Steelers and Power Football
Semi pro football fans and followers of the game take note. That is, the gridiron landscape in Ontario is undergoing a shift of major proportions as the newly formed Ontario Power 5 Football League has kicked off the 2024 summer season.
A self described groundbreaking league, comprised of four of the most storied semi pro football teams in Ontario history, the P5FL aspires to redefine the excellence of the sport in the region.
The Ontario Power 5 Football League is currently comprised of the Sudbury Spartans, established in 1952; the Sarnia Imperials, a football institution since 1928; the Tri City Outlaws, emerging onto the scene in 2003; and the Sault Steelers, steeped in tradition since 1972. These four franchises of repute bring decades of “experience, passion, and a relentless pursuit of victory to the forefront of the P5FL”, as noted by league president Barry Rushon.
“We are thrilled to unveil the Ontario Power 5 Football League, a platform where the rich football heritage of Ontario can shine brighter than ever before,” said the legendary Rushon, a former championship coach with the Sault Steelers during their decades as members of the Northern Football Conference. “With the Sudbury Spartans, Sarnia Imperials, Tri City Outlaws, and Sault Steelers leading the charge, the P5FL is poised to captivate football fans across the province and beyond.”
All four teams are former members of the Northern Football Conference.
But the excitement of the new league doesn’t stop with the four teams, said Rushon. In a move that further solidifies the P5FL’s commitment to growth and expansion, a fifth team has provisionally been accepted for the 2025 season.
“The Ontario Power 5 Football League represents a new era of competitive football, where talent, dedication, and community spirit converge on the gridiron. From historic rivalries to thrilling showdowns, the P5FL promises to deliver unforgettable moments and unforgettable football,” added Rushon.
Meantime, long-time Sudbury Spartans head coach Junior Labrosse is of the notion that the new league will provide more stability than the NFC has been able to do over recent years.
“There is going to be some consistency,” Labrosse relayed to Postmedia. “As a league, we (the P5FL) will be able to make a schedule in January at our pre-season meeting and it will be able to stick. For I don’t know how many years (in the NFC) we have seen these teams that say they’re in, then at the last minute, they pull the pin and the schedule shifts and changes everything.”
At any rate, the inaugural season of P5FL competition for the four former members of the NFC began on Saturday with Sudbury playing host to the Sault and Sarnia at home to Tri City.
The Steelers ventured into hostile Spartans territory and emerged with a 22-6 victory to begin the 2024 season. Michael Reid sparked the Steelers with two touchdowns via the ground while Liam McFayden added a third via TD toss from quarterback Ryan Yost.
Next up for the Steelers is a trip to Guelph on Saturday, June 15 to play Tri City. The home opener for the Steelers will be on Saturday, June 22 against Sarnia.
All four P5FL teams are slated to play a six game regular season schedule, followed by semi finals on July 27 and the league championship game on August 10.