Ontario Football Conference returns to CJFL in 2017

The Canadian Junior Football League is proud to announce the Ontario Football Conference (OFC) will rejoin as full members in 2017.

This season the OFC will play at the Provincial level as all seven teams will compete for the Conference championship.  For the 2017 season, the OFC will return  and compete in the Canadian Bowl Championship Series strengthening the CJFL’s national brand.

“I think it`s important,” says CJFL Commissioner Jim Pankovich.   “We have great partners with the BC Football Conference (BCFC) and Prairie Football Conference (PFC) and not having Ontario for those couple of years I think really took the focus away from the national part of what we were doing.  Having them back really strengthens the brand of football that we are playing and we`re looking forward to them coming back for full playing status.”

For the past two seasons the OFC raised their age limit to allow players aged 23 and 24 to be added to their roster and given full playing status.  The age increase eliminated OFC teams to compete at the national level of the CJFL who gives eligibility to players aged 18-22.  This season the OFC will allow 23 year olds to continue to play, before dropping back within the CJFL rules in 2017.

“The Ontario Football Conference, particularly the players and coaches are very excited to be returning to the CJFL and once again becoming eligible to compete for the Canadian Bowl in 2017,” says OFC President Darren Cocchetto.  “Returning to the CJFL allows the OFC teams to once again be part of a league with national boundaries and competing for something more than a provincial championship.”

The Windsor AKO Fratmen have been the class of the OFC for the past three seasons, winning three straight Conference championships.  They will strive for their fourth straight when the OFC kicks off in July.

Both the BCFC and PFC will kick-off their seasons in August culminating with the 2016 Canadian Bowl hosted in the champion of the BCFC.

In the photo: Darren Cocchetto, OFC President and Jim Pankovich, CJFL Commissioner