1951 in Canadian football

After a 17-year absence, the Saskatchewan Roughriders returned to the Grey Cup final. Their losing streak in the big game continued, however, as it was the other Rough Riders that took home the prize.[1]

Canadian football news in 1951

The BC Lions were formed in January at the Arctic Club in Vancouver; however, the franchise would begin play at the start of the 1954 season.

E. Kent Philips of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was appointed WIFU Commissioner. The IRFU allowed the third-place Toronto Argonauts to be in the playoffs due to similar regular season records with the other top two teams.

On October 27, The Duke of Edinburgh and The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (later Queen Elizabeth II) attended the western semi-final in Edmonton.[2]

Regular season

Final regular season standings

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points

Western Interprovincial Football Union
TeamGPWLTPFPAPts
Saskatchewan Roughriders1486027721916
Edmonton Eskimos1486030626216
Winnipeg Blue Bombers1486030331116
Calgary Stampeders1441002052998
Interprovincial Rugby Football Union
TeamGPWLTPFPAPts
Ottawa Rough Riders1275021819714
Hamilton Tiger-Cats1275022913114
Toronto Argonauts1275022620514
Montreal Alouettes123901462866
Ontario Rugby Football Union
TeamGPWLTPFPAPts
Sarnia Imperials109102686018
Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers1073017312414
McMaster University62401141128
Windsor Royals100100272860
  • Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.
  • Saskatchewan and Ottawa both have first round byes.
  • McMaster University started ORFU play in October. It played 4 point games

Grey Cup playoffs

Note: All dates in 1951

Semifinals

WIFU semifinals
Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Edmonton Eskimos
DateAwayHome
October 27Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1Edmonton Eskimos 4
  • The Edmonton Eskimos went on to play the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the WIFU Finals.
IRFU semifinals – game 1
Hamilton Tiger-Cats @ Toronto Argonauts
DateAwayHome
November 7Hamilton Tiger-Cats 24Toronto Argonauts 7
IRFU semifinals – game 2
Toronto Argonauts @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats
DateAwayHome
November 10Toronto Argonauts 21Hamilton Tiger-Cats 7
  • Hamilton won the total-point series by 31–28. The Tiger-Cats went on to play the Ottawa Rough Riders in the IRFU Finals.

Finals

WIFU Finals – Game 1
Saskatchewan Roughriders @ Edmonton Eskimos
DateAwayHome
November 3Saskatchewan Roughriders 11Edmonton Eskimos 15
WIFU Finals – Game 2
Edmonton Eskimos @ Saskatchewan Roughriders
DateAwayHome
November 10Edmonton Eskimos 5Saskatchewan Roughriders 12
WIFU Finals – Game 3
Edmonton Eskimos @ Saskatchewan Roughriders
DateAwayHome
November 12Edmonton Eskimos 18Saskatchewan Roughriders 19
  • Saskatchewan won the best of three series 2–1. The Roughriders advanced to the Grey Cup game.
ORFU Finals – Game 1
Sarnia Imperials @ Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
DateAwayHome
November 3Sarnia Imperials 15Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers 23
ORFU Finals – Game 2
Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers @ Sarnia Imperials
DateAwayHome
November 10Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers 30Sarnia Imperials 41
  • Sarnia won the total-point series by 56–53. The Imperials went on to play the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Eastern finals.
IRFU Finals – Game 1
Hamilton Tiger-Cats @ Ottawa Rough Riders
DateAwayHome
November 14Hamilton Tiger-Cats 7Ottawa Rough Riders 17
IRFU Finals – Game 2
Ottawa Rough Riders @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats
DateAwayHome
November 17Ottawa Rough Riders 11Hamilton Tiger-Cats 9
  • Ottawa won the best of three series 2–0. The Rough Riders went on to play the Sarnia Imperials in the Eastern finals.

Eastern Finals

Sarnia Imperials @ Ottawa Rough Riders
DateAwayHome
November 21Sarnia Imperials 17Ottawa Rough Riders 43
  • The Ottawa Rough Riders advanced to the Grey Cup game.

Playoff bracket

Quarterfinals Semifinals Grey Cup final
         
IRFU Ottawa Rough Riders 17-11
IRFU Hamilton Tiger Cats 7-9
IRFU Ottawa Rough Riders 43
EAST
ORFU Sarnia Imperials 17
ORFU Sarnia Imperials 15-26
ORFU Toronto Balmy Beach 23-7
IRFU Ottawa Rough Riders 21
WIFU Saskatchewan Roughriders 14
WIFU Saskatchewan Roughriders
BYE
WIFU Saskatchewan Roughriders 11-12-19
WEST
WIFU Edmonton Eskimos 15-5-18
WIFU Edmonton Eskimos 4
WIFU Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1

Grey Cup Championship

November 24

39th Annual Grey Cup Game: Varsity StadiumToronto, Ontario

WIFU ChampionIRFU Champion
Saskatchewan Roughriders 14Ottawa Rough Riders 21
The Ottawa Rough Riders were the 1951 Grey Cup Champions

1951 Interprovincial Rugby Football Union All-Stars

NOTE: During this time most players played both ways, so the All-Star selections do not distinguish between some offensive and defensive positions.

1951 Western Interprovincial Football Union All-Stars

NOTE: During this time most players played both ways, so the All-Star selections do not distinguish between some offensive and defensive positions.

1st Team

2nd Team

1951 Ontario Rugby Football Union All-Stars

NOTE: During this time most players played both ways, so the All-Star selections do not distinguish between some offensive and defensive positions.

  • QB – George Curtis, Sarnia Imperials
  • HB – Johnny Chorostecki, Sarnia Imperials
  • HB – Mel Hawkrigg, McMaster University
  • HB – Ralph Pulley, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
  • HB – Al Farris, Sarnia Imperials
  • HB – John Duchene, Sarnia Imperials
  • E – Andy Gilmour, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
  • E – Keith Fisher, Sarnia Imperials
  • FW – John Florence, Sarnia Imperials
  • C – Bruce Mattingly, Sarnia Imperials
  • G – Jim Thomas, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
  • G – Matti Ferrention, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
  • T – Walt Bashak, McMaster University
  • T – Lloyd "Dutch" Davey, Sarnia Imperials

1951 Canadian Football Awards

References

  1. "Grey Cup Memories: 1951". CFL.ca. 2005-11-09. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  2. Dick Beddoes (October 29, 1951). "Eskimos eliminate Bombers". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
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