WE ARE GOING TO GET STARTED JUNE 5th. We will give more details for rookie camps, spring camp, and training camp as we get a better handle on health restrictions, return to play protocol, and vaccination rates.

All camps will be held at our facility at the St Vital Mustangs facility. We strongly encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as you can. Manitoba Health issued a statement on May 5th that all adults 18 and over will be able to book a vaccination by May 21st.

We will be following the regulations from Manitoba Health, Saskatchewan and Alberta (as these are the provinces we play in). We will also be following the return to play protocol of Football Manitoba.

This gives you 4 weeks to keep training, or for a lot of you to get in shape! Players in shape will dominate, those not in shape, will not make our team, travel or start, simply because they will not be in good enough shape to compete at a high level. If you haven’t been training start jogging, do push-ups, sit-ups, go to a gym get MOVING! It is not too late! Start eating better and start moving! You are ELITE athletes please ensure you are in ELITE shape for June 5! There is going to be a season! Get off the couch and start pushing yourself to be in the best possible shape you can be in for June 5th. Are you going to be ready to compete?

Let’s Go! Rifle Up!
Coach Wilson.

Download the PFC schedule here:

2020 CJFL Signing Day netted the Winnipeg Rifles dozens of outstanding young men and promising football prospects from both inside and beyond the province of Manitoba.

It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of Neville Scarlett.   Neville was a great football player in his own right, but he became an even better coach. Neville coached at Sturgeon Heights then West Kildonan Collegiate before joining the Rifles as the running backs coach. Neville coached the Rifles with essentially no heart, he had a pump that kept his body going while he awaited his heart transplant. He finally received word he was getting a new heart, and before long he was back on the field coaching the young men he loved to work with and the boys were happy to have him back! Neville was a great father, husband, teacher and coach, and he will be missed. May you rest in peace Neville, once a Rifle always a Rifle. Rifle Up!  

The Winnipeg Rifles will be holding an information night Thursday, February 6th, at 7:00 pm at our home, the St.Vital Mustangs Clubhouse, located at 100 Frobisher Road. The purpose of the evening is to inform all Winnipeg High School Football league and all Rural Manitoba Football League players and their  parents about high level football after High School.

We will cover the following topics:

1. Who are the Winnipeg Rifles, what conference and league do we play in.
2. The pros and cons of Usport Football and Junior Football
3. The partnership between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Winnipeg Rifles.
4. The off season conditioning program
5. What our in season program looks like
6. Our facilities
7. Meet our coaches and board members
8. Answer any questions you may have about the Rifles.

We want grade as many grade 10, 11, and 12 players, and their parents, from the WHSFL and the RMFL to attend. If you have any questions please contact head coach Geordie Wilson at riflesheadcoach@gmail.com.

THE CITY’S OWN VERSION of the ‘Labour Day Classic’ will take place Saturday night at Maple Grove Park. In a tilt between the rival football cities of Winnipeg and Regina, the Winnipeg Rifles host the Regina Thunder at 7 p.m. in Canadian Junior Football League action.

“This will be undoubtedly the most physical game we’ll play all year,” said Winnipeg head coach Geordie Wilson. “It’s our Labour Day Classic, and it’ll be smash-mouth old-school football.”

St. Vital Mustangs Field at Maple Grove Park is expected to capture an electric atmosphere for a prairie rivalry bout between Canada’s No. 7 and No. 8-ranked junior football programs.

“This is a very important game. We need the win going into our bye,” said Rifles quarterback Riley Naujoks, who had three touchdowns in Winnipeg’s 47-8 win in Calgary on Sunday. “We’ll never settle, but we want to get to 2-1 on the season.”

The grill will be fired up with full concessions, and beer and cocktails are available. Tickets are $15 for adults, $7.50 for youth, while all Manitoba Minor Football players are free in their jerseys

— RiflesFootball.com

The onset of the 2019 season brings higher than usual expectations for the Winnipeg Rifles — not only because Winnipeg is seen as a legitimate contender to capture a Canadian Junior Football League title, but they are currently touting, arguably, their best top-to-bottom football team in years.

There’s a lot of truth to the age-old football adage; everything starts and finishes at quarterback. Complete football teams always hold strong quarterbacking essential, and the Rifles expect big things from their point-position, with stability, skill, and experience in third-year quarterback Riley Naujoks.

Due to injury in his second junior season, Naujoks started and finished only three games in 2018. This season, the 6-foot 200-pound St. Paul’s High School product is expected to not just bounce back, but be a focal point on one of the country’s junior football powers.

“Physically, he has the ability to be one of the top quarterbacks in the entire CJFL,” said Rifles head coach Geordie Wilson. “All of the tools are there. It’s the mental component — he knows what he’s doing. He needs to be decisive, make quick reads, trust them, and deliver the ball. Because when he does that, he’s good.”

