The Canadian Junior Football League ( CJFL ) is a national Major Junior Canadian football league consisting of 19 teams playing in five provinces across Canada . The teams compete annually for the Canadian Bowl . Many CJFL players move on to professional football careers in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and elsewhere.
5-721: The Canadian Bowl is the championship of the Canadian Junior Football League . The three conference champions participate in the playdowns for the championship. One champion receives a bye to the game, while the other two play off in the Jostens Cup. The bye rotates among the three conferences. The 2024 champions are the St. Clair Saints and the team with the most championships are the Saskatoon Hilltops with 23 Canadian Bowl victories. Since 1989
10-472: Is unique in Canada. The goal of the league is to foster community involvement and yield a positive environment by teaching discipline, perseverance and cooperation. The benefits of the league are strong camaraderie, national competition and life-long friends." A handful of standout players are typically signed directly to CFL rosters each season, while U Sports permits up to two years of play in leagues such as
15-530: The CJFL before a player begins to lose eligibility. The 9-team Quebec Junior Football League was formerly part of the CJFL, but eventually withdrew and now operates independently. Meanwhile, The Ontario Football Conference (OFC) consists of two divisions: Varsity Division (ages 11 to 19) and Junior Division (ages 17 to 22). While the Junior Division remains affiliated to the CJFL and its teams compete for
20-894: The Canadian Bowl, the Varsity Division is operated solely by the OFC. The CJFL has 19 teams as of 2024, including 7 in the B.C. conference, 6 in the Prairie conference, and 6 in the Ontario conference. The Sault College Cougars are expected to debut as an expansion team in the Ontario Conference in the 2025 CJHL season. The team will be based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario , and operated by Sault College . A proposed expansion franchise for Lethbridge, Alberta , in
25-644: The game has been known as the Canadian Bowl. From 1976 to 1988 the Canadian championship was known as the Armadale Cup. From 1925 to 1975 the Canadian championship was known as the Leader Post trophy. Canadian Junior Football League Formed May 8, 1974, the CJFL's formal mission statement is: "The Canadian Junior Football League provides the opportunity for young men aged 17 to 22 to participate in highly competitive post-high school football that
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