The WIFU and the IRFU continued to suspend operations for the 1944 season for the duration of World War II. In late August, the Winnipeg Rugby Club (aka Blue Bombers) suspended operations for the 1944 season. The team loaned its equipment to local high schools. The Regina Roughriders disbanded in early October. Unlike the previous season, the 1944 Roughriders did not have servicemen available to the team. Regular practices were conducted but the team gave up on the season when they failed to recruit enough civilian men to field a team. On the field, The Hagersville Flying Tigers would take the OASFL by a half a game over the Toronto Bulldogs, while the Hamilton Flying Wildcats would take the ORFU by one game over Toronto Balmy Beach, the Hyacinthe-Donnacona Navy would take the QRFU by one game over the McGill Redmen, and the Winnipeg Wireless School Bombers would take the MISRL by one game over the Rivers Pathfinders. The 32nd Grey Cup was played on November 25, 1944, before 3,871 fans at Civic Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario. The St. Hyacinthe-Donnacona Navy defeated the Hamilton Flying Wildcats 7–6. After Dutch Davey's rouge in the opening quarter, St. Hyacinthe took a 6-0 lead into halftime. Joe Krol, star of the 1943 Grey Cup, was hit hard on a run in the second quarter, and coughed up the ball to a St. Hyacinthe's player. The Donnies took advantage of the miscue, as Davey completed a forward pass to Johnny Taylor, who ducked through the Hamilton line and ran 10 yards for the major. The Wildcats were kept off the scoreboard for three quarters. In the final 15 minutes of action, Hamilton's ground game went to work, as Krol, Paul Miocinovich and Tom Hickey picked up the necessary yardage from midfield. Miocinovich capped off the scoring drive for Wildcats, and Krol kicked a convert tie the score. Davey went on to kick the winning single late in the game, as St. Hyacinthe held on to win the crown. It was the only time Krol lost the Grey Cup in his storied career. There wasn't a lot of interest in the game, as only 3,871 paid to see the contest at Hamilton's Civic Stadium. It was the last time Grey Cup attendance was below 10,000 fans. It was the final time in Grey Cup history that two eastern teams competed for Canada's top football prize. It was also the last time service clubs played for the coveted prize, as things returned to normal following the conclusion of World War II in 1945.