The Toronto RCAF Hurricanes was a member of the

Ontario Rugby Football Union The Ontario Rugby Football Union (ORFU) was an early amateur Canadian football league comprising teams in the Canadian province of Ontario. The ORFU was founded on Saturday, January 6, 1883, and in 1903 it became the first major competition to ado ...

and was formed during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

after both the Western Interprovincial Football Union and Interprovincial Rugby Football Union suspended operations and teams disbanded for the war. The team was composed of football players who had joined the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...

, and would go on to win the

30th Grey Cup The 30th Grey Cup was played on December 5, 1942, before 12,455 fans at Varsity Stadium at Toronto. The Toronto RCAF Hurricanes defeated the Winnipeg RCAF Bombers 8–5. External links * * Grey Cup Grey Cup The Grey Cup () is both the ...

in 1942. After the win, fifteen members of the team went on to operational service with the RCAF in Europe during the war.Documentary looks at 1942 Grey Cup champs by Stu Cowan

Montreal Gazette ''The Gazette'', also known as the ''Montreal Gazette'', is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper which is owned by Postmedia Network. It is published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is the only English-language daily newspape ...

, November 10, 2012 Seven of those men were killed in combat: Eddie Thompson, Lloyd Langley, Ed Poscavage, Eddie Burton, Jack Buckmaster, George Oliphant and Bob Sarvis.

1942 Grey Cup

As Canadians were deeply affected by the mounting losses overseas, the Toronto RCAF Hurricanes were formed and invited to compete for the Grey Cup in an effort to boost the country's morale. As their victories accumulated, their matches began drawing audiences that had not been witnessed in a decade. On December 5, 1942, the Toronto RCAF Hurricanes defeated the Winnipeg RCAF Bombers in an 8-5 win. Due to the timing of the game, the playing field conditions were poor, with mud, turf, and patches of ice. It was suggested to the Canadian Rugby Union that the Dominion Championship be held in November in future to avoid poor field conditions. Over 12,000 fans attended the game at

Varsity Stadium Varsity Stadium is an outdoor collegiate stadium located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at the "Varsity Centre & Arena", a sports complex at the University of Toronto's St. George Campus. Athletic events have been hosted on the site ...

1942
Grey Cup The Grey Cup () is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested between the winners ...
Line UpDoug Vaughan (December 7, 1942). ''Winnipeg Bombers are defeated, 8-5''
Windsor Daily Star

*QB –

Bill Stukus William Stukus (May 15, 1916 – June 19, 2003) was a Canadian football quarterback. Stukus started with the Toronto Argonauts, winning a Grey Cup in 25th Grey Cup, 1937 and 26th Grey Cup, 1938, and being named an all-star. Perhaps his best seaso ...

*FW – Fred Kijek *HB – Eddie Thompson *HB – Jack Alexander *HB –

Jack Perry Jack Perry (born June 16, 1997) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of The Elite (professional wrestling), The Elite stable. He is also a former one-time FTW Champion, a former ...

*E –

Ed Poscavage Ed, ed or ED may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Ed'' (film), a 1996 film starring Matt LeBlanc * Ed (''Fullmetal Alchemist'') or Edward Elric, a character in ''Fullmetal Alchemist'' media * ''Ed'' (TV series), a TV series that ran fro ...

*E – Eddie Burton *C –

Jake Gaudaur Jacob Gill Gaudaur, Jr., (October 5, 1920 – December 4, 2007) was a Canadian Football League (CFL) player, executive, and commissioner. His 45-year career in Canadian football, including 16 years as the league's fourth commissioner (and its ...

*G – Paul McGarry *G –

Lloyd Langley Lloyd, Lloyd's, or Lloyds may refer to: People * Lloyd (name), a variation of the Welsh word ' ("grey") or ' ** List of people with given name Lloyd ** List of people with surname Lloyd * Lloyd (singer) (born 1986), American singer Places Unite ...

*T – Art Evans *T – Don Durno Alternates:

Don Crowe Donald Crowe, (December 20, 1919 – March 16, 1978) was a Canadian football player who played for the Ottawa Rough Riders and Toronto Argonauts. He won the Grey Cup with the Rough Riders in 1951. Crowe grew up in Toronto and attended Danforth ...

, John Buckmaster, Jack Taylor,

Cece Foderingham William Cecil "Cece" Foderingham (August 12, 1919 – January 29, 1983) was a Canadian football player who played for the Toronto RCAF Hurricanes and the Toronto Argonauts. He won the Grey Cup The Grey Cup () is both the championship game of ...

, George Oliphant,

Art West Art is a diverse range of cultural activity centered around ''works'' utilizing creative or imaginative talents, which are expected to evoke a worthwhile experience, generally through an expression of emotional power, conceptual ideas, tec ...

, Bob Sarvis,

John Poplowsky John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second Ep ...

, Charlie Prince, Victor S.(Red) Reynolds, Joey Richman, Jimmy Partridge Coach: Lew Hayman

ORFU season-by-season

Notable players

* Eddie Thompson * Fred Kijek * Bob Cosgrove *

The Photograph

In 2012, in partnership with Infly Field Productions,

The Sports Network The Sports Network (TSN) is a Canadian English language discretionary sports specialty channel owned by the Sports Network Inc., a subsidiary of CTV Specialty Television, which is also a joint venture of Bell Media (70%), also owned by BCE ...

debuted their documentary ''The Photograph: Engraved on a Nation''. The documentary, directed by Manfred Becker, celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Grey Cup and focuses on Jake Gaudaur. Gaudaur's daughters, Jackie and Diane, tell the story behind the photograph of the RCAF Hurricanes celebrating their Grey Cup win in 1942. The documentary aired on Friday, November 9, 2012.

References

Ontario Rugby Football Union teams RC Defunct Canadian football teams 1942 establishments in Ontario Sports clubs and teams established in 1942 1943 disestablishments in Ontario Sports clubs and teams disestablished in 1943 {{Canadianfootball-stub