1941 in Canadian football explained

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were once again permitted to challenge for the Grey Cup following a rule dispute a year earlier. In a meeting of the previous two Grey Cup champions, the Blue Bombers prevailed, sending the coveted mug west for the third time.^[1]

Canadian Football News in 1941

The Calgary Bronks left the WIFU and the Vancouver Grizzlies joined. The IRFU was renamed to Eastern Canada Union for one season.^[2]

The Hamilton Tigers did not participate in the Eastern Canada Union, due to World War II and the Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers of the ORFU joined.^[3] The Tigers would resume play in 1945.

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! Team !! GP !! W !! L !! T !! PF !! PA !! Pts Winnipeg Blue Bombers 8 6 2 0 92 19 12 Regina Roughriders 8 5 3 0 64 43 10 8 1 7 0 15 109 2

Eastern Canada Union! Team !! GP !! W !! L !! T !! PF !! PA !! Pts Ottawa Rough Riders 6 5 1 0 72 21 10 Toronto Argonauts 6 5 1 0 66 42 10 6 2 4 0 27 34 4 6 0 6 0 12 80 0

Ontario Rugby Football Union! Team !! GP !! W !! L !! T !! PF !! PA !! Pts Hamilton Wildcats 6 5 0 1 122 28 11 6 2 2 2 46 55 6 6 0 5 1 30 115 1

• Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.

Grey Cup playoffs

Note: All dates in 1941

League Finals

Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Regina Roughriders Game Date ! Away Home 1 November 8 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 6 Regina Roughriders 8 2 November 11 Regina Roughriders 12 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 18 3 November 15 Regina Roughriders 2 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 8

• Winnipeg won the total-point series by 32–22. Winnipeg advances to the Grey Cup game.

Toronto Argonauts @ Ottawa Rough Riders Game Date ! Away Home 1 November 8 Toronto Argonauts 16 Ottawa Rough Riders 8 2 November 15 Ottawa Rough Riders 10 Toronto Argonauts 1

• Ottawa won the total-point series by 18–17. Ottawa will play the Hamilton Wildcats (ORFU Champions) in the Eastern Finals.

Eastern Finals

• Ottawa advances to the Grey Cup game.

Grey Cup Championship

November 2929th Annual Grey Cup Game Varsity Stadium – Toronto, Ontario IRFU Champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers 18 Ottawa Rough Riders 16 The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are the 1941 Grey Cup Champions

1941 All Eastern 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 – Bill Stukus, Toronto Argonauts
• HB – Stan O'Neil, Ottawa Rough Riders
• HB – Bobby Coulter, Toronto Argonauts
• DHB - Tony Golab, Ottawa Rough Riders
• FW – Sammy Sward, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
• E – Jack Wedley, Toronto Argonauts
• E – Tony McCarthy, Ottawa Rough Riders
• C – Curly Moynahan, Ottawa Rough Riders
• G – George Fraser, Ottawa Rough Riders
• G – Len Staughton, Ottawa Rough Riders
• T – Bob Cosgrove, Toronto Argonauts
• T – Paul McGarry, Ottawa Rough Riders

1941 Western 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 – Art Stevenson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• FW – Ken Charlton, Regina Roughriders
• HB – Fritz Hanson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• HB – Jim Ladner, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• FB – Dan Capraru, Regina Roughriders
• E – Larry Haynes, Vancouver Grizzlies
• E – Ches McCance, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• C – Mel Wilson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• G – Maurice Williams, Regina Roughriders
• G – Les Lear, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• T – Gord Gellhaye, Vancouver Grizzlies
• T – Lou Mogul, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

1941 Canadian Football Awards

• Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy (IRFU MVP) – Tony Golab (RB), Ottawa Rough Riders
• Imperial Oil Trophy (ORFU MVP) - Al Lenard - Hamilton Wildcats

Notes and References

1. Web site: Grey Cup Memories: 1941. 2005-11-03. CFL.ca. en. 2019-10-05.
2. Web site: CANADIAN FOOTBALL TIMELINES (1860 – 2005). footballcanada.com. 11 October 2019. 9 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170109113533/http://footballcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/FootballTimelines.pdf. dead.
3. Web site: 1941. www.cflapedia.com. 2019-10-12.