Canadian Junior Football League

Canadian Junior Football League
Sport Canadian football
Founded 1974
Commissioner Jim Pankovich
Motto "A Canadian Tradition Since 1883"
No. of teams 18 teams, split into 3 conferences (each with 6 teams)
Country Canada
Most recent
champion(s)		 Saskatoon Hilltops
Official website CJFL.org

The Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) is a national amateur Canadian football league consisting of 18 teams playing in six provinces across Canada. The teams compete annually for the Canadian Bowl. Many CJFL players moved on to professional football careers in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and elsewhere.

Formed May 8, 1974, The CJFL's formal mission statement is: "The Canadian Junior Football League provides the opportunity for young men aged 17 to 22 to participate in highly competitive post-high school football that is unique in Canada. The goal of the league is to foster community involvement and yield a positive environment by teaching discipline, perseverance and cooperation. The benefits of the league are strong camaraderie, national competition and life-long [sic] friends."

A handful of standout players are typically signed directly to CFL rosters each season, while U Sports permits up to two years of play in leagues such as the CJFL before a player begins to lose eligibility.

The 9-team Quebec Junior Football League was formerly part of the CJFL, but eventually withdrew and now operates independently. Meanwhile, The Ontario Football Conference (OFC) consists of two divisions: Varsity Division (ages 11 to 19) and Junior Division (ages 17 to 22).[1] While the Junior Division remains affiliated to the CJFL and its teams compete for the Canadian Bowl, the Varsity Division is operated solely by the OFC.[1]

Current teams

Ontario Football Conference

Team Location Stadium
GTA Grizzlies Toronto, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium
Hamilton Hurricanes Hamilton, Ontario Tim Hortons Field
London Beefeaters London, Ontario TD Stadium
Niagara Raiders St. Catharines, Ontario Kiwanis Field
Ottawa Sooners Ottawa, Ontario Keith Harris Stadium
Windsor AKO Fratmen Windsor, Ontario University of Windsor Stadium

Prairie Football Conference

Team Location Stadium
Calgary Colts Calgary, Alberta McMahon Stadium
Edmonton Huskies Edmonton, Alberta Clarke Stadium
Edmonton Wildcats Edmonton, Alberta Clarke Stadium
Regina Thunder Regina, Saskatchewan Mosaic Stadium
Saskatoon Hilltops Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Saskatoon Minor Football Field
Winnipeg Rifles Winnipeg, Manitoba Investors Group Field

British Columbia Football Conference

Team Location Stadium
Kamloops Broncos Kamloops, British Columbia Hillside Stadium
Langley Rams Langley, British Columbia MacLeod Stadium
Okanagan Sun Kelowna, British Columbia Apple Bowl
Valley Huskers Chilliwack, British Columbia Exhibition Stadium
Vancouver Island Raiders Nanaimo, British Columbia Caledonia Park
Westshore Rebels Victoria, British Columbia Westhills Stadium

Defunct teams

Champions by city since 1947

Leader-Post Trophy, 1908-1973; Armadale Cup, 1974-1988; Canadian Bowl, 1989-present.

The national championship was contested from 1908-1946 with breaks for the World Wars and an additional break in the mid-1930s. In these years the championship was won by teams from Toronto (7 times), Montreal (6 times), Hamilton (4 times), Regina (2 times), and once each by Vancouver, Winnipeg, Calgary, Ottawa, Petrolia, St. Thomas, Woodstock, and London.

References

  1. 1 2 "OFC History". OFCVarsity.com. Ontario Football Conference. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
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