The 1997 Regina Rams junior football club won the Canadian Bowl – the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) national championship – as part of a run of five titles in six seasons, as the Rams concluded their time as a junior football team as champions.
The 1997 Rams were fresh off of a season where they were denied a national championship as their rivals, the Saskatoon Hilltops, won the 1996 title.
The Rams finished with a 6-2 record in Prairie Football Conference (PFC) play and had a flair for the dramatic on their playoff run. They trailed the PFC final 10-0 to Saskatoon before storming back for a 46-27 win. In the CJFL semifinal they trailed the No. 1-ranked Windsor AKO-Fratmen 28-3 but scored four second-half touchdowns to advance to the national final following their 38-31 triumph.
The Rams won the Canadian Bowl 23-20 over the Okanagan Sun in double-overtime. The 10-minute overtime periods were not sudden death and after Okanagan kicked a go-ahead field goal, the Rams had 1:15 left to march 75 yards and respond. Rams quarterback Chad Ehman converted on third-and-10 with 28 seconds left by finding Jason Clermont who gained 42 yards. Clermont scored the winning touchdown with 11 seconds remaining to stun the hosts in Kelowna, B.C.
Jeff Zimmer was named the CJFL’s Outstanding Defensive Player of the season and the Defensive Player of the Game at the Canadian Bowl. He, Brent Dancy, Chris Frankowski and Brent Nicholas were all named All-Canadians. Dancy was also the CJFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman.
Installed in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame on September 20, 2025.
The 1997 Regina Rams Football Club
Front Row: Bobbi Markewich, Shawn Kuster, Paul Dawson, Blair Thompson, Bernie Schmidt, Frank McCrystal, Thomas McCord, Rick Seaman, Erwin Klempner, Denis Losie, Greg Treble, Erin Klempner.
Second Row: Mike Wong, Jason Clermont, Troy Gordon, Jarred Kleisinger, Chad Ehman, Chris Frankowski, Troy Leach, Craig Briere, Jared Hoover, Mike Surkan, Jason Melnechenko.
Third Row: Cyndi Munoz, Corrie McKee, Chris Ashman, Tim Lynchuk, Todd Pinkney, Lonnie Hayes, Chris Briltz, Corey Thackeray, Ikenna Ngoka, Cory Olynick, Scott MacAulay, Karen Phipps, Father Basil Chomos.
Four Row: Jeff Zimmer, Ryan Effa, Brett Wagner, Royal Harden, Jon Illerbrun, Derek Wollbaum, James Schiller, Barry Rees, Dennis Kotsetas, Todd Krenbrink, Chad Zipchian, Curtis Morgan, Ed Bankowski.
Fifth Row: Gary Block, Jon Healthcote, Ciaran Gilmore, Jon Klassen, Trent Poitras, Kevin Baron, Dave Patenaude, Doug Hill, Chris Warnecke, Michael Leason, Derek Ford, Rob Pelton.
Sixth Row: Sheldon Stener, Rick McCullough, Doug McKillop, Larry Paik, Derek Woitas, James Cheke, Wayne Saxby, Doug Tunison, Gary Treble, Don Fuchs, Gary Uhren, Jack Kennedy.
Not pictured: Clayton Murray, Michael Thomas, Dean Lang, Trevor Schoenroth, Juan Serrano, Brent Dancey, Brent Nicholas, Adrian Gilmore, Leanne LaMontagne, Fred Dulmage, Todd Fuchs, Dave Howie, Earl Kallichuk, Dean Kleisinger, Larry Kratt, Larry LeBlanc, Gary Mather, Don McDougall, Raelene Miller, Aaron Runge, Randy Ryba, Tony Theaker, Norbert Thurmeier, Cleveland Vann, Jason Pylatiuk.
