Ottawa Jr Riders (1997-2013)

I am quite surprised to be writing this post.  Amateur teams come and go (actually, in Ottawa, pro teams have come and gone as well) but I never expected the Ottawa Jr Riders to fold, as I was told on Twitter about a week ago.

The Jr. Riders have been as successful an on-field team as any other in this city.  Aside from a brief, difficult period in the Ontario Football Conference, they owned the Quebec Junior Football League for a number of years.

They were originally born as the Gloucester Redskins in 1995 but changed their name following the acquisition of some of the Rough Riders equipment when that team folded.  They took no time getting acclimated to the QJFL, participating in that league's championship game every year from 1997 to 2010 (broken up by the previously-mentioned stint in the OFC).  Their games against in-town rival Ottawa Sooners were typically close, hard-fought affairs with significant implications.  They also had an exciting rivalry with the Chateauguay Raiders.

So we'll record their accomplishments here with fingers firmly crossed that the the Jr. Riders are not dead, merely temporarily dormant.

Coaching History
Max Palladino (2010-2013)
Luigi Costanzo (2004-2009)
Andy McEvoy (2003)
Dan Murphy (1999-2002)
Dean Dorsey (1997-1998)

Results
2013:  6-2
2012:  6-2, Lost Joe Pistilli Cup to the North Shore Sabercats 34-52
2011:  7-1
2010: 10-0, Won Joe Pistilli Cup against the Chateauguay Raiders 10-00
2009:  7-1, Lost Manson Cup against the Chateauguay Raiders 19-20 
2008:  7-1, Won Manson Cup against the Chateauguay Raiders 63-16
2007:  7-1, Won Manson Cup against the Ottawa Sooners 29-27 
2006:  7-1, Won Manson Cup against the Chateauguay Raiders 19-02  
2005:  2-6, 
2004:  2-6, 
2003:  0-8, 
2002:  1-7, 
2001: 6-1-1, Lost Manson Cup to the Ottawa Sooners 17-18
2000:  6-2, Won Manson Cup against the North Shore Broncos 28-22
1999:  8-0, Won Manson Cup against the Chateauguay Raiders 33-09
1998:  6-2, Won Manson Cup against the Chateauguay Raiders 24-09
1997:  6-4, Lost Manson Cup to the Ottawa Sooners 07-13