The Ontario Football Conference opens this weekend with all six teams in action.

This week’s games:

Ottawa Sooners @ London Beefeaters
Windsor AKO Fratmen @ GTA Grizzlies
Hamilton Hurricanes @ Niagara Regional Raiders (OFC Game of the Week)

WINDSOR AKO FRATMEN – 2015 OFC Champs

2015 Record: 8-0 (first place)
Points For: 297
Points Against: 57

2016 Strengths: Defense will continue to be a strength, pressure on the quarterback and sacks with a knack for creating turnovers is a staple of what Mike Morencie’s defence does.   A physical running game will also be featured once again with three starting offensive linemen back in the fold and 230lb running back Cody McCann returning.

Players To Watch:

DB/WR/K Tyler Storie: Tyler will build off his 2015 rookie of the year campaign to help lead not only the defence but the offense and special teams as well.  He is a ‘do everything’ type of player that is hungry for a CFL future.  He spent time this offseason with the Tiger Cats and came back to the Fratmen looking to make his presence felt.

QB Austin Lumley: Back for his fourth and final season Austin is looking to take the next step in his development progression as the top passer in the OFC.  With three OFC Championships already under his belt he sees no better way to wrap up his junior career than leading the Fratmen to a four-peat in the Ontario Conference.

DL/LB Darren Quennell: This season he looks to improve on an outstanding 2015 by displaying his range and athletic ability in the Fratmen force unit.   Playing both the rush end position and linebacker Darren will have plenty of opportunities to add to his 10 sacks and 14 tackles for loss of yardage that he built up last year.

OL DeMarcus Ware: At 6’4” 340lbs DeMarcus will not go unnoticed on the field in any game.  The fact that he was a 2015 OFC All-Star should gain him even more attention.  

Biggest addition to the Fratmen: DB Austin Crumb, DL Colin Lesperance and LB Matt Chamberlain join the Fratmen after spending time with the University of Windsor of the CIS. This will be Crumb’s second stint with the Fratment after named the OFC Championship MVP in 2013.

Biggest change to the club: With the rule change regarding age limit the Fratmen lost 18 of 25 starters.  It’s a very new roster with big time talent after the jump to the CFL by Llevi Noel (Toronto Argos) and Dillon Grondin (Saskatchewan Roughriders).   New faces but the same expectations…….OFC Championship.

HAMILTON HURRICANES

2015 Record: 6-2 (second place)
Points For: 293
Points Against: 196

2016 Strengths:   The linebacker position is stacked led by 2015 CIS President’s Trophy winner John Rush, Farouk Musa, Shoka Fonderson and former VI Raider Nigel Henry

Players To Watch:

QB Jake Marquette
QB Liam Putt
DL Spencer Turpin (6 tackles and 2 assisted tackles – 2015)
DL Stefan Evangelisto (1 tackle, 1 assisted tackle, 1 sack – 2015)

Biggest addition to Hurricanes – Linebacker John Rush, 2015 CIS President’s Trophy winner

Biggest changes to club – Getting younger and starting to prepare for the return to the CJFL in 2017

OTTAWA SOONERS

2015 Record: 6-2 (third place)
Points For: 275
Points Against: 183

2016 Strengths:  The Sooners return over half of their roster who competed in the 2015 OFC title game including quarterback Nick Gorgichuk who will lead a powerful offense, Kwasi Gyamfi-Adusei, OFC’s leading rusher last year anchors a deep and explosive backfield. Cassidy Malenfant, Vincenzo Trunzo, Ben von Jagow and Josh Bourbonniere return as top veteran receivers. The Offensive line is led by veteran player Josef Pisani and returning players Caleb Palmateer and Adam Ghadban.  Meanwhile the Defence will feature thirteen returning players this season with added depth to the linebacker and defensive line positions.

