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Recent Okanagan Sun 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. 

 

Okanagan Sun Sign Five

By CJFL Media 01/24/2025, 10:00am PST

The Cullen Cup champs are using Letters of Intent

Photo courtesy of allsportmedia.ca

As of January 24, 2025 the Okanagan Sun have signed five players for the upcoming season using the CJFL Letter of Intent program.   Each CJFL team is allotted 10 letters that can be used prior to the National Signing Day on June 1st. 

Last season the Sun running game was simply outstanding behind Elelyon Noa who set a new BC Conference single season record for yards.  He has since graduated making room for the club to sign former Westshore Rebel and All-Canadian Gerren Hardisty. 

During the 2023 season in Westshore he helped the Rebels to a Cullen Cup title rushing for 1084 yards on 108 carries and scored 13 touchdowns. The Rebels hosted the Canadian Bowl that season and he rushed for 90 yards on 16 carries in the driving rain.  Last year he was part of the York University Lions and saw limited action recording eight carries for 49 yards. He will add another threat to the defending Cullen Cup champions in 2025 after his All-Canadian performance two years ago.   His 2023 highlight reel is below.

Speaking of the Sun running game they have also used two of their Letters of Intent to sign a pair of offensive linemen in former Calgary Colt Mitch Murphy and American Duke Hubbard Jr who played at Lincoln University Missouri in 2024.

Defensively two linemen have signed with the Sun as well.  Former Colt Jack Fishman will head to Kelowna after making five solo tackles and had two assists in 2023.  Kevin Kennedy will join the Sun from Bill Crothers Secondary School in Unionville Ontario, about 32kms north of downtown Toronto.