Bramalea Satellites
Encyclopedia
Bramalea Satellites was a member of the Ontario Rugby Football Union
, a senior league that preceded the Canadian Football League
. When the ORFU ceased, it transferred over to the Northern Football Conference
for the 1973 and 1974 seasons, and the Ontario junior level after that.
The team name is in reference to Bramalea being a "satellite city", as opposed to an orbiting object.
They were previously the East York Argos.
, and had cheerleaders.
, a former Montreal Alouette and Toronto Argonaut. On October 23, the London Lords
gave them their first defeat in two years.
The Satellites met the London Lords again at the 1967 ORFU championship, receiving a loss in the first of the two-game season, due to "over-confidence". Despite an illegal intrusion from the bench, the team won the championship, with a two game total of 27-24. The Lords filed an official protest with the league, asking for the second game to be replayed.
In November 1967, the Chateauguay Ramblers
faced off against the Satellites in the Eastern Football Conference finals in Montreal
, winning 33-13; the Ramblers noted after the game that several of their players were injured, and shouldn't have been playing. (In one of the games leading up to the finals, the team beat the Halifax Marcom Flyers 47-7.)
Before the Canadian Amateur Football Association senior championship versus the St. Vital Bulldogs, team vice-president Bob Orr publicly worried about when the "law of averages" would catch up with the team, having won 54 out of the previous 56 games. They won their fourth consecutive national win, at a "rain drenched" the Etobicoke Centennial Stadium, 4-0. The team expected that many players would retire after the game. (The opposing team's lead rusher, Don Kuyrk, rescheduled his wedding four times while the CAFA changed its dates.)
The Toronto Argonauts released eight season vet Jim Copeland, a mainstay of their punt return team; he joined the team, getting 20 touchdowns on route to the ORFU championships. After the win and an injury on the Argos, he rejoined the CFL as a backup man to Mike Wickum, missing the Eastern and Canadian senior championships.
Having played with the Calgary Stampeders
in 1967, Ed Aru spent the 1968 season with Bramalea, being drafted to the Argos in 1969.
Released at the start of the Canadian Football League
season, Toronto Argonauts
player Tom Johansen went to play with the Satellites. When Argos player Dave Mann was injured, he was "instantly" available to the Argos. As taxi squads weren't permitted by the CFL, this and halfback Dickie Moore's availability was widely questioned. Around a dozen former Argos played on the Bramalea team in the 1969 season.
In both the 1973 and 1974 seasons, the team was unbeaten. They beat the Sudbury Spartans
for the James Pestolis Memorial Trophy and Donald Plaunt Memorial Trophy. Following three teams being declined for the 1975 season (Sudbury Spartans, North Bay Ti-Cats and Sault Ste. Marie Steelers), the Satellites withdrew to compete at the Ontario junior level.
It was quite successful during its time in the NFC. Rick Morenz was the NFC's leading scorer in 1973, with 102, and Stu Wright in 1974, with 127. Angelo Raggin was the Lineman of the Year in 1973, Buddy Bendall in 1974. The Sid Forster Memorial Coach of the Year went to Bubba Marriott in 1973.
Morenz is the only NFC Hall of Fame player from Bramalea, being inducted in 1990. He holds the league's all-time Touchdowns - Rushing record, with six, in a 1973 game versus the North Bay Ti-Cats.
Partway through the 1979 OFC season, the Lakeshore Bears and Scarborough Rams folded. The resulting realignment paired Brampton with the Oshawa Hawkeyes, Sarnia Golden Bears, Brantford Bisons, and St. Catherines Raiders, considered by sports media as the weaker division.
Brampton itself folded at the end of the season, with the two divisions combined. It holds no records.
Ontario Rugby Football Union
The Ontario Rugby Football Union or ORFU was an early amateur Canadian football league with teams in the Canadian province of Ontario. The ORFU was founded in 1883 and in 1903 became the first major competition to adopt the Burnside Rules, from which the modern Canadian football code would...
, a senior league that preceded the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. When the ORFU ceased, it transferred over to the Northern Football Conference
Northern Football Conference
-Teams:-Defunct teams:...
for the 1973 and 1974 seasons, and the Ontario junior level after that.
The team name is in reference to Bramalea being a "satellite city", as opposed to an orbiting object.
They were previously the East York Argos.
Ontario Rugby Football Union
The team practiced five evenings a week at Bramalea Secondary SchoolBramalea Secondary School
Bramalea Secondary School is a high school located in Brampton, Ontario, operating under the Peel District School Board. Established in 1963, Bramalea has a proud tradition of excellence, school spirit, and community involvement...
, and had cheerleaders.
1967
John Bennett came out of retirement to coach the team in their new location, having sat out the 1966 season. Their team included John Bennett, a former McGill star, and Doug McNicholDoug McNichol
Douglas McNichol is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes and the Toronto Argonauts. After playing college football at the University of Western Ontario, McNichol spent his entire 11 year CFL career as an defensive lineman...
