After a 17-year absence, the

Saskatchewan Roughriders The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division. The Roughriders were founded in ...

returned to the

Grey Cup The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...

final. Their losing streak in the big game continued, however, as it was the other

Rough Riders The Rough Riders was a nickname given to the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish–American War and the only one to see combat. The United States Army was small, understaffed, and di ...

that took home the prize.

Canadian football news in 1951

The

BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place. The Lions played their first seas ...

were formed in January at the Arctic Club in

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. ...

; however, the franchise would begin play at the start of the 1954 season. E. Kent Philips of

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Saskatoon () is the largest city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It straddles a bend in the South Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province. It is located along the Trans-Canada Yellowhead Highway, and has served as ...

, was appointed WIFU Commissioner. The

IRFU The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) ( ga, Cumann Rugbaí na hÉireann) is the body managing rugby union in the island of Ireland (both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and ...

allowed the third-place

Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team competing in the CFL East Division, East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based i ...

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 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

) attended the western semi-final in Edmonton.

Regular season

Final regular season standings

''Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points'' *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

* ''The Edmonton Eskimos went on to play the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the WIFU Finals.'' * ''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

* ''Saskatchewan won the best of three series 2–1. The Roughriders advanced to the Grey Cup game.'' * ''Sarnia won the total-point series by 56–53. The Imperials went on to play the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Eastern finals.'' * ''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

* ''The Ottawa Rough Riders advanced to the Grey Cup game.''

Playoff bracket

Grey Cup Championship

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.''

*QB –

Bernie Custis Bernard Eugene Custis (September 23, 1928 – February 23, 2017) was an American and Canadian football player who went on to a distinguished coaching career. He is known for having been the first black professional quarterback in the modern era ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *HB –

Ulysses Curtis Ulysses "Crazy Legs" Curtis (May 10, 1926 – October 6, 2013) was an American professional football player who was a running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Toronto Argonauts from 1950 to 1954. He won two Grey Cups with ...

, Toronto Argonauts *HB – Billy Bass, Toronto Argonauts *HB –

Hal Waggoner James Harold Waggoner (January 18, 1930 – December 4, 2004) was a Canadian football player, all star and Grey Cup champion who played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He won the Grey Cup with them in 1957. He also played two games for the Toronto Ar ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *E –

Vince Mazza Vincent L. Mazza (March 25, 1925 – December 5, 1993) was an all-star Canadian football player. He was a two-way player, playing Offensive line, offensive and defensive line, and sometimes tight end. Mazza did not attend college, but went direct ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *E – Bob Simpson, Ottawa Rough Riders *FW –

Bruce Cummings Bruce Frederick Cummings, (March 1927 – June 16, 1991) was an award-winning, all-star and Grey Cup champion Canadian football player with the Ottawa Rough Riders, playing from 1950 to 53. Born in Ottawa and a star football player at the U ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *C –

Ed Hirsch Edward Norman "Buckets" Hirsch (March 26, 1921 – January 28, 2000) was an American gridiron football player who played for the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He won the Grey Cup with the Argonauts in 1950. He played college footba ...

, Toronto Argonauts *G –

Ray Cicia Ray may refer to: Fish * Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea * Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin Science and mathematics * Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point * Ray (gra ...

, Montreal Alouettes *G –

Eddie Bevan Eddie Bevan (c. 1925–1988) was a Canadian football player who played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He won the Grey Cup with them in 1953. He previously served in World War II with the Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; french: M ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *T – Jack Carpenter, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *T –

Bob Gain Robert Gain (June 21, 1929 – November 14, 2016) was an American football player who played 13 seasons for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL), and also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played in five Pro Bo ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders

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

*QB –

Glenn Dobbs Glenn Dobbs Jr. (July 12, 1920 – November 12, 2002) was a professional American football player in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). A skilled running back, quarterback, and punter, Dobbs was named the AAFC's MVP in 1946. After sitti ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *HB – Tom Casey, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *HB –

Normie Kwong Norman Lim Kwong (born Kwong Lim Yew; ; October 24, 1929 – September 3, 2016) was a Canadian football player who played for the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was also an active businessma ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *FB – Mike King, Edmonton Eskimos *E – Jack Russell, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *E –

Neil Armstrong Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) was an American astronaut and aeronautical engineer who became the first person to walk on the Moon in 1969. He was also a naval aviator, test pilot, and university professor. ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *FW –

Bob Paffrath Robert William Paffrath (July 3, 1918 – May 21, 2005) was an American former professional football player who was a halfback. He played for the Miami Seahawks and the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-America Football Conference, for the Ottawa Roug ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *C –

Red Ettinger Donald Nesbit Ettinger (November 20, 1921 – February 13, 1992) was an American football player. He was born in Independence, Missouri. Nicknamed "Red Dog", Ettinger played college football for the University of Kansas and later the National Fo ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *G –

