1945 in Canadian football
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Football returned to relative normal in 1945 following the conclusion of World War II. Two rivals from the pre-war years met once again in the annual Grey Cup, but on this occasion, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were no match for the Toronto Argonauts. For Winnipeg, it was the worst loss by a western team in the Grey Cup since 1923 when Queen's University routed the Regina Roughriders 54–0.[1]
Canadian Football News 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
- NO LEAGUE PLAY
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- Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.
Grey Cup playoffs
Note: All dates in 1945
Semifinals
| Calgary Stampeders @ Regina Roughriders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| October 27 | Calgary Stampeders 3 | Regina Roughriders 1 | |
| Regina Roughriders @ Calgary Stampeders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| November 3 | Regina Roughriders 0 | Calgary Stampeders 12 | |
Finals
| Toronto Argonauts @ Ottawa Rough Riders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| November 3 | Toronto Argonauts 27 | Ottawa Rough Riders 8 | |
| Toronto Argonauts @ Ottawa Rough Riders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| November 10 | Toronto Argonauts 6 | Ottawa Rough Riders 10 | |
- Toronto won the total-point series by 33–18. Toronto will play the Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers (ORFU Champions) in the Eastern finals.
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Calgary Stampeders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| November 10 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers 9 | Calgary Stampeders 6 | |
- Winnipeg advances to the Grey Cup game.
| Toronto Indians @ Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| November 14 | Toronto Indians 1 | Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers 2 | |
| Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers @ Toronto Indians | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| November 17 | Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers 15 | Toronto Indians 0 | |
- Toronto won the total-point series by 17–1. Toronto will play the Toronto Argonauts (IRFU Champions) in the Eastern finals.
Eastern Finals
| Toronto Argonauts @ Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers (ORFU) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| November 17 | Toronto Argonauts 14 | Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers (ORFU) 2 | |
- Toronto advances to the Grey Cup game.
Playoff bracket
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Grey Cup final | ||||||||||||
| IRFU | Ottawa Rough Riders | 8-10 | ||||||||||||
| IRFU | Toronto Argonauts | 27-6 | ||||||||||||
| IRFU | Toronto Argonauts | 14 | ||||||||||||
| EAST | ||||||||||||||
| ORFU | Toronto Balmy Beach | 2 | ||||||||||||
| ORFU | Toronto Indians | 1-0 | ||||||||||||
| ORFU | Toronto Balmy Beach | 2-15 | ||||||||||||
| IRFU | Toronto Argonauts | 35 | ||||||||||||
| WIFU | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 0 | ||||||||||||
| WIFU | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | |||||||||||||
| WIFU | BYE | |||||||||||||
| WIFU | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 9 | ||||||||||||
| WEST | ||||||||||||||
| WIFU | Calgary Stampeders | 6 | ||||||||||||
| WIFU | Calgary Stampeders | 3-11 | ||||||||||||
| WIFU | Regina Roughriders | 1-0 | ||||||||||||
Grey Cup Championship
| December 1
33rd Annual Grey Cup Game: Varsity Stadium – Toronto, Ontario | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| WIFU Champion | IRFU Champion | ||
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers 0 | Toronto Argonauts 35 | ||
| The Toronto Argonauts are the 1945 Grey Cup Champions | |||
- Note: WIFU semifinal playoff dates are not confirmed, nor is Eastern Final date. However, since the regular season in the East ended October 27, and all other playoff dates, as well as Grey Cup date are accurate, it is reasonable to assume the above dates are accurate.
1945 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 – Billy Myers, Toronto Argonauts
- HB – Royal Copeland, Toronto Argonauts
- HB – Joe Krol, Toronto Argonauts
- FB – Tony Golab, Ottawa Rough Riders
- E – Dick Groom, Hamilton Tigers
- E – Jack Wedley, Toronto Argonauts
- FW – Ken Charlton, Ottawa Rough Riders
- C – Curly Moynahan, Ottawa Rough Riders
- G – George Fraser, Ottawa Rough Riders
- G – Eddie Remigis, Hamilton Tigers
- T – Eric Chipper, Ottawa Rough Riders
- T – Les Ascot, Toronto Argonauts
- T – Steve Levantis, Toronto Argonauts
1945 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 – Bill Stukus, Toronto Indians
- HB – Doug Pyzer, Toronto Indians
- HB – Ross McKelvey, Toronto Indians
- DB – Sam Sward, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
- E – Len Wright, Hamilton Wildcats
- E – Johnny Farmer, Toronto Indians
- FW – Fred Kijek, Toronto Indians
- C – Bob Cosgrove, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
- G – George Mountain, Hamilton Wildcats
- G – Len Staughton, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
- G – Harry "Suze" Turner, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
- T – George Sprague, Ottawa Trojans
- T – Don Durno, Toronto Indians
1945 Canadian Football Awards
- Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy (IRFU MVP) – George Fraser (OG), Ottawa Rough Riders
- Imperial Oil Trophy (ORFU MVP) - Arnie McWatters - Ottawa Trojans