Canadian Junior Football League
New CJFL logo as of the 2021 season
SportCanadian football
Founded1974
CommissionerJim Pankovich
Motto"A Canadian Tradition Since 1883"
No. of teams19 teams, split into 3 conferences
CountryCanada
Most recent
champion(s)
Saskatoon Hilltops (2023)
Official websitecjfl.org

The Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) is a national Major Junior Canadian football league consisting of 19 teams playing in five provinces across Canada. The teams compete annually for the Canadian Bowl. Many CJFL players move 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 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

Conference Team City Stadium Founded
Ontario Football Conference GTA Grizzlies Toronto, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium 2014
Ontario Football Conference Hamilton Hurricanes Hamilton, Ontario Tim Hortons Field 1963
Ontario Football Conference London Beefeaters London, Ontario City Wide Sports Complex 1975
Ontario Football Conference Quinte Skyhawks Belleville, Ontario Mary Ann Sills Park 2021
Ontario Football Conference Ottawa Sooners Ottawa, Ontario Keith Harris Stadium 1960
Ontario Football Conference St. Clair Saints Windsor, Ontario Acumen Stadium 1929
Prairie Football Conference Calgary Colts Calgary, Alberta Shouldice Athletic Park 1967
Prairie Football Conference Edmonton Huskies Edmonton, Alberta Clarke Stadium 1954
Prairie Football Conference Edmonton Wildcats Edmonton, Alberta Emerald Hills Sports Pavillion 1948
Prairie Football Conference Regina Thunder Regina, Saskatchewan Mosaic Stadium 1999
Prairie Football Conference Saskatoon Hilltops Saskatoon, Saskatchewan SMF Field 1947
Prairie Football Conference Winnipeg Rifles Winnipeg, Manitoba Maple Grove Park 1999
B.C. Football Conference Kamloops Broncos Kamloops, British Columbia Hillside Stadium 2007
B.C. Football Conference Langley Rams Langley, British Columbia McLeod Stadium 1948
B.C. Football Conference Okanagan Sun Kelowna, British Columbia Apple Bowl 1980
B.C. Football Conference Prince George Kodiaks Prince George, British Columbia Masich Place Stadium 2022
B.C. Football Conference Valley Huskers Chilliwack, British Columbia Exhibition Stadium 1999
B.C. Football Conference Vancouver Island Raiders Nanaimo, British Columbia NDSS Field 2005
B.C. Football Conference Westshore Rebels Langford, British Columbia Starlight Stadium 1971

Future teams

Team City Stadium Founded First season
Sault College Cougars[2][3][4] Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Superior Heights Secondary School 2023 2025
Lethbridge Vipers[lower-alpha 1] Lethbridge, Alberta Lethbridge Community Stadium 2020 TBD
Former CJFL logo in use until 2021
  1. Originally planned to play in 2022, but delayed to at least 2024.[5][6][7]

Defunct teams

Burlington Braves

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 to 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. Archived from the original on December 7, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  2. "New Team on the Block: Sault College Cougars Join OFC". Ontario Football Conference. November 29, 2023.
  3. CJFL: Lethbridge Application submitted
  4. "Welcome Sault College Cougars". CJFL. November 29, 2023.
  5. "New Junior Football Club starting in Lethbridge". lethbridgenewsnow.com. Oct 8, 2020.
  6. CJFL: Lethbridge Application submitted
  7. "Prairie Football Conference 2022 Final Schedule" (PDF). CJFL. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
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