1997 CFL season

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
1997 CFL season
DurationJune 25 – October 26, 1997
East champions
Commonwealth Stadium,
Edmonton
ChampionsToronto Argonauts
CFL seasons
← 1996
 →
1000km
620miles
none
Alouettes
Argonauts
Tiger-Cats
Blue Bombers
Roughriders
Eskimos
Stampeders
.
Lions
Map
Canadian Football League team locations: West, East

The 1997 CFL season is considered to be the 44th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 40th Canadian Football League season.

CFL News in 1997

The CFL entered the 1997 season with eight teams, instead of nine. The Ottawa Rough Riders ceased operations and folded after the 1996 season. In February, a dispersal draft was held for the players who were under contract with the Ottawa franchise.

The Montreal Alouettes began the 1997 season under new ownership, which was headed by Robert C. Wetenhall. Wetenhall and his ownership group retained the Alouette name and logo.

With the Rough Riders departure, the CFL returned the

East Division
.

The CFL also changed the playoff format, adding a 'cross-over' rule. Previously, the 3rd place team in each division played the 2nd place team in the division semifinals. Under the new rule, should the 4th place team in one division have a better record than that of the 3rd place team in the other division, the 4th place team crosses over to the other division's semifinal, taking that 3rd place team's place. There is no tie-breaker; the cross-over hopeful must have a strictly better record to advance. BC attained a cross-over playoff berth in the first year under this rule. The rule remains in effect.

Regular season standings

Final regular season standings

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points

West Division
Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Edmonton Eskimos
18 12 6 0 479 400 24
Calgary Stampeders 18 10 8 0 522 442 20
Saskatchewan Roughriders 18 8 10 0 413 479 16
BC Lions 18 8 10 0 429 536 16
East Division
Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Toronto Argonauts 18 15 3 0 660 327 30
Montreal Alouettes 18 13 5 0 509 532 26
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 18 4 14 0 443 548 8
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 18 2 16 0 362 549 4
  • Bold text means that they clinched playoff spots.
  • Edmonton and Toronto both had first round byes.
  • Due to the cross-over rule – the BC Lions played the Montreal Alouettes in the East Semi-Final Game.

Grey Cup playoffs

The

Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian
.

Playoff bracket

November 2: Division Semifinals November 9: Division Finals November 16:
Edmonton, AB
         
E2 Montreal Alouettes 30
East
E1 Toronto Argonauts 37
W4 BC Lions 35
E2 Montreal Alouettes 45
E1 Toronto Argonauts 47
W3 Saskatchewan Roughriders 23
W3 Saskatchewan Roughriders 31
West
W1
Edmonton Eskimos
30
W3 Saskatchewan Roughriders 33
W2 Calgary Stampeders 30

CFL Leaders

  • CFL Passing Leaders
  • CFL Rushing Leaders
  • CFL Receiving Leaders[1]

1997 CFL All-Stars

Offence

Defence

Special teams

1997 Eastern All-Stars

Offence

Defence

Special teams

1997 Western All-Stars

Offence

Defence

Special teams

1997 Intergold CFLPA All-Stars

Offence

Defence

Special teams

Head coach

[2]

1997 CFL Awards

References

  1. ^ "CFLapedia".
  2. ^ 1997 Intergold CFLPA All-Stars