Ottawa Trojans 1944

Ottawa Trojans

1944 - 1947

1944 - Ontario Rugby Football Union
Head Coach: Gordie Perry
Sep 30th- Hamilton Wildcats 06 @ Ottawa 01    L
Oct 7th- Ottawa 07 @ Hamilton Wildcats 12       L
Oct 9th- Ottawa 31 @ Toronto Indians 11     W
Oct 14th- Toronto Balmy Beach 33 @ Ottawa 00    L
Oct 21st- Toronto Indians 00 @ Ottawa 21     W
Oct 28th- Ottawa 14 @ Toronto Balmy Beach 09 W
Record: (03-03)

Flying Wing: Ace Powell
Halfbacks: Fern Labrosse, Ted Edwards, Tommy Daley
Quarterback: McWatters
Snap: Stan Fulton
Insides: Leo Seguin, George Fraser
Middles: Eric Chipper, Ray Uhrig
Outsides: Bert Haigh, Al Leach

Alternates: Jack Mowatt, Jake Dunlap, Frank Dunlap, Bill Linegar, Emile Dagenais, Gerry Lefebvre, "Spud" Daley, Jimmy Conyers, Herve Pilon, Bunny Wadsworth, Lloyd Hutt, Graziano, Roy Annany, Bob Gilian (middle wing), J. Thompson, Curly Moynahan

1945 - Ontario Rugby Football Union
Head Coach: Arnie McWatters
Sep 7th- Windsor Rockets @ Ottawa       C**
Sep 15th- Toronto Indians 19 @ Ottawa 01    L
Sep 22nd- Ottawa 11 @ Balmy Beach 24     L
Oct 5th- Ottawa 11 @ Toronto Indians 16     L
Oct 8th- Windsor Rockets 01 @ Ottawa 09   W
Oct 13th- Hamilton Wildcats 11 @ Ottawa 15    W
Oct 27th- Balmy Beach 05 @ Ottawa 02         L
Nov 4th- Ottawa 06 @ Hamilton Wildcats 02    W
Record: (03-04)
**this game was "cancelled by agreement"

1946 - Ontario Rugby Football Union
Head Coach: Arnie McWatters
Sep 7th- Windsor Rockets 08 @ Ottawa 01         L
Sep 14th- Ottawa 02 @ Hamilton Wildcats 13    L
Sep 21st- Sarnia Imperials 18 @ Ottawa 06 L
Sep 28st- Ottawa 03 @ Toronto Indians 18       L
Oct 5th- Ottawa 07 @ Windsor Rockets 12 L
Oct 12th- Ottawa 00 @ Toronto Indians 05    L
Oct 14th- Ottawa 09 @ Sarnia Imperials 11      L
Oct 19th- Balmy Beach 11 @ Ottawa 00             L
Oct 26th- Ottawa 01 @ Balmy Beach 08         L
Oct 30th- Ottawa 07 @ Hamilton Wildcats 13    L
Record: (00-10)

1947 - Ontario Rugby Football Union
Head Coach: Wally Masters
Sep 6th- Ottawa 06 @ Toronto Indians 06       T
Sep 13th- Toronto Indians 12 @ Trojans 11    L
Sep 20th- Ottawa 05 @ Hamilton Wildcats 16 L
Sep 27th- Sarnia 15 @ Ottawa 20                W
Oct 4th- Ottawa 18 @ Balmy Beach 05       W
Oct 11th- Ottawa 21 @ Sarnia 06                  W
Oct 13th- Windsor 06 @ Ottawa 24               W
Oct 18th- Ottawa 23 @ Windsor 06             W
Oct 25th- Balmy Beach 15 @ Ottawa 08           L
Nov 1st- Hamilton 46 @ Ottawa 12              L

Nov 8th- Ottawa 16 @ Balmy Beach 07           W (ORFU semi-final)
Nov 15th- Ottawa 15 @ Hamilton 03              W (ORFU final)
-Ottawa Citizen, Nov 17th- "Doug Smylie...intercepted a pass by Mel Lawson to gallop 55 yards for touchdown no. 1 at the five-minute mark, and raced 19 yards along the north touchline on a lateral from playing-coach Wally Masters for the other major score six minutes before the end of the first quarter."

Nov 22nd- Ottawa 01 @ Toronto 22               L (Eastern final)
Record: (05-04-01)(02-01)

I first read about the Trojans to a greater extent in the 2002 Ottawa Renegades media guide. There was little information provided aside from stating that they were active in the 1940's, but that they were on hiatus throughout in 1945.

That last part is odd because it doesn't appear to be true. I'd be curious to find out what the source was for that statement because researching Ottawa Citizen newspapers from 1945, I came across several scores for the Trojans. I believe I have now located all of them.

So whatever happened to the Trojans? I located a Montreal Gazette article (uncredited) from 1948 which explains it:

March 4th - Exclusive rights to Ottawa's Lansdowne Park playing fields for the next two years today was granted to the Rough Riders football club on the stipulation that they amalgamate with the Ottawa Trojans - 1947 ORFU champions.