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Recent London Beefeaters News

Team Canada Returns

By CJFL Media 02/14/2025, 3:15pm PST

Former CJFL players make up the senior men's national team

For the first time since 2011, the Canadian maple leaf will be flying internationally at senior men’s tackle football events in 2025.

Football Canada recently announced their 2025 Team Canada roster for senior men’s and it is litter with former CJFL players.  The final list of 45 players are currently preparing for it’s first international qualification match against Italy in April which makes it the first international appearance in 14 years.

The head coach of Team Canada is Jesse Maddox who led the London Beefeaters for one season and assisted with the Okanagan Sun for another.  He’s excited to have put this team together and says, “This roster is built to make a statement: Canada is back, and we are committed to setting the standard for Senior Men’s Tackle Football on the international stage.”

Team Canada’s roster includes 11 players with CJFL experience with each player getting excited to dawn the maple leaf.  Running back Jamel Lyles will be a focal point for Canada after rushing for the Westshore Rebels in 2016 helping them clinch a Cullen Cup title collecting 1604 yards and 15 touchdowns. 

“Simply a dream come true, it’s an honour and a privilege to be able to represent our country on the international stage,” says Lyles. We have an amazing coaching staff from top to bottom and all the guys are working to make sure we put our best foot forward and come home with a gold medal.  As for me, I will make sure our presence is felt!  I’ve been ready for a true opportunity for sometime now and grateful that this presented itself. This is for everyone who never gave up on their dreams.”

Joining Jamel on the roster are the following players and the CJFL team(s) they played for:

  • Hayden Aims – London Beefeaters
  • Shawn Charles (pictured) - Ottawa Sooners and Langley Rams
  • Makana Henry – Burlington Braves
  • Kent Hicks – Westshore Rebels
  • Hakeem Johnson – London Beefeaters
  • Ben von Jagow – Ottawa Sooners and London Beefeaters
  • Chris Larson – Westshore Rebels
  • Jayden Lawson – Calgary Colts
  • Jordan Sye – Langley Rams
  • Daniel Woloshin – Regina Thunder

"Representing my country is not just an honour, it's a responsibility," added Shawn Charles.  "Every play, every moment, is for Canada. I don't know how much better it could get!"

The CJFL is also represented on the Team Canada coaching staff as well with Travis Miller, Okanagan Sun head coach taking care of the tight-ends and Brandon Sanford of the Valley Huskers will assist with the offensive line.

The CJFL wishes the senior men’s national team best of luck during international play in 2025 and beyond. 

 

A Football Story: Brody Fairbairn

By CJFL Media 02/11/2025, 2:30pm PST

The Beefeaters southpaw quarterback

Photo courtesy of Joanna Kurowski Photography

Quarterback Brody Fairbairn of the London Beefeaters made an impact during the 2024 season, his final year of CJFL eligibility.  

He was a dual threat quarterback who could pass the ball down the field as well as use his legs to get out of trouble and turn nothing into something.  The lefty threw for 637 yards on 43 completions and six touchdowns, completing 68.3% of his passes.

On the ground he rushed for 212 yards and scored four touchdowns on 39 carries, averaging over seven yards each time.

Prior to a Beefeaters home game in 2024, Brody stopped to talk to Ryan Watters to share his Football Story.  
 

CFL Invitational Combine 2025

By CJFL Media 01/30/2025, 12:15pm PST

Five players have been invited to show off their skills

Photo courtesy of Joanna Kurowski Photography and Wanda Harron Photography

A total of four CJFL players have been invited to the CFL Invitational Combine on February 28th in Waterloo, Ontario in hopes of winning an invitation to the national Combine scheduled from March. 19-23 in Regina. 

The Invitational Combine will test the player’s athletic skills including speed, power, strength and agility under the watchful eye of CFL coaches and scouts. 

Running back LJ Dyer was a First Team All-Canadian in 2023 rushing for 1158 yards on 136 carries and scored nine touchdowns for his hometown London Beefeaters. This past season he galloped 811 yards, averaging over six yards a carry and scored 10 touchdowns. 

Defensive back Gaddy Kazadi, also from London Ontario won a Canadian Bowl title with the St. Clair Saints in 2024 after being named a First Team All-Canadian.  He was a lock down defensive back that quarterbacks would shy away from as he intercepted three passes, had 14 solo tackles, blocked two kicks, knocked down three passes and recovered a fumble.

Receiver Rylan Sokul played for the Regina Thunder and was a massive target in their passing game being named a CJFL First Team All-Canadian in 2021 and 2022.  In those two regular seasons he combined to haul in 82 receptions for 1290 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Receiver CJ Vincent helped the Westshore Rebels win the BC Conference Cullen Cup in 2023 averaging 18.8 yards a reception on 27 catches and 507 yards and two touchdowns.   During the Canadian Bowl he caught eight passes for 77 yards. 

Receiver Noah Avery built personal confidence in 2022 as a member of the Ottawa Sooners and was an immediate sponge learning everything he needed to know.  His personal growth paid off as he graduated from the Sooners program and attended the University of Ottawa.  He is now on his way to the CFL Invitational Combine!

All five players have graduated from the CJFL but are looking to continue their careers at the next level and turn pro.