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-StarsNOTE: 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