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1949 in Canadian football
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March 2026
1949 Canadian football sports
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.https://www.cfl.ca/2005/11/09/grey_cup_memories__1949/ Grey Cup Memories: 1949 2005-11-09 CFL.ca en 2019-10-05
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 17Edmonton Eskimos 14 4 10 0 93 235 8Winnipeg 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 16Toronto Argonauts 12 5 7 0 209 254 10Hamilton 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 HomeNovember 5 Calgary Stampeders 18 Regina Roughriders 12
+ WIFU Finals – Game 2 Regina Roughriders @ Calgary Stampeders Date Away HomeNovember 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 HomeNovember 11 Hamilton Tigers 6 Sarnia Imperials 15
+ ORFU Finals – Game 2 Sarnia Imperials @ Hamilton Tigers Date Away HomeNovember 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 HomeNovember 9 Montreal Alouettes 22 Ottawa Rough Riders 7
+ IRFU Finals – Game 2 Ottawa Rough Riders @ Montreal Alouettes Date Away HomeNovember 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 HomeNovember 19 Hamilton Tigers 0 Montreal Alouettes 40
The Montreal Alouettes will advance to the Grey Cup game.
Playoff bracket
Quarterfinals Semifinals Grey Cup final EAST WEST IRFU Ottawa Rough Riders 7-13 IRFU Montreal Alouettes 22-14 ORFU Hamilton Tigers 6-20 ORFU Sarnia Imperials 15-3 IRFU Montreal Alouettes 40 ORFU Hamilton Tigers 0 WIFU Calgary Stampeders 18-4 WIFU Saskatchewan Roughriders 12-9 IRFU Montreal Alouettes 28 WIFU Calgary Stampeders 15
Grey Cup Championship
November 26
37th Annual Grey Cup Game: Varsity Stadium – Toronto, Ontario WIFU Champion IRFU Champion Calgary Stampeders 15 Montreal Alouettes 28The 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
References
Category:Canadian Football League seasons