The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were again permitted to challenge for the Grey Cup following a rule dispute a year earlier. In a meeting of the previous two Grey Cup champions, the Blue Bombers prevailed, sending the coveted mug west for the third time.
Canadian football news in 1941 The Calgary Bronks left the WIFU and the Vancouver Grizzlies joined. The IRFU was renamed to Eastern Canada Union for one season.
The Hamilton Tigers did not participate in the Eastern Canada Union, due to World War II. The Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers of the ORFU joined. The Tigers would resume play 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 Team GP W L T PF PA PtsWinnipeg Blue Bombers 8 6 2 0 92 19 12Regina Roughriders 8 5 3 0 64 43 10Vancouver Grizzlies 8 1 7 0 15 109 2+ Eastern Canada Union Team GP W L T PF PA PtsOttawa Rough Riders 6 5 1 0 72 21 10Toronto Argonauts 6 5 1 0 66 42 10Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers 6 2 4 0 27 34 4Montreal Bulldogs 6 0 6 0 12 80 0+ Ontario Rugby Football Union Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Hamilton Wildcats 6 5 0 1 122 28 11 Toronto Indians 6 2 2 2 46 55 6 Kitchener-Waterloo Panthers 6 0 5 1 30 115 1 Bold text means that they had clinched the playoffs.
Grey Cup playoffs Note: All dates in 1941
League Finals + WIFU Finals Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Regina Roughriders Game Date Away Home 1 November 8 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 6 Regina Roughriders 8 2 November 11 Regina Roughriders 12 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 18 3 November 15 Regina Roughriders 2 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 8 Winnipeg won the total-point series by 32–22. Winnipeg advanced to the Grey Cup game.
+ IRFU Finals Toronto Argonauts @ Ottawa Rough Riders Game Date Away Home 1 November 8 Toronto Argonauts 16 Ottawa Rough Riders 8 2 November 15 Ottawa Rough Riders 10 Toronto Argonauts 1 Ottawa won the total-point series by 18–17. Ottawa would play the Hamilton Wildcats (ORFU Champions) in the Eastern Finals.
Eastern Finals Hamilton Wildcats (ORFU) @ Ottawa Rough Riders Date Away HomeNovember 22 Hamilton Wildcats (ORFU) 2 Ottawa Rough Riders 7 Ottawa advanced to the Grey Cup game.
Playoff bracket
Grey Cup Championship November 29 29th Annual Grey Cup Game: Varsity Stadium – Toronto, Ontario WIFU Champion IRFU Champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers 18 Ottawa Rough Riders 16 The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were the 1941 Grey Cup Champions.
1941 All Eastern 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 Argonauts HB – Stan O'Neil, Ottawa Rough Riders HB – Bobby Coulter, Toronto Argonauts DHB - Tony Golab, Ottawa Rough Riders FW – Sammy Sward, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers E – Jack Wedley, Toronto Argonauts E – Tony McCarthy, Ottawa Rough Riders C – Curly Moynahan, Ottawa Rough Riders G – George Fraser, Ottawa Rough Riders G – Len Staughton, Ottawa Rough Riders T – Bob Cosgrove, Toronto Argonauts T – Paul McGarry, Ottawa Rough Riders
1941 Western 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 – Art Stevenson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers FW – Ken Charlton, Regina Roughriders HB – Fritz Hanson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers HB – Jim Ladner, Winnipeg Blue Bombers FB – Dan Capraru, Regina Roughriders E – Larry Haynes, Vancouver Grizzlies E – Ches McCance, Winnipeg Blue Bombers C – Mel Wilson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers G – Maurice Williams, Regina Roughriders G – Les Lear, Winnipeg Blue Bombers T – Gord Gellhaye, Vancouver Grizzlies T – Lou Mogul, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1941 Canadian Football Awards Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy (IRFU MVP) - Tony Golab (RB), Ottawa Rough Riders Imperial Oil Trophy (ORFU MVP) - Al Lenard - Hamilton Wildcats
References