The CJFL is excited to welcome our 20th franchise to begin play in 2025; the Sault College Cougars who will play in the Ontario Conference. 

Sault College Athletics is thrilled to announce its entry into the CJFL marking a historic moment for the institution and the community of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The newly formed team, the Sault College Cougars, is set to kick off its inaugural season in the summer of 2025, bringing the excitement of college football to the heart of Northern Ontario.

The Sault College Cougars will compete in the Ontario Football Conference (OFC) of the CJFL, where they will face formidable opponents, including the Quinte Skyhawks, GTA Grizzlies, St. Clair Saints, London Beefeaters, Hamilton Hurricanes, and the Ottawa Sooners. The competition is fierce, with the winner of the OFC advancing to the national championship stage for a shot at the Canadian Bowl, battling the top teams from the Prairie and BC Conferences.

Sault College is committed to building a competitive program, and the Cougars will feature a sixty-five-man roster. Student athletes will be eligible from ages 18 to 23. The selection process for the coaching staff and player recruitment is already underway, with Sault College’s Athletic Director Paul Orazietti, former Associate Head Coach at the University of British Columbia, set to lead the program in its initial seasons.

"Our goal at Sault College is to invest in sports programs deeply rooted in the local community, and football certainly fits this bill," stated Paul Orazietti. "Sault Ste. Marie boasts incredible local talent for a community of its size, and our hope at the College is to provide our local high school players with the opportunity to pursue both a post-secondary education and a post-secondary football experience while remaining in their hometown or in Northern Ontario.”

The College envisions football becoming a major cornerstone of campus life, contributing to the vibrancy of student engagement. The sport will also be a primary focus for the new turf field planned at Sault College, creating a dynamic space for both athletes and fans.

"We know football will add a tremendous buzz on campus," added Orazietti.  "Sault College Athletics invites the community to join them in celebrating this momentous occasion as they embark on their journey in the CJFL, shaping the future of college life in Sault Ste. Marie. Go Cougars!"

For more information, to volunteer or for sponsorship opportunities, please contact: Paul Orazietti - Athletic Director, Sault College Email: athletics@saultcollege.ca
 

Photo courtesy of Joanna Kurowski Photography 

The Canadian Junior Football League in conjunction with the Ontario Conference are proud to announce the 2023 Conference All-Stars.

There are nine positional categories, and the St. Clair Saints lead the Conference with 10 All-Stars.

The 2023 Ontario Conference All-Stars are:

Offensive Line:
Ezzat Elnagmi – St. Clair Saints
Kevin Ricard – London Beefeaters
Jared Balasz – London Beefeaters
Ahmed Hafizi – Ottawa Sooners
Frank Vreugdenhil – Hamilton Hurricanes

Running Backs:
LJ Dyer (pictured) – London Beefeaters (second consecutive season) – he won the Ontario Conference rushing title with 1158 yards on 136 carries and had nine touchdowns

MJ Doyle-Marshall – St. Clair Saints – he averaged over nine yards a carry this past regular season collecting 593 yards on 64 carries and scored seven touchdowns

Receivers:
Javier Lewis - St. Clair Saints – he caught 20 passes for 536 yards and had a Conference high seven touchdowns

Darius France – St. Clair Saints – he had 18 receptions for 391 yards and had three touchdowns 

Marcus Lynch – Ottawa Sooners – he led the Ontario Conference with 39 receptions and 628 yards while scoring four touchdowns

Jagger Horst – London Beefeaters – he averaged over 16 yards a catch gathering 344 yards on 21 receptions and scored two touchdowns

Nick Szigeti – Quinte Skyhawks – he hauled in 26 receptions for 443 yards and a had a pair of touchdowns

Quarterback:
Maurice Sodja – St. Clair Saints – he completed over 60% of his passes this year and threw for 898 yards. He completed 44 passes and struck for 11 touchdowns with a pass efficiency rating of 142. 

Place Kicker:
Jad Olleik – Ottawa Sooners – he connected on 12 field goals including a Conference long 51 yarder.  He was also a perfect 29-29 in converts 

Defensive Line:
Richard Graham – Ottawa Sooners (second consecutive season) – 24 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery for a touchdown, 1 blocked kick, 1 interception for a touchdown, 2 knockdowns

Carl Fabre – St. Clair Saints – 16 tackles, 8 sacks, 10 assisted tackles

Mo Ibraheem – St. Clair Saints 5 – 7 tackles, 4 sacks, 5 assisted tackles

N’Kosi Stewart – London Beefeaters – 17 tackles, 1 sack, 7 assisted tackles

Linebackers
Keewone Parker – St. Clair Saints – 20 tackles, 18 assisted tackles, 1 blocked kick, 1 forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries

Noah Nelson – Ottawa Sooners – 23 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, one for a touchdown, 1 forced fumble, 7 assisted tackles

Zach Chaddock – Hamilton Hurricanes – he had 28 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 knockdown, 6 assisted tackles 

Defensive Backs:
Nathanial Norton – St. Clair Saints (second consecutive season) 9 – 13 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 6 assisted tackles

Felix Ofori – GTA Grizzlies (second consecutive season) – 34 tackles, 1 sack, 1 knockdown, 1 interception, 6 assisted tackles

Billy Patterson Jr. – St. Clair Saints 3 – 16 tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 knockdowns, 0.5 sacks, four assisted tackles

Schneider Jean-Baptiste – Ottawa Sooners – 14 tackles, 1 interception for a touchdown, 1 knockdown, 6 assisted tackles

Drew Lawrence – London Beefeaters – 13 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 knockdowns, 1 assisted tackle

Teagan Good – Quinte Skyhawks – he had 40 tackles, four interceptions, seven knockdowns and seven assisted tackles

Punter:
Teagan Good – Quinte Skyhawks – he tallied 47 punts averaging 35.8 yards

The Ontario Conference will enter the playoffs this weekend with a pair of games as the top seeded St. Clair Saints host the Ottawa Sooners and the London Beefeaters welcome the Hamilton Hurricanes.  Next week the Conference will reveal the 2023 Major Award winners.