1937 in Canadian football

Canadian Football News in 1937

The Quebec Rugby Football Union (QRFU) began to compete for the Grey Cup.

In western Canada, the WIFU was one of three leagues that fell under umbrella of the Western Canadian Rugby Football Union (WCRFU). The British Columbia Rugby Football Union (BCRFU) and the North Western League were the other leagues. The champions of the BCRFU and the North Western leagues had the right to challenge the WIFU champions to determine who would represent the west in the Grey Cup. No challenge was issued.

The North Western League consisted of the Edmonton Athletic Club, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and the University of Alberta Polar Bears. The two university teams were not the same teams that competed for the Western University championship. As a way of distinguishing between the two University of Alberta teams, the North Western League team was called the Polar Bears while the other team retained the Golden Bears name.

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 Bronks 8 5 3 0 47 70 10 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 8 4 4 0 57 47 8 Regina Roughriders 8 3 5 0 58 45 6

Interprovincial Rugby Football Union Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Toronto Argonauts 6 5 1 0 72 43 10 Ottawa Rough Riders 6 3 3 0 52 46 6 Hamilton Tigers 6 2 4 0 42 63 4 Montreal Indians 6 2 4 0 35 49 4

Ontario Rugby Football Union Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Sarnia Imperials 4 3 0 1 81 19 7 Toronto Balmy Beach* 3 1 1 1 41 23 3 Hamilton Panthers* 3 0 3 0 15 95 0 (*) Final Hamilton-Balmy Beach game was cancelled.

*Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.

Quebec Rugby Football Union

Team	GP	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pts
Westmount	6	4	2	0	46	28	8
CNR	6	3	2	1	54	48	7
N.D.G.	6	2	3	1	33	46	5
McGill	6	2	4	0	25	36	4

BRFU - BC Big Four

Team	GP	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pts
North Shore Lions	7	5	1	1	78	27	11
Vancouver Meralomas	7	3	3	1	43	58	7
Knights of Columbus	7	2	5	0	34	56	4

*UBC games count in the standings

Grey Cup playoffs

Note: All dates in 1937

Division Semi-Finals

Game Date Away Home WIFU Semi-Finals 1 October 24 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 7 Regina Roughriders 4 2 October 31 Regina Roughriders 20 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 5

• Regina wins the series 24-12 and advances to the WIFU finals

Game Date Away Home IRFU Finals 1 November 20 Ottawa Rough Riders 15 Toronto Argonauts 11 2 November 27 Toronto Argonauts 10 Ottawa Rough Riders 1

• Toronto won the total-point series by 21–16. Toronto will play the Sarnia Imperials (ORFU Champions) in the Eastern Finals.

Date Away Home ORFU-QRFU Final November 20 Sarnia Imperials (ORFU) 63 Montreal Westmounts (QRFU) 0

• Sarnia advances to the Eastern Final.

Finals

Game Date Away Home Western Finals 1 November 6 Calgary Bronks 13 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 10 2 November 11 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 9 Calgary Bronks 1

• Winnipeg won the total-point series by 19–14. Winnipeg advances to the Grey Cup game.

Date Away Home Eastern Finals December 4 Toronto Argonauts 10 Sarnia Imperials (ORFU) 6

• Toronto advances to the Grey Cup game.

Playoff Bracket

Quarter Finals

Semi Finals

Grey Cup Final

IRFU

Toronto Argonauts

21

IRFU

Ottawa Rough Riders

16

IRFU

Toronto Argonauts

10

EAST

ORFU

Sarnia Imperials

6

ORFU

Sarnia Imperials

63

QRFU

Montreal Westmounts

0

IRFU

Toronto Argonauts

4

WIFU

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

3

WIFU

Calgary Bronks

BYE

WIFU

Calgary Bronks

14

WEST

WIFU

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

19

WIFU

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

24

WIFU

Regina Roughriders

12

Grey Cup Championship

December 11 25th Annual Grey Cup Game: Varsity Stadium – Toronto, Ontario WIFU Champion IRFU Champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers 3 Toronto Argonauts 4 The Toronto Argonauts are the 1937 Grey Cup Champions Note: Eastern Final Playoff date is not confirmed, however since the regular season in the East ended November 13, and all other playoff dates, as well as Grey Cup date are accurate, it is reasonable to assume the above date is accurate. 1937 Eastern (Combined IRFU & ORFU) All-Stars selected by Canadian Press 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 – Arnie Morrison, Ottawa Rough Riders FW – Ormond Beach, Sarnia Imperials HB – Johnny Ferraro, Montreal Indians HB – Hugh Sterling, Sarnia Imperials HB – Stan O'Neil, Ottawa Rough Riders E – Wes Cutler, Toronto Argonauts E – Jimmy Simpson, Hamilton Tigers C – Dave Ryan, Montreal Indians G – Charles "Tiny" Herman, Ottawa Rough Riders G – Tim Palmer, Toronto Argonauts T – Dave Sprague, Ottawa Rough Riders T – Mike Clawson, Sarnia Imperials 2nd Team QB – Alex Hayes, Sarnia Imperials FW – Ted Morris, Toronto Argonauts HB – Hugh "Huck" Welch, Hamilton Tigers HB – Abe Eliowitz, Montreal Indians HB – Bob Isbister, Toronto Argonauts E – Bernie Thornton, Queen's University E – Syd Reynolds, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers C – Jack Taylor, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers G – Bill Irwin, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers G – George Hornig, McGill University T – Tommy Burns, Montreal Indians T – Andy Anton, McGill University 1937 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 – Alex Hayes, Sarnia Imperials FW – Ormond Beach, Sarnia Imperials HB – Ab Box, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers HB – Herb Moores, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers DB – Hugh Sterling, Sarnia Imperials E – Syd Reynolds, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers E – Danny Daniels, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers C – Jack Taylor, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers G – Pat Bulter, Sarnia Imperials G – Bill Irwin, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers T – Mike Clawson, Sarnia Imperials T – Cliff Parson, Sarnia Imperials 1937 Canadian Football Awards Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy (IRFU MVP) – Teddy Morris (FW), Toronto Argonauts Imperial Oil Trophy (ORFU MVP) - Ormond Beach - Sarnia Imperials References