1941 Eastern Final: Rough Riders 7, Wildcats 2

Obviously inspired by tomorrow's Eastern Final game between the Redblacks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, I went back to find the earliest, closest counterpart to that game that I could locate.

While the teams had met in the playoffs prior to it, I settled on the 1941 contest which led to the Rough Riders playing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the Grey Cup the following weekend, a game which they would lose 18-16.

Let's carve out a chunk of the Ottawa Citizen from November 24th, 1941.

Over time, Bert Haigh's will become common on this blog. He spent the first two seasons of his playing with Toronto Balmy Beach but played with Ottawa throughout the 1940s. I located an article which made reference to a 105-yard punt by Haigh in 1950 but I see no evidence that he played that year, so perhaps the wrong season is identified. He was routinely an Eastern all-star team selection.

Here is a look at the players in the above game, with hall of fame member Tony Golab the most prominent name among them.

Mr. Koffman provides additional insight. The article is somewhat unclear, I know. The word at the end of the first line is "definite".

One man's (Koffman's) opinion, of course, but much of the recap made it seem like the game was rather lackluster overall. The previous week, the Rough Riders had erased an 8-point deficit to knock off Toronto by a score of 18-17 in a 2-game series. I believe that tie was broken by Ottawa on the last play of the game. As a result, this game seemed far less dramatic but it did, nonetheless, send Ottawa to a championship game.

As pre-game jitters set in, I would gladly accept a drama-free victory against Hamilton tomorrow. Go Redblacks!