Doug Smylie

Doug Smylie was an outstanding four sport athlete, adept at boxing, hockey track and football.  Prior to World War II, Smylie played junior hockey in the OHA and then while serving in the RCAF as a bombadier, Smylie won medals in track and field and boxing.  Smylie's football career at the senior level (the highest at the time) started in 1944 with Toronto Balmy Beach.  During the war, Smylie played for military teams - Toronto RCAF Hurricanes in 1943 and Hagersville in the QRFU in 1944.  After the war, Smylie spent time at Cornell University before joining the Toronto Argonauts in 1945.  Smylie played in the 1945 Grey Cup for the Argonauts as they beat Winnipeg 35-0.  Smylie scored the first touchdown of the game which as it turned out was the winning points for the Argos.  In 1946, Smylie joined the Montreal Alouettes for their first season of play. Smylie moved on to play for the Ottawa Trojans of the ORFU in 1947 as the Trojans won the ORFU title.  Smylie remained in Ottawa for 1948, but with the Rough Riders.  Smylie went to the Grey Cup with the Rough Riders in 1948, but lost 12-7 to the Calgary Stampeders in the year Stampeder fans rode horses into the lobby of the Royal York hotel in Toronto and revolutionized the Grey Cup.  In the game itself, Calary won thanks to a sleeper play that saw Calgary quarterback Keith Spaith hit Norm Hill for a touchdown with Smylie unfortunately being one of the Ottawa defenders who didn't see Hill.  Smylie returned to the Toronto Argonatus in 1949 and played another five seasons (1949-53) with the double blue.  Smylie won his second and third Grey Cups with the Argos in 1950 (the famous mud bowl) and 1952.  In 1951, Smylie set a CFL record with a 95 yard kickoff return for a touchdown, a record that was not broken until 1981. Doug Smylie passed away on March 19, 1983.

Doug Smylie in the Mississauga Sports HOF

Doug Smylie With Toronto RCAF Hurricanes - October 13, 1943

Smylie Trying Out With Argos - September 19, 1945

Doug Smylie in the 1945 Grey Cup

Smylie With Trojans For Start of Season - September 6, 1947

Doug with Brother Rod and Cousin Doc With Ottawa Trojans - November 17, 1947

Doug Smylie in the 1948 Grey Cup

Smylie Swings Fists At Argo Import - September 1, 1949

Doug Smylie Bio at findagrave.com

 

GP+Points
Year Team GP PTS
1941 TBB    
1943 TRH

1944 HAG

1945 TOR
0
1946 MON 8 0
1947 OTR

1948 OTT 11 21
1949 TOR 7 7
1950 TOR 11 15
1951 TOR 12 30
1952 TOR 12 5
1953 TOR 13 15

Prior to 1960 in the East, full game participation stats were not kept and prior to 1954, only scoring stats and games played for players who scored points were kept. The 1946 games played stat comes from the 2004 Montreal Media Guide and is unofficial.

Doug Smyllie

Doug Smyllie