1954 in Canadian football
Encyclopedia
The 1954 season of Canadian football
is widely considered to be the first season of the modern era of Canadian football, although the Canadian Football League
would not be officially founded for another four years.
joined the WIFU
and adopted the colours of burnt orange and brown. The Lions played their first regular season game on Saturday, August 28, which they lost 8–6 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
at Empire Stadium
.
Winnipeg's Gerry James
(RB), became the first player to win the Most Outstanding Canadian Award.
The NBC
national network were televising IRFU
games.
This was the last season that the Ontario Rugby Football Union
would challenge for the Grey Cup
.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
is widely considered to be the first season of the modern era of Canadian football, although the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
would not be officially founded for another four years.
Canadian Football News in 1954
The BC LionsBC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
joined the WIFU
Canadian Football League West Division
The West Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the West Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagues.-Pre-1936:...
and adopted the colours of burnt orange and brown. The Lions played their first regular season game on Saturday, August 28, which they lost 8–6 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
at Empire Stadium
Empire Stadium, Vancouver
Empire Stadium was a multipurpose stadium that formerly stood at the Pacific National Exhibition site at Hastings Park in Vancouver. Track and field and Canadian football, as well as soccer and musical events, were held in the stadium. The stadium was originally constructed for the 1954 British...
.
Winnipeg's Gerry James
Gerry James
Gerald Edwin James is a former professional Canadian football running back and professional ice hockey player. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League and the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.A graduate of Kelvin High School in Winnipeg, he started...
(RB), became the first player to win the Most Outstanding Canadian Award.
The NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
national network were televising IRFU
Canadian Football League East Division
The East Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the East Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagues.- Pre-1907 :...
games.
This was the last season that the Ontario Rugby Football Union
Ontario Rugby Football Union
The Ontario Rugby Football Union or ORFU was an early amateur Canadian football league with teams in the Canadian province of Ontario. The ORFU was founded in 1883 and in 1903 became the first major competition to adopt the Burnside Rules, from which the modern Canadian football code would...
would challenge for the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
.
Final regular season standings
Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points
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- Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.
- Edmonton has a bye and will play in the WIFU Finals.
SEMI-FINALS
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- Winnipeg won the total-point series by 27–25. The Blue Bombers will play the Edmonton Eskimos in the WIFU Finals.
FINALS
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- Kitchener-Waterloo wins the best of three series 2–0. The Dutchmen will advance to the Grey Cup Semi-Final.
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- Edmonton wins the best of three series 2–1. The Eskimos will advance to the Grey Cup Semi-Final.
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- Montreal wins the best of three series 2–0. The Alouettes will advance to the Grey Cup game.
Grey Cup Semi-Final
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- The Edmonton Eskimos will advance to the Grey Cup game.
Grey Cup Championship
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1954 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.1954 Canadian Football Awards
- Most Outstanding Player AwardCFL's Most Outstanding Player AwardThe Most Outstanding Player Award is annually awarded to the best player in the Canadian Football League. The Most Outstanding Player award can be compared to the National Football League's Most Valuable Player, otherwise known as the "MVP" award...
– Sam EtcheverrySam EtcheverrySam "The Rifle" Etcheverry was a professional American and Canadian football player and head coach. Etcheverry played the quarterback position, most famously with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, and was named Canadian football's Most Outstanding Player in 1954...
(QB), Montreal Alouettes - Most Outstanding Canadian AwardCFL's Most Outstanding Canadian AwardThe Most Outstanding Canadian Award is annually rewarded to the best Canadian player in the Canadian Football League. This is the second-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it is hosted. The two nominees...
– Gerry JamesGerry JamesGerald Edwin James is a former professional Canadian football running back and professional ice hockey player. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League and the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.A graduate of Kelvin High School in Winnipeg, he started...
(RB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers - Jeff Russel Memorial TrophyJeff Russel Memorial TrophyThe Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy is a Canadian football award recognizing the most outstanding player of the Quebec University Football LeagueThe trophy was originally presented to the player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanship, and courage in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union...
(IRFU MVP) – Sam EtcheverrySam EtcheverrySam "The Rifle" Etcheverry was a professional American and Canadian football player and head coach. Etcheverry played the quarterback position, most famously with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, and was named Canadian football's Most Outstanding Player in 1954...
(QB), Montreal Alouettes - Jeff Nicklin Memorial TrophyJeff Nicklin Memorial TrophyThe Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy is a trophy awarded to the Canadian Football League West Division's Most Outstanding Player, chosen from the nominees from each team in the division...
(WIFU MVP) - Jackie ParkerJackie ParkerJohn Dickerson "Jackie" Parker was an American football player who became an All-American in college football and an outstanding professional football player in the Canadian Football League at the running back, quarterback, defensive back, and kicker positions. He is primarily known for his play...
(RB), Edmonton Eskimos - Gruen TrophyGruen TrophyThe Gruen Trophy was a Canadian Football League trophy, given to the most outstanding Canadian rookie in the East Division. The award, sponsored by the Gruen Watch Co...
(IRFU Rookie of the Year) - Ron HowellRon HowellRonald John Howell was a running back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1955–1962. Howell won the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1958 and the Gruen Trophy as the outstanding rookie in the CFL East in 1954...
(WR), Hamilton Tiger-Cats - Dr. Beattie Martin TrophyDr. Beattie Martin TrophyThe Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy is a Canadian Football League award, given to the most outstanding Canadian player in the West Division. Each team nominates a player for this award, from which the winner is chosen...
(WIFU Rookie of the Year) - Lynn Bottoms (HB), Calgary Stampeders - Imperial Oil Trophy (ORFU MVP) - Bob CeleriBob CeleriRobert Lavern Celeri is a former quarterback in the National Football League. He played 11 games for the New York Yanks in 1951 and 8 games for the Dallas Texans in 1952....
- Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen