After a 17-year absence, the Saskatchewan Roughriders returned to the Grey Cup final. Their losing streak in the big game continued, however, as it was the other Rough Riders that took home the prize.
Canadian football news in 1951
The BC Lions were formed in January at the Arctic Club in Vancouver; however, the franchise would begin play at the start of the 1954 season.
E. Kent Philips of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was appointed WIFU Commissioner. The IRFU allowed the third-place Toronto Argonauts to be in the playoffs due to similar regular season records with the other top two teams.
On October 27, The Duke of Edinburgh and The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (later Queen Elizabeth II) attended the western semi-final in Edmonton.
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. Saskatchewan and Ottawa both have first round byes. McMaster University started ORFU play in October. It played 4 point games
Grey Cup playoffs
Note: All dates in 1951
Semifinals
The Edmonton Eskimos went on to play the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the WIFU Finals.
Hamilton won the total-point series by 31–28. The Tiger-Cats went on to play the Ottawa Rough Riders in the IRFU Finals.
Finals
Saskatchewan won the best of three series 2–1. The Roughriders advanced to the Grey Cup game.
Sarnia won the total-point series by 56–53. The Imperials went on to play the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Eastern finals.
Ottawa won the best of three series 2–0. The Rough Riders went on to play the Sarnia Imperials in the Eastern finals.
Eastern Finals
The Ottawa Rough Riders advanced to the Grey Cup game.
Playoff bracket
Grey Cup Championship
1951 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 – Bernie Custis, Hamilton Tiger-Cats HB – Ulysses Curtis, Toronto Argonauts HB – Billy Bass, Toronto Argonauts HB – Hal Waggoner, Hamilton Tiger-Cats E – Vince Mazza, Hamilton Tiger-Cats E – Bob Simpson, Ottawa Rough Riders FW – Bruce Cummings, Ottawa Rough Riders C – Ed Hirsch, Toronto Argonauts G – Ray Cicia, Montreal Alouettes G – Eddie Bevan, Hamilton Tiger-Cats T – Jack Carpenter, Hamilton Tiger-Cats T – Bob Gain, Ottawa Rough Riders
1951 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 QB – Glenn Dobbs, Saskatchewan Roughriders HB – Tom Casey, Winnipeg Blue Bombers HB – Normie Kwong, Edmonton Eskimos FB – Mike King, Edmonton Eskimos E – Jack Russell, Winnipeg Blue Bombers E – Neil Armstrong, Winnipeg Blue Bombers FW – Bob Paffrath, Edmonton Eskimos C – Red Ettinger, Saskatchewan Roughriders G – Mario DeMarco, Edmonton Eskimos G – Bert Iannone, Saskatchewan Roughriders T – Martin Ruby, Saskatchewan Roughriders T – Buddy Tinsley, Winnipeg Blue Bombers2nd Team QB – Jack Jacobs, Winnipeg Blue Bombers HB – Ken Charlton, Saskatchewan Roughriders HB – Rollie Miles, Edmonton Eskimos FB – Jim Spavital, Winnipeg Blue Bombers FW – Bud Korchak, Winnipeg Blue Bombers E – Jack Nix, Saskatchewan Roughriders E – Rollin Prather, Edmonton Eskimos C – Eagle Keys, Edmonton Eskimos C – Bill Blackburn, Saskatchewan Roughriders G – Gary Deleeuw, Winnipeg Blue Bombers G – Jim Quondamatteo, Edmonton Eskimos T – Chuck Quilter, Edmonton Eskimos T – Dick Huffman, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1951 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 – George Curtis, Sarnia Imperials HB – Johnny Chorostecki, Sarnia Imperials HB – Mel Hawkrigg, McMaster University HB – Ralph Pulley, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers HB – Al Farris, Sarnia Imperials HB – John Duchene, Sarnia Imperials E – Andy Gilmour, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers E – Keith Fisher, Sarnia Imperials FW – John Florence, Sarnia Imperials C – Bruce Mattingly, Sarnia Imperials G – Jim Thomas, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers G – Matti Ferrention, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers T – Walt Bashak, McMaster University T – Lloyd "Dutch" Davey, Sarnia Imperials