The Lethbridge Vipers have been denied the opportunity to join the Canadian Junior Football League, March 28, 2023. (Photo: Lethbridge Vipers)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge Vipers denied for Canadian Junior Football League expansion

Mar 29, 2023 | 6:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – “It was kind of a punch in the gut. It was heartbreaking.” Lethbridge Vipers Founder Anthony Parker said it was difficult to learn that the city, at least for now, will not be getting a junior football team.

Parker attended the Canadian Junior Football League’s (CJFL) Prairie Football Conference AGM in Saskatoon earlier this month, trying to get approval for an expansion.

While he said league officials were impressed by his presentation, the answer was ultimately no.

“They said that they still didn’t believe there was enough financial sustainability long-term in Lethbridge, even though we’ve been trying to show them that there is a lot of financial growth and there’s been a lot of financial promises made to the program to grow it,” said Parker.

He told LNN that the other reason for being denied was that some of the CJFL presidents and team owners did not want to take on the financial responsibility of travelling to another community.

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Parker said he has been working for the last three years to establish the Vipers, gaining support from community members, organizations, and government officials along the way.

“I felt like I was letting not only the City of Lethbridge down, but all these kids that are looking for more football opportunities,” Parker added.

If the franchise expansion were to have been approved, the Vipers would have played out of the University of Lethbridge Community Sports Stadium.

According to Parker, it would have been a similar program to the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Lethbridge Bulls .

“For the city, it would have brought in a lot more football-playing students to [Lethbridge College] and the University of Lethbridge,” said Parker. “For the area, it would have given the kids another opportunity.”

For young football players looking to advance in their careers, Parker said it would have been a great way for students coming out of high school to gain more experience and potentially be scouted by coaches within the Canadian Football League.

Despite the setback, however, Parker told Lethbridge News Now that he is “not done trying to support football in Lethbridge.”

He said there have been rumblings of people who are wanting to start a junior B football league. Parker has secured the support of Nike Football and two-time Grey Cup champion Keon Raymond to bring a football camp to the city.

If he can firm up greater levels of financial support, Parker said there is the possibility that he could try again for a CJFL franchise expansion.

The CJFL has teams spanning B.C. to Ontario. The Prairie Football Conference currently consists of six clubs: the Calgary Colts, Edmonton Huskies, Edmonton Wildcats, Regina Thunder, Saskatoon Hilltops, and Winnipeg Rifles.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now