The New Year is here and for most of us it’s a time to reset, refocus and try once again to hang onto our resolutions for the next 12 months.  For the 19 CJFL teams, preparation for the 2026 season is well underway as they hope their own New Years resolutions will help them to success by holding the Canadian Bowl trophy over their head in November.

With resolutions fresh on your mind, here is just one for each of the seven teams in the BC Conference.

OKANAGAN SUN

Stay the course

This Sun franchise has appeared in the last two Canadian Bowls, both on the road resulting in heartbreaking losses.  They did get a measure of revenge in the CJFL national semi-final game beating the visiting St. Clair Saints, but untimely penalties hurt them tremendously in the national championship in Saskatoon.  Head coach Travis Miller and the rest of the coaching staff don’t need to change their schemes and systems much with all their success they have had in recent years.  Recruiting will be an important part of the offseason filling holes left by some of the talented graduates, but this Sun team continues to be the team to beat in BC. 

WESTSHORE REBELS

Run the ball

Over the past few seasons, the Rebels have been more or less a one-dimensional offensive team throwing the football thanks to some highly skilled and talented quarterbacks, but to have success in the CJFL a team must have a run game.  With all the focus on the pass, the top Rebels rusher had only 355 yards in the regular season while the second leading rusher gathered 231.  In total, the Rebels as a team rushed for 1073 yards. Balancing their potent passing attack with a solid ground game can get the Rebels back to the national stage.

PRINCE GEORGE KODIAKS

Start strong

The BC Conference schedule hasn’t dropped yet, but regardless the upstart Kodiaks need to start the 2026 season on the right foot to build upon their first ever playoff appearance last season.  Things on the offensive side will no doubt be different after the graduation of quarterback Sawyer Thiessen, so whoever is named their starting pivot will need to help set the tone early.  Defensively they should be solid with their returning leadership group who can help steal a game or two.  They need that strong start to stay in the hunt out of the gate in a Conference that expects to be very competitive this season.

VI RAIDERS

Dominate defence

The Raiders surprised several BC teams last season as they got back to the Canadian Bowl playoffs as the fourth seed.  Their defence was fast and fierce last year forcing 32 turnovers and featured players in the secondary that had a knack for the football as they combined for 13 interceptions.  The speed off the line caught the opposition on their heels as All-Canadian Tani Wisdom collected 11 sacks and will be hungry for more in 2026 as he’s set to return.  Both Stirling Henry and BC All-Star Max Shippam were major factors on the defence and will return giving the Raiders a veteran laced group that have learned what it takes to win.  They will be a tough group to move the football against this season.

VALLEY HUSKERS

Improve defence

The Huskers took a slight step backwards in 2025, something head coach Bob Reist will no doubt rectify here in the new year.  Their defence allowed the third most points on average in the Conference, something that fans haven’t seen from the Huskers in several seasons.  They lose the heart and sole of their defence after the graduation of Andy Ofosuhene who will be hard to replace but look for the Huskers to fill his cleats by committee rather than replacing his 47 solo tackles with one player.  They will have some holes to fill, but many around the CJFL expect the Huskers to be a lot better defensively in 2026.

LANGLEY RAMS

Resurgence

For the first time since 1988 the Langley Rams didn’t appear in the Canadian Bowl playoffs in 2025, and they immediately took action hiring Jesse Maddox as their new head coach.  He is currently the head coach of Team Canada’s Senior Men’s team that is making waves on the international stage and will bring a wealth of CJFL knowledge to the Rams along with the talented players that want to play for him.  Look for the Rams to be vastly different in 2026 and will no doubt be in the conversation when talking about favourites to win the BC Conference. 

KAMLOOPS BRONCOS

Find offence

The 2025 season was not a very impressive one for the Broncos particularly on the offensive side averaging just six points per game as they finished without a win.   Many thought the addition of former Regina Thunder quarterback Carter Moberg could ignite their club, but he found it difficult to get the ball down the field and in the hands of their playmakers like receiver Colton Meikle.  He made 26 receptions for 240 yards, often facing the opponent’s top defensive back or double coverage.  The Broncos will need to find the personnel that can make an immediate impact at Hillside Stadium in 2026 as this team is desperate to play at a competitive level along with getting back to the Canadian Bowl playoffs.
 

