1949 in Canadian football

The Calgary Stampeders had an opportunity to defend their Grey Cup title in 1949, but the Montreal Alouettes returned the trophy to Quebec for just the third time in its history.^[1]

Canadian Football News in 1949

The Edmonton Eskimos rejoined with the WIFU and adopted the colours of gold and green. The WIFU regular season was extended to 14 games, per team.

Wearing helmets became compulsory with the two unions. The Western Canada Rugby Football Union ceased its operations.

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 Calgary Stampeders 14 13 1 0 270 77 24 Regina Roughriders 14 9 5 0 235 102 17 Edmonton Eskimos 14 4 10 0 93 235 8 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 14 2 12 0 74 258 3 Four WIFU games were worth one point in the standings

Interprovincial Rugby Football Union Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Ottawa Rough Riders 12 11 1 0 261 170 22 Montreal Alouettes 12 8 4 0 295 204 16 Toronto Argonauts 12 5 7 0 209 254 10 Hamilton Wildcats 12 0 12 0 147 284 0

Ontario Rugby Football Union Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Hamilton Tigers 12 10 2 0 228 68 20 Sarnia Imperials 12 8 4 0 142 101 16 Windsor Rockets 12 5 7 0 142 108 10 Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers 12 1 11 0 55 290 2

• Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.

Grey Cup playoffs

Note: All dates in 1949

Finals

WIFU Finals – Game 1 Calgary Stampeders @ Regina Roughriders Date Away Home November 5 Calgary Stampeders 18 Regina Roughriders 12

WIFU Finals – Game 2 Regina Roughriders @ Calgary Stampeders Date Away Home November 11 Regina Roughriders 9 Calgary Stampeders 4

• Calgary won the total-point series by 22–21. The Stampeders will advance to the Grey Cup game.

ORFU Finals – Game 1 Hamilton Tigers @ Sarnia Imperials Date Away Home November 11 Hamilton Tigers 6 Sarnia Imperials 15

ORFU Finals – Game 2 Sarnia Imperials @ Hamilton Tigers Date Away Home November 12 Sarnia Imperials 3 Hamilton Tigers 20

• Hamilton won the total-point series by 26–18. The Tigers will play the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern finals.

IRFU Finals – Game 1 Montreal Alouettes @ Ottawa Rough Riders Date Away Home November 9 Montreal Alouettes 22 Ottawa Rough Riders 7

IRFU Finals – Game 2 Ottawa Rough Riders @ Montreal Alouettes Date Away Home November 12 Ottawa Rough Riders 13 Montreal Alouettes 14

• Montreal won the total-point series by 36–20. The Alouettes will play the Hamilton Tigers in the Eastern finals.

Eastern Finals

Hamilton Tigers @ Montreal Alouettes Date Away Home November 19 Hamilton Tigers 0 Montreal Alouettes 40

• The Montreal Alouettes will advance to the Grey Cup game.

Playoff bracket

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Grey Cup final

IRFU

Ottawa Rough Riders

7-13

IRFU

Montreal Alouettes

22-14

IRFU

Montreal Alouettes

40

EAST

ORFU

Hamilton Tigers

0

ORFU

Hamilton Tigers

6-20

ORFU

Sarnia Imperials

15-3

IRFU

Montreal Alouettes

28

WIFU

Calgary Stampeders

15

2

7

WIFU

Calgary Stampeders

18-4

WEST

WIFU

Saskatchewan Roughriders

12-9

3

6

Grey Cup Championship

November 26 37th Annual Grey Cup Game: Varsity Stadium – Toronto, Ontario WIFU Champion IRFU Champion Calgary Stampeders 15 Montreal Alouettes 28 The Montreal Alouettes are the 1949 Grey Cup Champions

1949 Eastern (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.

• QB – Frank Filchock, Montreal Alouettes
• QB – Andy Gordon, Ottawa Rough Riders
• HB – Howie Turner, Ottawa Rough Riders
• HB – Virgil Wagner, Montreal Alouettes
• HB – Royal Copeland, Toronto Argonauts
• E – Robert Hood, Hamilton Wildcats
• E – Ralph Toohy, Montreal Alouettes
• FW – Bob Paffrath, Ottawa Rough Riders
• C – Don Loney, Ottawa Rough Riders
• G – Eddie Michaels, Ottawa Rough Riders
• G – Vince Scott, Hamilton Wildcats
• T – Herb Trawick, Montreal Alouettes
• T – John Wagoner, Ottawa Rough Riders

1949 Western (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 QB – Keith Spaith, Calgary Stampeders HB – Del Wardien, Saskatchewan Roughriders HB – Ken Charlton, Saskatchewan Roughriders HB – Vern Graham, Calgary Stampeders FB – Sammy Pierce, Winnipeg Blue Bombers E – Ezzert Anderson, Calgary Stampeders E – Woody Strode, Calgary Stampeders C – Mel Wilson, Calgary Stampeders G – Mike Kissell, Winnipeg Blue Bombers G – Riley Matheson, Calgary Stampeders T – Johnny Aguirre, Calgary Stampeders T – Mike Cassidy, Saskatchewan Roughriders

2nd Team QB – Doug Belden, Saskatchewan Roughriders HB – Chuck Fenenbock, Edmonton Eskimos HB – Normie Kwong, Calgary Stampeders HB – Harry Hood, Calgary Stampeders FB – Paul Rowe, Calgary Stampeders E – Matt Anthony, Saskatchewan Roughriders E – Johnny Bell, Saskatchewan Roughriders C – Doug Brightwell, Saskatchewan Roughriders G – Bud Irving, Winnipeg Blue Bombers G – Bert Iannone, Calgary Stampeders T – Pat Santucci, Saskatchewan Roughriders T – Toar Springstein, Saskatchewan Roughriders

1949 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 – Stan Wolkowski, Hamilton Tigers
• HB – Don Knowles, Sarnia Imperials
• HB – Jack Stewart, Hamilton Tigers
• DB – Sylvester Mike, Windsor Rockets
• E – Keith Fisher, Sarnia Imperials
• E – Bill Damiano, Hamilton Tigers
• E – Rube Ainsworth, Hamilton Tigers
• FW – Joe Capriotti, Hamilton Tigers
• C – Jake Gaudaur, Hamilton Tigers
• G – Don McKenzie, Toronto Beaches-Indians
• G – Jack Moreau, Windsor Rockets
• T – Lloyd "Dutch" Davey, Sarnia Imperials
• T – Len Wright, Windsor Rockets

1949 Canadian Football Awards

• Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy (IRFU MVP) – Royal Copeland (RB), Toronto Argonauts
• Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy (WIFU MVP) - Keith Spaith (QB), Calgary Stampeders
• Gruen Trophy (IRFU Rookie of the Year) - Jim Loreno (HB), Hamilton Wildcats
• Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (WIFU Rookie of the Year) - John Stroppa (HB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• Imperial Oil Trophy (ORFU MVP) - Don Knowles - Sarnia Imperials