The Early Years

After the end of World War Two there were only two leagues that supported junior football in Ontario, the Ontario Junior Rugby Football Union sponsored by the senior ORFU and the Junior Big Four Football League sponsored by the Big Four or the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union. Other than the Ottawa junior teams which played in the junior Ottawa and Québec leagues, the junior Big Four had teams mostly around the Toronto-Hamilton area while the Jr ORFU had teams from Kitchener-Waterloo to as far west as Windsor. When the Canadian Football League was formed in 1958 to govern senior teams the Big Four no longer subsidized the juniors.

1959

The Ontario Junior Football Conference was formed, with Don Durno as its first President, and was recognized by the Canadian Rugby Union. Three teams from the Junior Big Four; the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears, the North York Knights and the Toronto Balmy Beach Marines were welcomed. Two more team were added, the Scarborough Rams and the Oshawa Imperials to play an eight-game schedule.

The Glad Murphy Memorial Trophy, named after W.E.G. “Glad” Murphy, an Argonaut player who died from game injuries in 1915, was presented to the league champions. The opening game of the new league was a 12-6 Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears victory over North York Knights. Trevor Myers scored the first points of the match returning a punt for 35 yards and John Taylor ran 25 yards for the second one. A 40-yard touchdown by Gerry Borrows was the Knights’ only score.

The playoff format has the third place team playing the second place team and the winner players a two-game series with the first place team. Marines upset he highly favored Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears in the playoff 37 to 19. Lloyd Quance bulled over for two touchdowns and Lynn McMurray passed for two more (15 and 30 yards) for the Marine’s win. In the first ever championship game Uly Curtis’ Knights whipped the Balmy Beach Marines 48-7.

Citing too many injuries the Marines defaulted the next game and the Knights were the first champions of the new league. The new Dr. J.J. O’Connor Memorial Trophy was to be awarded to the A l l-Ontario championship team from either the JrORFU or the OJFC. Sarnia Lakers were all over the Knights with 499 yards compared to 315. However, fumbles and interceptions at key moments stalled the Laker’s attack. Referee Ted Jarvis ejected Pete McPhedran for rough play and Jack Hughes for throwing his helmet at another official. A slim 7-6 halftime lead gave the charging Knights another 20 second half points and they took the inter-conference match 27-13.

The North York squad played the Quebéc winners, the NDG Maple Leafs at East York Stadium. The field was virtually a sea of mud after two days of snow turning to rain. Twenty-five an hour northly winds and zero temperatures hampered the offensive drives of both parties. Several time ball carriers slipped and fell while heading to open ground. Quarterback Norm Turner literally kicked the Leafs out of the game with four singles, a field goal, passingfor a 35-yard touchdown and a convert with less that two minutes remaining. Not only the muddy field hampered the NDG’s but three times their kicks were blocked. The 14-0 score ended coach Roy Chesley and his Maple Leafs season.

Knight’s proved no match for the well-oiled Saskatoon Hilltop team in The Leader-Post Trophy game. The 26°F temperatures and the icy field was no issue for the ‘Tops as they ripped the Knight’ middle for good gains and even more on end sweeps for a 291 yards and a net 559 yards. North York could gain but 83 rushing yards and a net of 233 yards. The lost 4 of 6 fumbles and were intercepted 2 times. Their only score was in the second quarter on a touchdown pass from Norm Turnes to Jim Cockburn. That made the score 13-7. Thirty-three second half points made the scoreboard read 47-7 for the prairie team.

1960

The OJFC welcomes the Burlington Braves who finish second in a 10-game schedule to the first place Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears. Bears lost just one game score a record 226 points. Bill Borthwick of the Burlington Braves had a record 130-yard touchdown punt return on October 2. In the October 29 championship game, Gord MacTaggart of the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears threw a record 102-yard touchdown pass to Eglis Petmanis. Because of the six-team league the playoffs had four teams in the post season. Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears scored on a touchdown run and a pass for a 14-0 lead against defending champs the North York Knights. Two singles rounded the scoring 16-0 Bears. Trailing 8-7 with just 15 seconds to play Burlington’s Ernie Robinson blocked a Toronto Balmy Beach Marines’ punt, scooped up the leather and crossed the goal line from five yards out giving the Braves their exciting 13-7 playoff win.

