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Recent Regina Thunder News
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.
The CFL welcomes players with CJFL experience
Photo courtesy of AllSportMedia.ca
Thursday morning the CFL revealed the players that have been invited to the 2025 National Combine from March 21-23 and will take place in Regina.
Like most previous years, there are some familiar CJFL faces that have been invited and will attempt to show off their skills catching the eye of CFL coaches and scouts. This is the final time draft eligible players will be able to display their craft in live action in front of the representatives of the CFL.
Linebacker Chopper Hippe played for the Edmonton Wildcats and was simply outstanding in 2018 and 2019. He was named the Prairie Conference Rookie of the Year in 2018 after collecting 35 solo tackles, three assisted stops, two quarterback sacks, blocked a kick, forced a fumble and intercepted a pass. Then in 2019 he led the Conference with 49 solo tackles.
Defensive back Dolani Robinson (pictured) played for the Westshore Rebels for two seasons in 2021 and 2022. When he first got to the Rebels he was on the offensive side of the ball as a receiver and made 13 receptions for 123 yards while also returning 15 kicks for 151 yards. The following season he made the jump to defence and really hit his stride collecting 33 solo tackles, had nine assisted stops, an interception, knocked down three passes and recovered a fumble. He was named a BC Conference All-Star.
Offensive lineman Connor Klassen played a major role for the Regina Thunder in 2021 and 2022. He would help make the Thunder running attack one of the most feared across the country. In 2022 he was named a CJFL First Team All-Canadian and helped the Thunder to host the Canadian Bowl that season. He was named a Prairie Conference All-Star in both 2021 and 2022.
Defensive back Mack Bannatyne played for the Calgary Colts in 2019 and made an impact in the secondary. During the regular season he made 15 solo tackles, assisted on 10 others, collected five knockdowns and intercepted a pass, returning it 17 yards.
These four former CJFLers will join a cast of other draft hopefuls in mid-March to try and solidify their place ahead of the 2025 CFL Draft on April 29th.
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.
Grad Class: Regina Thunder
- By CJFL Media 01/15/2025, 7:15am PST