Toronto Rifles
Encyclopedia
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
(1965) and Varsity Stadium
from 1966 to 1967. The team was owned by Montreal
businessman Johnny Newman
.
As the Quebec Rifles, the team was the first professional American football team to be based in Canada
. It played the 1964 season in Montreal
, Quebec
in the original United Football League. When that league dissolved and the Continental Football League
formed in its place, the Quebec Rifles moved to Toronto and played three years in the ContFL before folding after 4 games into the regular season in 1967. The team finished second in the league in 1965, losing to the Charleston Rockets in the league championship. In 1967, however, the Canadian Football League
's Toronto Argonauts
signed away the Rifles' head coach, Leo Cahill
, quarterback Tom Wilkinson
and running back Joe Williams
. Meanwhile, Alan Eagleson
took over the franchise. The team declared bankruptcy 4 games into the 1967 season and the league folded the franchise at the same time as the Akron Vulcans.
The Rifles had a Canadian-based rival, the Montreal Beavers, when in the Continental Football League.
Source :THE COFFIN CORNER: Vol. 10, No. 5 (1988) - The Continental Football League: A mini tragedy of five acts, Sarge Kennedy
Source :THE COFFIN CORNER: Vol. 10, No. 5 (1988) - The Continental Football League: A mini tragedy of five acts, Sarge Kennedy
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...
team active between 1964 and 1967. It was based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The team's home fields were Maple Leaf Stadium
Maple Leaf Stadium
Maple Leaf Stadium was a baseball stadium in Toronto built in 1926 by Lol Solman for his Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team of the International League on the site of a stadium that had been built in 1907. It continued to be the home of the Leafs for 42 seasons, until the team left town following...
(1965) and Varsity Stadium
Varsity Stadium
Varsity Stadium is a collegiate football stadium that is home to the Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While the present structure was built in 2007, it is in fact the third major incarnation of the stadium that has occupied the same site...
from 1966 to 1967. The team was owned by Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
businessman Johnny Newman
Johnny Newman
John Sylvester Newman, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6' 7" and guard/forward, Newman starred at the University of Richmond, before going on to play in the National Basketball Association...
.
As the Quebec Rifles, the team was the first professional American football team to be based in Canada
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...
. It played the 1964 season in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in the original United Football League. When that league dissolved and 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...
formed in its place, the Quebec Rifles moved to Toronto and played three years in the ContFL before folding after 4 games into the regular season in 1967. The team finished second in the league in 1965, losing to the Charleston Rockets in the league championship. In 1967, however, 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....
's Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
signed away the Rifles' head coach, Leo Cahill
Leo Cahill
Leo Cahill is a former head coach and general manager in the Canadian Football League, much of it spent with the Toronto Argonauts. Since 2004, Cahill has been serving as "goodwill ambassador" with the Argonauts. Has 5 children. Steve, Christy, Terry, Lisa and Bettye. He lives in Sarnia,...
, quarterback Tom Wilkinson
Tom Wilkinson
Thomas Geoffrey "Tom" Wilkinson, OBE is a British actor. He has twice been nominated for an Academy Award for his roles in In the Bedroom and Michael Clayton...
and running back Joe Williams
Joe Williams
Joe Williams may refer to:* Cyclone Joe Williams , Negro Leagues baseball pitcher, a.k.a. "Smokey Joe" Williams* Joe Williams , achieved prominence in the late 1950s* Big Joe Williams , delta blues singer...
. Meanwhile, Alan Eagleson
Alan Eagleson
Robert Alan Eagleson is a disbarred Canadian lawyer, convicted felon in two countries, former politician, hockey agent and promoter...
took over the franchise. The team declared bankruptcy 4 games into the 1967 season and the league folded the franchise at the same time as the Akron Vulcans.
The Rifles had a Canadian-based rival, the Montreal Beavers, when in the Continental Football League.
Seasons
| Year | Wins | Losses | Ties | Points | OPP | Playoffs | Championships | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 5 | 9 | 0 | out of playoffs | as the Quebec Rifles of the UFL | |||
| 1965 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 412 | 258 | Lost league championship to Charleston Rockets | team moved to Toronto and first season in the CFL | |
| 1966 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 344 | 280 | lost East division playoffs to Philadelphia Bulldogs | ||
| 1967 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 52 | fails to make playoffs | moved to Atlantic North division, team folds after 4 games into the regular season |
Source :THE COFFIN CORNER: Vol. 10, No. 5 (1988) - The Continental Football League: A mini tragedy of five acts, Sarge Kennedy
Roster
- Tom Wilkinson QB 1966
- Robert Blakley RB 1965-1966
- Allen Ray Aldridge LB 1966
- Charlie Baillie 1964 - with the Quebec Rifles
- Phil Chiarella LB 1964 - with the Quebec Rifles
- Bob Vokey punter, receiver and safety 1964 - with the Quebec Rifles, now a golf club craftsman
- Dick Limerick Flanker
- Milt Crain Centre
- Joe WilliamsJoe WilliamsJoe Williams may refer to:* Cyclone Joe Williams , Negro Leagues baseball pitcher, a.k.a. "Smokey Joe" Williams* Joe Williams , achieved prominence in the late 1950s* Big Joe Williams , delta blues singer...
RB - Rich Lucka Guard
- Ernie Wade Tackle
- Leo Mavity Safety
- Ed HarringtonEd HarringtonEd Harrington was a star defensive lineman in the Canadian Football League.Harrington played college football at Langston University and later with the Toronto Rifles of the Continental Football League. He had a 10 year career in the Canadian Football League from 1963 to 1974 for the Toronto...
, DE
Source :THE COFFIN CORNER: Vol. 10, No. 5 (1988) - The Continental Football League: A mini tragedy of five acts, Sarge Kennedy
Head coaches
- 1964 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...
- 1965-1966 Leo CahillLeo CahillLeo Cahill is a former head coach and general manager in the Canadian Football League, much of it spent with the Toronto Argonauts. Since 2004, Cahill has been serving as "goodwill ambassador" with the Argonauts. Has 5 children. Steve, Christy, Terry, Lisa and Bettye. He lives in Sarnia,...
Head Coach and GM, future CFL coach with the Toronto Argos - 1967 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...
, former CFL player with the Toronto Argos and Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...