Players to Watch:

QB Nick Gorgichuk (60 of 113 for 773 yards, 7 touchdowns and 1 interception – 2015)

LB Jordon Gorgichuk (22 tackles, 6 asssisted tackles, 3 blocks, 1 knockdown, 1 fumble recovery and 2 interceptions – 2015)

RB Kwasi Gyamfi-Adusei (82 carries, 783 yards and 8 touchdowns – 2015)

DL Ryan McNamee (1 tackle and 4 assisted tackles – 2015)

Biggest addition to Sooners: The Sooners have added great depth in all positions on the offense with too many new names to mention. They expect many of the Sooners’ new recruits to make an immediate impact on the field this year. The defensive side of the ball remains well balanced with even more depth added to all positions most notably on the defensive line.

Biggest changes to club: New ownership, with John and Tammy Allarie now piloting the team. The vision of John and Tammy coupled with a new coaching and management staff aims to bring back the greatness of Sooners' past with the excitement and passion of the Sooners future.

With a focus on recruiting, the new coaching staff, led by HC Geoff Graham,(OC - Christian Nalli, DC – Paul Deek, WR’s - Curtis Barr, RB’s - Jamie Gagnon, OL - Shawn Calder, LB-DB - Cheeler Lindor, DL-STC Blair Sampson, K – Chris Nelson and QB coach – Ron Raymond) was extremely successful in attracting experienced players to camp this year. The Sooners had approximately 100 players come through the doors this spring to compete for a spot on the roster. This was driven by the reputations and experience of the new coaching staff and the Allaire’s commitment to support football in Ottawa for years to come.

LONDON BEEFEATERS

2015 Record: 4-4 (fourth place)
Points For: 241
Points Against: 209

2016 Strengths:  The Beefs will be young with great enthusiasm.

Players To Watch:

RB Dwaine Stewart (89 carries, 526 yards and a touchdown – 2015)

LB Waseem Ghozayel (27 tackles, 14 assisted tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble – 2015)

DB Isaiah Nganga (18 tackles, 3 assisted tackles, 1 knockdown, 3 interceptions and a touchdown – 2015)

RB Joel Clubine

Biggest addition to the Beefeaters: Cameron Geddies and Chris Bunting

Biggest change to the club: An almost entire new coaching staff

NIAGARA REGIONAL RAIDERS (formally the Burlington Braves)

2015 Record: 2-6 (fifth place)
Points For: 141
Points Against: 264

2016 Strengths: the defensive line, the unit with the most CJFL experience.

Players To Watch:

QB John Peele
WR Kale Rive
DL Joel Williams
S Jess Damm

Biggest addition to the Raiders: the positive strides in recruiting through Niagara College and Brock University as well as the 19 high school programs in the area.

Biggest change to the club: a new home for this franchise which was based in Burlington last year as the Braves.  Coach Brad Anderson also has 10 great assistants to work with.

GTA GRIZZLIES

2015 Record: 2-6 (sixth place)
Points For: 120
Points Against: 206

2016 Strengths: Special Teams and Defence. They are building on their successful defence last year as well as focussing on winning the special teams battles.

Players To Watch:

DB Zammad Gambari: currently practicing with the Toronto Argos and traveling with the team.  He will be one of their most explosive players.  

K Patrick Taccogna:  Invited to the Argos camp and practice team.  He has a strong leg and will be important to the special teams success.  They will rely heavily on his leg during the regular season.

RB Rakeem Simms:  New addition, explosive running back with a lot of breakaway speed.

WR Kelvin Muamba:  Former Montreal Alouettes wide receiver, he is looking for a shot to get back on a CFL roster and wants to show his talents in the CJFL.

Biggest addition to the Grizzlies: Kelvin Muamba via Montreal, defensive lineman Patrick Jones a Laurier University transfer, linebacker Tyler Dekkers from PEI and running back Rakeem Simms a OVFL All-Star.

Biggest change to the club: the partnership with the Toronto Argonauts.  It has given their athletes a glimpse into what is needed to play at the next level.  The buzz and tempo around their team this year is greater than years past.