(CFL.ca wire) — The Ontario Football Conference (OFC) of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) announced expansion for 2008 on Thursday. At the October meetings of the league, applications for membership were received from the Hamilton Hurricanes and the Toronto Junior Argonauts. The League has reached an agreement in principle for the junior division expansion which will be voted on at the Annual General Meeting in February, 2008. These teams to begin operations in 2008 will join existing franchises Windsor AKO Fratmen, London Beefeaters, Burlington Braves and St Leonard (Montreal) Cougars.
The return of the Hamilton Hurricanes will mark the revival of a historic and storied franchise. Hurricane alumni from several generations and CJFL championship performances are behind the bid. The team will be submitting a detailed operational plan to the league and intends to announce their head coach shortly.
The Toronto Junior Argonauts marks the GTA’s return to junior football play. The efforts of the team headed by John Miniaci (Toronto Gridiron) are supported by the grass roots development program of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Significant funding for the team is already in place and the team is now looking to complete its operational arrangements. The team will operate as an affiliate of the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.
The OFC is the Ontario component of the CJFL -– one of the oldest amateur leagues in Canada with a national championship. Teams within the (18 member) CJFL work closely with CFL teams to develop talented athletes aged 19 to 22. The CFL recognizes the CJFL as a developmental league and encourages their teams to be actively involved in the development of Canadian players for the professional league.
In addition the OFC announced an agreement in principle to create a Varsity division (19 and under) as part of the Conference. Applications for the inaugural 2008 season include Burlington Stampeders, Forest City (London) Thunderbirds, Twin Cities (Kitchener-Waterloo) Predators, Toronto Junior Argonauts and York Simcoe Buccaneers. These teams will work closely with local junior teams in the chain of development from the varsity level to the CFL.