Photo courtesy of @AllSportMedia

The Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) is proud to announce the SECOND-Team All-Canadians for the 2025 season.

Offensive Line
Ameen Fattali – London Beefeaters
Tristen Rapchalk – Regina Thunder
Viktor Rasmussen – Valley Huskers
Zach Barnard – Okanagan Sun
Parker Kellington – Okanagan Sun
Marino Dujela – Westshore Rebels 

Receivers
Jacob St. Hilaire – Edmonton Wildcats - he collected 37 receptions for 533 yards, averaging 14.4 yards a catch and had 4 touchdowns

Jordayne Falconer – Okanagan Sun - he not only returned kicks, but played offensively as well making 27 receptions for 489 yards and 2 touchdowns

Isaiah Vallderruten – Saskatoon Hilltops - he led the Conference averaging 24.5 yards a reception, making 16 catches for 392 yards and had 4 touchdowns

Devin Quammie – Hamilton Hurricanes - he racked up 468 yards on 22 receptions and had four touchdowns

Running Backs
Gerren Hardisty – Okanagan Sun - he won the BC Conference rushing title with 1022 yards on 163 carries and tallied nine touchdowns

Sam Mustapha – Sault Ste. Marie Cougars - he won the Conference rushing title with 854 yards on 76 carries and scored eight touchdowns.

Quarterback
Gavin Session – Westshore Rebels – (pictured) he led the Conference with 193 completions and 28 touchdowns while completing 68% of his passes for 2802 yards with a quarterback efficiency rating of 119.5%

Punter
Grady Hay – Okanagan Sun (second consecutive season) – he booted 34 punts averaging 32.3 net yards and collected 2 singles

Place Kicker
Liam Attwood – Okanagan Sun – with 13 field goals he set a new CJFL record for made field goals in a career, knocked through his personal longest kick of 51-yards and accounted for 109 points this season

Defensive Line
Noah Williams – London Beefeaters (second consecutive season) - he made 12 tackles, had two assisted stops, three sacks and stripped a fumble

Chris Rivero – St. Clair Saints - he tallied seven sacks, had 16 solo tackles, 10.5 for a loss, and had 16 assisted stops

Jonathon Kampen – Regina Thunder - he collected 7 tackles, assisted on 6 others, and had half a sack

Tani Wisdom – VI Raiders - he was outstanding with 11 sacks, 15 solo tackles, had two knockdowns, forced a fumble and had two assisted tackles

Linebackers
Isaac Michayluk – Saskatoon Hilltops (second consecutive season) - making 32 tackles, 22 assists, knocked down three passes, forced two fumbles, recovered one and intercepted three passes

Mo Ibraheem – St. Clair Saints - he had 12 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, assisted on 11 other tackles, had a sack and intercepted a pass, returning in 33 yards for a touchdown

Caiden Crow – Prince George Kodiaks - he collected 45 tackles, 15 assisted tackles, 1 interception, 2 knockdowns and recovered two fumbles

Defensive Backs
Quinn Feodoroff – Calgary Colts - 23 tackles, 7 assisted stops, intercepted four passes, recovered two fumbles, forced one and had two knockdowns

Cameron Coan – Westshore Rebels - led the Rebels with six interceptions, returning two for touchdowns, added 22 tackles, 8 assisted tackles and knocked down a pass

Daikaden Gauthier – Sault Ste. Marie Cougars - he picked off four passes, returning two of them for touchdowns, recovered two fumbles, returning one of them for a major, knocked down five passes, had 12 tackles and assisted on 11 others

Jake Mayo – Regina Thunder - he had 3 interceptions, returned 1 for a touchdown, added 15 tackles, 2 assists, half a sack, a Conference high 6 knockdowns and forced a fumbles

Jace Mowles – Saskatoon Hilltops - he made 3 interceptions, 4 knockdowns, 13.5 tackles

Return Specialist
Jordayne Falconer – Okanagan Sun - he was dynamite returning kicks this year collecting 28 returns, averaging 22.4 yards and returned three punts for touchdowns

The 2025 CJFL First Team All-Canadians will be announced on Friday (tomorrow).