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Canadian Junior Football League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"CJFL" redirects here. For the Canadian radio station, see CJFL-FM.
Canadian Junior Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024
Official logo (2021)
SportCanadian football
Founded1974
CommissionerJim Pankovich
Divisions3
No. of teams19 teams
CountryCanada
Most recent
champion(s)		Saskatoon Hilltops
(2023)
Most titlesSaskatoon Hilltops
Domestic cup(s)Canadian Bowl
Official websitecjfl.org Edit this at Wikidata

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]

Teams

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The CJFL has 19 teams as of 2024, including 7 in the B.C. conference, 6 in the Prairie conference, and 6 in the Ontario conference.

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

League map

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class=notpageimage|
B.C. Football Conference
Prairie Football Conference
Ontario Football Conference
Future expansion

Future expansion

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The Sault College Cougars are expected to debut as an expansion team in the Ontario Conference in the 2025 CJHL season.[2] The team will be based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and operated by Sault College.[3] A proposed expansion franchise for Lethbridge, Alberta, in the Prairie Conference was rejected by the league in 2023.[4]

Defunct teams

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Former CJFL logo in use until 2021

District)]], B.C.)

District)]], B.C.)

with the Verdun Invictus, renamed to the Verdun Maple Leafs, then the Montreal Junior Alouettes, and finally the Montreal Junior Concordes)

QJFL after 2005) (Ottawa, Ontario)

Trojans) (Vancouver, B.C.)

Interuniversity Sport|CIS]]) (Regina, Saskatchewan)

Meralomas) Coquitlam, B.C.)

Championships

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The Saskatoon Hilltops have won the most national championships since 1974 with 18, followed by the Regina Rams with 11, and the Ottawa Sooners with 4. The national championship is known as the Canadian Bowl. Prior to 1989, league champions were awarded the Armadale Cup. The Leader Post Trophy was awarded under the auspices of the Canadian Amateur Football Association from 1925 through 1973.

Canadian Bowl

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  • 2024 – Windsor St. Clair Saints
  • 2023 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2022 – Okanagan Sun
  • 2021 – Langley Rams
  • 2020 – Not awarded
  • 2019 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2018 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2017 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2016 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2015 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2014 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2013 – Regina Thunder
  • 2012 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2011 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2010 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2009 – Vancouver Island Raiders
  • 2008 – Vancouver Island Raiders
  • 2007 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2006 – Vancouver Island Raiders
  • 2005 – Edmonton Huskies
  • 2004 – Edmonton Huskies
  • 2003 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2002 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2001 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 2000 – Okanagan Sun
  • 1999 – Windsor AKO Fratmen
  • 1998 – Regina Rams
  • 1997 – Regina Rams
  • 1996 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 1995 – Regina Rams
  • 1994 – Regina Rams
  • 1993 – Regina Rams
  • 1992 – Ottawa Sooners
  • 1991 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 1990 – Calgary Colts
  • 1989 – Calgary Colts

Armadale Cup (1974–1988)

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  • 1988 – Okanagan Sun
  • 1987 – Regina Rams
  • 1986 – Regina Rams
  • 1985 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 1984 – Ottawa Sooners
  • 1983 – Edmonton Wildcats
  • 1982 – Renfrew Trojans
  • 1981 – Regina Rams
  • 1980 – Regina Rams
  • 1979 – Ottawa Sooners
  • 1978 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 1977 – Edmonton Wildcats
  • 1976 – Regina Rams
  • 1975 – Regina Rams
  • 1974 – Ottawa Sooners

Leader-Post Trophy

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  • 1973 – Regina Rams
  • 1972 – Hamilton Hurricanes
  • 1971 – Regina Rams
  • 1970 – Regina Rams
  • 1969 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 1968 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 1967 – Edmonton Wildcats
  • 1966 – Regina Rams
  • 1965 – Notre-Dame-de-Grace Maple Leafs
  • 1964 – Edmonton Huskies
  • 1963 – Edmonton Huskies
  • 1962 – Edmonton Huskies
  • 1961 – Winnipeg Rods
  • 1960 – Montreal Rosemount Bombers
  • 1959 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 1958 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 1957 – Toronto Parkdale Lions
  • 1956 – Winnipeg Rods
  • 1955 – Winnipeg Rods
  • 1954 – Windsor AKO Fratmen
  • 1953 – Saskatoon Hilltops
  • 1952 – Windsor AKO Fratmen
  • 1951 – Hamilton Jr. Tiger Cats
  • 1950 – Hamilton Jr. Tiger Cats
  • 1949 – Hamilton Jr. Wildcats
  • 1948 – Hamilton Jr. Wildcats
  • 1947 – Vancouver Blue Bombers
  • 1925 – Montreal AAA

References

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  1. ^ a b "OFC History". OFCVarsity.com. Ontario Football Conference. Archived from the original on December 7, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  2. ^ McDonald, Mike (29 November 2023). "Sault College football expands into the CJFL". CTV News Northern Ontario. Bell Media. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  3. ^ Russon, Randy (5 December 2023). "Football will be the latest varsity sport at the Sault College". Sault This Week. Postmedia. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  4. ^ Opinko, David (29 March 2023). "Lethbridge Vipers denied for Canadian Junior Football League expansion". Lethbridge News Now. Pattison Media. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
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