Definition
The 19th Grey Cup was the championship game of Canadian football for the 1931 season, determining the winner of the Grey Cup trophy.
Overview
The game was contested on December 5, 1931, at Varsity Stadium in Toronto, Ontario. It featured the Regina Roughriders (representing the Western Interprovincial Football Union) and the Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers (representing the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union). The Regina Roughriders defeated Montreal AAA by a score of 6–0, securing their first Grey Cup victory. Attendance was reported at approximately 5,500 spectators.
Etymology/Origin
The term “Grey Cup” originates from the trophy donated in 1909 by Albert Grey, the 4th Earl Grey and then Governor General of Canada. The ordinal “19th” designates the sequence of the championship since the inaugural game in 1909.
Characteristics
- Date and Venue: 5 December 1931, Varsity Stadium, Toronto.
- Competing Teams: Regina Roughriders vs. Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers.
- Final Score: 6–0 in favor of Regina.
- Scoring Summary: The only points came from a single touchdown scored by Regina, followed by a successful conversion. No field goals or safeties were recorded.
- Weather Conditions: Cold and windy, typical of early December in Toronto, contributing to the low‑scoring nature of the game.
- Significance: Marked the first Grey Cup win for the Regina franchise, which would later become the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The shutout result highlighted defensive strengths prevalent in early Canadian football.
- Attendance: Approximately 5,500 spectators, reflecting modest interest during the early 1930s economic downturn.
Related Topics
- Grey Cup: The annual championship game of Canadian football, contested by teams from the Canadian Football League (CFL) and its predecessors.
- Canadian Football League (CFL): The professional league governing Canadian football, officially formed in 1958.
- Saskatchewan Roughriders: The modern incarnation of the Regina Roughriders franchise.
- Canadian football rules: Distinctive rule set differing from American football, influencing strategies and scoring.
- 1931 Canadian football season: The broader season context, including regular‑season standings and playoff structure leading to the 19th Grey Cup.