The Ontario Provincial Football League (OPFL) has welcomes the Scarborough Thunder (Scarborough Minor Football) and the Brantford Bisons (Bisons Football – Brant & District Football Club)  as its newest members at the Premier division for the 2020 season as part of the league’s commitment to growing amateur football in Ontario. Both new centers will have teams competing at the Bantam, Junior and Varsity levels.

“We are thrilled to continue the expansion process with the Bisons and Thunder, and will continue to work closely with other organizations that have reached out to ensure they are able to secure a suitable home for their players.” said OPFL President Terry Barkley. On the importance to have representation in the various geographical areas, Barkley says "It’s great when you see an opportunity for local kids to discover the game, to develop their skills and have that stepping stone when they're ready to move on to the next level."

Since 1964, the Bisons name has been prominent in the Brantford and neighbouring communities. The Brantford Bisons , also known as the Brant District & Football Club have had a long proven history of developing championship teams. The organization has evolved different league starting with the Jungle League, moving to the Ontario Rugby Football Union and more recently in the Ontario Football Conference. Moving into 2020, Bisons President Jason Nagy said the organizations was very excited to join the Ontario Provincial Football League. “We have a long history of providing youth football in Brantford, dating back to 1964, and this allows us to continue that tradition. We look forward to competing with some of the strongest youth football clubs in Ontario while continuing to developing our players and grow our program.”

The Thunder will be reuniting with many former competitors in the 2020 season as they join the OPFL. When the Scarborough Thunder’s General Manager, Mike Fascione was asked what moving to the OPFL means for their organization and their players, he said “We believe that by moving to the OPFL we align ourselves to be playing the best competition at all levels”. The Scarborough Minor Football Association was founded 33 years ago when some of the remaining teams from the Scarborough Boys Football League came together to ensure the youth of Scarborough would be able to continue to learn the game of Football.

The OPFL Founders and Executive Council continues to be impressed with the organizations and excited about the direction of the OPFL.. “We all look forward to partnering with like-minded football groups committed to developing the sport.” says OPFL Vice-President Peter Wilkie.

The Ontario Provincial Football League (OPFL) has announced its newest member at the Premier division for the 2020 season as part of the league’s commitment to growing amateur football in Ontario. The Toronto Junior Argonauts have joined the growing list of teams competing in the OPFL.

Kingston, ON – Established in 2004, the Toronto Jr. Argos Football Program has accumulated five Provincial Championships. The franchise, representing the City of Toronto, will field teams in the Premier Varsity and Premier Junior Varsity divisions for the upcoming OPFL season. “It is appropriate that this elite Ontario-wide football league has a team from the provincial capital and we are excited that we will be representing the entire city,” said the Jr. Argos Board of Directors. 

“We are thrilled to continue the expansion process with the Toronto Junior Argonauts, and will continue to work closely with other organizations that have reached out to ensure they are able to secure a suitable home for their players.” said OPFL President Terry Barkley. On the importance to have representation in the various geographical areas, Barkley says "It’s great when you see an opportunity for local kids to discover the game, to develop their skills and have that stepping stone when they're ready to move on to the next level."

When asked about his plans for the teams Junior Head Coach, André Brock, said the organizations was excited to get their kids back on the field playing the sport we all love and they are very eager to test themselves versus the very best that the province has to offer.

“I continue to be impressed with the organizations and excited about the direction of the OPFL” said OPFL Vice-President Peter Wilkie. “We all look forward to partnering with like-minded football groups committed to developing the sport.”

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About the Ontario Provincial Football League: Ontario Provincial Football League is a not-for-profit corporation overseen by a volunteer board of directors and executive council. Our volunteers are committed to four objectives: create an environment where like-minded centers can play football at the highest level, promoting a tiered environment for the development of football in Ontario, providing maximum exposure for post-secondary opportunities and focusing on the physical and mental wellbeing of our players. We that maintaining a competitive football atmosphere combined with our community values make us unique.

