1946 in Canadian football

Canadian Football News in 1946

The WIFU resumed play for the first time since 1942. The IRFU increased their season play from 6 games to 12 games, per team.

The Montreal Alouettes came into existence. The Regina Roughriders unofficially changed their name to become the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The name change eventually became official on April 1, 1950.

Air travel was used for the first time as the Toronto Argonauts flew to Winnipeg to play pre-season games against the Blue Bombers.

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.

Grey Cup playoffs

Note: All dates in 1946

Semifinals

• The Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers will play the Hamilton Wildcats in the ORFU Final.

• The Hamilton Wildcats will play the Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers in the ORFU Final.

Finals

• The Winnipeg Blue Bombers won the total-point series by 30–21. Winnipeg advances to the Grey Cup game.

• The Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers will play the Toronto Argonauts in the Eastern finals.

• The Toronto Argonauts will play the Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers in the Eastern finals.

Eastern Finals

• The Toronto Argonauts advance to the Grey Cup game.

Playoff bracket

Grey Cup Championship

1946 Eastern (Combined IRFU & ORFU) 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. <div style="float:left; width:48%;">

1st Team

• QB – Frank Gnup, Hamilton Wildcats
• FW – Ken Charleton, Ottawa Rough Riders
• HB – Royal Copeland, Toronto Argonauts
• HB – Joe Krol, Toronto Argonauts
• HB – Virgil Wagner, Montreal Alouettes
• E – Dick Groom, Hamilton Tigers
• E – Bert Haigh, Ottawa Rough Riders
• C – Doug Turner, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
• G – Benny Steck, Montreal Alouettes
• G – Bill Zock, Toronto Argonauts
• T – Herb Trawick, Montreal Alouettes
• T – Hank Christman, Ottawa Rough Riders

</div><div style="float:right; width:48%;">

2nd Team

• QB – Frank Dunlap, Ottawa Rough Riders
• FW – Don McFarlane, University of Western Ontario
• HB – Bob McFarlane, University of Western Ontario
• HB – Don Toms, Hamilton Wildcats
• HB – Johnny Lake, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
• E – George Turnbull, University of Western Ontario
• E – Len Wright, Hamilton Wildcats
• C – Don Loney, Toronto Argonauts
• G – Don McKenzie, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
• G – Rudy Grass, University of Toronto
• T – Don Durno, Toronto Indians
• T – Vic Ghetti, Windsor Rockets

</div>

1946 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. <div style="float:left; width:48%;">

• QB – Walter Dobler, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• FW – Bill Wusyk, Calgary Stampeders
• HB – Sully Glasser, Regina Roughriders
• HB – Paul Rowe, Calgary Stampeders
• HB – Bill Ordway, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• E – Johnny Bell, Regina Roughriders
• E – Nate Shore, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• C – Mel Wilson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• G – David "Sneaky" Adams, Calgary Stampeders
• G – Bill Ceretti, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• T – Andrew Nagy, Regina Roughriders
• T – Martin Gainor, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

</div>

1946 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. <div style="float:left; width:48%;">

• QB – Frank Gnup, Hamilton Wildcats
• HB – Don Toms, Hamilton Wildcats
• HB – Ross McKelvey, Toronto Indians
• DB – Johnny Lake, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
• E – Len Wright, Hamilton Wildcats
• E – Johnny Farmer, Toronto Indians
• FW – Fred Kijek, Toronto Indians
• C – Doug Turner, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
• G – Don McKenzie, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
• G – Trip Trepanier, Sarnia Imperials
• T – Don Durno, Toronto Indians
• T – Vic Ghetti, Windsor Rockets

</div>

1946 Canadian Football Awards

• Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy (IRFU MVP) – Joe Krol (RB), Toronto Argonauts
• Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy (WIFU MVP) - Bill Wusyk (WR), Calgary Stampeders
• Gruen Trophy (IRFU Rookie of the Year) - Bernie Brennan (HB), Ottawa Rough Riders
• Imperial Oil Trophy (ORFU MVP) - Frank Gnup - Hamilton Wildcats

References