Sault College Cougars to join Canadian Junior Football League in 2025

The Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) has officially grown to 20 teams after adding the Sault College Cougars, who will join the Ontario Football Conference (OFC) in 2025.

The Cougars plan to field a 65-man roster with Paul Orazietti, the school’s athletic director, leading the program. The process of creating a coaching staff is currently underway, as is player recruitment.

“Our goal at Sault College is to invest in sports programs deeply rooted in the local community, and football certainly fits this bill,” said Orazietti in a statement. “Sault Ste. Marie boasts incredible local talent for a community of its size, and our hope at the college is to provide our local high school players with the opportunity to pursue both a post-secondary education and a post-secondary football experience while remaining in their hometown or in Northern Ontario.”

Sault College was established in 1965 and has a student population of approximately 4,500. The Cougars currently field baseball, curling, soccer, and cross-country teams in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) and hockey teams in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).

“We know football will add a tremendous buzz on campus,” said Orazietti. “Sault College Athletics invites the community to join them in celebrating this momentous occasion as they embark on their journey in the CJFL, shaping the future of college life in Sault Ste. Marie. Go Cougars!”

The other clubs in the OFC include the Quinte Skyhawks, GTA Grizzlies, St. Clair Saints, London Beefeaters, Hamilton Hurricanes, and Ottawa Sooners.