As part of the league’s commitment to growing amateur football in Ontario, the Ontario Provincial Football League (OPFL) is happy to welcome the Orléans Bengals Football Club who in collaboration with University of Ottawa (uOttawa) Varsity Athletics will be operating the Junior Gee-Gees program as the newest members at the Premier division for the 2021 season. The Junior Gee-Gees teams will be competing at the Bantam, Junior and Varsity levels with their home game being played at the Gee-Gees stadium.

“We are very happy to see an expansion in eastern, and will continue to work closely with other organizations that have reached out to ensure they are able to secure a suitable home for their players in the appropriate divisions.” said OPFL President Terry Barkley. On the importance to have more representation in the east, Barkley says "It’s great when you see clubs step up to offer opportunities for local kids to develop their skills and have that stepping stone when they're ready to move on to the next level."

Moving into 2021, Qasim Khan, President of the Orléans Bengals Football Club said the organization was very excited to join the Ontario Provincial Football League. “We have a long history of providing youth football Ottawa, dating back to 1973, and this allows us to continue that tradition. The OMFA is extremely excited with what the future has in store for us.” As a University of Ottawa alumni and a former Winnipeg Blue Bomber, Qasim wants nothing more to provide players with all the opportunities to bring their game to the next level. “Providing student athletes the opportunity to extend their careers is the goal and in collaboration with our partners we are honored in having this opportunity with the OPFL and the University of Ottawa to provide these student athletes with options to play football at the next level.” says Khan.

Another key player in standing up the Junior Gee-Gees program is Aldège Bellefeuille, currently Manager of Football Operations for the University of Ottawa Gee Gees football team. Over the past 12 years, Aldège served in various executive and coaching positions with the Orléans Bengals Football Club. In this capacity, Bellefeuille was a key architect of his club's anti-bullying program "Be a Bengal not a Bully", which won the prestigious Royal Ottawa Inspiration Award in 2012.

The OPFL Founders and Executive Council continues to be impressed with the organizations and excited about the direction of the OPFL. “We are happy to continue to welcome like-minded football groups committed to developing the sport and we will continue to work on expanding our league.” says OPFL Vice-President Peter Wilkie.

Although the 2020 season came to a complete halt as a result of covid-19 and how it has impacted our lives in ways we never could have imagined, the OPFL has remained committed to the development of youth football and is looking at all possible options for its members going into 2021.

About the Orléans Bengals Football Club & Orléans Minor Football Association (OMFA):

The OMFA incorporates the Orléans Bengals of the National Capital Amateur Football Association and the Orléans Raftsmen of the Québec Midget Football League. The Orléans Bengals and was established in 1973 providing recreational opportunities to youth in Orléans. The club has more than 200 participants, ranging in age from 7 to 17, offering cheerleading, girls touch football, flag football, and five different age groups of competitive tackle football. The club’s mandate is to provide a competitive recreational program for children and youth through the medium of Canadian football, while promoting and encouraging good sportsmanship and fellowship among all participants at a cost that is attainable to all members of our diverse socioeconomic community. The Orléans Raftsmen Midget team, part of the OMFA, plays its football season in the Québec Midget Football League (QMFL). The Raftsmen began its inaugural season in the QMFL in 2018. In 2020, the OMFA has entered into a partnership with the uOttawa Gee-Gee’s to further provide a unique football experience for players in the Ottawa area. By playing in the competitive level divisions, the opportunity provided by spring/summer teams at the Bantam, Junior Varsity and Varsity age groups for the 2021 season. This partnership will see the uOttawa Football Junior Gee-Gees benefit from the uOttawa experience and abilities of university student-athletes and coaches.

For more information contact;

OPFL - Terry Barkley, President at info@opfl.ca – www.OPFTB.ca

Orleans Minor Football Association (OMFA)- Qasim Khan, President at qasim.khan.ottawa@gmail.com  - www.orleansbengals.ca