The two-games total-point series was between the Braves and the Bears. The Saturday morning game in Burlington was played before some 700 fans. Teams were even, Braves gained 15 first downs and 373 net yards. Bears had 21 first downs and 363 yards. Each club had 5 fumbles and lost 3. Interceptions totaled only 5 of which 3 were against Burlington and penalty were 50 yards to 45 for the home team. At one time before halftime Braves were ahead 19-9. Both teams rallied for 13 points in the second half making the scoreboard 32-22 Burlington. An incomplete Bears pass ended the game without any more scoring. Back in Port Credit and another Saturday morning game the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears found the 10-point Burlington lead too much to overcome. 

Although the Bears won the game 26-18 the Braves took the series 50-48 on the round. Gord MacTaggarts’ brilliant passing, 10 of 25 for 236 yards, almost made a game of it but three interceptions limited the Bears advance. On one fumble Ray Harris picked up the loose ball and sprinted 62 yards for Burlington’s last points and the OJFC championship. In the CRU’s Eastern Semi-Final game the Braves are stopped by a strong Windsor’s rushing game. Fratmen rushed for 482 yards and 637 net. The teams seldom threw the ball. AKO had 1 of 9 attempts for 22 yards and Braves were 2 of 7 for 10 yards. Penalties hurt the Braves, 10 for 155 yards while Windsor was 7 for 85 yards. Fratmen were 7-6 at the half and another score by the Braves made it 13-7. Three short runs the last quarter send the Braves home 25-13.

1961

There were two new teams in the conference this year. Weston Invictus Redmen played out of northern Toronto and the University of Toronto entered a junior team playing four 5-point games. To the surprise of everyone the junior Varsity Blues finished in second place winning 3 of their four games. Oshawa Imperial were last at 1-9 and were shut out three times.

In a shocking 43-19 defeat of the Burlington Braves the Baby Blues won their playoff game in a scheduled double-header. Blues broke loose for 36 second half points overcoming a Braves 13-7 half time lead. Varsity ran up 312 yards rushing.

In the second game Scarboro Rams scored two quick touchdowns in the first half against Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears and then played stout defensive football for the rest of the game. Bears finally scored in the wanning moments of the last quarter when John Vilunas scores from 15 yards out. Rams took the hard fought game 12-6 and were on their way to play Varsity Blues.

In the first championship game Scarboro’s coach Ulysses Curtis turned loose a ground game for almost three hundred yards. Eight fumbles, four interception and key penalties combined to give the Rams a 38-13 victory. In the return the Rams ran into an unexpectedly tough Blue’s defence and at halftime were behind 26-0. Injuries to key players-quarterback Bill Thatchurk’s ribs and star halfback Jerry Burrows injured knee and broken nose, failed to halt the Rams and although they lost the game 32-14, they won the round 52-45.

In inter-conference play, Rams had a fight on their hands. The first half was a grueling defensive play by both sides. Scarboro was limited to just one point in the first half. AKO defences crumbled into dust during the final 30 minutes and were out rushed 359-109 yards and 29-12 first downs. Several key players were injured and out for the last quarter. As well, there were five lost fumbles and 13 penalties for 152 yards did not help their cause. In the end it was a decisive Ram victory 33-0.

Seems the football Gods looked with favour for the Curtis Gang, until they met the Montréal Rosemount Bombers and their hard-hitting ground attack. Teams were tied 7-all going into the last quarter until Gerry Yaccato skirted the right end from 21- yards out for the touchdown and the win 14-7.

 

1962

Oshawa Imperials became the Hawkeyes with Tony Andrejicka as coach and Roy Chrystal’s Niagara Falls Jr Tigers joined to create a 7-team league playing an eight game schedule. Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears become the first undefeated team going 8-0 for the season, scoring 287 points and just 33 against. Toronto Balmy Beach Marines dropped to the bottom with a 1-7 record.

Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears and the Braves reached the championship with Bears trouncing Scarboro 22-9 and the Braves, on the 182 yards rushing by Rick Horne, whipping Niagara Falls Junior Tiger-Cats 27-7.

In the first championship series game, Dick Aldridge returned two interceptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns as the Bears feasted on the Braves passing attack, or, lack of, and a 27-18 victory. In the return game the Braves scored the first touchdown only to have the Bears storm back with 35 points for the win. Aldridge had another interception touchdown going 76 yards and the Lakeshore team took the series 62-34.

In Sarnia the Inter-Conference game was played on a rain and mud-soaked field before some 700 fans. The centre portion of the field was covered between one and three inches of water. After the first quarter there was so much mud on the jerseys that players were identified only by the colour of their helmets. Knights adapted better to the conditions and rolled to a 19-0 win. Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears were held to five first downs and only one pass was thrown for a short gain.

1963

There were problems before the season started. The Burlington Braves alumni, unable to have a greater voice in the executive of the team, broke away and formed the Hamilton Hurricanes. This caused a scarcity of players between Hamilton and Burlington. Paul Giglia, a former Braves player, became the Hurricanes new coach. Coach Tom Watt’s Weston Invictus Redmen became the first team to go undefeated 10-0. Highlight moment of the season was Ed Biaga of the Niagara Falls Tiger-Cats and his record 105- yard touchdown run.

Vick Wozniuk of the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears threw a record 4 touchdown passes in the September 28 game against Hamilton. Also, Don Kopplin’s set a record with 225 rushing yards on Aug 23. He was the scoring leader with 15 touchdowns and 90 points. It was not Balmy Beach Marines’ best year being shutout in half of their games.

Then there was a Saturday morning playoff game between Weston Invictus Redmen and Burlington Braves played at St. Michael’s College Field Toronto. Fumbles and interceptions for both teams stalled many downfield marches. The Red & Black scored in the first, second and third quarters while Braves scores their unconverted touchdown in the second. An interception of a Burlington pass in the end zone by Danny Church enabled the Redmen to salvage a 14-6 playoff triumph.

Don Kopplin’s three rushing touchdowns, one for 60 yards, paced the Bears to a 40-24 playoff win. Three fumbles gave Lakeshore good field position as they scored 6 touchdowns to Scarboro’s three.

In the first of two championship games on a Wednesday night Lakeshore Bears handed the Invictus Redmen their only defeat of the season, a 21-7 score. Three converted touchdown runs gave Lakeshore their win. The last one was from a Weston fumble at the 3-yard line Redmen made the return game the following Saturday morning interesting. Two touchdown passes of 35 and 47 yards to Dave Bailey, the Bears’ end who wears glasses when playing, capped the final score at 19-16 but it was enough for the Bears taking the series and the Glad Murphy Memorial Trophy 37-25.

Sarnia had little offense against the Bears in the Interconference Game reaching the five-yard line only once and then lost the ball on downs. Lakeshore were ahead 14-0 at the intermission, came back with two more major scores and took the match 28-1.

Triple-threat quarterback Jimmy McKean of the Montréal NDG Maple Leafs led his team with two field goals, three converts and pinpoint touchdown passing in their 34-12 victory over the Ontario team. It was 17-6 at the half. Bears narrowed the score 17-12 when Dave Bowen returned the kickoff 82 yards for a 27-12 lead. Norm Ellomo’s 35 yard touchdown return off a Bears’ forward pass closed the scoring 34-12 and put the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears into hibernation.

1964

Toronto Balmy Beach Marines and the Niagara Falls Jr. Tiger-Cats cease operations. Then history was made as both the Ontario Junior Rugby Football Union and the Ontario Junior Football Conference play an interlocking 6-game schedule. In their September 24 game against Lakeshore Bears, Weston quarterback Gail Martin drops back 6-yards into his endzone and throws a record 109-yard touchdown pass to Pete Fairgrieve. Weston Invictus Redmen finish in first place for the second consecutive year.

