1955 in Canadian football

Canadian Football News in 1955

The IRFU allowed the third place team to qualify for a playoff berth.

The Ontario Rugby Football Union (ORFU) withdrew from Grey Cup competition.

For the first time, the Grey Cup game was held in Western Canada at Vancouver's Empire Stadium. The total Grey Cup attendance was 39,500 and had a gross revenue of $198,000.

Montreal's Tex Coulter became the first player to win the Most Outstanding Lineman Award.

Regular season

Final regular season standings

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points

• Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.
• Edmonton and Montreal both have first round byes.

Grey Cup playoffs

Note: All dates in 1955

SEMI-FINALS

• Winnipeg won the total-point series by 24–16. The Blue Bombers will play the Edmonton Eskimos in the WIFU Finals.

• The Argonauts will play the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern Finals.

FINALS

• Edmonton wins the best of three series 2–0. The Eskimos will advance to the Grey Cup game.

• The Alouettes will advance to the Grey Cup game.

Playoff Bracket

Grey Cup Championship

• Note: IRFU and Eastern Final dates are not confirmed, however since [1] the regular season ended October 29 in the West, and November 5 in the East, and [2] WIFU playoff dates, as well as the Grey Cup date are accurate, it is reasonable to assume the above dates are accurate.

Canadian Football Leaders

• CFL Passing Leaders
• CFL Rushing Leaders
• CFL Receiving Leaders ^[2]

1955 Eastern (Interprovincial Rugby Football Union) All-Stars

NOTE: The following players were selected to the All-Star team as replacements for players who would have had to play both ways in the Shrine Game (denoted with an *):

• RB – Corky Tharp, Toronto Argonauts
• DT – Jim Staton, Montreal Alouettes
• LB – John Blaicher, Montreal Alouettes
• LB – Juan Sheridan, Montreal Alouettes
• DB – Bobby Simpson, Ottawa Rough Riders

2nd Team Offence

• QB – Bob Celeri, Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen
• RB – Hal Patterson, Montreal Alouettes
• RB – Corky Tharp, Toronto Argonauts
• RB – Avatus Stone, Ottawa Rough Riders
• E – Doug McNichol, Montreal Alouettes
• E – Pete Neumann, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• FW – Ron Stewart, Queen's University
• C – Frank Dempsey, Ottawa Rough Riders
• OG – Eddie Bevan, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• OG – Vince Scott, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• OT – Jim Hughes, Queen's University
• OT – Ray Collins, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

1955 Western (Western Interprovincial Football Union) All-Stars

NOTE: The following players were selected to the All-Star team as replacements for players who would have had to play both ways, or were injured, in the Shrine Game (denoted with an *):

• FW – Lynn Bottoms, Calgary Stampeders
• C – Mel Beckett, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• OG – Frank Morris, Edmonton Eskimos
• DG – Ron Atchison, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• DT – Martin Ruby, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• DE – Norm Fieldgate, British Columbia Lions
• LB – Mike King, Edmonton Eskimos
• DB – Gord Rowland, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

1955 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.

1955 Canadian Football Awards

• Most Outstanding Player Award – Pat Abbruzzi (RB), Montreal Alouettes
• Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Normie Kwong (RB), Edmonton Eskimos
• Outstanding Lineman Award – Tex Coulter (OT/DT), Montreal Alouettes
• Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy (IRFU MVP) – Avatus Stone (DB), Ottawa Rough Riders
• Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy (WIFU MVP) - Ken Carpenter (RB), Saskatchewan Roughriders
• Gruen Trophy (IRFU Rookie of the Year) - Ed Mularchyk (E), Ottawa Rough Riders
• Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (WIFU Rookie of the Year) - Harry Lunn (HB), Saskatchewan Roughriders
• Imperial Oil Trophy (ORFU MVP) - Bob Celeri - Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen

References