, a former Montreal Alouette and Toronto Argonaut. On October 23, the London Lords
London Lords
The London Lords were a Canadian football team of the 1950s and 1960s from London, Ontario. They played their home games at Labatt Park. They won the last Ontario Rugby Football Union Senior championship in 1960, and then continued to play ORFU Intermediate football until the league folded.-ORFU...
gave them their first defeat in two years.
The Satellites met the London Lords again at the 1967 ORFU championship, receiving a loss in the first of the two-game season, due to "over-confidence". Despite an illegal intrusion from the bench, the team won the championship, with a two game total of 27-24. The Lords filed an official protest with the league, asking for the second game to be replayed.
In November 1967, the Chateauguay Ramblers
Chateauguay Ramblers
The Chateauguay Ramblers were a junior football team in Châteauguay, Quebec during the 1960s and 1970s playing, at different times, in the Quebec Senior Football League, Quebec Juvenile Football League and the Quebec Junior Football League. In 1967 they defeated the Sudbury Spartans for the Eastern...
faced off against the Satellites in the Eastern Football Conference finals in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, winning 33-13; the Ramblers noted after the game that several of their players were injured, and shouldn't have been playing. (In one of the games leading up to the finals, the team beat the Halifax Marcom Flyers 47-7.)
Before the Canadian Amateur Football Association senior championship versus the St. Vital Bulldogs, team vice-president Bob Orr publicly worried about when the "law of averages" would catch up with the team, having won 54 out of the previous 56 games. They won their fourth consecutive national win, at a "rain drenched" the Etobicoke Centennial Stadium, 4-0. The team expected that many players would retire after the game. (The opposing team's lead rusher, Don Kuyrk, rescheduled his wedding four times while the CAFA changed its dates.)
The Toronto Argonauts released eight season vet Jim Copeland, a mainstay of their punt return team; he joined the team, getting 20 touchdowns on route to the ORFU championships. After the win and an injury on the Argos, he rejoined the CFL as a backup man to Mike Wickum, missing the Eastern and Canadian senior championships.
1968
Their quarterback this season was John Henry Jackson. The team had a slow start, with their first win coming in their fifth game, beating Sarnia Imperials 39-0; among their early bouts that season, they lost 47-0 to the Downriver Indians team, newly moved to Windsor. By late September, the team was tied for second place in the league, with the St. Catherines Rams.Having played with the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
in 1967, Ed Aru spent the 1968 season with Bramalea, being drafted to the Argos in 1969.
1969
In mid-October, the team moved into a tie for first place in the league, with the St. Catherine Rams.Released at the start of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
season, Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
player Tom Johansen went to play with the Satellites. When Argos player Dave Mann was injured, he was "instantly" available to the Argos. As taxi squads weren't permitted by the CFL, this and halfback Dickie Moore's availability was widely questioned. Around a dozen former Argos played on the Bramalea team in the 1969 season.
Northern Football Conference
Both the London Lords and Bramalea Satellites applied to join the Northern Football Conference; both were accepted, but London never followed through.In both the 1973 and 1974 seasons, the team was unbeaten. They beat the Sudbury Spartans
Sudbury Spartans
The Sudbury Spartans are an amateur gridiron football team based in the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario. Established in 1952, it is the longest, continuously-operating sports organization in Sudbury...
for the James Pestolis Memorial Trophy and Donald Plaunt Memorial Trophy. Following three teams being declined for the 1975 season (Sudbury Spartans, North Bay Ti-Cats and Sault Ste. Marie Steelers), the Satellites withdrew to compete at the Ontario junior level.
It was quite successful during its time in the NFC. Rick Morenz was the NFC's leading scorer in 1973, with 102, and Stu Wright in 1974, with 127. Angelo Raggin was the Lineman of the Year in 1973, Buddy Bendall in 1974. The Sid Forster Memorial Coach of the Year went to Bubba Marriott in 1973.
Morenz is the only NFC Hall of Fame player from Bramalea, being inducted in 1990. He holds the league's all-time Touchdowns - Rushing record, with six, in a 1973 game versus the North Bay Ti-Cats.
Ontario Football Conference
The Satellites transferred to the Canadian Junior Football League's Ontario Football Conference in 1975. Players at this level are 17 to 22.Partway through the 1979 OFC season, the Lakeshore Bears and Scarborough Rams folded. The resulting realignment paired Brampton with the Oshawa Hawkeyes, Sarnia Golden Bears, Brantford Bisons, and St. Catherines Raiders, considered by sports media as the weaker division.
Brampton itself folded at the end of the season, with the two divisions combined. It holds no records.
OFC standings
| Season | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 392 | Tied last, Eastern CJFL Canadian Junior Football League The Canadian Junior Football League is a national amateur Canadian football league consisting of 19 teams playing in six provinces across Canada. The teams compete annually for the Canadian Bowl... |
|
| 1976 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 270 | Last, Eastern CJFL | |
| 1977 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 75 | 258 | 5th of 6, Eastern CJFL | |
| 1978 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 66 | 222 | Last, Eastern CJFL |