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The Calgary Stampeders had an opportunity to defend their Grey Cup title in 1949, but the Montreal Alouettes returned the trophy to Quebec for just the third time in its history.^[1]

Canadian Football News in 1949

The Edmonton Eskimos rejoined with the WIFU and adopted the colours of gold and green. The WIFU regular season was extended to 14 games, per team.

Wearing helmets became compulsory with the two unions. The Western Canada Rugby Football Union ceased its operations.

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	PF	PA	Pts
Calgary Stampeders	14	13	1	270	77	24
Regina Roughriders	14	9	5	235	102	17
Edmonton Eskimos	14	4	10	93	235	8
Winnipeg Blue Bombers	14	2	12	74	258	3

Four WIFU games were worth one point in the standings

**Interprovincial Rugby Football Union**
Team	GP	W	L	PF	PA	Pts
Ottawa Rough Riders	12	11	1	261	170	22
Montreal Alouettes	12	8	4	295	204	16
Toronto Argonauts	12	5	7	209	254	10
Hamilton Wildcats	12	0	12	147	284	0

**Ontario Rugby Football Union**
Team	GP	W	L	PF	PA	Pts
Hamilton Tigers	12	10	2	228	68	20
Sarnia Imperials	12	8	4	142	101	16
Windsor Rockets	12	5	7	142	108	10
Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers	12	1	11	55	290	2

Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.

Grey Cup playoffs

Note: All dates in 1949

Finals

**WIFU Finals – Game 1**
Calgary Stampeders @ Regina Roughriders
Date	Away	Home
November 5	Calgary Stampeders 18	Regina Roughriders 12

**WIFU Finals – Game 2**
Regina Roughriders @ Calgary Stampeders
Date	Away	Home
November 11	Regina Roughriders 9	Calgary Stampeders 4

Calgary won the total-point series by 22–21. The Stampeders will advance to the Grey Cup game.

**ORFU Finals – Game 1**
Hamilton Tigers @ Sarnia Imperials
Date	Away	Home
November 11	Hamilton Tigers 6	Sarnia Imperials 15

**ORFU Finals – Game 2**
Sarnia Imperials @ Hamilton Tigers
Date	Away	Home
November 12	Sarnia Imperials 3	Hamilton Tigers 20

Hamilton won the total-point series by 26–18. The Tigers will play the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern finals.

**IRFU Finals – Game 1**
Montreal Alouettes @ Ottawa Rough Riders
Date	Away	Home
November 9	Montreal Alouettes 22	Ottawa Rough Riders 7

**IRFU Finals – Game 2**
Ottawa Rough Riders @ Montreal Alouettes
Date	Away	Home
November 12	Ottawa Rough Riders 13	Montreal Alouettes 14

Montreal won the total-point series by 36–20. The Alouettes will play the Hamilton Tigers in the Eastern finals.

Eastern Finals

Hamilton Tigers @ Montreal Alouettes
Date	Away	Home
November 19	Hamilton Tigers 0	Montreal Alouettes 40

The Montreal Alouettes will advance to the Grey Cup game.

Playoff bracket

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Grey Cup final

IRFU

Ottawa Rough Riders

7-13

IRFU

Montreal Alouettes

22-14

IRFU

Montreal Alouettes

40

EAST

ORFU

Hamilton Tigers

0

ORFU

Hamilton Tigers

6-20

ORFU

Sarnia Imperials

15-3

IRFU

Montreal Alouettes

28

WIFU

Calgary Stampeders

15

2

7

WIFU

Calgary Stampeders

18-4

WEST

WIFU

Saskatchewan Roughriders

12-9

3

6

Grey Cup Championship

November 26 37th Annual Grey Cup Game: Varsity Stadium – Toronto, Ontario
WIFU Champion	IRFU Champion
Calgary Stampeders 15	Montreal Alouettes 28
The Montreal Alouettes are the 1949 Grey Cup Champions

1949 Eastern (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 – Frank Filchock, Montreal Alouettes
QB – Andy Gordon, Ottawa Rough Riders
HB – Howie Turner, Ottawa Rough Riders
HB – Virgil Wagner, Montreal Alouettes
HB – Royal Copeland, Toronto Argonauts
E – Robert Hood, Hamilton Wildcats
E – Ralph Toohy, Montreal Alouettes
FW – Bob Paffrath, Ottawa Rough Riders
C – Don Loney, Ottawa Rough Riders
G – Eddie Michaels, Ottawa Rough Riders
G – Vince Scott, Hamilton Wildcats
T – Herb Trawick, Montreal Alouettes
T – John Wagoner, Ottawa Rough Riders

1949 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.

1st Team[edit]

QB – Keith Spaith, Calgary Stampeders
HB – Del Wardien, Saskatchewan Roughriders
HB – Ken Charlton, Saskatchewan Roughriders
HB – Vern Graham, Calgary Stampeders
FB – Sammy Pierce, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
E – Ezzert Anderson, Calgary Stampeders
E – Woody Strode, Calgary Stampeders
C – Mel Wilson, Calgary Stampeders
G – Mike Kissell, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
G – Riley Matheson, Calgary Stampeders
T – Johnny Aguirre, Calgary Stampeders
T – Mike Cassidy, Saskatchewan Roughriders

2nd Team[edit]

QB – Doug Belden, Saskatchewan Roughriders
HB – Chuck Fenenbock, Edmonton Eskimos
HB – Normie Kwong, Calgary Stampeders
HB – Harry Hood, Calgary Stampeders
FB – Paul Rowe, Calgary Stampeders
E – Matt Anthony, Saskatchewan Roughriders
E – Johnny Bell, Saskatchewan Roughriders
C – Doug Brightwell, Saskatchewan Roughriders
G – Bud Irving, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
G – Bert Iannone, Calgary Stampeders
T – Pat Santucci, Saskatchewan Roughriders
T – Toar Springstein, Saskatchewan Roughriders

1949 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 – Stan Wolkowski, Hamilton Tigers
HB – Don Knowles, Sarnia Imperials
HB – Jack Stewart, Hamilton Tigers
DB – Sylvester Mike, Windsor Rockets
E – Keith Fisher, Sarnia Imperials
E – Bill Damiano, Hamilton Tigers
E – Rube Ainsworth, Hamilton Tigers
FW – Joe Capriotti, Hamilton Tigers
C – Jake Gaudaur, Hamilton Tigers
G – Don McKenzie, Toronto Beaches-Indians
G – Jack Moreau, Windsor Rockets
T – Lloyd "Dutch" Davey, Sarnia Imperials
T – Len Wright, Windsor Rockets

1949 Canadian Football Awards

Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy (IRFU MVP) – Royal Copeland (RB), Toronto Argonauts
Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy (WIFU MVP) - Keith Spaith (QB), Calgary Stampeders
Gruen Trophy (IRFU Rookie of the Year) - Jim Loreno (HB), Hamilton Wildcats
Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (WIFU Rookie of the Year) - John Stroppa (HB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Imperial Oil Trophy (ORFU MVP) - Don Knowles - Sarnia Imperials

References

^ "Grey Cup Memories: 1949". CFL.ca. 2005-11-09. Retrieved 2019-10-05.

v t e 1949 Canadian football season by team
Western Interprovicial Football Union	Calgary Edmonton Regina Winnipeg
Interprovincial Rugby Football Union	Hamilton Montreal Ottawa Toronto
Ontario Rugby Football Union	Hamilton Sarnia Toronto Balmy Beach Windsor
See also	37th Grey Cup

Canadian Football League seasons

Early era

CFL era