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Years in Canadian football
1951 in sports

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
Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Saskatchewan Roughriders 14 8 6 0 277 219 16
Edmonton Eskimos 14 8 6 0 306 262 16
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 14 8 6 0 303 311 16
Calgary Stampeders 14 4 10 0 205 299 8
Interprovincial Rugby Football Union
Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Ottawa Rough Riders 12 7 5 0 218 197 14
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 12 7 5 0 229 131 14
Toronto Argonauts 12 7 5 0 226 205 14
Montreal Alouettes 12 3 9 0 146 286 6
Ontario Rugby Football Union
Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Sarnia Imperials 10 9 1 0 268 60 18
Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers 10 7 3 0 173 124 14
McMaster University 6 2 4 0 114 112 8
Windsor Royals 10 0 10 0 27 286 0
  • 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
Date Away Home
October 27 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1 Edmonton 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
Date Away Home
November 7 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 24 Toronto Argonauts 7
IRFU semifinals – game 2
Toronto Argonauts @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Date Away Home
November 10 Toronto Argonauts 21 Hamilton 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
Date Away Home
November 3 Saskatchewan Roughriders 11 Edmonton Eskimos 15
WIFU Finals – Game 2
Edmonton Eskimos @ Saskatchewan Roughriders
Date Away Home
November 10 Edmonton Eskimos 5 Saskatchewan Roughriders 12
WIFU Finals – Game 3
Edmonton Eskimos @ Saskatchewan Roughriders
Date Away Home
November 12 Edmonton Eskimos 18 Saskatchewan 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
Date Away Home
November 3 Sarnia Imperials 15 Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers 23
ORFU Finals – Game 2
Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers @ Sarnia Imperials
Date Away Home
November 10 Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers 30 Sarnia 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
Date Away Home
November 14 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 7 Ottawa Rough Riders 17
IRFU Finals – Game 2
Ottawa Rough Riders @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Date Away Home
November 17 Ottawa Rough Riders 11 Hamilton 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
Date Away Home
November 21 Sarnia Imperials 17 Ottawa 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 Stadium – Toronto, Ontario

WIFU Champion IRFU Champion
Saskatchewan Roughriders 14 Ottawa 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.

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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