1943 in Canadian football

The Winnipeg RCAF Bombers faced the Hamilton Flying Wildcats in the Grey Cup. Hamilton proved to be the better team, returning the coveted trophy to Steeltown for the first time since 1932. ^[1]

Canadian Football News in 1943

The WIFU and the IRFU suspended operations for the duration of World War II. ^[2]

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

Interprovincial Rugby Football Union

• NO LEAGUE PLAY

Ontario Rugby Football Union Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Hamilton Flying Wildcats 10 8 1 1 223 71 17 Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers 10 8 2 0 148 74 16 Toronto RCAF Hurricanes 10 7 2 1 133 67 15 Ottawa Combines 9 2 7 0 68 129 4 Toronto HMCS York Bulldogs 10 2 8 0 73 160 4 Toronto Indians 9 1 8 0 36 180 2

Quebec Rugby Football Union Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Lachine RCAF 10 8 2 0 161 59 20 Verdun Grads 10 7 3 0 90 54 18 St. Hyacinthe-Donnacona Navy 10 6 4 0 61 43 16 McGill* 4 1 3 0 24 20 6 Huntington Army 10 0 10 0 30 163 0 (*) McGill played six-point games

Western Canada Armed Services Rugby Football Union Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Winnipeg RCAF Bombers 6 6 0 0 102 37 12 Regina All-Services Roughriders 6 2 4 0 46 96 4 Winnipeg United Services Combines 6 1 5 0 34 49 2

• Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.

Grey Cup playoffs

Note: All dates in 1943

ORFU Final

Hamilton Flying Wildcats vs Toronto Date Away Home November 13 Hamilton Flying Wildcats 7 Toronto 2

Eastern Finals

Hamilton Flying Wildcats @ Lachine RCAF Date Away Home November 20 Hamilton Flying Wildcats 7 Lachine RCAF 6

Playoff Bracket

Union Finals

Semi & Union Finals

Grey Cup Final

ORFU

Hamilton Flying Wildcats

7

ORFU

Toronto Balmy Beach

2

ORFU

Hamilton Flying Wildcats

7

EAST

QRFU

Lachine RCAF

6

QRFU

Lachine RCAF

14

QRFU

Montreal Navy

2

ORFU

Hamilton Flying Wildcats

23

WCASFL

Winnipeg RCAF Bombers

14

WCASFL

No Game

WCASFL

Winnipeg RCAF Bombers

1-11

WEST

WCASFL

Regina All-Service All Stars

0-0

WCASFL

No Game

^[3]

Grey Cup Championship

November 27 31st Annual Grey Cup Game: Varsity Stadium - Toronto, Ontario Hamilton Flying Wildcats 23 Winnipeg RCAF Bombers 14 The Hamilton Flying Wildcats are the 1943 Grey Cup Champions

• Note: Playoff dates are not confirmed, however since the Grey Cup dates are accurate, it is reasonable to assume the above dates are accurate.

1943 Western Canada Armed Services Rugby Football League 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 – Lt. Lee Sherman, Winnipeg United Services
• FW – Ches McCance, Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
• HB – LAC Ken Charlton, Regina All Services All-Stars
• HB – LAC Johnny Lake, Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
• HB – Cpl. Paul Gates, Winnipeg United Services
• E – Cpl. Don Durno, Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
• E – AC2 Cliff McFayden, Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
• C – Lt. Mel Wilson, Winnipeg United Services
• G – Les Lear, Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
• G – Bill Ceretti, Winnipeg United Services
• T – Lou Mogol, Winnipeg United Services
• T – Cpl. Rube Ludwig, Winnipeg RCAF Bombers

1943 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 – Annis Stukus, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
• FW – Sam Sward, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
• HB – Joe Krol, Hamilton Flying Wildcats
• HB – OS Royal Copeland, Toronto HMCS York Bulldogs
• DB – Sgt. Fred Kijek, Toronto RCAF Hurricanes
• E – Jack Buckmaster, Toronto RCAF Hurricanes
• E – Jimmy Simpson, Hamilton Flying Wildcats
• C – Bob Cosgrove, Toronto RCAF Hurricanes
• G – Ed Remegis, Hamilton Flying Wildcats
• G – George Fraser, Ottawa Combines
• T – Harry Sonshine, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
• T – none

1943 Canadian Football Awards

• Frank Lennard Memorial Trophy - Edward Remigis as Wildcats team MVP
• Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy (IRFU MVP) – no award given due to World War II
• Imperial Oil Trophy (ORFU MVP) - Bob Cosgrove - Toronto RCAF Hurricanes

References

1. "Grey Cup Memories: 1943". CFL.ca. 2005-11-04. Retrieved 2019-10-12.
2. "CANADIAN FOOTBALL TIMELINES (1860 – 2005)" (PDF). footballcanada.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
3. "Airmen whip Navy to win QRFU Title".