Canadian Junior Football League
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Junior Football League is a national amateur Canadian football
league consisting of 19 teams playing in six provinces across Canada. The teams compete annually for the Canadian Bowl
. Many CJFL players have gone on to professional football careers in the CFL
and elsewhere.
The CJFL's formal mission statement is: "The Canadian Junior Football League provides the opportunity for young men aged 17 to 22 to participated 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 friends."
A handful of standout players are typically signed directly to CFL rosters each season, while Canadian Interuniversity Sport
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.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
league consisting of 19 teams playing in six provinces across Canada. The teams compete annually for the Canadian Bowl
Canadian Bowl
The Canadian Bowl is the championship of the Canadian Junior Football League. The three league champions participate in the playdowns for the championship. One champion receives a bye to the game, while the other two play off in the Jostens Cup. The bye rotates among the three...
. Many CJFL players have gone on to professional football careers in the CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
and elsewhere.
The CJFL's formal mission statement is: "The Canadian Junior Football League provides the opportunity for young men aged 17 to 22 to participated 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 friends."
A handful of standout players are typically signed directly to CFL rosters each season, while Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
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
Quebec Junior Football League
The Quebec Junior Football League operated from 1970 to the present, as a successor to the Quebec Juvenile Football League. It began competition as a conference of the Canadian Junior Football League from which it eventually withdrew. Upon withdrawal from the CJFL, the QJFL incorporated teams from...
was formerly part of the CJFL, but eventually withdrew and now operates independently.
B.C. Football Conference
- Langley Rams
- Chilliwack HuskersChilliwack HuskersThe Chilliwack Huskers are a Canadian Junior Football team based in Chilliwack, British Columbia. The Huskers play in the eight-team B.C. Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl. The...
- Kamloops BroncosKamloops BroncosThe Kamloops Broncos are a Canadian Junior Football team based in Kamloops, British Columbia. The Broncos play in the six-team B.C. Football Conference , which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl.The team was...
- Okanagan SunOkanagan SunThe Okanagan Sun are a Canadian Junior Football team based in Kelowna, British Columbia. The Sun play in the eight-team B.C. Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl...
- Vancouver Island RaidersVancouver Island RaidersThe Vancouver Island Raiders are a Canadian Junior Football team based in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The Raiders play in the eight-team B.C. Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl...
- Westshore Rebels
Prairie Football Conference
- Calgary ColtsCalgary ColtsThe Calgary Colts are a Canadian Junior Football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Colts play in the six-team Prairie Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl...
- Edmonton HuskiesEdmonton HuskiesThe Edmonton Huskies are a Canadian Junior Football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The Huskies play in the six-team Prairie Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl...
- Edmonton WildcatsEdmonton WildcatsThe Edmonton Wildcats are Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The Wildcats play in the Prairie Football Conference, which is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes for the league championship, the Canadian Bowl...
- Regina ThunderRegina ThunderThe Regina Thunder, originally known as the Prairie Thunder, are a junior football club, based out of Regina, Saskatchewan. The Thunder are a part of the Prairie Football Conference , which is a six member conference with teams from all three prairie provinces...
- Saskatoon HilltopsSaskatoon HilltopsThe Saskatoon Hilltops are a Canadian Junior Football team based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The Hilltops play in the six-team Prairie Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl. The team...
- Winnipeg RiflesWinnipeg RiflesWinnipeg Rifles are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They began playing in the Canadian Junior Football League in 2002. They play at Canad Inns Stadium, home of the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.-History:...
Ontario Football Conference
- Burlington BravesBurlington BravesThe Burlington Braves are a Canadian junior football league team. Founded in 1958 in Burlington, Ontario, they presently play in the Ontario Football Conference of the Canadian Junior Football League. Two legendary CFL Hall of Fame players started their football careers with the Braves: Tony...
- Hamilton Hurricanes
- London BeefeatersLondon BeefeatersThe London Beafeaters are a CJFL football team located in London, Ontario. They play in the Ontario division....
- Ottawa SoonersOttawa SoonersThe Ottawa Sooners are a Canadian football team based in Ottawa. The team originally played in the Ontario Football Conference of the Canadian Junior Football League. The team had achieved success during its play in the CJFL, winning a total of 4 National Championships...
- St. Leonard CougarsSt. Leonard CougarsThe St. Leonard Cougars are a CJFL football team located in St. Leonard, Quebec. They play in the Ontario division....
- Twin Cities Predators
- Windsor AKO Fratmen
- Brampton Bears
Defunct Teams
- Abbotsford Air ForceAbbotsford Air ForceThe Abbotsford Air Force was a Canadian Junior Football team based in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The Air Force played in the eight-team B.C. Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl...
(AbbotsfordAbbotsford, British ColumbiaAbbotsford is a Canadian city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Vancouver. It is the fifth largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 123,864 people . Its Census Metropolitan Area, which includes the District of Mission, is the 23rd largest in Canada,...
, B.C.British ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
) - North Vancouver Argos (North VancouverNorth Vancouver, British ColumbiaThere are two municipalities in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, that use the name North Vancouver. These are:*The City of North Vancouver...
, B.C.) - Richmond Raiders (1978-1992, RichmondRichmond, British ColumbiaRichmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
, B.C.) - Tri-City BulldogsTri-City BulldogsThe Tri-City Bulldogs were a Canadian Junior Football team based in Coquitlam, British Columbia. The Bulldogs played in the B.C. Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl.The Bulldogs...
(1925-2004, Coquitlam, B.C.) - Vancouver TrojansVancouver TrojansThe Vancouver Trojans are a Canadian Junior Football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Trojans play in the eight-team B.C. Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl...
