The WIFU and the IRFU suspended operations for the duration of World War II. A couple of military teams based in Toronto, the RCAF Hurricanes and the Navy York Bulldogs joined the regular ORFU teams like Balmy Beach and the Toronto Indians. The Ottawa Rough Riders continued operation, but as part of the an Ottawa based league. Out West, a three team Winnipeg city league was formed with the Winnipeg Bombers, the University of Manitoba Bisons and a military team called the RCAF Flyers. In 1942, the top two teams in each league would qualify for the playoffs and the right to compete for the 1942 Grey Cup Championship. In the first round it was the Toronto RDAF Hurricanes over the Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers 24-0, the Ottawa RCAF Uplands over the Ottawa Rough Riders 9-0, and the Winnipeg Bombers would win a two-game point total of 34-29 over the Winnipeg RCAF Flyers. In the semi-finals, it was the Hurricanes over the Uplands 18-13, and the Bombers over the Regina Navy 13-6, setting up the match-ups for the 1942 Grey Cup Championship. The Toronto RCAF Hurricanes battled the Winnipeg RCAF Bombers on an icy field at Varsity Stadium in Toronto. Lew Hayman, winner of three Grey Cups with the Toronto Argonauts in the 1930s, coached the Hurricanes and improved his unblemished record in the big game. Both offenses had trouble in the first half, as Toronto could only muster a 2-0 lead in the opening 30 minutes of play. A couple of turnovers proved to be almost costly for both sides. Eddie Thompson's poor lateral pass to Bill Stukus allowed Rube Ludwig to recover the ball for the Bombers on the Toronto 12-yard line. But Thompson made up for the miscue by intercepting Wayne Sheley's intended pass for Chester McCrance. Thompson dashed 65 yards down field before being pushed out of touch by Johnny Lake. Winnipeg finally got on the scoreboard in the third quarter when Sheley completed a pass to Lloyd Boivin in the end zone. Don Durno blocked the convert attempt, keeping the score 5-2 in favour of the Bombers. Toronto then took the lead for good. Don Crowe carried the ball 39 yards to the Winnipeg three-yard line before being tackled by McCrance. John Poplowski finished the scoring drive on his short run to the end zone, putting the Hurricanes ahead 7-5. Crowe reeled off another big run in the fourth quarter, this time 37 yards to set up Toronto's final point of the contest. Crowe kicked for the rouge, giving the Hurricanes a three-point win. Winnipeg relied heavily on its passing game, while Toronto secured the victory on the ground. The Bombers gained 121 yards in the air, compared to the Hurricanes' 22. Toronto rushed for 218 yards, while Winnipeg could only gain 75. Some believed that had the playing surface been better, the Bombers would have been able to out-perform the Hurricanes.