It’s a long way from Raider Stadium to the frozen tundra of the Canadian Football League.

But it’s a journey one former Raider gridiron star has taken.

John Bowman, a 2000 Richmond Senior graduate, just completed his fourth season as a defensive lineman with the Montreal Alouettes.

And he did it in fine fashion, as the Alouettes recently won the Grey Cup ­— the CFL championship. Montreal rallied to defeat Saskatchewan, 28-27 to claim its sixth CFL crown.

The Grey Cup was the first for Bowman, however, who joined the team in 2006. The Alouettes made it to the CFL’s title game flast year also, but lost to Calgary.

“It felt great to finally win one,” Bowman said in a recent phone interview from Montreal.

After graduating from Richmond Senior, Bowman went to Wingate University, an NCAA Division II school, where he earned All-South Atlantic Conference honors in 2003 as a senior.

Wingate head coach Joe Reich remembers Bowman as a player who went all-out on every play. “John has a never-say-die attitude,” Reich said.

Bowman’s success in the CFL is well-deserved, Reich added.

“John has an unbelievable motor. It’s neat to see a person’s work ethic and determination pay dividends.”

Bowman’s route to professional football began with a stint with af2’s Daytona Beach Hawgs in 2005.

The next year, he signed with the AIFL’s Rome Renegades before leaving that team to ink with the Alouettes in June 2006.

Going from American football to the brand played north of the border has been an adjustment, Bowman said.

There are 12 players on the field per team at any given time, and the field is larger.

And the defense has to line up a yard off the ball, Bowman said.

That offers advantages to players on both sides: Offensive linemen have a second or so to get into position for pass blocking, or to fire out for run blocking.

But defensive linemen also have that little bit of extra time to get a running start.

Bowman lives in the Fayetteville area in the offseason, but gets back to Rockingham often.

He’s heavily involved in the Alouettes’ community service efforts, including visits to Quebec schools for talks on the importance of staying in school.

Bowman plays with former Florida quarterback Chris Leak, and both have North Carolina ties: Leak is an Independence graduate, so the two engaged in some good-natured banter after the Patriots knocked the Raiders out of the playoffs a few weeks ago.

After the Grey Cup was won, of course.

Bowman enjoys playing in Montreal. “It’s a beautiful city, and Canada is a beautiful country,” Bowman said. “Montreal is a fun city.”

Bowman’s contract is up, and he’s interested in returning to the Alouettes. Negotiations for a new contract should begin in January, he said.

“I’m just going to let things happen,” Bowman said. “I’d love to be back.”

Contact sports editor David Vantress at 997-3111, ext. 14 or via email at dvantress@yourdailyjournal.com.