(Burnaby, B.C.) - Red Deer RebelsRed Deer RebelsThe Red Deer Rebels are a Western Hockey League junior ice hockey team based in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. They play their home games at the ENMAX Centrium....
(Red DeerRed DeerThe red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
, AlbertaAlbertaAlberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
) - Calgary Mohawks (CalgaryCalgaryCalgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, AlbertaAlbertaAlberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
) - Calgary Cougars (CalgaryCalgaryCalgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, AlbertaAlbertaAlberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
) - Medicine Hat RattlersMedicine Hat RattlersThe Medicine Hat Rattlers football club was a junior football team and existed in the Canadian Junior Football League from 1976 – 1979. The team played in the Alberta Junior Football League in 1976, then in 1977 the name was changed to the Prairie Junior Football Conference. The final season...
(Medicine Hat, AlbertaAlbertaAlberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
) - Regina RamsRegina RamsThe Regina Rams are the CIS football team that represents the University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Rams nickname is used by the university's football team only; all other teams at the school are named Regina Cougars...
(ReginaRegina, SaskatchewanRegina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, SaskatchewanSaskatchewanSaskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, moved to the CISCanadian Interuniversity SportCanadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
) - Fort Garry Lions (WinnipegWinnipegWinnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, ManitobaManitobaManitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
) - St. Vital Mustangs (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
- Winnipeg Hawkeyes (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
- Winnipeg Rods (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
- Brampton Satellites (BramptonBramptonBrampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.Brampton may also refer to:- Canada :* Brampton, a city in Ontario** Brampton GO Station, a station in the GO Transit network located in the city- United Kingdom :...
, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) - Brantford Bisons (BrantfordBrantford, OntarioBrantford is a city located on the Grand River in Southern Ontario, Canada. While geographically surrounded by the County of Brant, the city is politically independent...
, Ontario) - Cornwall EmardsCornwall EmardsThe Cornwall Emards were a team in the Quebec Senior Football League in the 1950s. In 1958 they lost to the Verdun Shamcats in the league championship....
(CornwallCornwall, OntarioCornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
, Ontario) - Oshawa Hawkeyes (OshawaOshawaOshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
, Ontario) - Ottawa Junior RidersOttawa Junior RidersThe Ottawa Junior Riders are a Canadian football team based in the Nepean area of Ottawa. The team began operations in 1995 as the Gloucester Redskins, and operated as such until the conclusion of the 1996 QJFL season...
(OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario, moved back to the QJFL after 2005) - Sault Ste. Marie Storm (Sault Ste. MarieSault Ste. Marie, OntarioSault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
, Ontario) - Thunder Bay Giants (Thunder BayThunder Bay-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario) - Chateauguay RamblersChateauguay RamblersThe Chateauguay Ramblers were a junior football team in Châteauguay, Quebec during the 1960s and 1970s playing, at different times, in the Quebec Senior Football League, Quebec Juvenile Football League and the Quebec Junior Football League. In 1967 they defeated the Sudbury Spartans for the Eastern...
(Chateauguay, QuebecQuebecQuebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
) - Laval Scorpions (LavalLaval, QuebecLaval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
, Quebec) - Notre-Dame-de-Grace Maple LeafsNotre-Dame-de-Grace Maple LeafsThe Notre-Dame-de-Grace Maple Leafs also known as the NDG Maple Leafs were a junior Canadian football team based in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood of Montreal, Quebec from 1946 to 1973...
(MontrealMontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec, merged with the Verdun Invictus, renamed to the Verdun Maple Leafs, then the Montreal Junior Alouettes, and finally the Montreal Junior Concordes) - St. Hubert Rebelles (Saint-HubertSaint-Hubert, QuebecSaint-Hubert is a borough in the city of Longueuil, located in the Montérégie region of Quebec, Canada. It had been a separate city prior to January 1, 2002, when it along with several other neighbouring south shore municipalities were merged into Longueuil. According to the Quebec Statistics...
, Quebec) - Verdun ShamcatsVerdun ShamcatsThe Verdun Shamcats were a team in the Quebec Rugby Football Union from 1950 until 1966. The team was formed in July 1950 by the amalgamation of five local Verdun junior teams originally created in 1945, into a single, more competitive team in the junior Quebec Rugby Football League...
(Verdun, Quebec) - Ville-Émard JuvenilesVille-Émard JuvenilesThe Ville Emard Juveniles was a junior football team from Ville Emard, Quebec, and played in the Quebec Senior Football League, Quebec Juvenile Football League and the Quebec Junior Football League in the 1950s and 1960s....
(Ville-ÉmardVille-ÉmardVille-Émard is a neighbourhood located in the Sud-Ouest borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is the home of Angrignon Park.-Geography:This neighbourhood is bordered by the Aqueduct Canal, the borough of Verdun and the neighbourhood of Côte-Saint-Paul to the east, the borough of LaSalle to the...
, Quebec)
External links
- Canadian Junior Football League
- British Columbia Football Conference
- Prairie Football Conference
- Ontario Football Conference
- Big Kahuna Rams
- Burlington Braves
- Calgary Colts
- Chilliwack Huskers
- Edmonton Huskies
- Edmonton Wildcats
- Hamilton Hurricanes
- Kamloops Broncos
- London Beefeaters
- Okanagan Sun
- Regina Thunder
- Saint Léonard Cougars
- Saskatoon Hilltops
- Toronto Junior Argonauts
- Vancouver Island Raiders
- Vancouver Trojans
- Victoria Rebels
- Windsor AKO Fratmen
- Winnipeg Rifles