The Hamilton Hurricanes have announced Barry Emo as their new head coach after Jason Hayes stepped down after an incredible career. 

“I’m very excited to be a part of this great organization and I’m looking forward to continuing the great tradition of the Hamilton Hurricanes,” said Emo.

He joins the Hurricanes with over 40 years of playing and coaching experience at all levels of football.  He started his playing career with Thistletown Collegiate then moved onto the CJFL to play for the Brampton Satellites and the Etobicoke Argonauts.  Emo played for Northeast Missouri State (DII) on a scholarship and spent time on the practice rosters of the Ottawa Roughriders and Toronto Argonauts.

Coach Emo spent 10 years coaching in the Northern Football Conference (NFC) with the Mission Marauders, Oakville Longhorns and Steel City Patriots.   He won a provincial title and national championship in 2004 with Milton and has the highest winning percentage in NFC history.  Emo was named the Coach of the Year in 2004, 2005 and 2017 and was inducted into the NFC Hall of Fame in 2014.  He has also coached with the Guelph Gryphons of the OUA in Ontario, Nelson High School in Burlington as defensive line coach and defensive coordinator and won the OFSAA Independence Bowl in 2019.

“The staff that we are putting together has so much potential and upside,” continued Emo.  “The staff is full of talent from all levels of football in Canada and our goal is to win a Canadian Bowl championship, but more impactful than that, we want to develop football players and good quality people to make a difference in our communities.  We have all the necessary tools to lay the groundwork for a title run.”

Team President Mike Samuel is looking forward to what Coach Emo and his staff bring to the storied franchise.  “The appointment of Barry Emo as our new head coach brings renewed optimism for 2023 and the future of Hurricanes football.  His background speaks for itself, and we are excited to see him at work next season.”

The Hurricanes 2023 schedule will be released sometime in the spring.

The Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) is proud to announce the First-Team All-Canadians for the 2022 season.

Offensive Line
Jayson Kehler – Saskatoon Hilltops
Connor Klassen – Regina Thunder
Isaiah Letander – Valley Huskers
Corey Levesque – St. Clair Saints
Jeff Vander Werff – Okanagan Sun

Receivers
Isaac Foord – Regina Thunder – 40 receptions for 638 yards and 8 touchdowns

Jared Hayes-Williams – St. Clair Saints - 33 receptions for 617 yards and 6 touchdowns

Kieran Poissant – Westshore Rebels – 44 receptions for 811 yards and 10 touchdowns

Rylan Sokul – Regina Thunder – 44 receptions for 669 yards and 4 touchdowns

Running Backs
Taz Bell – London Beefeaters - 86 carries for 554 yards and three touchdowns

Alex Gayle – Edmonton Huskies – 150 carries for 923 yards and 10 touchdowns 

Quarterback
Te Jessie – Westshore Rebels – 169 of 305 for 2864 yards, 28 touchdowns and completed 55% of his passes

Punter
Eric Maximuik – Regina Thunder – 41 punts averaging 34.5 yards and 1 single

Place Kicker
AJ Williamson – London Beefeaters - 19 of 25 in field goals, 76% with his longest being 49 yards, 21 of 22 in coverts

Defensive Line
Dylan Clarke – London Beefeaters - 23 tackles, 9 assists, 6.5 sacks, 1 blocked kick, 5 knockdowns, 2 fumble recoveries with 1 for a touchdown

Riece Kack – Saskatoon Hilltops – 20 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception

Reece McCormick – Regina Thunder- 16 tackles, 4 assisted tackles, 3 sacks

Kelon Thomas – Okanagan Sun – 11.5 sacks, 19 tackles, 1 blocked kick, 1 knockdown, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery

Linebackers
Jaiden Claassen – Valley Huskers – 43 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 knockdown, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception

Konner Johnson – Saskatoon Hilltops – 31 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 knockdowns, 4 interceptions 

Isaiah Joseph – Hamilton Hurricanes - 43 tackles, 11 assists, 1 sack, 2 knockdowns, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception

Defensive Backs
Sean Adams – VI Raiders – 34 tackles, 2 blocked kicks, 3 knockdowns, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions

Damien Bucknor – Calgary Colts – 36 tackles, 1 knockdown, 1 forced fumble, 2 interceptions 

Keagan Curtis – Kamloops Broncos – 9 interceptions, 28 tackles, 2 knockdowns

Justin McKerracher – Regina Thunder – 5 interceptions, 1 returned for a touchdown, 16 tackles, 6 knockdowns, 1 fumble recovery 

Nathanial Norton – St. Clair Saints - 12 tackles, 2 assists, 4 interceptions, 2 knockdowns

Return Specialist
Mike O’Shea – Okanagan Sun – 44 punt returns, 649 yards and 3 touchdowns, 14 kick-off returns for 362 yards

The CJFL Major Award winners will be announced on Friday at the Celebration of Excellence.