Mario DeMarco Mario Joseph DeMarco, (July 24, 1924 – December 9, 1956) was an American college football, National Football League, and professional Canadian football player, and was one of 62 people who died on Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 810, on December ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *G – Bert Iannone, Saskatchewan Roughriders *T – Martin Ruby, Saskatchewan Roughriders *T –

Buddy Tinsley Robert Porter "Buddy" Tinsley (August 16, 1924 – September 14, 2011) was a Canadian Football League offensive lineman for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1982, and was a member of the Winn ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

2nd Team

*QB –

Jack Jacobs Jack Jacobs (August 7, 1919 – January 12, 1974), nicknamed "Indian Jack", was an American and Canadian football player in the National Football League and Western Interprovincial Football Union. He was a charter member of the Canadian Foot ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *HB – Ken Charlton, Saskatchewan Roughriders *HB –

Rollie Miles Rollie is a nickname, often for Roland or Rolland, and occasionally a given name which may refer to: Rolands * Rollie Boutin (born 1957), Canadian retired ice hockey goaltender * Rollie Cook (born 1952), Canadian politician * Rollie Dotsch (1933 ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *FB –

Jim Spavital James J. Spavital (September 15, 1926 – March 7, 1993) was an American gridiron football player, coach and executive in six different professional football leagues. He served as the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Foo ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *FW –

Bud Korchak Borden Walter "Bud" Korchak was a Canadian football player. He was nicknamed the "Golden Toe" and the "Ukrainian Gazelle". A native of Winnipeg, Korchak played junior football with the St. John's Grads and Intermediate football with Elmwood befor ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *E – Jack Nix, Saskatchewan Roughriders *E – Rollin Prather, Edmonton Eskimos *C –

Eagle Keys Eagle Keys (December 4, 1923 – December 20, 2012) was a Canadian football player and coach. He is currently fifth all-time in regular season wins with 131 as a head coach in the Canadian Football League. He was inducted into the Canadian Fo ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *C – Bill Blackburn, Saskatchewan Roughriders *G – Gary Deleeuw, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *G – Jim Quondamatteo, Edmonton Eskimos *T –

Chuck Quilter Charles Rew Quilter (May 5, 1926 – January 21, 2014) was an American and Canadian football player who played for the San Francisco 49ers, Edmonton Eskimos, BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders. He played college football at Tyler Junior College T ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *T –

Dick Huffman Richard Maxwell Huffman (March 27, 1923 – September 13, 1992) was an American gridiron football tackle in the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU). A 9th round selection (81st overall ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

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.''

*QB – George Curtis, Sarnia Imperials *HB – Johnny Chorostecki, Sarnia Imperials *HB – Mel Hawkrigg, McMaster University *HB – Ralph Pulley, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers *HB – Al Farris, Sarnia Imperials *HB – John Duchene, Sarnia Imperials *E –

Andy Gilmour Andy may refer to: People *Andy (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Horace Andy (born 1951), Jamaican roots reggae songwriter and singer born Horace Hinds *Katja Andy (1907–2013), German-American pianist and piano ...

, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers *E – Keith Fisher, Sarnia Imperials *FW – John Florence, Sarnia Imperials *C –

Bruce Mattingly Bruce Mattingly (born c. 1924) was a Canadian football#Offence, centre in the Ontario Rugby Football Union, playing 10 years with the Sarnia Imperials. A mainstay of the Sarnia offensive line, Mattingly was an all-star 5 times and won two ORFU cha ...

, Sarnia Imperials *G – Jim Thomas, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers *G – Matti Ferrention, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers *T – Walt Bashak, McMaster University *T – Lloyd "Dutch" Davey, Sarnia Imperials

1951 Canadian Football Awards

Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy The Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy is a Canadian football award recognizing the most outstanding football player of the Quebec Student Sport Federation (RESQ) The trophy was originally presented to the player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanshi ...

(IRFU MVP) –

(FW), Ottawa Rough Riders *

Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy The Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy is a trophy awarded to the Canadian Football League West Division's most outstanding player, chosen from the nominees from each team in the division. Either this trophy winner or the winner of the Terry Evanshen T ...

(WIFU MVP) -

(QB), Saskatchewan Roughriders * Gruen Trophy (IRFU Rookie of the Year) - Bruno Bitkowski (C/DE) Ottawa Rough Riders *

Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy The Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy is a Canadian Football League award, given to the most outstanding Canadian player in the West Division. Each team nominates a player for this award, from which the winner is chosen. Either the winner of this trophy ...

(WIFU Rookie of the Year) - Jim Chambers (HB), Edmonton Eskimos * Imperial Oil Trophy (ORFU MVP) -

(C), Sarnia Imperials

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1951 In Canadian Football Canadian Football League seasons Grey Cups hosted in Toronto