“He throws the ball on time. He has a very strong arm. In our league he can make every throw necessary. We expect him to be upper-echelon and lead our team to a whole pile of wins.”

“Right now I feel so much more comfortable,” said Naujoks after leading Team Black to a 20-19 edge over Team White in the Rifles’ annual inter-squad “Black & White Game” to conclude training camp. “We have so much depth at the receiver position. It’s very comforting to know I’ve worked with these guys for three years and they’ve stuck around and are all-in with you. It’s a nice feeling to know we have strong players out in the receiving corps.”

“We have so much height and size that I trust them to make the catch and go up and get it. We have a couple guys who are almost like a safety blanket.”

The offensive line will make it all happen for Winnipeg, in keeping Naujoks upright and allowing him to operate the offence.

“This O-line, I think this is the best group we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Naujoks. “They’re really strong — the starting five and the guys behind them. It’s nice to feel like we have one of the strongest O-lines this year because I don’t want to be running for my life back there.”

Who Winnipeg hopes will be running wild are the Rifles’ tailbacks. The club flexes a dynamic duo of third-year runners in Brandon Urciuoli, who was embedded in training camp with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this year, and Mathe Mitayango, whose explosion is evident whenever he touches the ball.

“It takes a little pressure off,” added Naujoks. “Sure, we have a great receiving corps, but we don’t want to be throwing it 40 times a game. It’s nice knowing we have two players who are really talented that, when you give them the ball, they’re going to go make a play with it. Having ‘Urch’ and Mathe back there means so much to me — again, it’s just a comforting experience.”

Another oft-applicable age-old football adage; talent only takes you so far. Dedication, focus, and leadership are qualities the Rifles have worked tirelessly to instil in their culture, throughout the locker room. Naujoks has led the progression here as well.

“He truly committed to offseason training,” added Wilson of his quarterback. “He has assumed a leadership role. The quarterback position always lends itself to leadership, but Riley talks with all the guys and has started showing up and leading by example daily, in the offseason workouts and throughout training camp.

The Rifles hold a Canadian Junior Football League preseason ranking of No. 7 in the nation, and open their 2019 campaign at home on Sunday, August 18 at 1 p.m. against the five-time-defending Canadian Bowl champion Saskatoon Hilltops. More information can be found at RiflesFootball.com or on social media @RiflesFootball.

Rifles Host Defending Champion Hilltops

WHEN: Sunday, August 18, 2019 — 1 p.m. kickoff

WHERE: St. Vital Mustangs Field in Maple Grove Park, 100 Frobisher Rd., Winnipeg, MB

WHAT: Winnipeg Rifles host Saskatoon Hilltops — Canadian Junior Football League

WINNIPEG (May 4, 2019) – Sunday afternoon (August 18) the Rifles kick off the 2019 Prairie Football Conference schedule in the Canadian Junior Football League, as they host the defending Canadian Bowl champion Saskatoon Hilltops in Winnipeg.

The Rifles set forth on their 18th season looking to continue their steady and consistent trajectory of competitive growth under head coach Geordie Wilson, now in his fourth season.

“Our expectation is, this is going to be a big step forward for us this year,” said Wilson. “We firmly believe in our hearts we have an opportunity to be national champions this year.”

The Saskatoon Hilltops pose the ultimate benchmark measure for Winnipeg as the current five-time defending Canadian Bowl champions, and having captured eight of the last nine national titles. The Hilltops, under head coach Tom Sargeant, are commonly referred to as “the New England Patriots or Calgary Stampeders of Canadian Junior Football.”

“If you can hang with them and you can beat them, there’s every reason to believe you can win it all come season’s end,” added Wilson of his club’s opponent on Sunday, August 18.

This season, the Rifles return to Maple Grove Park and St. Vital Mustangs Field for their first three home dates, while IG Field, home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, will be the site of the Rifles’ final 2019 home game on September 29.

 Livestream broadcasts of all Winnipeg Rifles and CJFL games are available through a new broadcast partnership with WorldPlay at CJFLTV.com. Veteran TSN Radio broadcasters Chris Walby, Troy Westwood, and Darrin Bauming make up the play-by-play and colour commentary team throughout the Winnipeg Rifles season.

Beer gardens will be open on game day, as well as full concessions and a fired up grill. Tickets are $15 for adults, $7.50 for youth, while all Manitoba Minor Football players are free in their jerseys. Season tickets are available at a significantly discounted rate.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Darrin Bauming, Rifles communications manager: 204-299-9903, mrbauming@gmail.com

Laurie Hoel, Rifles general manager: 204-793-2411, riflesmanager@gmail.com

Twitter / Facebook / Instagram…  @RiflesFootball.com