For the first time a default game is awarded as the Hawkeyes played an over-aged player. The win goes to Burlington.

In the playoffs Redmen have little trouble winning 34-13 over Scarboro Rams. Weston scored 5 touchdown and kicked 4 singles for the victory. Rams managed just two majors and one convert. Hamilton stunned the Lakeshore Bears with two unconverted touchdowns and lead 12-0 with minutes left in the half.

A Lakeshore gamble for one yard on third down had John Ramble slant through the line, cut left and sprint to the end zone. It was a spectacular 89-yard run and it ignited the offense. And the Bears went on to win the tight contest 14-12.

Weston Invictus Redmen overwhelmed the Lakeshore Bears after a strong second half comeback in the first game of the series they scored six converted touchdowns and a field goal. Bears sporadic offence manages to score three touchdowns and one convert. In the second game Gerry Sternberg set up both Weston touchdowns on a run and a pass while Povio Hiir missed both converts but came through with two singles in their 14-8 conquest and winning the series and the OFC title 59-27.

In the Eastern SemiFinal, the Fratmen held All-Star halfback Gerry Sternberg to 51 yards on 8 carries. On a third and one situation Weston was expecting a smash up the middle but, AKO pitched out to Mike Mailoux who dashed down the right sidelines 76 yards for the score. The scoreboard displayed a Fratmen lead of 13-1. Sternberg did manage to score to narrow the points 13-9 but George Arnott’s team were in control. In the final minutes of the game QB Marty Atkins completed a short pass to end Jim Taylor who flipped the ball to Gerry and he galloped 80-yards for the score. This was the second longest pass in an Inter-conference game. Redmen made 13 first downs and a total 409 yards including 338 rushing yards, AKO amassed 20 first downs and 449 yards. And won 27-15.

1965

Back to playing a 10-game schedule Weston Invictus Redmen had their second undefeated season and score a record 367 points and 60 against under head coach Ulysses Curtis. The star of the team is Ron Arends who scores a record 21 touchdowns, 126 points and an all-purpose 355 yards in his September 3 game. Hamilton Hurricanes playing in their third season have an 8-2 record and finish in second place.

A precision rushing 332-yard steamrolling offense by Weston gave them their 40-0 win over Oshawa in the October 23 playoff game. Hawkeyes were never in the game. They registered only 5 first downs, 46 net yards of offence and lost 4 fumbles. With Stu Winnick rushing for 113 yards in leading his Redmen for 429 yards and 21 first downs.

At the Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds the field was in deep, thick mud everywhere. Hurricanes had little trouble defeating the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Bears 13-1 in their Friday night encounter. The point scored by the Bears just before the half, was a 25-yard single by Gene Soldys.

In the first of the two-game total-point series Weston displayed their offensive power, rolling up 21 first downs to 11 and 317 yards to 187. The mud battle was a hard fought 24-22 win for Weston but it took a three touchdown performance by Stu Winnick to seal the victory.

The return game was scheduled for 11:00 AM Saturday October 30 at Weston Collegiate Institute’s field. It wasn’t until Weston had a 27-0 lead at the half that Hurricanes awoke and realized there was a football game to be played. Bill Fournier took over at QB and was 8 of 20 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown but there was no effective rally as Weston Redmen took the game 34-8, the series 58-30, and the coveted Glad Murphy Memorial Trophy.

Against Windsor in the All-Ontario final, Winnick was the star romping 18 times for 160 yards, dashing 48, 35 and 7 yards for his scores. Quarterback Marty Atkins completed just 4 of his 14 passes but two went for touchdowns. Eleven penalties for 138 yards didn’t help the AKO team as they lost 34-7. In Toronto against the NDG Maple Leafs, the Redmen were outrushed by the visitors 337 yards to 258. Tommy Dyce had 169 yds, 102 by quarterback Barclay Allen and 101 by Rick Otto. The Montréal team won 13-8. Weston scored singles in the first and third quarter falling behind 10-2. In the last quarter Stu Winnick scored from the three to end the match 13-8 for NDG.