Montreal Machine
Encyclopedia
The Montreal Machine was the sole Canadian
team in the World League of American Football
, a springtime developmental professional league set up by the National Football League
that played in 1991 and 1992. There were also three Europe
an teams and six U.S.
-based teams. Like all WLAF teams, the Machine played by American football
, 11 per side on a 100-yard field, rather than Canadian football
rules.
The Machine filled a void created by the folding of the Montreal Alouettes
in 1987 and were thus the only Canadian team in the WLAF; they were the first American football team in Canada since the Montreal Beavers and Toronto Rifles
played in the Continental Football League
in 1967.
After two stumbling years, the Machine, and the entire WLAF, were put on "hiatus" by the NFL. After three years, the three European-based franchises (and three more) were reconstituted as the World League (later known as NFL Europe); the North American teams were never heard of again. The Machine played their home games at the Olympic Stadium
in Montreal.
The Machine's average game attendance dropped from 31,888 in their first year of play, to 25,254 in their second (and final) year.
Pro football would not return to Montreal until 1996 when the Montreal Alouettes
were revived as the Baltimore Stallions
relocated to Montreal.
Punter Chris Mohr
was among the Machine's most notable players.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
team in the World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
, a springtime developmental professional league set up by the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
that played in 1991 and 1992. There were also three Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an teams and six U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based teams. Like all WLAF teams, the Machine played by American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, 11 per side on a 100-yard field, rather than Canadian football
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...
rules.
The Machine filled a void created by the folding of the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
in 1987 and were thus the only Canadian team in the WLAF; they were the first American football team in Canada since the Montreal Beavers and Toronto Rifles
Toronto Rifles
The Toronto Rifles were a minor-league professional American football team active between 1964 and 1967. It was based in Toronto, Ontario. The team's home fields were Maple Leaf Stadium and Varsity Stadium from 1966 to 1967...
played in the Continental Football League
Continental Football League
The Continental Football League was a professional minor American football league that operated in North America from 1965 through 1969. It was established following the collapse of the original United Football League, and hoped to become the major force in professional football outside of the...
in 1967.
After two stumbling years, the Machine, and the entire WLAF, were put on "hiatus" by the NFL. After three years, the three European-based franchises (and three more) were reconstituted as the World League (later known as NFL Europe); the North American teams were never heard of again. The Machine played their home games at the Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Montreal)
The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics...
in Montreal.
The Machine's average game attendance dropped from 31,888 in their first year of play, to 25,254 in their second (and final) year.
Pro football would not return to Montreal until 1996 when the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
were revived as the Baltimore Stallions
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
relocated to Montreal.
Punter Chris Mohr
Chris Mohr
Christopher Garrett Mohr is a former American football punter. Mohr grew up in Thomson, Georgia, where he played football at Briarwood Academy. He was recruited by the University of Alabama, where he was the team's starting punter for three years...
was among the Machine's most notable players.
Season-by-season
| Season | Division | Regular season | Post season results | Awards | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | |||||||||
| Montreal Machine | |||||||||
| 1991 1991 WLAF season The 1991 WLAF season was the inaugural season of the World League of American Football. The league champions were the London Monarchs, who defeated the Barcelona Dragons in World Bowl '91.-Standings:* * Division winners... |
North American East | 3rd | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | — | — | |
| 1992 | North American East | 3rd | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | — | — | |
| Total | 6 | 14 | 0 | .300 | |||||
Staff
Roster
Results
- Week 1: Montreal 20, Birmingham Fire 5
- Week 2: Barcelona Dragons 34, Montreal 10
- Week 3: Montreal 23, Birmingham Fire 10
- Week 4: New York/New Jersey Knights 44, Montreal 0
- Week 5: London Monarchs 45, Montreal 7
- Week 6: Frankfurt Galaxy 17, Montreal 7
- Week 7: Montreal 26, Sacramento Surge 23 (OT)
- Week 8: Montreal 15, Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks 6
- Week 9: San Antonio Riders 27, Montreal 10
- Week 10: Orlando Thunder 33, Montreal 27 (OT)
Results
- Week 1: San Antonio Riders 17, Montreal 16
- Week 2: Montreal 31, Orlando Thunder 29
- Week 3: Sacramento Surge 14, Montreal 7
- Week 4: Montreal 31, Ohio Glory 20
- Week 5: Orlando Thunder 16, Montreal 8
- Week 6: New York/New Jersey Knights 34, Montreal 11
- Week 7: Sacramento Surge 35, Montreal 21
- Week 8: Birmingham Fire 23, Montreal 16 (OT)
- Week 9: London Monarchs 45, Montreal 13
- Week 10: New York/New Jersey Knights 41, Montreal 21